Unlike most people, Harlingen native Dr. Kara Tapangan loved going to the dentist as a kid. "I didn't realize how much people hated it until I went into practice," said Tapangan, 30. "At Sonterra, we try to make it as comfortable and easy as possible." Tapangan enjoys working in dentistry because it's one of the few medical fields where same-day pain relief is possible. "It's really humbling to know that I have the ability to help people in that way," she said. "It's also really amazing to be able to give people full smiles or teeth to function with, which is really life changing." Last year, Tapangan exported her capacity to change lives by traveling to the Dominican Republic to provide free implants for patients. She's a member of the American Dental Association and Texas Dental Association, among other recognized dentistry organizations. "It's a beautiful practice," she said. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

2. Dr. Kaci Tibbetts, KLT Dentistry

3223 Thousand Oaks Drive #102

(210) 496-5422

kltdentistry.com

3. Brook Hollow Family Dentistry

15068 San Pedro Ave.

(210) 494-7681

brookhollowfamilydentistry.com

Best Dermatology Practice: Dermatology San Antonio

Winner: Dermatology San Antonio

Multiple locations

dermsanantonio.com

2. Alamo Heights Dermatology

131 W. Sunset Road #101

(210) 255-8447

alamoheightsderm.com

3. Vista Dermatology

27511 I-10 West, Building 2, Boerne

(210) 698-0500

vistadermsa.com

Best Dry Cleaner: Five Star Cleaners

Winner: Five Star Cleaners

Multiple locations

myfivestarcleaners.com

With more than a dozen locations across San Antonio, we're guessing Five Star's convenience factor plays into its Best of San Antonio win. Beyond the chain's ubiquity, all its locations offer same-day service, and many also offer drive-thru and drop boxes as well. Five Star also offers a locker service where the cleaner brings the service directly to customers. Plenty of the company's five-star reviews also mention its friendly staff and dedication to service.

2. Comet Cleaners and Laundry

Multiple locations

cometsatx.com

3. Culpepper Cleaners

Multiple locations

culpeppercleaners.com

Best Hair Salon: Look Salon

Winner: Look Salon

7701 Broadway, Suite 139

(210) 826-5665

look.salon

It was always a dream of hairstylist Damian Gonzales to open his own business. While he had experience working at other area salons, he wanted to manage and teach his own team. So, in 2018, he opened Look Salon. "It's something I always want to do, and I realized it was time," said Gonzales, 44. "I love making the clients happy on a day-to-day basis." Look's two "big-ticket items" are balayage and hair extensions, the former a technique where a stylist hand-paints highlights onto hair to create a natural gradation of lightness. Gonzales considers it an art form. "It's like you're painting a canvas," he said. A 1996 graduate of South San West Campus High School, Gonzales said stylists — besides knowing how to style hair — should bring a terrific personality to the job. That combination of know-how and personality may explain why he's booked six to eight weeks in advance. "You get to know people very well," he said. "You become friends with most of them."

2. Elena Salon Studios

2193 NW Military Highway

(210) 467-2562

elenasalonstudios.com

3. Pretty Chic' Salon

238 N. Loop 1604 West, Suite 205

(210) 410-4684

facebook.com/prettychicsalon