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San Diego Woman Top Dentist

Perhaps her greatest ac-
complishments are a marriage
that has spanned over 30 years
and being a mom to three adult Dr. Aldo Peralta and
children. “My two sons have
followed me into my profession Dr. Ricardo Peralta
and are now California licensed
dentists. My daughter has held Dr. Aldo Peralta and Dr. Ricardo Peralta are much loved dentists
amazing positions in the hospi- who literally were born into the profession. Aldo and Ricardo’s
tality industry and now resides Mom, Dr. Lilia Lavin is a well-respected dentist and one of our San
in Chicago”. Diego Woman Magazine’s Top Dentists. Growing up in the house
Dr Larin apparently had where your mom is a top dentist undoubtedly gave them a first-
a great impact on her children hand look at what it was like to choose dentistry as your career.
Ricardo was not leaning toward dentistry and as a child hated
as all three, her two sons and the fact that after school he often was picked up and spent his
daughter, all decided to follow afternoons at his mom’s office. Aldo wasn’t thrilled at the prospect
in mom’s footsteps, and they either, but the two boys found themselves surrounded by the
all applied to dental school. Al- world of dentistry. Some people might think that they may have
though all three were accepted, selected a totally different career, perhaps their Dad’s which was
her daughter, Marlene Peralta, architecture, but both of Dr. Larin’s sons admired their Mom and
decided it was not really her the work she did not only with her patients, but also to help nur-
passion, so she went on to study ture Women and Latinos in the field of Dentistry.
hotel management in Switzer- I asked Aldo, Dr Larin’s younger son the top question on my
land. Her two sons, Ricardo mind, What was it like having a mom who's a dentist? “It's been
Peralta and Aldo Peralta today great! I mean it's helped me out a lot in my career. Since right now
I'm still considered a new dentist even though I've been working
are working at mom’s practice. now for two years, I will still ask her for advice and rely on her
I asked her how it is work- expertise when I have an especially complex case. What is great as
ing with her children. “I love well, is she knows my areas of expertise and she will come to me as
having them work for me. What well, so we can bounce ideas off of each other.”
is funny is my oldest son Ricar- When the boys were young, they would often be picked up
do, wouldn’t even step foot in from school and brought to Mom’s office, which was close to their
my office at one point and now school. They would often remain there until the end of Mom's
he works with me.” office hours.
I asked Dr. Larin what she Both sons felt that it was not the fact that even though they
liked most about being a dentist. were enveloped in dentistry from an early age, it was not the true
“The main thing I love about be- reason that they decided to both pursue a career in dentistry.
Aldo added, “No, to be honest, there were moments when we
ing a dentist is helping people. I didn't even want to go to the office. I wasn't really that interested
particularly enjoy working with in becoming a dentist. It wasn't until high school when I started
older patients, putting their fears thinking about what direction my career would take that it came
to rest, and giving them back to mind as an option. My first interest at that point was getting
their beautiful smiles.” a degree in business. My older brother Ricardo was well into his
When you set foot in Dr. training in dentistry and I figured, I would apply and then decide
Larin’s office, you immediately based on whether or not I was accepted.”
feel welcomed and at home. Aldo got accepted to dental school, and he thought her would
Everything about her space give it a try. Once he started, he was hooked. “I remember almost
leaves you feeling relaxed and instantly gaining a new respect for my Mom. It was a challenging
process, and I considered how smart my mom was and how much
calm from the color scheme to I admired her for her expertise and talents in the field of dentistry.”
the extremely friendly staff, all By the time Aldo started, Ricardo had graduated and was
of whom are bilingual, making heading back to San Diego to start his career in dentistry. Instead
it a calm experience for anyone of being in competition, like many siblings, the two young dentists
whose English is their second learned a lot from each other and Mom, which helped them to
language. gain expertise in their careers.
More than anything, there is Dr. Ricardo Peralta had his own office and the two brothers
no way you will not come away spoke of maybe one day working together. When Aldo graduated,
loving Dr. Larin, not only as an he went to work with Dr. Larin “My brother and I often bounce
amazing dentist, but also as an ideas off of each other, it’s really a great situation.”
Dr. Aldo Peralta and his brother often work together in Mom’s
amazing human being. After office, although Ricardo still currently maintains his own office.
meeting her you will understand Although both Ricardo and Aldo work in the field of dentistry,
why she was chosen as one of they both have their unique talents and loves in the field. Ricardo
San Diego Woman Magazine’s loves the surgical side of dentistry and has been dedicating a lot
Top Dentists. of his practice to helping patients who suffer from sleep apnea. He

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