MEET THE TEAM AT RIO VISTA DENTISTRY, HARLINGEN, TEXAS

MEET DR. S. BONNIE D. VILLARREAL

Dr. S. Bonnie De La Rosa Villarreal is a Harlingen native who has dedicated her life to dentistry and her community. She is co-owner of Rio Vista Dentistry in Harlingen, Texas where she practices cosmetic, restorative, TMJ/Facial Pain and dental sleep medicine. She is a graduate of Harlingen High School and the University of Texas San Antonio where she has a Bachelor of Science. Her doctoral studies in dental surgery are from Baylor College of Dentistry, where she is currently a faculty member. She has continued advancement studies at the prestigious Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida and the Spear Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona.

She excels in highly advanced dentistry techniques and technology and realizes that serving her community is a duty and a passion. She has previously served as the chairwoman for Valley International Airport Board, the city of Harlingen’s Park and Recreation Board, the Valley Baptist Medical Center Board, the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce, and as president of the Harlingen Junior League. She currently serves as a board member for the Harlingen Area Education Foundation.

She is a member of the Rio Grande Valley chapter of the Seattle Study Club, the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Dental Association. She is a diplomate with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and often lectures to the community and other dentists on the risks of obstructive sleep apnea. She truly enjoys mentoring our next generation of health care providers, as she sits on an advisory council for the Harlingen School of Health Professions and allows our future generation to learn from her.

She is married to Cris Villarreal, CPA, and they have two children, Cristian and Olivia, who are the loves of their lives.

DR. PILAR VALDERRAMA

Dr. Pilar Valderrama is a periodontist, having graduated in 2010 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She obtained a Master’s degree in Clinical Investigation from the UTHSCSA in 2006. She received her dental degree from the School of Dentistry at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in 1988. Dr. Valderrama’s experience includes having worked in dental education and within the research field. She obtained her board certification from the American Board of Periodontology in 2011 and has been an International Team of Implantologists Fellow since 2012. She worked as an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M College College of Dentistry until 2021 when she moved to the RGV. 

She worked as a scholar in implant dentistry at the Department of Periodontics at UT Health Science Center at San Antonio from 2003 until 2007 where she undertook clinical, research and academic duties. Dr. Valderrama has published several papers in the fields of periodontal regeneration and implantology in both national and international peer reviewed journals and has lectured at national and international dental meetings. She has received national awards in periodontics. 

She is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and The International College of Dentists. She is a member of The American Academy Of Periodontology. She is Past-President of the North Texas Hispanic Dental Association and Past-President of The Southwest Society of Periodontists. 

Being bilingual in English and Spanish enables her to help Hispanic patients with sensitivity and cultural understanding. 

Dr. Valderrama’s husband is a podiatrist working as Dean of the School of Podiatric Medicine at UTRGV. They have two daughters and two dogs. They enjoy traveling, playing tennis, cooking and gardening.

Dr. Victoria Olivares

Dr. Victoria Lynn Olivares was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley and has always been passionate about serving her community. A native of Alamo, Texas, she attended The Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri for high school before earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in English and Chemistry, followed by a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from UTRGV in Edinburg.

Dr. Olivares continued her education in Portland, Maine, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of New England College of Dental Medicine. During dental school, she was actively involved in several organizations, including the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD), the American Student Dental Association (ASDA), and the Periodontology and Implantology Club.

Dr. Olivares is passionate about building long-term relationships with her patients and is committed to providing patient-centered care that empowers individuals and builds confidence in their treatment.

In her free time, Dr. Olivares enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. Her dedication to dentistry and her roots in the Valley have brought her back home, and she is thrilled to be joining a respected practice in the Harlingen community.