Dr. Amir Akhavan received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine in 2009 with honors. He then moved from the warm weather of the Golden State to the beautiful Sunshine State to attend Nova Southeastern University College of dental medicine. He received his doctorate degree with honors in 2014 and was inducted in the prestigious Omega Kappa Upsilon (OKU) honor society. In dental school, he was elected by his peers to serve as the president of the Student Government Association. He also received recognition and was awarded for his leadership during that time. Dr. Akhavan then attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore orthodontic residency and obtained his certificate in Orthodontics and Masters in oral biology in 2017.
Dr. Akhavan and his team believe that you, the patient, must receive exceptional value and service in a way that consistently exceeds your expectations. He is determined to turn his patients into raving fans and his dedicated and professional team works synergistically with one goal in mind: to help you get the beautiful and healthy smile you deserve while creating an outstanding customer service experience. Dr. Akhavan is proud to be conservative in his treatment approach and also embrace creativity and innovation by putting new ideas and sound technology into practice to help his patient receive the best outcome possible.
In his free time, Dr. Akhavan enjoys spending time with his family and his two dogs, a five years old Weimaraner named Gus and eight years old rescued, named Fido. He loves traveling and is a foodie and finds real pleasure in cooking delicious homemade food from simple ingredients. One of his favorite styles of cooking is sous-vide. He also enjoys meditation and listening to audiobooks on a variety of subjects, including human behavior and psychology, business and leadership.
I enjoy being an Orthodontist at Pappas and Tapley Orthodontics because it provides a wonderful opportunity to make people smile and develop confidence. I am committed to providing exceptional and individualized care and a journey that is a positive and fun experience. Patients are excited to begin and even more thrilled when they see their new smiles!
Dr. Janet Pappas graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in Microbiology in 1981. She received her Doctorate of Dental Medicine (DMD) in 1988 from UF with several research awards. She continued her specialty training at UF, receiving a Certificate in Orthodontics in 1990 and entering into private practice with Dr. Tapley.
Dr. Pappas is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association. She keeps current with the latest advances in orthodontics by regularly attending courses and seminars so our patients benefit from the most progressive and successful treatment options available. In the Practice
Dr. Pappas and Dr. Tapley have been working, learning and practicing together for more than 25 years! Having met while working as dental research microbiologists, both were accepted into the same dental class and the same orthodontic residency program. Patients can feel confident in the consistency and excellent communication between the doctors.
Our team is devoted to making our patients experiences exceptional! Each patient is treated like they were close members of the family. Its a fun group that enjoys working together to make our patients smile every day!
Creating great smiles in our office is a lot of fun! We get really excited and involved in our themed decorating and we love contests! and our contest winners really love their various cool prizes! For a glimpse of the fun we have at Pappas & Tapley Orthodontics visit our video.
Dr. Pappas graduated from Buchholz High School here in Gainesville, though she spent her earliest years in New Jersey and one year in the Netherlands! She enjoys the privilege of working in her hometown, having watched Gainesville grow into a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
Dr. Pappas has two daughters, Morgan and Lynna, who attended St. Patrick and then Buchholz too! Morgan is a UF Computer Science Engineering grad and Lynna is at UCF focused on Nursing. Her family also includes 2 dogs, Jaxon and Buffet, Magic the cat, and has had many horses on their farm where theyve bred, raised and shown Hunter/Jumper horses and ponies. Dr. Pappas stays busy keeping up with the farm and is an active gardener, having her home featured in a Secret Garden Tour! They also enjoy traveling adventures to Wyoming with family.
Ive been practicing orthodontics for over 25 years and truly love what I do! Every patient is unique and I enjoy being able to give our patients beautiful smiles that they will have for the rest of their lives. Here at Pappas & Tapley Orthodontics, we are committed to providing exceptional and individualized care. You can be assured that we will work hard to make sure that you and your family enjoy your time spent with us.
Dr. Patricia Tapley was born in Houston, Texas. She attended Indiana University on a four year athletic scholarship, where she played softball for the Hoosiers. She received her BA in Biology in 1981 from IU. In 1984 she received a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Florida. She then earned her DMD from the UF College of Dentistry in 1988, where she received numerous awards for leadership and scholastic achievement. Dr. Tapley completed her Orthodontic Residency at UF in 1990 and entered into private practice at that time with Dr. Pappas. She has been proud to serve the families of this amazing community for almost 30 years.
Dr Tapley regularly attends various continuing education courses, lectures, and seminars hosted by local, state, regional and national professional orthodontic organizations. She believes that continuing education plays a major role in being a successful orthodontist.
With technology always changing and improving, she feels that courses and seminars on the latest methods are crucial in order to stay current with the latest advances in orthodontics. Their goal in taking these classes is offering their patients the most effective and efficient treatments possible.
It is fun getting to know patients and their families, building lifelong friendships that last even after treatment is complete. They have a lot of fun here, and they know you are going to enjoy yourself. When you choose Pappas and Tapley Orthodontics, you are not just a patient; you are part of the orthodontic family!
Her fellow orthodontists elected Dr. Tapley as the first female president of the Florida Association of Orthodontists in 2007. She is also a past delegate representing Florida to the American Association of Orthodontists. Locally she is a past president and current chair of the Ethics Committee of the Alachua County Dental Association.
When not at the practice, Dr. Tapley enjoys spending lots of time at the lake with family and friends. She enjoys the water, gardening, reading, and watching sports (especially college football Go Gators!). Dr.Tapley is married to Craig who is a retired finance professor, having taught for 35 years at the University of Florida. Gainesville has been a wonderful town to call home and a great community in which to raise a family. They have two sons, Kirk and Kyle. They both attended Littlewood Elementary and Howard Bishop Middle School. Kirk then attended Buchholz High School and Kyle attended Eastside High School. Kirk did his undergraduate and Masters degree at the University of Florida, and now teaches 6th grade World History in the Academy at Howard Bishop Middle School. Kyle earned his undergraduate degree in Sustainability Studies and a Masters of Science in Management at the University of Florida. He continues to love music and plays in the indie/rock band Driveaway.
Staying connected to the community is important to me personally, as well as to our office as a whole. We sponsor many local youth organizations and are proud participants for almost 25 years in the Partners in Education Program with the Alachua County School Board. We are currently Business Partners with Chiles Elementary and Meadowbrook Elementary. We love to provide our very popular field trip to several area first grade classes to celebrate Childrens Dental Health Month.
Hi there! Im a Certified Orthodontic Assistant here at Pappas & Tapley Orthodontics. When Im not at the office you can find me outdoors with my husband or spending time with my adorable nephew, Silas. I look forward to meeting and assisting you in creating the smile of your dreams!
Hello! I am a Certified Dental Assistant and I am very excited to help make your smile perfect! I graduated from the Santa Fe College Dental Assisting program the summer of 2019. When I am not at the office you can find me outside riding horses or kayaking down the Santa Fe River. My biggest dream is to travel the world so Im always excited for a new adventure! I look forward to meeting you and helping you to get your perfect smile!
Hi! Im Brittany, and I am the Financial Coordinator for our office. It is my goal to provide you with a financial arrangement that meets your needs and clearly covers every aspect of your Orthodontic Treatment in our office. I take pride in helping our patients and families achieve the famous smiles they deserve while making the most of their insurance benefits. You will also see me welcoming you at the front desk, filling in when needed.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my husband outdoors. We love riding air-boats, fishing, and going for trail rides on our ranger. It is my goal to travel and visit different destinations as much as I can.
Hi! Im the New Patient Coordinator, so I welcome patients into our office and explain their treatment. I want our patients to know exactly what to expect so they feel comfortable beginning the journey! I will also answer any questions about our flexible payment options. I love meeting new people and I truly want to help patients find a home here with us. Outside the office, I like going on vacation, snorkeling and fishing. My favorite activity, though, is spending quality time with my friends and family.