In addition to being a licensed specialist in Orthodontics for the state of Oregon, Dr. Kuperstein is board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, an honor earned by only a minority of orthodontists in the country.
Portland Orthodontist Dr. Kuperstein is a doctoral graduate of Ohio State University. She completed her orthodontics residency at Oregon Health and Science University and has extensive advanced postdoctoral training. Dr. Kuperstein is also board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics.
Vanessa is our Patient Care Coordinator. She is our amazing communications liaison who oversees the coordination of care between our patients undergoing orthodontic treatment and other specialists they may be working with such as periodontists, oral surgeons, and cosmetic dentists. She has been with our team since 2009. Vanessa has over 17 years of orthodontic experience as an Expanded Function Certified Orthodontic Assistant and is a great resource for all types of questions. Vanessa has a spunky daughter who keeps her on her toes. In her spare time, Vanessa has a passion for party planning!
As our Director of Operations/Senior Treatment Coordinator, Shelley brings over 25 years of experience in the dental/orthodontic field and often refers to herself as a tooth geek who absolutely loves everything about being a part of creating amazing new smiles! When shes not in the office, she can be found on an urban hike around Mt. Tabor or one of our citys beautiful bridges, out in the gorge exploring new trails, shopping the farmers markets, or spending time with her family. Shelley says her proudest accomplishments are her three sons and two daughters, as well as her little white Toyota Prius.
Melissa is our Treatment Coordinator. She loves building relationships with our patients and families. She helps our patients understand the treatment process and arranges financial plans to suit each individual's needs. When she isnt at the office, you may see her out and about around Portland. She is a huge Thorns fan and loves music, concerts, urban hiking, and all of the awesome restaurants and food carts Portland has to explore. She says her profession and her family bring her the most joy, and that her daughter is her greatest gift in life.
Diane is our Financial Coordinator and is happy to help you with any of your financial or insurance needs. She joined us in 2019 with over 15 years of healthcare experience and is pleased to live and work on the east side of Portland. She and her husband are the proud parents of 4 sons (all Grant High graduates) and 2 dogs. They enjoy all types of outdoor activities, such as camping, rafting, skiing, and daily walks around the neighborhood. When shes not outdoors, she loves spending time in the kitchen or knitting by the fire.
Our Orthodontic Assistant, Rachel, has worked in the orthodontic field since 2011. She loves working with patients of all ages, helping them to achieve their healthiest smiles! Rachels hobbies include DIY projects around her house, candle-making, beach trips, snowboarding, camping, hiking, and spending time with her two dogs, Drexler and Kea. When shes not at work, Rachel can usually be found camping and hiking in the mountains of Eastern Oregon, or snowboarding on Mt. Hood.
As our Lead Assistant, Stephanie helps with managing the clinic and patient care. She finds great joy in getting to know the patients and working with them throughout their orthodontic experience. Stephanie has been in the orthodontic field since 2005 and with the Parkside team since 2016. She loves spending time with her family and experiencing new adventures through traveling. Shes also an avid snowboarder, and can often be found during winter weekends carving up turns on Mt. Hood.
Our Orthodontic Assistant Sabrina has been in orthodontics for just under 7 years. Her excellent communication, customer service, and organizational skills help provide our patients with a fantastic experience throughout their treatment. A native of California, Sabrina moved to Oregon in 2014 to be closer to her family. She loves the outdoors and has fully embraced the Pacific Northwest as her home. In her free time, she can be found hiking and spending time with her family.
Our Portland Orthodontics office provides a pleasant and relaxing environment. The reception area has a coffee bar, fun reading materials, and a childrens nook. The office is also equipped with wireless internet access, so feel free to bring your laptop to get some work done or surf the internet.
Dr. Kuperstein is a licensed specialist in Orthodontics for the state of Oregon. She is also board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, an honor earned by only a minority of orthodontists in the country.
Dr. Rebecca Kuperstein split divided her childhood with the East Coast and Midwest, and attended Ohio University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with high honors (Summa Cum Laude). She earned her Masters in Public Health and her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from The Ohio State University, and operated a private dentistry practice in Columbus, Ohio.
Dr. Kuperstein and her husband moved to Portland for her orthodontic residency at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), where she earned a specialty certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics and a Master of Science in Orthodontics. Dr. Kuperstein has been a guest lecturer at her alma mater, OHSU Department of Orthodontics, as well as at Careington College Dental Hygiene Program.
Dr. Kuperstein and her husband Daniel met in high school and were married while Dr. Kuperstein was in dental school. After moving to Oregon, they fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and decided to make Portland their adopted hometown. They make their home in East Portland with their children Sasha and Ezra and their dog Tilly.
Our state-of-the-art digital x-ray equipment produces images with unparalleled exactness, allowing Dr. Kuperstein to make the most accurate diagnosis for every patient. Digital x-rays can be stored directly on the computer, digitally enhanced if neccesary, and easily copied and forwarded to your dentist, greatly reducing the number of x-rays that you need to take. Best of all, digital x-rays use only a fraction of the radiation that you'd receive from a traditional x-ray unit.
Braces use gentle, constant pressure to move teeth into their proper positions gradually over time. Since they are attached to the teeth, braces work around the clock, even during sleep. Although there are many parts to braces, the two most important parts are the brackets that are attached to each tooth and the archwire that connects them.
The bracket is a piece of shaped metal or ceramic that is affixed to each tooth. It serves as the handle that allows us to grab onto and control the movement of the individual tooth. A band is a bracket for a molar or back tooth; it fits around the entire tooth.
Since teeth are actually moved through bone, this movement does not occur overnight. Depending on the type of adjustments made, teeth usually move between 1-2 millimeters each month. Dr. Kuperstein uses the latest and most modern orthodontic technologies to ensure that her patients receive the most gentle, comfortable, and efficient treatment.
During certain phases of treatment, patients may be asked to wear elastics. These small rubber bands attach to hooks on certain teeth and exert a force that creates just the right amount of pressure to move teeth in specific ways. In order for this force to remain constant, elastics must be worn as directed and changed several times a day.