Dr. Heather Stephens earned her DDS degree from the University of Southern California and then completed two years of post-graduate dental training during General Practice Residency (GPR) at UC San Francisco and the Veterans Medical Center in Sepulveda.
Following general dentistry training, Dr. Stephens completed three additional years of residency in orthodontics at USC, earning a Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics as well as a Masters degree in Craniofacial Biology.
Dr. Stephens has been part of the Clayton Valley Orthodontics family for many years. She was a patient at CVO while in college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She grew up in Martinez and attended Alhambra High School where she was on the track and cross country teams. She was also involved in the Briones 4-H horse, goat and chicken project groups. While at Alhambra, she met and started dating her now husband, Jeremy. Fun fact - your favorite CVO assistant Lauren is Jeremys mom (Dr. Stephens mother in law)!
When not helping patients with their smiles, her hobbies include running, cooking, listening to country music, bee-keeping, gardening, playing Pokmon Go, following@dog_rateson twitter and experimenting with 3D printing.
Dr. Stephen E. Ludwig graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science degree in Entomology in 1981. He attended Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, where he finished first in his class and earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 1986. Dr. Ludwig returned to California to complete orthodontic training at UCLA School of Dentistry, and received his Master's degree in Oral Biology in 1988.In 1993, Dr. Ludwig relocated to Northern California, where he currently practices in Concord.
Dr. Ludwig is an active member of the Contra Costa Dental Society, the American and California Dental Associations and the American Association of Orthodontists. Dr. Ludwig has been active in the Rotary organization and enjoys spending personal time with his wife and two sons.
Accredited orthodontists, like Dr. Stephen E. Ludwig, have earned their dentistry degree and completed an advanced post-doctoral course, accredited by the American Dental Association, of at least two academic years in the specialty of orthodontics.
During orthodontic treatment, teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed. Therefore it is important to have the treatment appropriately and properly completed by an orthodontist. Orthodontists have extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide their patients with professional, personalized treatments.
Members of the American Association of Orthodontists, like Dr. Stephen E. Ludwig, must be accredited orthodontists. Usually these members limit their treatments to orthodontics and treat both children and adults.
By choosing an orthodontist that is an AAO member, you are ensuring that your orthodontist has completed an advanced post-doctoral course of at least two academic years in the specialty of orthodontics.
Hello, my name is Jill. I have been a part of the Clayton Valley Orthodontics family since 1980. I am primarily the bookkeeper and financial coordinator, though I have worn many hats throughout the years. I enjoy watching the patients grow and feeling like we are making a difference in their lives. The smiles when our patients complete their treatment are priceless.
Hi there. My name is Sharron. I am a registered dental assistant and Dr. Ludwig's treatment coordinator. I have been very happily working at Clayton Valley Orthodontics since 1992. Our office is a very fun office to work in! I truly love working with our patients, enhancing their smiles, and helping to correct their dental/orthodontic issues. A side benefit is that our team gets to meet and know some really great people over the years: our fantastic patients!
Hi, my name is Bernadette. I have been working at Clayton Valley Orthodontics since 2007. I am a registered dental assistant. I also work in the lab, where I make a lot of the appliances used in the office. I love my work here. I especially love seeing all of our patients. It is an honor to serve our patients knowing that at the end of their treatment they will have a beautiful smile; one that I helped to make. I love to make our patients smile.
Hello my name is Rachel. I have been working at Clayton Valley Orthodontics since 2010 and love what I do. I was drawn to the specialty of orthodontics while I was in school to become a registered dental assistant. I enjoy the fact that we get to build a relationship with our patients because we have the privilege of seeing them regularly. I love watching our patients transform and become more confident with their appearance. It is a rewarding feeling to know that I help take part in this and I am a firm believer that a smile is the most important accessory a person can wear.
My name is Lauren. I have been working in dentistry since 1973 and in orthodontics since 1977. I began working at Clayton Valley Orthodontics in January of 1990. It is wonderful to see the patients as they grow up and it is always rewarding to see their smiles at the end of treatment.
Hi, my name is Jeannie and my title is office assistant. I have been a part of Clayton Valley Orthodontics for many years. My children were also patients here. I love the positive teamwork we share. It has been a blessing working here.