MEET BERWYN’S ENTREPRENEURS: Olivia Lares

Olivia Lares

Berwyn Dental Connection

I would describe myself as compassionate, adventurous, and hard-working. I knew at a very young age that I wanted to help people. My father had multiple surgeries during my childhood, and I believe this was the beginning of my desire to work in healthcare. Dental pain has been described as one of the worst types of pain a person can have; it feels amazing to help someone alleviate the pain they are afflicted with while making them feel safe and secure.

I believe that my adventurous side comes from my mom; she is as fearless as they come. I love to experience and try new things. I’ve hiked up an active volcano, run a marathon, gone scuba diving with 14ft+ sharks, and traveled to 6 of the 7 continents. My husband often jokes that he just gets out of the way and waits for the next crazy idea to come.

It has taken a lot of work and dedication to turn the office into what it is today. I work with an amazing group of women every day; and together, we want to inform people that they don’t have to fear the dentist. We strive and work hard to ensure our patients always feel comfortable in our office.

My parents are my biggest inspiration, they came to the United States when they were young and with almost nothing. The stories of the heartache they’ve endured over the years have had a profound impact on me. They overcame language and cultural barriers and worked tirelessly to ensure their children could have a better future. Despite the challenges in their path, they understood the importance of education and made sure to impress that upon me from a young age.

I absolutely love to travel; it is so humbling to travel to new places and learn about different cultures and customs. It is almost impossible to pinpoint a specific place I’d like to visit, there are so many extraordinary places all over the world. 

I danced Mexican Folklore professionally for 8 years doing my adolescence. I needed dance as much as I needed air. During this time, I learned a lot about my Mexican heritage and gained a greater appreciation for my culture. I’m extremely grateful I had the opportunity to learn this talent.

Nothing is newer to me than being a mom. My twins were born last February, and this past year has been a whirlwind of new experiences: changing my first diapers (I’ve never had to do this before), watching my son’s first steps, my daughter’s first signs (we are teaching the twins how to sign). Every day has been a new experience, my husband and I are constantly learning and adjusting to our new lives. The twins definitely keep us on our toes; they have taught us to be more patient, think outside of the box, and think fast! But most importantly, I think they remind us to live in the present. It has absolutely been a challenge, but one I look forward to every day! This past year has been the greatest blessing and we are looking forward to the many experiences that lie ahead.