I feel truly blessed to be an orthodontist. It is the most creative thing I can imagine doing as a profession and it rewards me with a satisfaction and a happiness that can only be fully expressed with a smile. After more than three decades in practice, I still find orthodontic treatment fascinating. Whether treating children or adults, it gives me a lot of personal enjoyment to see both the changes taking place during treatment and the final beautiful result.

I attended Stanford University for my undergraduate education, and then went on to the University of California Los Angeles Dental School for my Doctorate of Dental Surgery. I completed my orthodontic residency at the University of California San Francisco before entering private practice in the Santa Cruz area, where I have happily been ever since.

I attend several courses each year to keep up with new developments in orthodontics. Whether its learning new ways to move teeth with conventional braces, or advancing my training in clear aligner treatment, I want my patients to have the best possible care.

Born in San Francisco and raised on the Peninsula, I now reside in Aptos with my wife, Terry. We have three grown daughters who I enjoy spending time with, as well as restoring and maintaining my antique cars, working at home in the garden, and spending time with Terry. While I am passionate about providing great orthodontic care for my patients, I am also committed to protecting the environment and ensuring my familys happiness in any way I can.

We recognize that all of our patients are unique and deserve to receive orthodontic care that reflects their individual needs. Our experienced and talented team is committed to working with you and your family to create a comfortable, stress-free, and rewarding orthodontic experience every time you visit our practice. We are pleased to welcome you and your family, and we look forward to working with you.

I have four kids Jesse, Kimberly, R.J. and Kenny and also two granddaughters Alaya & Leilani whom I enjoy spending all my time with. I also love to go to church where I am blessed to have so many beautiful people around me.

Rosila works as a chairside orthodontic assistant, takes diagnostic records for our new patients, and translates for our non-English speaking patients. She joined our office in 1998 and loves to see the patients beautiful smiles after their orthodontic treatment.

Ally has worked with Dr. Connolly for 2 years. Her favorite part of the job is learning as much as she can about orthodontics, being able to learn new skills, and seeing the patients happiness when they are done with treatment.

Alicia has more than 21 years of experience in orthodontics, using all that shes learned over the years to perform a variety of procedures to assist Dr. Connolly in creating beautiful smiles. Getting to know our patients and seeing their personalities and smiles change as they progress through treatment is Alicias favorite part of her job. She enjoys being a part of such a courteous, patient-focused team.

Alicia and her husband Ventura have two wonderful sons. She values the time she spends with family and friends. Alicias hobbies include shopping, traveling, collecting antique rosary beads, and attending her community parish.

Don't worry! Braces aren't nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, braces today come in a variety of styles, materials, and colors, making life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past.

Orthodontic braces are a big part of life for many people your age. While braces may have had a bad reputation in the past, today's braces make it easy to look good and feel good! Please contact our practice to schedule your next orthodontic checkup.

Orthodontic treatment is no longer just for teens. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists states that one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21. Many adults are choosing to receive treatment because they understand the importance of maintaining their health, and they want to feel better about their appearance. Adults everywhere are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive orthodontic care, and now you can too.

For many adults, the thought of having metal braces is enough to discourage them from receiving treatment. However, today's orthodontic treatment options offer a variety of braces and appliances that are comfortable, aesthetic, and customized to meet your needs. Types of braces include:

The main difference to remember when treating adults or children and teens, is that in younger patients the jawbones are still developing. For adults, these bones have stopped growing, which may mean the possibility of orthognathic surgery to align the jawbones. Other differences include:

Our practice also recognizes that adults and children have different needs, and require a different level of attention and care. We will work with you to ensure that you receive the most appropriate treatments, and that your needs are met with understanding and respect from us.