Dr. Cecile Infantado • The Tooth Fairy

MANILA, Philippines - Cecile Infantado makes many men cry. No, the lady dentist is not a heartbreaker. In fact, she restores men’s (and women’s) heart by building their confidence — with her expertise in cosmetic dentistry.

At her patient-friendly Smiles by Dr. Cecile clinic either in Dusit Thani Manila or Sofitel Philippine Plaza, it is a common occurrence for many of her patients to shed tears of joy after successfully undergoing cosmetic dentistry. Their tears of joy sum up their gratitude for Cecile and her team for “a job well done.”

“Yes, I have made a lot of men cry…with tears of joy…after they see themselves transformed,” Cecile says. These are the patients — both from the Philippines and abroad — whose health and physical appearance are challenged by their dental problems. Cecile comes in with her expert skills in dental restoration and in the process she restores their self-esteem.

Her path to becoming a sought-after cosmetic dentist is a product of a daughter’s desire to perpetuate the legacy of her father. Cecile was only two years old when her dad Luis, a respected surgeon in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, passed away. Through the stories of the people from their town, Cecile grew up hearing how good a doctor her father was. Being the youngest, she decided early on, if no one among her other six siblings would follow the footsteps of their dad, she would take the challenge.

It was not clear at first what kind of a doctor she would become. It only dawned on her that she would pursue dentistry when in the middle of her high school summer vacation, while acting as the cashier in her mother Ruperta’s school and office supplies store in Calapan, she brought before her pink modeling clay, chalks, Styrofoam and carving tools. From those materials she carved out her first “toothy creation.”

The diffident provincial lass went to Manila to study Preparatory to Dentistry at the University of the East before finishing her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at the Centro Escolar University.  Her desire to create beautiful smiles led her to the University of California Los Angeles for further studies.

Aside from her affiliation at the Philippine Dental Association, Cecile is also a member of the American Dental Association and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

“My work is my form of prayer,” she says. She makes it a point to be an effective and efficient dentist because it is her way of thanking God for all her blessings.

She also gives back by supporting different advocacies like ASK (Angels for Street Kids) and Give Back a Smile Program.

Cecile may have made many men, women and even kids smile — or cry tears of joy — but at the end of the day, what melts this Tooth Fairy’s heart is being with her three children — Patty, 25; Carlo, 23; and Marco, 20.

“They complete me as a woman. The beautiful memories I make with my children make me smile,” she concludes.

Photography by MAU AGUASIN • Creative direction by LUIS ESPIRITU JR. • Styling by DIANE LASAM • Makeup by RIA AQUINO for MAC Cosmetics • Hairstyling by AVRIL SEGUIN • Both dresses by MYTH • Jewelry by MILADAY JEWELS • Shot on location at SOLAIRE RESORT & CASINO BAYSIDE VILLA