A Mother’s Inspiration and a Daughter’s Service through Dental Lifeline Network

For Donated Dental Services (DDS) volunteer Dr. Georgina Garcia, Mother’s Day is a meaningful time to cherish the memory of her mother, Dr. Dalia Garcia Sanchez, and to celebrate their unique journey as a mother-daughter dental team. It was her mother’s unwavering commitment to patients that first inspired Dr. Georgie’s own path towards dentistry and would later fuel Dr. Georgie’s commitment to giving back through Dental Lifeline Network.  

A Summer Job That Changed Everything  

This mother and daughter’s dentistry path together began when Georgie was helping out in her mother’s dental office on college summer break. Majoring in physics at the time, Georgie was completely uninterested in dentistry. However, she soon began to have a change of heart as she realized the difference her mother was making in her career, and the difference she too could make in the lives of others if she followed a similar path.  

Feeling inspired, Georgina later switched her major from physics to become a pre-dental student. As she continued her education, she became more involved in work at her mother’s dental office on school breaks and knew she wanted to return there once she graduated. In 1981, Dr. Georgina Garcia finished both her residency and dental school and joined her mother, Dr. Dalia Garcia Sanchez, at her practice in Miami Beach. Dr. Dalia was always hoping one of her children would follow in her path, so this was a dream come true. 

Mother and Daughter Team Make History  

At the time, their practice was the only mother and daughter dental practice in the United States, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Drs. Georgie and Dalia Garcia were also the first mother and daughter dentists registered with the ADA.  

Owning a dental practice and working together allowed this mother and daughter team to share an extraordinary bond. Witnessing her mother’s commitment to service motivated Dr. Georgie to find her own ways to contribute and inspired her to volunteer with Dental Lifeline Network. Although Dr. Dalia Garcia Sanchez passed away in 2014, Dr. Georgina Garcia continues her mother’s legacy and heart for giving back.  

“My mother showed me the profound impact a dentist can have, not just on smiles, but on lives,” reflected Dr. Georgie Garcia. “She instilled in me the belief that our skills as dentists are meant to be shared, and it’s incredibly rewarding to volunteer with Dental Lifeline Network and bring essential dental care to individuals who otherwise wouldn’t have access. Her spirit of giving continues to inspire my service with DLN, where I can extend that care to those most in need.” 

Dr. Georgina Garcia’s Impact 

Dr. Georgie Garcia is a longtime volunteer for Dental Lifeline Network and is also the Vice President of the FL • DDS Board. In her 27 years as a DDS volunteer, she has seen 10 DDS patients and given over $73,000 in treatment to these individuals in need.