For Dr. Dory Green, dentistry is more than a profession - it’s a creative and scientific calling. The Fort Lauderdale native has built a career that blends precision medicine with artistic vision, proving that a healthy smile is both a science and an art form.

Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Dr. Green attended the University School in Davie, where her interests were already split between two worlds. She excelled in the sciences but was equally drawn to the arts, particularly theatre. While many students might have felt pressure to choose between disciplines, Dr. Green embraced both. She began stage managing theatrical productions at school, learning the technical and creative sides of performance while continuing to thrive academically.

That dual passion followed her to the University of Miami, where she initially pursued a traditional pre-med track. At the same time, she enrolled in electives within the university’s theatre department. When she discovered that some of the more focused special-effects classes were limited to students pursuing theatre degrees, Green made a bold decision - she changed her academic concentrations to include microbiology, technical theatre, and chemistry.

Her academic advisor worried the unusual combination might appear unfocused on medical school applications. 

Dr. Green, however, saw it differently. “If arts and sciences weren’t meant to be together,” she reasoned, “why call it the College of Arts & Sciences?”

That philosophy would eventually guide her toward dentistry - a field where precision science and visual artistry intersect every day. Rather than choosing between two passions, she found a profession that required both.

Dr. Green went on to attend the Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry, a program widely recognized for its rigorous clinical training. The school’s high patient-care requirements ensured that graduates developed extensive hands-on experience before entering practice. After earning her dental degree, she completed a hospital residency where she treated complex cases involving facial trauma and reconstruction - work that sharpened her understanding of both the functional and aesthetic aspects of oral health.

Now more than 15 years into her career, Green still approaches dentistry with the same curiosity and creativity that shaped her early education.

Her latest chapter is DG Dental, her first solo practice. While she has spent much of her career collaborating with other dentists in hospitals, schools, and private practices, opening her own office allowed Dr. Green to create a patient-centered environment that reflects her philosophy of individualized care.

“I love collaborating with other doctors,” she says, “but having the freedom to offer truly customized and unique care options to my patients is really important to me.”

At DG Dental, patients can receive a full range of general dental services - from exams, x-rays, cleanings, and fillings to crowns, removable prosthetics, and implant restorations. Cosmetic procedures such as whitening, veneers, and facial injectables are also available. The practice has a board-certified orthodontist in-house who provides braces and clear aligners for children and adults, ensuring comprehensive care in one location.

But what sets the practice apart is its focus on advanced and specialized services. Unlike many general dental offices that refer patients elsewhere for procedures like root canals, extractions, or bone grafting, Green performs most of these treatments in-house. For patients, that means fewer referrals and more continuity of care.

Another unique feature is the office’s emphasis on airway medicine. DG Dental collaborates closely with board-certified sleep physicians to help diagnose and treat conditions such as sleep apnea and other breathing disorders. Patients can receive specialized care close to home, improving both oral health and overall well-being.

The practice also offers material compatibility testing for patients with environmental sensitivities, ensuring that dental materials used in treatment are well tolerated. Additionally, the office is credentialed with most major medical insurance companies and partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, helping reduce out-of-pocket costs and making high-quality care more accessible.

Dr. Green was also awarded a prestigious Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry and holds a Certificate of Excellence in Clinical Research from the National Dental Practice based Research Network.

One area where her research studies have helped her is finding out what procedures or steps can be eliminated.  “There has been some evidence that certain kinds of screenings are returning too many false positives, which can lead to unnecessary invasive procedures. Knowing what kinds of testing have value and what the risk levels are for different populations can save patients a lot of discomfort,” Dr. Green explained.

Despite the demands of running a growing practice, Dr. Green has never lost her love for the arts. In her free time, she creates theatrical prosthetics, props, and costumes for local productions - a hobby that occasionally overlaps with her professional life. Her home office is filled with wigs, molds, special-effects materials, and costume pieces.

In one memorable moment, Green found herself carving a prosthetic eye piece for a theatre production during a lunch meeting with a dental supply representative who needed to stop by quickly.

“That was definitely a new experience for her,” Dr. Green laughs.

Her connection to the arts community extends beyond personal projects. Green has served as President of the Board of Trustees for The Girl Choir of South Florida for four years and regularly supports local arts organizations. In just the first year since opening DG Dental, she has helped sponsor a technology upgrade for the choir, provided backstage support for productions by the Lesbian Thespians and Eagles Landing Middle School and participated in a fundraiser for Slow Burn Theatre Company.

At home, creativity runs in the family. Dr. Green’s husband is a biomedical engineer who works in surgical robotics, and their two children - ages eight and ten - often join in on family projects, whether they involve science, theatre, or a bit of both.

Launching her own practice was a challenge Dr. Green intentionally sought out. After years of experience in hospitals, schools, and group practices, she wanted to build something that reflected her own values.

“It’s given me the chance to create an office and practice in my own image,” she says, “one that treats dentistry and patient care like the science and art that they are.”

DG Dental recently celebrated its first anniversary, a milestone Dr. Green views as just the beginning. As the practice grows, she plans to expand specialized treatment options and upgrade in-house laboratory equipment to speed up turnaround times for patients.

Through it all, her message remains simple: caring for your smile should never feel intimidating.

“It’s never too early or too late to start taking care of your smile,” Dr. Green says. “Parents should begin dental hygiene routines as soon as their babies’ teeth appear. And if you’ve been putting off seeing a dentist because you’re embarrassed or worried, know that a great dentist is always ready to take care of you.”

For Dr. Dory Green, every patient is another opportunity to combine science, creativity, and compassion - bringing healthier, brighter smiles to life.

646 N. Federal Hwy.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304