The multigenerational legacy began in Spain in the 1930s, before the war. It began not with a man, as you might expect with that era, but with Dr. Francisco Montamarta’s great aunt, who unknowingly began a long lineage of smile-makers.
Dr. Montamarta’s father was in the next generation of dentists, followed by Dr. Montamarta and some of his siblings. It’s fair to describe dentistry as the Montamarta family business, but it goes beyond a professional legacy. It’s in their blood.
“My becoming a dentist wasn’t a matter of family expectations,” Dr. Montamarta explains. “It was a matter of passion. I dreamed of becoming a periodontist and making a difference in people’s lives, like my father and my great aunt before me.”
Dr. Montamarta left Spain to pursue that dream at NYU. After graduating, he moved to South Florida because the climate and culture reminded him of home—and home it became.
Over the next 25 years, Dr. Montamarta, who is now well-known as Dr. M, worked on a pioneering team at Baptist Hospital, taught at NSU College of Dental Medicine, and began a private practice. He also met his perfect match: Cristina.
Cristina had been a dentist in Brazil, but when she came to the States, she discovered a greater love for the business side of dentistry. She became a consultant, helping dentists start, grow, and organize their practices. This is how she met Dr. M, and it wasn’t long before their easy friendship turned into a happy marriage with four kids between them.
“We not only get along well, we work well together,” Cristina says. “I decided I only wanted to work with him instead of consulting for others. So, I helped grow his practice, first from one location to two, and now to three.”
The third location is a dream come true for them in more ways than one, as it kicks off the life they have been dreaming of as Keys residents. When their longtime friend Dr. Berger decided to retire from his practice in Key Largo, he reached out to the Montamartas as prime candidates to take over.
“Dr. Berger knows how passionate we are about our patients and how highly experienced we are in our field. He knew he would be leaving his beloved practice in good, caring hands.”
The Montamartas have enjoyed every minute since taking over the practice. They have put their personal touch on the office, hiring professional designers to create a peaceful atmosphere that calms even the most nervous patients.
They are relishing the Keys lifestyle, hitting the water, trying the restaurants, and are wanting to get into pickleball. Most of all, they’ve been enjoying the people.
“We have always heard that there is something special about Keys people. We are now experiencing that firsthand, and we couldn’t feel more at home.”
The Montamartas want nothing more than to return that feeling to their patients. They want their patients to know that they see the people behind the mouth, and that they care for them as a whole.
“Our job goes beyond curing ailments and illnesses of the mouth. Oral health affects the entire body, and while we help you have a confident smile, we also do so much more.”
The Dr. M Center does dental implants (including “teeth in a day”), oral surgeries, and periodontal procedures using state-of-the art technology. Their special laser techniques reduce sensitivity and healing time, and are even used to help treat snoring and sleep apnea.
With three generations of experience in his blood, Dr. M looks forward to the many years ahead treating his Keys patients, and Cristina anxiously awaits your call to learn more at (305)453-1811.
–Jerrica Mah is a writer, Army wife, and freelance book editor, who loves to travel with her family
