My motto is Honesty, Authenticity, and Transparency and I am committed to those principles to provide the best care for my patients every day. I am a native of the Chicago area and was born and raised in Highland Park. I attended college on a Naval ROTC scholarship at the University of Wisconsin and graduated with a degree in chemistry. Upon graduating, I was commissioned as an officer in the Navy and served for five years, doing tours of duty on two separate ships and traveling all over the world.
I met my husband, Matt, during this time (who was also in the Navy) and discovered my love for teeth while shadowing the dentist on one of his ships. I went to dental school at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and then completed a three-year specialty residency to obtain my MS degree and Certificate in Orthodontics.
During dental school and my residency, I was given the opportunity to rejoin the military as a dentist in the Army National Guard for six years. My military service has given me a unique perspective on accountability, reliability and teamwork, all of which are so important to providing good patient care. I am grateful for the opportunities being a veteran has provided and I continue to support veterans organizations whenever possible.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, family and friends, exploring the city, trying new restaurants, watching college football and learning how to play golf. I am owned by two crazy but adorable cats, who bring extra love to my life. I cant wait to hear all about your family, pets, new places youve visited and fun hobbies that make you smile!
Orthodontics has the benefit of being one of the most fun, life-changing and rewarding of the dental specialties. It also relies most heavily on an informed, cooperative and enthusiastic team of patient, orthodontist and staff. Your smile is more than just your teeth. We are also concerned about your bite and jaw alignment, soft tissue profile, healthy breathing, tongue posture and the esthetic components of your teeth, gums and lips.
Truly customized treatment options take into account your physical presentation as a whole and couple it with your goals to determine the best course of action. This is why we take a collaborative approach and spend time explaining where youre starting, asking for details about your desired results, time expectations and financial considerations before beginning. Once weve agreed on a treatment plan, we will coach you every step of the way providing both encouragement and focused direction to make sure you stay on track.
Spark clear aligners are an orthodontic treatment designed for more efficient and effective teeth movement, compared to other leading brands. These specific aligners are only offered by Orthodontists, unlike Invisalign that is also offered to regular dentists. They are made with a new innovation, TruGEN, which appears as a clear aligner material that is basically impossible for someone to notice when wearing. Spark Aligners are made smoothly and their edges are perfected in order to avoid the occasional discomfort that can occur with other aligner brands.
Both Invisalign and Spark Aligners use patented, clear material to create aligners that are strong, durable, and invisibletheres no question about it! While Invisalign uses SmartTrack, Spark Aligners use TruGEN. It may seem like these materials are almost exactly the same, but theyre not.Spark Aligners are so clear that they are virtually invisible.
SmartTrack aligners are comfortable and are easy to put on and take off. It is an aligner material made specially for Invisalign. They apply gentle, yet constant force against the teeth, fitting snugly while predictably straightening teeth. SmartTrack aligners have proven treatment times to be faster than braces.
Aligners made of TruGEN are also very comfortable. However, studies have shown that they are more durable and resistant to stains. Additionally, TruGEN aligners have better contact with your teeth, providing advanced force retention. Ultimately, they are stronger.
The custom aligners are created using 3D computer imaging technology depicting each stage from initial position to the final desired result. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks, moving the teeth incrementally until the final result is achieved.
3D Computer Imaging Technology is beneficial because it allows one to produce an illusion of depth in an image, and can assist in quality control processes. Additionally, health professionals are given access to new angles, details, and resolutions when utilizing this 3D computer technology. This gives us a better understanding on how we can assist our clients, achieve patients smile goals and better assist with any questions or concerns.