Meet Dr. Garcia-Paul
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 has been a volunteer on staff at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Team and she is a volunteer instructor in the dental assisting program at the Robert Morgan Technical Institute.
She is also a committed provider for Smiles Change Lives, a community program that provides much-needed orthodontic care to children in Miami. Since starting with the program she has donated over $130,000 of free orthodontic treatment to children in need.
The Road Back to Miami
After graduating from her orthodontics residency, Dr. Garcia-Paul moved to Rhode Island with her husband, Alex, who was then serving in the United States Navy.
While he completed his tour of duty, she worked in New England as an orthodontist. After nine years away, she was excited to finally return to her Miami home.
Smiling In Miami
Since returning home, Dr. Garcia-Paul has been able to transform hundreds of smiles by focusing on her dream of providing high-quality, personalized care.
By being the sole orthodontist in Miami Orthodontic Specialists, she has been able 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 two 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, Alex (whenever she can get a babysitter).
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