Board-Certified Orthodontists in Miami
Meet the Dream Team
Meet our doctors at Miami Orthodontic Specialists! Dr. Carmen Garcia-Paul has brought our doctors in piece by piece, and both Dr. Joyce Yin and Dr. Stephanie Companioni share her vision for exceptional orthodontic care and a conservative, patient-centered approach.
Dr. Carmen Garcia-Paul was born and raised in Miami and—despite leaving the area for graduate studies—has always considered the area her home.
She graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, where she was both a scholar-athlete and valedictorian of her class. After Lourdes, Dr. Garcia-Paul was accepted into the honors program at the University of Miami.
While an undergraduate, Dr. Garcia-Paul began working for several local dentists and dental specialists in Miami. It was during this time that she first became interested in the specialty of orthodontics.
After seeing the positive effect that orthodontics could have on a person’s self-esteem, personality, and confidence, she decided to dedicate her life to helping others by perfecting their smiles.
Education & Experience
After graduating from UM with honors, Dr. Garcia-Paul left her Miami home. Her graduate training first brought her to Philadelphia, where she attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and earned her doctorate in dental medicine.
Following her graduation from Penn, Dr. Garcia-Paul was one of seven accepted into the competitive orthodontic residency program at the University of Michigan.
During her three years of specialty training, she won several scholarships and academic awards, including:
- American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association Award
- Colgate Palmolive/Hispanic Dental Association Scholarship
- Rackham School of Graduate Studies Award
Staying current on state-of-the-art treatment methods is incredibly important to Dr. Garcia-Paul so she can provide you with the highest level of care. She attends continuing education courses and events throughout the year, so she is current on the latest techniques available.
Community Involvement
Throughout her educational journey, Dr. Garcia-Paul always found a way to give back to the community. She has volunteered with programs that offer free oral health screenings and dental services for children who could not afford treatment.
In residency, she focused her master’s thesis on analyzing barriers to orthodontic treatment encountered by families of children with craniofacial anomalies.
Since moving back to Miami, she volunteered on staff at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Team and as an instructor in the dental assisting program at the Robert Morgan Technical Institute.
She also became a provider for Smiles Change Lives, a community program that provides much-needed orthodontic care to children in Miami. Since starting with the program, she donated over $130,000 of free orthodontic treatment to children in need.
Smiling In Miami
Since returning home almost a decade ago, Dr. Garcia-Paul has been able to transform hundreds of smiles by focusing on her dream of providing high-quality, personalized care.
Her primary goal is to tailor her treatment with braces or Invisalign to the individual needs of her patients.
Not only does her patient family continue to grow, but she is now the mother of three adventurous boys who keep her very busy outside the office.
In addition to her passion for creating beautiful smiles, Dr. Garcia-Paul also enjoys eating donuts, salsa dancing, watching super hero movies, and exploring new places with her husband and the boys.
Professional Affiliations
- American Board of Orthodontics
- American Association of Orthodontists
- Southern Association of Orthdontists
- Florida Association of Orthodontists
- American Dental Association
- Florida Dental Association
- Miami Dade Dental Society
- Smiles Change Lives
"I am thrilled to be joining Miami Orthodontic Specialists, where I can help create beautiful and healthy smiles that my patients can be proud of. I strive to deliver not only evidence-based care, but also patient-centered care combined with empathy, positivity, and compassion."
Meet Dr. Joyce Yin
Background & Education
Dr. Joyce Yin was born in Los Angeles, California, but was raised here in Miami. She received her bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Florida, graduating magna cum laude.
Dr. Yin went on to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania as a Dean's Scholar, where she earned her Doctorate of Dental Medicine. She continued her postdoctoral specialty training at UPenn, where she completed her residency in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.
Upon graduation, Dr. Yin completed the rigorous process of becoming a board-certified orthodontist and practiced in Philadelphia before returning to her Miami home. Having lived away from Miami for the last 12 years, Dr. Yin is excited to be with her family again.
Outside the Office
“After seven years in Chapel Hill, I am grateful and elated to join Miami Orthodontic Specialists and return home to Miami. My treatment philosophy aligns with Miami Orthodontic Specialists’ mission to provide patient-centered care, research-based treatment options, excellent treatment outcomes, beautiful smiles, and a fun environment for patients.”
Meet Dr. Stephanie Companioni
Background & Education
Dr. Stephanie Companioni was born and raised in Miami, Florida, graduating valedictorian from Florida Christian School. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Miami, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience and minors in finance and chemistry.
After her undergrad, she attended the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry, where she attained her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree with distinction. She was then accepted as one of six residents to the prestigious UNC Orthodontics Program, where she attained her Certificate and Master of Science in Orthodontics.
One of Dr. Companioni’s passions is dental trauma prevention and management. She maintains her involvement with the UNC Dental Trauma Team, an interdisciplinary team specializing in innovative solutions for children with missing or traumatized teeth.
Outside the Office
Dr. Companioni and her husband, Ben, enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, exploring, snorkeling, and skiing.