Dr. Gwendolyn Cugine graduated from New York University, where she was awarded a Presidential Scholarship. After receiving her D.M.D. degree from Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1993, she completed a master's in health policy at Harvard'sJFK School of Government. Since completing her postgraduate orthodontic training at SUNY-Stonybrook, Dr. Cugine has shown a strong commitment to continuing education and annually takes her staff to the national meetings. She is certified as an ELITE Invisalign provider, a designation given to the top 2% of Invisalign providers. In addition, she is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, Massachusetts Dental Society, American Dental Association, the Northeast Society of Orthodontics and the Advanced Study Club of the North Shore.Her husband, Dr. William Bebrin is also an orthodontist. They often collabrate to ensure their patients get the best possible care.

The patients at her office call her Dr. Gwen. She has a beautiful daughter with her husbandnamed Lauren who was born in January of 2009. They are avid skiers andlove spending time in Vermont. During the summer, they enjoy the sun and the sand at Good Harbour Beach in Gloucester.

Dr. Bebrin received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Medicine degrees from the University of Connecticut. He later received orthodontic specialty certificates from the Harvard and Forsyth Orthodontic Departments. He also has a Doctorate of Medical Science in oral biology from the Harvard Medical School. Since completing clinical training in 1989, Dr. Bebrin has been active as a researcher, teacher, and as an area orthodontist in private practice. As a member of the American Orthodontic Association, he attends continuing education courses to stay current with the latest advances in orthodontics that will benefit his patients.

Dr. Bebrin has a love of orthodontics and a compassionate concern for his patients.In his spare time, he enjoys spending time and participating in outside sports and activities with his wife, Dr. Gwen Cugine and his children, Michelle, Billy, Nikki and Lauren.

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry specializing in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of jaw, face and bite irregularities (malocclusions*). Orthodontic treatment is provided by an oral health care provider known as an Orthodontist, who has typically completed two to three years of additional training beyond dental school.

The benefits of orthodontic treatment often go beyond the obvious physical changes of an improved bite and straighter teeth; its also a great way to improve a persons overall self-image. While having beautiful straight teeth is important, even more important is the need to alleviate any potential health problems associated with the teeth or jaw. Crooked teeth or jaw problems may contribute to improper cleaning of teeth, leading to tooth decay and, possibly, gum disease or total tooth loss. Orthodontic problems that go untreated can lead to chewing and digestion difficulties, speech impairments, and abnormal wear of tooth surfaces. Over time, excessive strain on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth can affect the jaw joints leading to problems such as headaches or face and neck pain.

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children get an orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7. Though orthodontic treatment can be done at any age, timely treatment ensures maximum dental health.

With all of the recent advancements in orthodontics, wearing braces has never been easier. State-of-the-art appliances and treatments are now available, from traditional metal braces, to clear and tooth colored brackets, to NASA type wires that are heat activated and require fewer adjustments! Some patients may even be candidates for treatment with Invisalign, a revolutionary way to straighten teeth using clear, retainer type aligners that require no braces or wires!

*Malocclusion is the technical term for teeth that dont fit together correctly. Malocclusions not only affect the teeth, but also the appearance of the face. Most malocclusions are inherited; however some are due to acquired habits such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting. The spacing left from an adult tooth being extracted or an early loss of a baby tooth can also contribute to a malocclusion.

In much the same way as doctors choose to specialize in areas such as cardiology and neurology, dentists can also choose to specialize. Orthodontics is a dental specialty which aims to prevent, diagnose and treat facial and dental irregularities, such as malocclusions (bad bites). Many orthodontic practices are limited to dentofacial orthopedics and general orthodontics but can successfully treat patients of any age.

Orthodontists are fully qualified dentists who embark on a further three years of university-based study and gain extensive clinical experience in an orthodontic residency program. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is the regulating body for this branch of dentistry. Selecting an orthodontist who is a member of this organization adds the assurance that treatment is being administered by an individual with specialty education in oral biology and biomechanics. The AAO recommends that children should first be examined by the orthodontist around the age of seven, to ensure that jaw and tooth irregularities are not beginning to form.

Orthodontists are experts in correcting misalignments of the teeth and jaw. There are many debilitating problems associated with misalignment, for example, speech defects, difficulties chewing and difficulty maintaining adequate oral hygiene.

Initially, the orthodontist conducts a thorough examination of the jaw and teeth. Panoramic x-rays and study models (bite impressions) will be taken prior to the orthodontist making treatment recommendations. The orthodontist will recommend the best treatment plan for the patients particular condition.