Welcome to Sylvan Lake Dental Centre
We provide a variety of dental treatments and have a reputation in the community for providing personalized care to all of our patients. From our recent satisfaction surveys for 2022, the top 5 awards used to describe us were “Professional, Friendly, Supportive, and Helpful”. We are proud of our comprehensive examinations and our goal to provide quality dentistry.
Our dental team is dedicated to helping you maintain your health and your beautiful smile for many years to come. A healthy smile is an important element of your general health, and it’s our goal to provide you with current procedures available in an environment that’s comfortable, professional, and welcoming.
Dr. Juliana Rodriguez
Dr. Juliana Rodriguez was born in Colombia and moved to Calgary, Alberta, when she was ten years old. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Loma Linda University in 2015, beginning her dental career right here in Sylvan Lake before spending several years practicing in Calgary. In 2020, after meeting her husband Corey, she returned to Sylvan Lake, became the owner of Sylvan Lake Dental Centre, and chose to put down roots and raise her family in the community.
As the owner and clinical leader, Dr. Juliana is committed to Sylvan Lake Dental Centre’s vision: to improve lives and be the trusted treatment center. Guided by the mission to honor what matters most and deliver care with integrity and compassion, she works to create an environment where both patients and team members feel supported.
Dr. Juliana practices all aspects of general dentistry and has a special passion for working with children and families. She has developed a strong focus on tethered oral tissue releases, a field close to her heart as Dr. Hill performed releases on her own two children. This experience, along with her own challenges with breastfeeding, inspired her to work closely with lactation experts to support parents and infants through their feeding journeys. The affinity of her clinical work is centered around supporting healthy development of the orofacial structures. She also enjoys cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including veneers, crowns, bridges, and Invisalign, helping patients achieve healthy, confident smiles.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Juliana values building trusting, supportive relationships with her patients. Outside of dentistry, she loves camping and going to the beach with her family, and she and Corey enjoy discovering new restaurants together.
Dr. Kelvin A.W. Hill
Since coming to Sylvan Lake Dental Centre in 2001, Dr. Hill has enjoyed watching the growth of the practice, the dedication of its team members, and the opportunity to serve so many wonderful people in the extended community. More recently he has taken an interest in the impact and treatment of lip- and tongue-ties in infants through adults. Dr. Hill lives in Lacombe with his wife Marcia who has family ties in Sylvan Lake.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Hill serves as a founding board member for the Saruk Centre for Leadership Development and Director of Dental Programs for the Lacombe-based humanitarian organization, A Better World Canada.
Dr. Islam Negm
Dr. Islam grew up in Alexandria, Egypt, and now proudly calls Sylvan Lake home. He graduated from Alexandria University in 2003 and was drawn to dentistry for its blend of medical science, hands-on skills, and the opportunity to help people directly. He has completed extensive additional training, including sedation certification, implant training through the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and sleep apnea certification.
Dr. Islam enjoys all aspects of dentistry, with a particular passion for surgery, sedation, and implant dentistry. He is frequently referred wisdom tooth removal cases from other providers and surrounding clinics, and he takes great pride in using his years of experience to ensure patients feel relaxed, supported, and well cared for. One of the things he values most is hearing from patients who have been anxious about having a procedure for years, yet leave feeling calm, confident, and proud to have overcome their fears when they finally complete their treatment.
Outside the office, Dr. Islam is happily married and has two children. He enjoys fishing (even if he says he isn’t very good at it), bicycling, and kayaking around beautiful Sylvan Lake. Patients are often surprised to learn that he has been part of the Sylvan Lake Dental Centre team for over eight years. His dream vacation would be somewhere quiet along the Mediterranean coast or snorkeling in the Red Sea among the coral reefs. He enjoys the Harry Potter series and admits he’s still waiting for his Hogwarts letter. His favourite movie is Home Alone, and he’s a fan of crime shows like Forensic Files. If he weren’t a dentist, he would be a chef. One of his favourite quotes is, “Keep it simple and be humble.”
Dr. Paula Rodriguez
Dr. Paula was born in Colombia, and moved to Calgary, Alberta, at the age of seven. She earned her dental degree from the University of Queensland in Australia in 2022. Drawn to dentistry as the perfect blend of art and science, she loves being able to use both creativity and technical skill every day. She especially enjoys aesthetic dentistry, root canals, and oral surgery, and she finds it deeply rewarding to help patients get out of pain while building authentic, long-lasting relationships with them and their families.
Outside the office, Paula loves painting, weight training, and spending time near the beach. She is very close with her two sisters and adores her nieces. Patients might be surprised to learn that she used to ride a motorcycle! Her favorite movie is The Lion King, and she loves watching TV shows in her downtime. If she weren’t a dentist, she would be a professional artist. Her favorite quote is: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Paula’s favorite travel destination is Portugal, and she dreams of visiting Italy someday.
Dr. Mika Wierenga
Dr. Mika was born and raised in Central Alberta. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Alberta in 2016. Her love of dentistry stemmed from her passion for healthcare, helping people, and combining the skills of art and science. She enjoys all aspects of dentistry but especially loves surgery, esthetic cases, and crown and bridge. She has completed additional training in nitrous and oral sedation as well as ongoing continuing education such as SPEAR and Bioclear.
For Dr. Mika, building trusting long-term relationships are the most rewarding part of dentistry. She strives to ensure every patient feels comfortable and heard during their visit. If she were not a dentist, she would likely work as a psychologist, obtaining a B.Sc. in Psychology prior to starting dentistry.
Outside of work, Dr. Mika enjoys baking, camping, and spending time with her farmer husband, Jonathan, and their three young children. Patients are often surprised to learn that her name is Japanese (pronounced “mee-KAH”), inspired by her parents’ time teaching English in Japan. When she has time to relax, she loves music and watching baking shows. Her favorite place to travel is to the mountains, especially Canmore and Kananaskis. Her favorite quote is, “choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”.
Dr. Rafaella Shammas
Dr. Rafaella has spent time living in Iraq, Greece, Turkey, and Jordan before eventually settling in Canada. She completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Detroit Mercy in 2022 and now lives in Red Deer with her husband and their one-year-old child. Drawn to dentistry for its blend of problem-solving, hands-on skills, and meaningful patient interaction, she enjoys the variety the profession offers. She is currently working toward expanding her skills in implant dentistry and especially enjoys oral surgery and restorative procedures.
What Dr. Rafaella values most in patient care is the opportunity to build strong, empathetic relationships. She strives to create a calm, comfortable environment where patients feel supported and confident in their treatment.
Outside the office, Rafaella enjoys cooking, reading, and spending quality time with her family. Patients are often surprised to learn that she has lived in several different countries throughout her life. She loves traveling anywhere that combines family time with a beautiful beach. Her favourite shows are Friends and The Office. If she weren’t a dentist, she would pursue a career in academic research. One of her favourite quotes is, “Smile while you still have teeth!”
