I see orthodontics as the pursuit to optimize patients' smiles, dental health and overall health for a lifetime. This creates a lifetime of benefits. A great smile provides confidence and happiness in expressing yourself, which is transferred to the people closest to you - the people you live, work and play with.

Each patient's uniqueness as an individual is what keeps my work so interesting from day to day. Every person is different in the physical sense, and also holds unique desires and goals for their orthodontic outcome. While my overall goal is perfection, the patient's specific goal may be to improve a particular aspect, such as crooked teeth. My job is to educate you about the benefits of bigger goals and treatment options, allowing you to decide what is best for your smile. A patient may decide to change goals mid-treatment due to life changes or a myriad of other reasons, so we can even modify your plan on the fly.

The optimization of orthodontics is obtaining the best results possible for each individual patient. We do this by considering the physical, psychological and financial constraints we have to work within to achieve the best possible outcome for you.

I graduated with honors from Portland State University in 1984, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with an emphasis on physiology. In 1988, I earned my Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree with honors from Oregon Health Sciences University, one of the most highly regarded dental schools in the nation.Afterfinishing mydental degree, I went on to complete ahospital residency at Rhode Island General Hospital. I then returned to OHSU and completed my orthodontic residency and certification.

Continuing education is one of the responsibilities I enjoy most as an orthodontist. I have received many awards of distinction during my career, including induction into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental Society. I also received the Award of Excellence in Pediatric Dentistry from the American Society of Dentistry for Children. I am most proud of my induction into the Angle Society, a study group open to orthodontists by invitation only with a rigorous admission process. Thisprestigious group requires members to uphold high stature and reputation as an orthodontist and a member of the community. This group is held in high regard throughout the world of orthodontics, and comprises the head of all orthodontic residencies in the northwest United States and Canada. It includes the top national and international researchers, educators and clinicians in the region. Its members also include editors for the most referenced peer reviewed professional journals in orthodontics and dentistry.

The Angle Society offers a study club format that allows its members to apply critical thinking to new advances in the orthodontic profession. This critical thinking helps orthodontists determine which products and techniques can actually achieve the results their proponents claim.

Because the Angle Society is held in such high regardand Dr. Burgess is priveledged to be a member,and due tothe time and dedicationrequired as he currently serves on the Boardfor this Society, he has chosen to no longer be a member of some of the past associations ona regular basis.

I am married to my lovely wife, Whitney, and we enjoy three wonderful children, several pets, and livestock as well. I enjoy the many outdoor activities that Central Oregon offers, including fishing, hiking, boating and bow hunting.

Toni is in charge of our office communications needs, staying connected with patients and developing promotional strategies. She loves having the chance to be creative in her job and working closely with people. Toni and her husband have twins who were both Dr. Burgess' patients when they were younger. There are also two dogs and two cats in the family. Toni enjoys fly-fishing and camping, as well as doing charity work.

When Dr. Burgess opened this practice in 1995, his wife, Whitney, joined him as our bookkeeper. She manages all of our financial information and helps out at the front desk. Whitney is a lifelong Oregonian, growing up in Portland and raising her family here. She and Dr. Burgess have three children and the whole family enjoys spending time outdoors, especially skiing up in the mountains and relaxing at the lakes.

Rachel works chairside with Dr. Burgess and she helps our patients with their insurance and billing needs. We appreciate her great sense of humor around the office and her easy way with patients. Outside the office, Rachel likes to spend time with her husband and three daughters. She likes to tend her garden at home and she also participates in the sport of shed hunting.

Melissa keeps our day-to-day operations running smoothly as a manager and she does an excellent job as a treatment coordinator of guiding our patients through the steps of their care plans. She has been with us since 1999 when she joined the practice as a clinical assistant. Melissa and her husband have twin daughters and a son. As a family, they enjoy camping, boating, and snowmobiling, as well as quiet time at home.