As the son of a dentist, I learned early on to appreciate the details behind a beautifulsmile and the passionateeffortrequired in giving someone a lifelong smile they would love. My father would sharethat each persons smile is their unique signature and story, and he emphasized that we all must belifelong learners to understand and deliver onevery individualsneeds. I have embraced every aspect of that mantraand continue to do so in my educational and smile journey ... past, present, and future.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts, Doctorate of Dental Medicine, Certificate in Orthodontics, and Masterof Science in Oral Biology all from the University of Pennsylvania. As my hairline began to recede like that of Benjamin Franklins during my long tenure at Penn, I had discovered one of my true passions: orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics for children and adults. Furthermore, during my time at Penn, I learned to become a critical thinker through ten years of research as well as gaining important leadership experience, most notably as Chief Resident of Penn Orthodonticsand President of Penns American Student Dental Association.

My passion for the profession led me to earn additional certifications while a resident, most notablyDiplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. I also developed an interest in published orthodontic literature, and as a result, I accepted the position of Abstracts Editor for the peer-reviewed journalOrthodontic Practice US. I am a former faculty member of the University of Pennsylvania and lecture nationally and internationally for Complete Clinical Orthodontics, Secchi Institute, and Roth-Williams Center for Functional Occlusion.

Dr. Shah draws from his lecturing and teaching experiences, and his participation in continuing education courses, to give his patients the best of whatorthodontics has to offer. Orthodontic excellence is only one part of our core values, however. We also strongly value personalized service and believe that orthodontics is a family affair. Our greatest joy is seeing our COE family grow and striving to make sure that everything we do makes a difference!

My joys outside of orthodontics include spending quality time with my wife Nehaand three children:Kaayan, Aidyn, and Caryna, aka TheSNACK Pack!As a family, we enjoy being active in the community, engaging in meaningful philanthropy projects, and immersing ourselves in new experiences. I personally enjoy technology, reading, teaching, dancing, golf, snowboarding, football, running, and sports in general.

It is truly a privilege to be able to work with our wonderful team of patients, staff, and professional colleagues. It is an even greater honor to be able to help our patients achieve the smiles that they aspire to share with the world. I truly love our COE family.

No, this is not a plug for Olive Garden, even though pasta is definitely a braces-friendly food!This is the mantra that the COE Team seek to accomplish every day for every interaction with every patient.The best orthodontic results come from families that work together with us for the entire process and are excited about coming to our office.We know you will respect our abilities, and we will respect your time, always be accessible, and make you feel at home.

Our treatment goals involve more than just achieving spectacular aesthetics.The COE Team has the tools, education, and experience necessary to ensure you have a functional and stable bite that lasts for years.We exceed the traditional standard of orthodontic care and take additional steps to create your individualized treatment plan. In our eyes, this is important because you, as the patient, are the only person that matters.

A great smile does not just happen. It requires teamwork to get a successful result. We pride ourselves on our communication with you as well as with other dentists that may be involved in your care. In this way, we make sure we all are working together for your benefit.

From the moment I walked into COE I knew the office and doctors were special and that I wanted to be a part of it. As office manager, my goal is for patients to get that same feeling I did, every time they walk in. Its a goal we all share; everyone at the COE works hard every day to make the office a great place to be! I spend much of my work day behind the scenes, but what I enjoy most is working with our doctors and staff to make sure were providing the best possible patient careand customer service experience.

Ive always believed a smile makes the best first impression. Over the years and throughout my career Ive tried to live by these words. I grew up in a small town in Maryland and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park.

After college I moved to the Big Apple with my husband to work in healthcarepublic relations. Once we had our two children, we moved to West Windsor to enjoy suburbia. Im truly grateful to be a part of this warm, vibrant community.

My husband Dave and I have been residents of West Windsor since moving here from Libertyville, IL in the late 90s. Our three daughters now adults all participated in after school activities, so I got involved too. From heading up a booster club, to co-chairing Post-Prom, to coaching little league softball there was never a dull moment!

Our entire family loves animals. We do a lot of volunteering and fundraising for SAVE, a local animal shelter, and our house just doesnt feel like home without a few four-legged family members running around. Were currently fostering 4 dogs and a cat all rescues!

Ive had other jobs, but this is the first company Ive worked for thats on a mission to make people happy; working at COE is a perfect fit for me. My favorite part of the job is seeing patients discover their new smiles.

I have always loved working with children and families. I have done so in many different settings; from homeless shelters to early childhood education. Here at COE I love meeting and getting to know our patients, and becominga part of their smile stories!

When I'm not working you'll find me spending time with my husband, family and friends. I love animals; we currently have 7 cats and 2 turtles, all rescued! I enjoy reading, music, and being outdoors. I am so lucky to be part of a team whose goal is to make people smile :)

Dentistry has been a huge passion of mine since graduating from Rutgers University in 2007. After completing my bachelor's degree in Philosophy, I started working as a dental assistant for a cosmetic dentist and immediately fell in love with the world of dentistry. Working with patients to achieve a healthy and beautiful smile is a career that I take very seriously and never take for granted.

After several years of working as a dental assistant, I yearned to advance my professional career. I was accepted to the Dental Hygiene program at Middlesex County College and graduated as Valedictorian in 2015. I was honored to be awarded Excellence in Dental Hygiene in the clinical and classroom setting and 1 month after graduating, I delivered my first baby girl.

After moving to Monmouth County in 2019, I had the great pleasure of joining the COE Team. At COE, I rely upon my background in cosmetic dentistry and periodontics to help educate patients on how to properly care for their teeth while creating the smile of their dreams. What I love most about COE is that all patients are treated like family and I find that so unique and important while going through the orthodontic process.

My passion for orthodontics stems from the positive experience I had as a young patient. I joined COE in May of 2018 as the first hygienist on the team. I have been a registered dental hygienist since I graduated from Harcum College in the Spring of 2010.

Its exciting working for an orthodontic practice that places such a high priority on hygiene, and the oral health of its patients.The atmosphere here at COE, and the emphasis it places on staff education, allows us to flourish in our jobs. I feel blessed to work in an office where I have the opportunity to learn something new every day!

I was born and raised in Cape May County. I moved to this area about two years ago to be with my now husband when he accepted a new job with the state as a deputy attorney general. When Im not at work I like to stay active and explore new places. I have two cats, Blanket and Satchmo.

I enjoy meeting all our friendly patients and being part of a life-changing experience for them. When a person achieves the smile of their dreams, theyre happier, more confident, and they smile all the time! I love how our office is energetic and filled with laughter, from the doctors andteam topatientsand families. I setup stations, sterilize instruments, change wires, and provide chairside assistance. My goal is always toprovide great service, with a smile!

I enjoy watching patients change during treatment and building relationships with them. Seeing a person gain self-esteem and confidence with a new smile is a great experience! I love working at the COE: its like were a big family, caring about each other and about our patient family, too. I greet and seat patients, and I take impressions and digital images. I also place and remove archwires, A-chains, and color ties, and sterilize instruments.

Im the oldest of six children and enjoy spending quality time with my siblings and family. I also like shopping and going places with my boyfriend and am a very active member of my church, where I help out with the children.

I am a New York native who recently moved to Trenton after getting married. I have been in orthodontics for the past 7 years. My journey began after my own orthodontic treatment. I was what is known as a surgical case and pursuing orthodontic treatment was the best decision I ever made. My experience made me want to share my journey with others and help shed some light about what it means to be a surgical case and thereby help others make that decision.

Working at the COE truly helped me transition from my move. I left one family and gained another. I enjoy spending my free time with my husband and family as well as always having a good book to read.

The COE team is made up of some of the kindest individuals I have ever met. The genuine desire to help people is something I have rarely seen before. To be able to work with a team that is like a family, and treats anyone who walks through the door as such, is something I am so happy to be a part of.

I have been crafting and making since I could walk. After spending my childhood trying every art form possible, I fell in love with the possibilities of additive manufacturing (3D printing). To be able to create something on the screen, and then bring it into reality, is truly an amazing experience I do not think I will ever grow tired of. By combining traditional fabrication methods with additive manufacturing, we can build amazing things that really help people!

An orthodontist is a dentist first. Dr. Shah went to dental school, just like your family dentist. However, he also had an additional two to three years of training to focus solely on braces and jaw alignment. Its all we do, all day, every day! We do not do cleanings, fillings, crowns, veneers, extractions, dentures, or root canals we only do braces. We focus on one aspect of dentistry onlymoving teethso that you can be assured that your treatment is done safely and efficiently!

Some children will benefit from orthodontic care well before all of their permanent come in. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have an orthodontic evaluation right away if you suspect an orthodontic problem, but no later than age seven. We offer complimentary orthodontic examinations to determine if and when your child would benefit from treatment.

We know many parents see young kids (before middle school age) with braces on their teeth. Because most parents remember having braces on themselves or their friends during the junior high years, we are always asked if braces are starting earlier now.

The answer is that braces, in the sense of fully correcting the bite, cannot be done until all the adult teeth come in the mouth. So, no, the braces process to align all the teeth still cant be done until the teenage years. Nothing has changed there.

However, what many parents (and some dentists) do not realize is that tooth development alone does not necessarily dictate when the best time is to see an orthodontist. Many kids have issues with either upper or lower jaw development that parents and family dentists CANT easily see or may not recognize are even a problem.

Therefore, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends kids have their first orthodontic checkup around age seven, and with very good reason! It is definitely NOT a self-serving recommendation, and we are all looking out for the best interest of the kids to keep treatment easy, painless, and simple.

If there is an underlying jaw issue, this might be easily addressed when the bones are young, soft, and easily molded. Also, if the bones are set up properly when young, some kids are even lucky enough to not require braces when they are older...and thats pretty cool!

Fortunately, most kids do have good jaw structures, and early intervention isnt needed, or the issues are mild enough to be delayed until later. However, to avoid complications to the other developing teeth, avoid harm to the gums, or avoid poor growth of the jaws its best to have a professional opinion at age seven to determine if your childs specific situation warrants attention now or if it can wait.

Every child is different so theres no one answer or recommendation for everyone. Also, since theres no harm and NO COST involved in scheduling a visit, just getting a checkup is a smart thing for any parent to do to make sure their child is in good orthodontic shape!

If something actually is indicated for treatment earlier instead of later, corrections done when kids are younger typically are usually easy and painless! This does not mean that braces to fix the teeth arent going to be needed later, but it does usually mean that the process will be a lot quicker, less expensive, and less invasive!

Many parents have the misconception of thinking that by doing recommended treatment early their child will have had braces twice. Thus, they erroneously think the orthodontists goal is just aligning a few crooked teeth. They feel that if its just straightening teeth, then why do it now and pay twice if its going to still need to be done later. Honestly, we agree 100%. In our office, we rarely will recommend early treatment if strictly for cosmetic issues.

Also some parents put off orthodontic treatment not because they think (or hope) their child will grow out of the problem. We truly wish that was the case, and life would be easier for everyone if it was, but its unfortunately not. Issues with your childs bite are not like their tantrums, a bad haircut, or acne. They dont grow out of it. Bite issues often do NOT fix themselves without intervention, and if left alone, these problems often grow worse and harder to resolve.

The best way to think of this idea is that there are two parts of the bite that will eventually need to be straightened: the underlying bones (the foundation) and the teeth (the house). So, straightening the

bones early when they are soft sets up the foundation to the right dimensions to accommodate the eventual house that will be built on top. Then, once all the adult teeth come in later on (during the teenage years), braces to straighten all the teeth will be used.

The reality is that both the bone and tooth aspects will need to be addressed at some point, but breaking it up into two parts is easier on the child and sets up a better environment for the adult teeth to come in.

When all the adult teeth come in, some kids have already matured to the point where the window to work with their softer bones has closed. Treatment now can become more complicated and could even involve jaw surgery, instead of what may have been a simple fix if the child only had been evaluated earlier.

Even if youre later getting your son or daughter in, its still possible to provide good treatment options (or even realize they dont even NEED braces!) However, the sooner you know and learn about your options, the better, so remember that age seven is the right time to schedule a visit with us!

Many cases that can be treated with traditional braces can also be treated with clear aligners. Every smile is different, and depending on your needs, sometimes braces may be a better choice. The only way to know for sure is to schedule a complimentary visit with Dr. Shah and see for yourself!

The amount of time spent in braces will vary, depending on the individual patient, because every smile responds differently to treatment. On average, a routine case with upper and lower braces lasts roughly 12-22 months. Some cases can be treated in as little as three to six months, and others may be longer than this range. The only way to know for sure is to schedule a visit for yourself to see.

With braces, you should brush your teeth at least three times a day to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy and clean. Brushing regularly will help remove any food that may be caught between the braces.

Yes! In fact, its even more important that patients receiving orthodontic treatment visit the dentist regularly. With braces, food may be caught in places your toothbrush cant reach. This causes bacteria to build up and can lead to cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. Our team will work closely with your dentist to make sure your teeth stay clean and healthy while youre wearing braces.

Playing an instrument or a contact sport may require some adjustment when you first get your braces, but wearing braces will not stop you from participating in any of your school activities. If you play a contact sport, it is recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your braces or appliance.