What the role does
A general dentist examines patients, diagnoses oral disease, and provides the bulk of everyday care: fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, cleanings oversight, dentures, and preventive exams. In a typical South Florida office, the general dentist also reads radiographs, writes treatment plans, discusses cost and options with patients, and refers out anything beyond their comfort level — oral surgery, complex endodontics, orthodontics, periodontal surgery — to a specialist. The role includes supervising hygienists and assistants during the day and, in most practices, some administrative work: chart review, insurance documentation, and case presentation.
Ideal qualifications
A DMD or DDS from an accredited dental school is the baseline. Beyond the degree, offices in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach look for comfort with a busy, walk-in-heavy patient base, working knowledge of a common practice-management or EHR system, and — this matters a lot locally — some ability to communicate in Spanish or Haitian Creole. Many patients in this market are more comfortable discussing treatment in a language other than English, and that changes case acceptance rates. Experience with same-day crowns, digital scanning, or sedation is a plus but rarely required for a general associate position.
Licensing and certification in Florida
Dentists practicing in Florida must hold an active license under Fla. Stat. Chapter 466, which sets out the scope of dental practice and the grounds for discipline. The Board of Dentistry's rules, found in Florida Administrative Code 64B5, cover license application, examination pathways, continuing education hours, and renewal cycles. A dentist prescribing controlled substances also needs a separate DEA registration, and current CPR/BLS certification is required by rule. Anyone hiring or applying should confirm license status directly with the Florida Department of Health before an offer goes out — this guide is not a substitute for that check.
Pay in the Miami metro
Pay varies; the posts below show current offers.
Schedule and setting
Most general dentist positions in this market are full-time, four to five clinical days a week, with some practices adding Saturday hours or one evening shift to reach working patients. Settings range from small private offices in Coral Gables or Boca Raton to larger group practices and community health centers in Miami-Dade and Broward that see higher patient volume and a broader mix of insurance, including Medicaid. Part-time and associate-to-partner arrangements are both common, so it's worth asking early which structure a posting actually offers.
Interview questions (six)
- Walk me through how you'd build a treatment plan for a patient who needs more than routine care but is hesitant about cost.
- How do you approach case acceptance conversations, and what's worked for you?
- A meaningful share of patients here speak Spanish or Haitian Creole as a first language — how do you handle that in the exam room?
- What digital systems or EHR platforms have you worked with day to day?
- What's your referral threshold for oral surgery, endodontics, or periodontics?
- How many patients do you typically see in a full clinical day, and how do you keep pace without rushing exams?
Career path
Most general dentists start as an associate in an established practice, building speed and a patient base over the first one to three years. From there, paths split: some move into a lead or managing dentist role overseeing other clinicians, some buy into a practice as a partner or owner, and others move toward regional clinical roles with multi-location groups. A smaller number move into public health dentistry, teaching, or return to school for a specialty residency in oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, or another recognized specialty.
Where to train locally
Nova Southeastern University's College of Dental Medicine, based in Broward County, is the DMD-granting dental school serving South Florida directly. The University of Florida's College of Dentistry, in Gainesville, is the state's other public dental school and a common path for Florida residents. For continuing education, license renewal hours, and team training, Miami Dade College and Broward College run dental hygiene and dental assisting programs that are useful reference points when building out a clinical team, even though they don't grant the DMD or DDS itself.
Working through Miami Dentist
If you're hiring a general dentist for a Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach office, you can post a job and reach candidates already looking in this market. If you're the one looking, you can search openings across the metro, or go straight to a county page: Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach.