What the role does
A pediatric dentist treats children from infancy through the teen years, including kids with special health care needs. The work covers routine exams and cleanings, fluoride and sealants, cavity treatment, pulp therapy, space maintainers, sedation and behavior guidance for anxious or very young patients, and injury care. Pediatric dentists also screen for growth and bite problems and refer to orthodontics when needed. In a South Florida office, a large share of the day is often spent talking to parents and caregivers, many of whom are new to the dental system or more comfortable in a language other than English.
Ideal qualifications
A candidate should hold a DDS or DMD from an accredited dental school and have completed an accredited pediatric dentistry residency (typically two to three years) after dental school. Board certification or eligibility with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry is common on job posts, though not legally required to practice. Bilingual ability, especially Spanish or Haitian Creole, is a strong plus given the patient population across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Comfort with behavior management techniques, nitrous oxide, and occasionally hospital-based dentistry for medically complex children rounds out a competitive profile.
Licensing and certification in Florida
A dentist practicing in Florida, including a pediatric specialist, must hold an active dental license issued under Fla. Stat. Chapter 466 and must meet the practice standards set by the Board of Dentistry under Florida Administrative Code 64B5. Use of the title "pediatric dentist" or any specialty announcement is governed by the Board's specialty rules under 64B5, which set the training and credentialing conditions for advertising a recognized specialty. Sedation or anesthesia permits, if the office offers deeper sedation than local anesthesia with nitrous oxide, are separate permits issued by the Board and are tied to specific training and equipment requirements. None of this substitutes for legal advice; anyone unsure whether their credentials meet a current rule should confirm directly with the Board of Dentistry before accepting an offer.
Pay in the Miami metro
Pay varies; the posts below show current offers. Compensation for pediatric dentists is usually structured as a daily or percentage-of-production rate, which makes posted ranges hard to compare without knowing the schedule and patient volume behind them.
Schedule and setting
Most pediatric dental positions in the Miami metro run four to five clinic days a week, with some offices adding a Saturday for working parents. Settings range from single-specialty pediatric offices to larger group practices with an in-house pediatric department, community health centers serving Medicaid-heavy populations, and hospital-affiliated clinics that also cover operating-room cases for children who need treatment under general anesthesia. Part-time and associate-to-partner tracks are both common, and some practices offer a satellite-office rotation across Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach.
Interview questions
- How do you handle a frightened toddler who refuses to sit in the chair?
- Walk me through your approach to a child who needs treatment under sedation versus in-office behavior guidance.
- How do you communicate a treatment plan to a parent who disagrees with it?
- What is your experience with children who have special health care needs or medical complexity?
- How do you handle a language barrier with a family during a same-day emergency visit?
- What does a full patient day look like for you, and how many operatories do you typically run at once?
Career path
Most pediatric dentists start as an associate in an existing practice to build speed and a patient base before considering partnership, buying in, or opening an independent office. Some move into hospital-based dentistry, teaching at a dental school, or a leadership role within a larger group practice that operates several pediatric locations across South Florida. A smaller number pursue additional training in areas like sedation dentistry or move toward administrative and quality-oversight roles as their career matures.
Where to train locally
Nova Southeastern University's College of Dental Medicine and the University of Florida College of Dentistry both offer dental degree programs and postgraduate pathways relevant to pediatric dentistry, including residency training for those pursuing the specialty. Miami Dade College and Broward College offer dental assisting and dental hygiene programs that feed the clinical team a pediatric dentist works alongside, which is useful context when building out a full office roster rather than a solo hire.
Working through Miami Dentist
If you're hiring a pediatric dentist for a Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach office, you can post a job directly on the board. If you're looking for pediatric dentist openings, you can search openings or go straight to a county page: Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach.