My mother always smiled. For most of her life, she had "crooked teeth." Even though she was quick to share her joy, she always hated the look of her front teeth. When she finally had them corrected during my college years, it was one of the greatest gifts she ever gave herself.

She didn't need "perfect teeth" to smile but having them fixed magnified her irrepressible love for life. Looking back, I realize she shaped my career gently and subtly. I learned that while smiles come from within, a confident smile can brighten a person's world. I want to help you achieve the smile that helps you change yours.

My Philosophy

"What you should put first in the practice of our art is how to make the patient well; and if he can be made well in many ways, one should choose the least troublesome." — Hippocrates

The Hippocrates quote above has guided my approach to orthodontic care since my earliest days in practice. At its heart, it asks us to do what is necessary, do it well, and not make it harder than it needs to be. That philosophy shapes every decision I make for my patients.

For most families, orthodontic treatment is a significant commitment of time and money. I take that seriously. My goal is to deliver outstanding results as efficiently as possible — which sometimes means waiting for the right moment to begin rather than starting treatment prematurely. Growth is a powerful ally in orthodontics, and timing matters enormously. By monitoring a child's development carefully, we can identify the ideal window for treatment and avoid unnecessary early intervention that adds cost and time without improving the outcome.

When treatment does begin, I rely on biomechanical principles grounded in decades of research to move teeth efficiently and comfortably. The goal is always the same: give every patient a result they're proud of, in the least amount of time, with the least amount of disruption to their life. There is no honor in making treatment longer or more complicated than it needs to be.

My Background

My career in orthodontics began before I even started dental school — or at least, the path that shaped it did. As a student at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant in the Biomechanics Laboratory under Dr. Charles Burstone, one of the most influential figures in modern orthodontics. That experience was formative. We were investigating the properties of nickel-titanium wires at a time when the profession was beginning to move away from heavy, uncomfortable forces toward lighter, more biologically sound mechanics. I didn't fully appreciate at the time how much that work would define my career.

Following my orthodontic residency and graduate studies at UConn, I joined the faculty as an Associate Clinical Professor and served as Clinical Director for the Division of Orthodontics. It was also at UConn where I became involved with craniofacial care — working as part of a multidisciplinary team treating patients with complex craniofacial conditions. That experience opened a dimension of orthodontic care that I hadn't anticipated, and it stayed with me. Today I continue that work as the staff orthodontist for the Craniofacial Team at Connecticut Children's Medical Center — a role that remains one of the most meaningful parts of my professional life.

My academic work centered on orthodontic biomechanics — understanding force systems, anchorage control, and how to apply those principles to achieve results that are efficient, predictable, and comfortable for patients. That research led to peer-reviewed publications, textbook chapters, and invitations to lecture at institutions and professional organizations across North America, Europe, and Latin America.

What began as laboratory curiosity became the foundation of how I practice. Every treatment plan I design reflects those principles — not because I'm applying theory, but because I've seen what thoughtful biomechanics can do for a patient's comfort and outcome.