I look forward to having fun at work every day, while making a difference in the lives of a vibrant, healthy, and committed group of patients. They come to me because they want to, not because they have to, and I love the hugs and smiles that I receive!

I love seeing a person blossom with new confidence and self-esteem as a result of a new smile. Orthodontic treatment can be a truly life-changing experience and I have seen it make such a difference in so many lives, from physical changes that improve health to aesthetic changes that improve self-worth.

My greatest satisfaction has been watching numerous patients pursue dentistry as their own profession and a couple have gone on to become orthodontists, themselves. It is such an honor to know I had a positive effect on these lives!

I have been involved with dentistry since 1980 and orthodontics since 1984. When I was a junior in dental school, two students who excelled academically and were clinically advanced were selected to join the Orthodontic Honors Program. As one of these students, I was able to see my own orthodontic patients as an undergraduate and it fanned a fire.

I was a Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at Loyola University from 1989 to 1992. When I was teaching, I felt that being in an educational institution kept me up-to-speed on the latest research and clinical techniques.

When Loyola closed, I became a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and joined numerous study clubs to stay on the leading-edge of emerging research and technology. The rapid changes in orthodontics require me to take as much continuing education as I can, in order to provide patients with the best care options.

My wife Graceand I met in college and married in 1981. We have three children and three grandchildren, to date. Our oldest, Ryan, is married to Taryn and has two daughters. Our middle child, Laura, is married to John who is my business partner as well as son-in-law. They have a daughter, Emma. John, our youngest son, was lost in 2012 and is missed every day.

Over the years our family has had our share of dogs, rabbits, and other pets. Presently, Graceand I enjoy travel, visiting friends, golf, and other activities that keep us from adding another pet at this point. The freedom is fun!

I love outdoor sports. In the summer youll find me playing golf, water skiing, biking, or any other reason I might find to be outside! Winters I love to spend snow skiing and snowmobiling, along with playing platformtennis.

An artist by nature and scientist by education, I chose to become an orthodontist because of my passion for helping people change and improve their lives. A beautiful, functional smile plays a part in ones success and happiness: every smile I treat is an opportunity to make a positive impact in someones life. Seeing a person who covered their teeth before treatment flash a smile as big as the Grand Canyon as they see the change in their appearance is thrilling humbling and extremely gratifying.

As an orthodontist, I meet many fantastic people every day; each helps me grow and enriches my life. Patients are the reason I wake looking forward to the day ahead and make healthcare like no other profession in the world.

My vision upon entering practice with my partner Rick was to create a state-of-the-art practice with service second to none. But more than that, a practice where patients and referring community dentists feel so good about the quality of care and personalized service they receive that they would be compelled to refer their friends and patients. This philosophy has attracted a wonderful staff and an amazing family of patients. We foster a culture of enthusiasm among our team and work to achieve our goals as an open, honest group of individuals who genuinely care about the process and the results. We simply want to be the best!

I graduated Phi Beta Kappa fromLehigh Universitybefore attending dental school at theUniversity of Iowawith the benefit of a Dows research scholarship.While at Iowa, I was elected to Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society, and received the William F. Kramer Award of Excellence, awarded to the top clinician in the class as determined by faculty. I continued my education at Iowa and received my MS in Orthodontics.I was certified a diplomate by theAmerican Board of Orthodonticsin 2006 and continued my pursuit of excellence by recertifying in 2011. I currently serve as President of the Illinois Society of Orthodontists.

Invisalign treatment is a special interest of mine. While the biomechanical principles of moving teeth with plastic aligners are the same as braces, they require a very different skillset to obtain a fantastic outcome. My goal is to make sure were delivering the finest smiles possible, whether a patient chooses braces or plastic aligners.

I grew up in Wyomissing, PA, and have lived in Chicago for more than 20 years. My home, and life, is shared with two rescued English Bulldogs, Fancy Apple and Georgia Rose. They, and several pups before them, were adopted through the Chicago English Bulldog Rescue, a well-run organization that really makes a difference in the lives of so many bulldogs.

Music has been an important part of my life since childhood. Ive played on the bill with such great artists as 10,000 Maniacs and Blues Traveler. Before his passing, I played drums for Pat DiNizio, lead singer of the multiplatinum rock group The Smithereens and have recently been onstage with power pop group The Posies.

As a result of music, Ive been lucky to have performed on national television and a feature article was written in the national trade journal Orthodontic Products about how I combine the practice of orthodontics and music.

Every day I am thankful to be in a profession I love. Making a physical and emotional difference in someones life is one of the most meaningful gifts I can give someone. In no other profession can a practitioner say that they literally create and build smiles!

The most exciting part of my profession is encouraging and working with my patients to take ownership in creating their new smiles. We cannot do this on our own: patient compliance is extremely important! I love working alongside my patients as a team. Together, we are not only changing that patients life, but we also impact the life of everyone they share that smile with!

I love being able to help facilitate personal growth and self-improvement for every patient, while getting to know them on a personal level. Its rewarding to learn what truly makes someone smile! Being a resident of La Grange, I also love seeing our patients out and about in the community those big smiles always make me smile!

I have had the privilege of meeting some very influential mentors within the dental profession who guided me into joining the oral healthcare field. Dr. Battistoni is one of those mentors. I have known the Battistoni family since I was in grade school and that kindled my interest in the field. By the time I graduated from Nazareth Academy I had made up my mind that I wanted to become a dentist.

It is also important for me to set aside time to read dental and orthodontic journals to stay current with the most up-to-date technologies and techniques in our profession. Being active in seeking out continuing education not only provides me with knowledge to share with patients, but also gives me confidence that I am treating them in the most effective and efficient manner.

I am a Director of the Windy City Seminars, a Seattle Study Club affiliate, and the Vice President of the West-Side Branch of the Chicago Dental Society. Additionally, I am an advisory board member of The H Foundation, in conjunction with Northwestern Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.

My wife, Laura, and I grew up in La Grange and we recently purchased our first homehere. We areexcited to be back in our hometown to start our own family. We are also delighted to announce the arrival of our son, William, in September 2020! Our daughter, Emma has been loving spending time with her little brother.

Laura and I are extremely close to our families and all of our siblings live within 15 minutes of each other. Dr. Battistoni ismy father-in-law, and my mom, Maryann, recently retired as our Oak Park Treatment Coordinator!

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with Laura and we both love being active. From swimming and water skiing in the summer to snow skiing in the winter, I love being outside. Family time is important to us, and we love being with our three nieces and nephew. Laura and I are excited to have our kids grow up close to their cousins!

My family and friends mean the world to me. I am most passionate about creating new life experiences and memories with them. These experiences may be unique and adventurous, associated with travel and, oftentimes, new foods. It truly doesnt matter what we are doing, so long as we are experiencing it together!

At Battistoni | Beam | Polivka Orthodontics, we have one of the most experienced staffs youll find anywhere in the country. We have staff members who have been with the practice since the very beginning, and our team has tremendous training and experience in all things in the orthodontic world.

Most importantly, though, we have a team committed to one thing the patients we proudly serve. Every member of our team is dedicated to helping you achieve your smile goal, while ensuring you have a great office experience and fun along the way.

Our clinical assistants take patient photos and X-rays, so we know the best treatment to achieve maximum health and the most beautiful smile for each patient. They also make retainers and other appliances to help with treatment. Our assistants enjoy working hard to make sure our patients receive the best service available and have great pride for the work done here.