I think that I have always wanted to be an orthodontist. From my earliest memories, I have always been intrigued by faces and smiles and teeth. I was born in Saudi Arabia, and as a childlived in several foreign countries where my father worked on oil refineries. Every two years, when we would travel back to the USA for vacation and visa renewal, the very first doctor my mom and dad would have us see was the dentist for cleanings and fluoride treatment!

After traveling so much in my early life, my family finally settled in Southern California. It was during the time that I spent having my own orthodontia done that I fully decided that becoming an orthodontist was my career path. I knew I wanted to pursue something in healthcare, and my orthodontist was always so happy and engaging and it truly looked like he loved his profession. I also decided that when I eventually started my own practice I was going to find a great community and become engaged and involved in that community.

I graduated UCLA with a BA in Biology and received my Doctorate of Dental Surgery from USC in 1984. I completed my residency in orthodontics at USC in 1986. While I was at USC, I met an orthodontist who was looking to sell his practice in Long Beach. I fell in love with the city and have lived and practiced here ever since. My daughter Meghan graduated Wilson High School here in Long Beach and attended Long Beach City College. I am currently on my third office location within the city of Long Beach.

My wife and I are involved with several community programs including the YMCA, BLAST, LBCC Foundation, Rotary, and Rancho Los Amigos Hospital. I also try to donate generously to the schools in Long Beach, knowing that those children are the future. When I am not going to some kind of meeting or fundraiser, you can find me on the golf course, which is my only other true passion besides orthodontics!

Professionally, I have always strived to be at the top of my field as a practicing orthodontist. I became board certified shortly after starting my practice and am a member of the Edward H. Angle Orthodontic Society and the American Association of Orthodontists. My team and I constantly pursue continuing education to stay on top of our profession because we know that learning never stops and that our patients always deserve the very best we can give them. We are especially proud of the fact that, in just a few short years, we have become the leading provider of Invisalign in the Long Beach area and one of only 20 offices in North America that were involved with market testing Invisalign for use in early (Phase I) treatment.

I think the one thing for me that is the most rewarding aspect of my profession is all the many lives I may have influenced, much like the way my own orthodontist influenced my life. A beautiful smile is captivating, warm, and friendly. It shows self-confidence and self-esteem. I have seen so many of my young patients grow up and become amazing adults and it makes me feel so happy that I may have been a part of that transformation.

I truly feel blessed to have the opportunity to touch so many lives and have so many wonderful children and adults to interact with every day. I truly love being an orthodontist and cannot imagine doing anything else!

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.

Karen says that Dr. Garlington is the best orthodontist, period, and thats not just because hes her husband. Together, they have an adult daughter, Meghan, who is in her mid-20s. Karen enjoys golfing and boating during her time off.

Excellent at developing strong connections with our patients and their families, Pamela loves the relationships that develop during the course of orthodontic treatment. Shes passionate about orthodontics and has been working in the field for more than 30 years, so shes great when it comes to explaining different processes and educating our patients. Pamela assists with patients and our care team, obtains each patients health history, and maintains patient records.

Laura loves that we change lives here by changing smiles. She enjoys talking with patients about the Invisalign process and how it will help create the smile theyve always dreamed about, using virtually undetectable aligners. As our treatment coordinator, Laura oversees new Invisalign patient exams, makes the financial arrangements for treatment, and serves as a liaison between patients and Dr. Garlington. She enjoys attending continuing education to learn as much as possible and relays that information to her patients to improve their overall experience.

At home, Lauras life is very family-oriented. She lives with her husband Jim, daughter Kayla, and son Connor. Some of Lauras interests include travel, art, photography, reading, music, and concerts. She also enjoys cooking and exploring new restaurants.

Taylor is one of our newest team members. She graduated from Cypress Dental Assisting with honors and was awarded Student of the Year in her program. Taylor enjoys working in our lab, where she creates models and retainers, as well as showing new patients around the office. Were lucky to have her as part of our practice family!

Mariana works in our back office, assisting Dr. Garlington with procedures, and providing friendly support and encouragement to our patients. Shes also excellent at answering patients questions about their treatment and how orthodontics works. Mariana loves getting to know our patients on a personal level and helping them transform their smiles. Along with the rest of our team, Mariana works hard but also has a lot of fun!

Mariana has a husband and three children, Jessica, Andres, and Alex, who definitely keep her on her toes! Shes working on improving her cooking skills and loves trying new recipes. Mariana spends most weekends in her backyard blowing bubbles, playing with chalk, or playing basketball with the kids.

Working chairside and assisting Dr. Garlington with patient care, Melody helps with bending and placing wires, fitting bands, and the placement and removal of appliances. She really likes meeting new patients and their families, and building relationships based on trust with them. Melody loves creating beautiful smiles and seeing her patients confidence change after treatment.

Melody is married with three children and two dogs, a Pug named Mylee and a Pit Bull named Maci. She enjoys camping and traveling to new places, watching reality TV and Game of Thrones, and spending time with family and friends. She also plays on three soccer teams!

Tina works chairside, tending to patients during their visits and providing support to Dr. Garlington during procedures. Spending so much one-on-one time with patients allows Tina to develop a real rapport with each of them. She loves the friendships that develop and being an integral part of creating a great smile that increases self-confidence. Tina also appreciates working with Dr. Garlingtonthe best orthodontist in Long Beach!

Leslie joined our team in 2015. She works with patients undergoing Invisalign, braces, and other orthodontic appliances. Building connections with patients is what Leslie enjoys most about working in orthodontics, as well as seeing their beautiful smiles when theyve completed treatment. Shes a great part of our supportive team and loves to laugh!

Leslie was born and raised in Long Beach. She has a black Labrador named Max who loves to go to the beach and get lots of attention. During her free time, Leslie enjoys reading, journaling, card making, and photography. Her faith and involvement in church are very important to her.

Mark A. Garlington D.D.S. has earned a great reputation in the Long Beach community for creating beautiful, healthy smiles. We are known for our state-of-the-art office, our leading-edge technology, and our warm, friendly, knowledgeable team.

Our practice philosophy is patient centered. We want to provide the highest quality care, with the most advanced techniques available, in a warm, friendly environment. We want your experience to exceed your expectations.

Dr. Garlington and our team concentrate on developing great oral health and straight teeth while getting to know each patient on an individual level and developing friendships with them. Our team is passionate about creating incredible smiles and lasting relationships.

We know that you and your family have busy lives and we want you to know that your time is important to us. We offer patient-friendly hours, including some early morning hours, some evening hours, some lunch time hours, and an occasional Saturday. Dr. Garlington is also always available for emergencies.

Our use of advanced technology will help to shorten treatment time and make the orthodontic process seamless for our patients. We are the top Invisalign provider in the Long Beach area and a leading expert on using Invisalign for early treatment. We have the latest in digital technology and use multiple devices that help accelerate treatment. We also have an in house lab that uses 3D printing to create models and make retainers.

We have created an office space that is warm and inviting, for adults as well as children. Younger patients find plenty of fun distractions here, and youll hear lots of laughter from our team and our patients. Our upscale office environment features coffee service, games for the children, current magazines, multiple televisions, and patient contests.