Editor’s Note: Haute Beauty sits down with Dr. Raul Molina to learn more about the smile expert from the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. 

Photo Credit: Dr. Raul D. Molina

What is your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement to date is getting the privilege of treating someone who was a patient of my great grandfather’s when he was a dentist in Cuba. My family worked hard to get us all to Miami and give us the opportunity to choose our lives for ourselves. That day made me realize that I hadn’t only finally achieved many of the goals I set out for myself, but also those my family had sacrificed for.

What is the future of your field?

Dentists have received some of the most in-depth training on the anatomy of the oral and maxillofacial regions and the scope of our work sits at the intersection of artistry and medicine. As the field
progresses, it is moving towards a more comprehensive approach in treating our patients that combines these facets and incorporates technologies like 3D printers, digital scanners, and AI.

What is the biggest misconception about your field?

The idea that going to the dentist has to be a painful and expensive experience. A proper Smile Expert will give you more in value than what you’re paying for and will always put the patient’s comfort as their utmost priority.

What are your most requested procedures?

The top three are implants, veneers and botox.

What surgical advancements are you most excited about?

While there are plenty of exciting surgical advancements in our field, I’m most excited about a particular non-surgical one. We now offer a non-invasive treatment which is allowing us to treat many cases of periodontitis effectively and as a result, cuts our patients’ risk of having a heart attack or stroke by over 50%.

What are you best known for?

I’m proud to say that despite our glowing reviews regarding our office’s excellent aesthetic work, we are known more for our patient care and integrity. This is something that only happens when your entire team is focused on a mission to get patients healthier in a comfortable and welcoming environment.

What is your most memorable patient reaction?

I had a patient who was having trouble smiling for a picture with her final work. All of a sudden, she became overwhelmed with emotion and started crying because she realized that it’d been so long since she had been able to smile that she had forgotten how. We finished her case just in time for her to visit her family for Christmas and it was special.

What sets your practice apart?

I focus on how to get our patients to a point where they are healthy, have a functional bite, and are happy with how they look aesthetically. To accomplish these three things you need an excellent team, talented and hard-working doctors, and advanced technologies not normally held at your average dental practice. I’m happy to say that we come through on all these fronts for our patients.

What do you love most about your profession?

Educating patients on how they can lead healthier lives and obtain a smile of their dreams.

What has been a career-defining procedure for you?

Although I’ve had many procedures define my career, my most memorable defining moment was my first complete smile reconstruction. It involved me doing work across multiple specialties
— both surgical and non-surgical — and completely rebuilding someone’s smile from scratch. When I saw the amazing final result and saw the patient’s reaction, I knew I had just reached a new level in my career.

What new services are you excited to offer?

I’m excited that our office is now offering PDL threads for mini face-lifts. It’s a non-invasive procedure that is pretty quick but can have a dramatic effect. Whether it’s smoothing out acne scars or turning back the clock for younger, more vibrant skin, this is an amazing procedure.

For more on Dr. Raul Molina, visit his Haute Beauty profile.