I grew up in Southwest Louisiana, and moved to Baton Rouge to attend LSU, and then New Orleans for dental school. While here, I met and married my husband, Chad, a New Orleans native. After completing my residency in Houston, we moved back to New Orleans to raise our family. We have four amazing children who keep us very busy. I love spending time with my family and friends, reading, and exercising. I also enjoy supporting and volunteering with many community organizations including Habitat for Humanity, the Junior League of New Orleans, and St. Dominic church.

In order to provide our patients with the most current technology, diagnosis, and treatment, I am heavily involved in continuing education. I attend annual meetings hosted by the AAO which feature many leading instructors in orthodontics. I enjoy being a life-long learner, knowing that the knowledge I acquire will ultimately benefit my patients.

I was born and raised in Baton Rouge and made the move to New Orleans for dental school after attending LSU. I completed my post-graduate orthodontic residency here as well, during which time I met my husband, Harrison. Marrying a New Orleans native made the decision to call New Orleans our forever home an easy one. We live in the uptown area and now have two toddlers who take up most of our free time! I also enjoy community involvement including Junior League of New Orleans, Audubon Institutes Zoo-to-Do, Hogs for the Cause, and St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Keri has been in the dental field for over 15 years.She oversees all administrative tasks in the office. She loves getting to know all our patients and making sure all of their needs are met. She has three beautiful daughters, Lexi, Lily, and Layla.

Jessica started her career in general dentistry in 2012. She made the move to the orthodontic field with our office in 2017. She has taken on numerous clinical responsibilities in this short time. Jessica enjoys traveling, reading, and family time with her boyfriend and their two kids.

Christina has been working in the orthodontic field for 13 years. As a clinical assistant, she is very enthusiastic with patients and quick to step up and help out members of the team when needed. Outside the office, she enjoys being with her family and traveling the world.

Julie has been in the dental field for more than 26 years. She is there to greet you at the front desk and assist in any scheduling or insurance needs. Julie finds it rewarding to be a part of the positive and life-changing experience orthodontic treatment can bring to patients. She spends her free time with her three daughters and four grandchildren.

Saskia has been in the orthodontic field for 24 years, and she shares a wealth of knowledge with our office. Her favorite part of being an orthodontic assistant is being able to see the transformation of smiles from start to finish. Saskia was born and raised in New Orleans. She enjoys spending time with her two sons and fishing.

Diesha started working in our office right out of dental assisting school, bringing a great attitude and work ethic from the start. She loves seeing the end results orthodontic care can create. Diesha has two children and has been married for 12 years. She enjoys spending time with her family, shopping, and vacationing.

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, respect, and full commitment from us.

While there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist around age seven. Early treatment allows your orthodontist to correct and guide your childs jaw, create more space for crowded teeth, avoid the need for extractions later in life, and correct thumb sucking and minor speech problems. There are a few things to watch for that may mean your child needs to see an orthodontist, such as crowded or misplaced teeth, difficulty chewing or biting, mouth breathing, thumb sucking, or popping jaws.

Braces are no longer as scary as many teens 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. There are several treatment options to choose from, including traditional metal, ceramic, and invisible braces. Treatment times can vary depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the show-stopping smile you expect. Regardless of the type of braces you choose, it is important to avoid sticky, hard, or chewy foods, as these may damage your braces and prolong your treatment time.

Orthodontic treatment is no longer just for teens! In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists cites 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. Todays orthodontic treatment options offer a variety of braces and appliances that are comfortable, aesthetic, and customized to meet your needs, such as clear braces and clear aligners. Remember, a straight smile isnt just beautiful; it will help you maintain the health of your teeth for life!

Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.

Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts.

Clear aligners are a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable acrylic trays that straighten your teeth like braces. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.

Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age seven or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist, or the childs physician.

Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, and underbites, or harmful oral habits. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment because it involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of 11 and 13.

Braces use steady gentle pressure to gradually move teeth into their proper positions. The brackets that are placed on your teeth and the archwire that connects them are the main components. When the archwire is placed into the brackets, it tries to return to its original shape. As it does so, it applies pressure to move your teeth to their new, more ideal positions.

The placement of bands and brackets on your teeth does not hurt. Once your braces are placed and connected with the archwires you may feel some soreness of your teeth for one to four days. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth.

No. It is recommended, however, that patients protect their smiles by wearing a mouth guard when participating in any sporting activity. Mouth guards are inexpensive, comfortable, and come in a variety of colors and patterns.