By Matt Wiley
Childhood memories of trips to the dentist are often the ones that many of us would like to forget. This is not the case, however, for José Beltran, D.M.D, M.D. In fact, it was growing up around his father’s dental office that inspired Dr. Beltran to one day open Beltran Dental Surgery (BDS) in New Tampa.
Located just inside the main entrance to Hunter’s Green on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., BDS is one of New Tampa’s finest oral surgery centers, employing the latest in technology and software to provide the most comprehensive consultations and procedures for those requiring any type of oral surgery, including the common, “coming-of-age” wisdom teeth extraction, as well as oral implants (and sinus augmentations to support implants), biopsies, IV sedation and bone grafts. State-of-the-art technology combined with Beltran’s impressive educational background, make his office a one-stop shop for oral surgery.
A University of South Florida alum who also graduated from Harvard University Dental School in Cambridge, MA, and the University of Texas at Houston Medical School, he holds both a Doctor of Medical Dentistry (D.M.D) and Medical Doctor (M.D.) degrees, Beltran takes pride in knowing that he can treat nearly any case that comes in for a consultation.
“Even though the core of my practice is extractions,” he explains, “when a patient with multiple medical issues (allergies, complications) comes in, it’s easier for me to treat them. I know how to work around their conditions and how to prepare them for surgery. It may just be ‘minor surgery,’ but it’s still surgery, so you have to prepare every patient as if they were going into major surgery.”
Beltran says that this is important when consulting patients about going under anesthetic, which is another aspect of his practice that he takes pride in: his devotion to his patients.
“From the moment the patient steps into the office, my staff and I are here for them,” he says. “I, personally, do the consultation, and I’m with that patient throughout the entire procedure. A lot of doctors don’t do that.”
Thanks to cutting-edge imaging technology known as iCAT, Dr. Beltran’s patients can see a three-dimensional walk-through of what their specific procedure will entail. Whereas many dentists’ offices only take a simple, two-dimensional X-ray, Beltran takes a CT-scan of the patient’s entire head and can do precise measurements using the iCAT software to determine exactly what steps will be taken in the procedure long before it happens.
And, the patient gets to see the walkthrough on a large, LCD television from the comfort of a plush, leather exam seat.
“I must admit, I was very nervous coming in to get my tooth extracted,” says Rhonda, one of Dr. Beltran’s previous patients. “After my consultation and talking with Dr. Beltran, I was much more relaxed about getting the procedure done. He was very patient, answered all of my questions and explained everything about my procedure very thoroughly.”
A True Hometown Hero
To Dr. Beltran, he is not just helping patients; he is helping the community in which he was raised.
Beltran, 36, is happy to be practicing in the same neighborhood in which he grew up: Hunter’s Green. Before moving to Tampa with his family, Beltran and his younger brother, David — also a D.M.D. and Jose’s partner who runs the brothers’ Orlando practice — used to get dropped off at their father and uncle’s dental practice in Quito, Ecuador. He says that when they finished their homework, their father would sometimes allow them to assist him with simple tasks around the office.
“I never dreamed that I would become a dentist,” he recalls. “But, while I was in college, the pieces started to come together.”
While living in Hunter’s Green, Beltran and his brother both attended Chamberlain High School — before Freedom and Wharton High were built. Jose went on to graduate from the University of South Florida in 1998, before earning his D.M.D. from Harvard in 2003 and his M.D. degree from the University of Texas in 2008.
Since then, he has set up a scholarship fund to help those interested in becoming dentists. The Beltran Brothers Scholarship is offered each semester to USF pre-dental students. In addition, he also gives back by offering deals to students, such as the “Wisdom Tooth Special.” He may not be the tooth fairy, but he’ll yank all four wisdom teeth while you sleep (under full anesthetic, of course) for $2,000.
Beltran Dental Surgery, located at 8709 Hunter’s Green Dr. is contracted with more than 30 PPO insurance companies and offers a 15-percent discount for MMO insurance. For more information about BDS, or to set up a consultation, please call 373-4573 or visit BeltranDentalSurgery.com.
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