My professional education began at the University of Illinois, where I earned my undergraduate degree in biology. I knew early on that I wanted to pursue a career in dentistry, and after four years in Champaign I continued on to dental school at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Even in dental school, my passion was always in the field of orthodontics. Immediately following dental school, I was accepted into and completed a two-and-a-half-year residency program at the University of Colorado, receiving my specialty certificate in orthodontics as well as a Masters in Dentistry. After graduation, I continued on to complete my Board Certification. While my formal training is complete, I continue to stay up to date on the current trends and technology in orthodontics through relevant continuing education courses.

I am originally from Highland Park, IL, a suburb of Chicago, where I grew up with two younger brothers. My wife, Julie, is also from Highland Park and we met when we were in middle school. We moved to Denver several years ago and immediately fell in love with Colorado. We like to spend our free time hiking and camping in the summer, and skiing in the winter, and we cant imagine a better place to live. Since moving to Denver, weve expanded our family by two wonderful daughters. We also have a dog, Frederick, who loves to tag along on our outdoor adventures.

I am thrilled to have the chance to practice in the community where my family and I live. I am grateful that Dr. Franz has placed her trust in me to continue to serve the community and provide the same level of excellent care that you have come to expect

No. All orthodontists must be licensed to practice, but at this time only 1 in 3 orthodontists have continued on to become a board certified orthodontist. The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) certification process signifies a unique achievementa significant step beyond the two to three years of advanced education required for a dentist to become a specialist in orthodontics. The process requires the orthodontist to demonstrate actual accomplishments in patient care with detailed case reports on the treatment provided for a broad range of patient problems. Board certification is a voluntary achievement that all orthodontists do not choose to pursue. In order to become board certified by the ABO, an individual orthodontist is thoroughly interviewed by a highly respected panel of examiners to demonstrate their orthodontic knowledge, clinical skills and judgment.

One. The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) is the only certifying board in the specialty that is recognized by the American Dental Association. The ABO was founded in 1929 and is the oldest specialty board in dentistry. The boards purpose is to elevate the quality of orthodontic care for the public by promoting excellence through certification, education and professional collaboration.

Successful completion of the examination process demonstrates the orthodontists highest commitment to excellence in orthodontics to both the orthodontic profession and the general public. It represents a commitment by a licensed specialist that he/she has the necessary knowledge base and skills to treat patients to the highest of standards. It exemplifies a practitioners commitment to continue to keep abreast of the latest advances in patient care, and to continue to deliver these latest advances to patients. Many orthodontists see it as a demonstration of their dedication to the specialty and the highest level of personal achievement.

Since the establishment of the ABO in 1929, the certification process requirements have continued to adjust to the demands of the specialty. Today, the process involves a thorough Written Examination (240 questions) covering all areas of information which an orthodontist should be knowledgeable. Successful completion of this board exam allows the orthodontist to proceed to the Clinical Examination where they present detailed case reports from their practice/residency, demonstrating a history of excellence in patient care. These cases are evaluated by a panel of examiners and later discussed during an oral examination where the applicant is tested on a wide variety of academic and clinical topics. After successful completion of these examinations, the orthodontist has officially achieved Board Certification, for a time-limited period. The orthodontist must go through Certification Renewal every 10 years to maintain their certification status by demonstrating this continued level of patient care.