Hazel Trajano Castro is the managing partner of French Medical Center’s Dental and General Medical departments. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

She’s the Filipina behind some of the most recognizable smiles on your social feed. From comedians and performers to content creators and food vloggers, Hazel Trajano Castro has become the go-to smile designer for Filipino influencers in the UAE. But long before she was transforming smiles, she was quietly assisting behind a dental chair—never imagining that one day she’d own the clinic. In this Expat Media exclusive, the dental assistant-turned-clinic owner shares her journey from humble beginnings to becoming a trusted name in aesthetic dentistry. Hazel’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radiant results—not just in teeth, but in the lives she touches. It started in 2006 when Hazel, a physiotherapy graduate in the Philippines, carved a new path for herself by moving to the UAE. She knew she had to take whatever opportunity came her way. Her first job in the UAE? A dental assistant at French Medical Center in Sharjah. “I never imagined that preparing dental trays would one day lead me to designing life-changing smiles and owning a clinic of my own. But every great journey starts with a single step—and mine began humbly, as a dental assistant,” Hazel says. Today, Hazel is not only a licensed dental assistant—she is also a managing partner of French Medical Center’s Dental and General Medical departments and the sole owner of its dental division. She oversees a team of doctors and staff, serving multicultural clients and building a name for herself as a smile designer and business owner. Her success did not come overnight—it was built day by day, one patient at a time, with an unwavering belief that a beautiful smile can change a life. Determined to always bloom where she is planted, Hazel trained for 19 years in advanced dental aesthetics, collaborated with top dental technicians, and developed her own approach creating dimensional veneers and facially guided planning. “To me, smile design is like facial architecture. Every smile should feel natural, radiant, and true to the person wearing it,” she says. Her patients don’t just walk away with new smiles—they walk away with renewed confidence. As a managing partner and business owner, Hazel says she leads with “clarity, compassion, and an eye for detail,” whether guiding her dental and medical team, designing a smile, or consulting with patients. Hazel’s work ethic was shaped long before she stepped into her first UAE clinic. Her family in the Philippines were pioneers in education, having established the Dinalupihan Community High School, an institution that educated generations in their community. From her parents and grandparents, she inherited a passion for service and leadership. That sense of purpose followed her to the UAE, where she quickly made an impression in the dental world—not just for her technical skills, but for her natural empathy and hunger to learn. “Even in the smallest tasks, I was observing,” she recalls. “I watched dentists work with precision, and I saw patients walk in anxious and leave with confidence. I realized dentistry wasn’t just about science—it was emotional, personal, and powerful.” Hazel’s background in physiotherapy gave her a strong understanding of anatomy and posture—knowledge she would later apply to her work in smile design. Her passion didn’t go unnoticed. “I was mentored by a female dentist who saw potential in me,” she says. “She taught me how to manage a clinic, how to build relationships with patients, and how to grow a practice. It was like a daily masterclass.”

From dental assistant to smile designer

What began as a job for survival blossomed into a lifelong calling. From dental assisting, Hazel was promoted to clinic manager while also practicing smile design on the side. After years of training, hands-on experience, and aesthetic specialization, Hazel became a smile designer. “Smile design is like facial architecture,” she explains. “It’s not just about fixing teeth. It’s about harmonizing the smile with the person’s facial profile, bone structure, and personality.” Her signature touch? Dimensional veneers and facially guided planning that enhance—not alter—a person’s natural beauty. Hazel has worked with a growing roster of influencers, artists, performers, and public figures, each trusting her with one of their most defining features. Among her notable clients are comedian Imah Dumagay, performers Billy Padillo and George Tampus, local influencers such as Kween Jade, Gren, Jedax Food Trip and Aldrico, and singers from popular talent shows like The Voice and Tawag ng Tanghalan. Her designs are more than cosmetic—they restore confidence. “I wasn’t just restoring teeth—I was helping people rediscover themselves,” she says.

Owning her dream

Hazel finally took the leap in 2022 and opened her own clinic. She rented a small room in a medical center, hired a dentist and a receptionist, and took on every other role herself—assistant, marketer, manager. “But I didn’t tell patients I was the boss!” she says with a grin. Life came full circle when French Medical Center—the very clinic where she started—offered to close its dental division. Hazel stepped in and said, “I’ll take over.” Today, she owns and runs that very department. “Our clients came through word of mouth. Slowly but surely, we grew.” Her clinic now serves a diverse clientele, including Emiratis, Filipinos, and Europeans who come for her quality care, affordable rates, and personalized approach. Hazel is now eyeing an expansion of her brand, “Better You,” in the Philippines. “I want to share what I learned in the UAE. I want to open clinics in major cities back home,” she says. As a way of giving back, she also launched the “Smile Makeover Competition,” giving deserving individuals a chance to receive complimentary dental aesthetics services. “It’s not just about business—it’s about changing lives.” “I’m proud that I left French Medical Center as an employee—and came back as the boss,” Hazel says. “It’s been a long journey. But it was worth every step.” CAM/Expat Media

Quick fire questions

First thing you do every morning? Answer patient queries. Your secret talent? Dancing. Funniest thing a patient ever said? They’re always scared of the dentist. Job you would switch for a day. Physiotherapist. Dream celebrity patient. Vice Ganda. If your life had a toothpaste flavour. Strawberry. If you had a billboard on Sheikh Zayed Road, what would it say? Just smile! This story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine. Reach out to French Medical Center via facebook.com/fmcshj.ae
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