Early Interceptive Treatment The American Association of Orthodontists recommend patients have their first orthodontic exam by age 7 to rule out problems with tooth eruption, evaluate discrepancies in jaw growth, and reduce the risk of dental trauma.

Adolescent treatment Many orthodontic problems can be treated easily during adolescence because by age 11-13, most permanent teeth have erupted and the body is still growing rapidly. This is the perfect time to correct problems such as a bad bite, improper tooth spacing or poor alignment.

Dr. Jennifer K. Mertz graduated from The University of Michigan with a degree in biology and attended The University of Michigans School of Dentistry, where she graduated in the top ten percent of her class. She was inducted into OKU, the prestigious national dental honor society. She continued her post-doctorate education at the University of Detroit Mercy, earning her Masters in Science (M.S.) and a Certificate in Orthodontics.

Dr. Mertz is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, as well as being Board Certified by the Michigan Board of Orthodontists. The American Board of Orthodontics requires an additional written and clinical examination and signifies the highest standard of orthodontic care. Only about 30% of the orthodontists in the United States are Board Certified by the ABO. Dr. Mertz has been practicing orthodontics for over ten years.

Dr. Mertz is on staff at St. John Hospital, and is a staff orthodontist for the Craniofacial Institute, treating patients who were born with craniofacial deformities such as cleft lip and palate. Dr. Mertz was recently published in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery for her work on patients with facial deformities. She has volunteered with Operation Smile, traveling to the Philippines and Kenya on medical missions. She lives in Grosse Pointe with her husband Jeff, and two young daughters, Charlie and Amelia.