Welcome On behalf of our office we would like to thank you for visiting our website. We hope that you find it informative, comprehensive and enjoyable. We take great pleasure and pride in working with both children and adults to create beautiful smiles. We always enjoy meeting new patients and welcoming them into our practice. Our goal is to provide a professional environment with quality orthodontic care that is in keeping with your expectations. We are committed to excellence in orthodontic treatment using state of the art techniques in a caring environment. But most of all, we are confident that our service and friendly staff will exceed your expectations and make you feel right at home. Straightening your teeth and improving your smile is really something special! You look better, chew better and feel so much better about yourself. We have collected before and after photographs of smiles that we have “made over” at Miner Orthodontics. They depict just some of the different types of mouths we can change. Take some time to see this “magic” and watch how we can change your smile. Please click on the ARROW BELOW to start the slide show. Then press the arrow again to move to the next "BEFORE and AFTER". The Benefit of Braces Straight teeth are so much more than a beautiful smile. At Miner Orthodontics we focus on giving you a pleasing smile as well as a healthier bite which will improve your self confidence and ability to clean your teeth. With those benefits you should be able to maintain your healthy smile for a lifetime. Click the titles on the left to learn more. For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. If you are a child, an improved smile can mean freedom from self-consciousness. If you are an adult, it can lead to a better social and professional life. A beautiful healthy smile translates into happiness, invites communication and opens the doors to success and fulfillment. Since crooked teeth are harder to clean and maintain, people with crowding tend to have more tooth decay and gum problems than people who have had orthodontic treatment. Cavities and worsening gum disease can eventually lead to tooth loss. Orthodontic treatment can be less costly than the additional care required treating dental problems arising as a result of orthodontic problems. As a bonus, your visits for dental hygiene will be easier when you teeth are straight. With an improved contact of your teeth after orthodontics, you will be able to chew your food easier. Chewing is the important first step in digestion. But other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces resulting in inefficient chewing function. Abnormal forces can also result in excessive stress on the gums and the bone that supports the teeth and even lead to misalignment of the jaw joints. Considered an expert in his field, Dr. Miner has been practicing orthodontics exclusively in Dedham, Massachusetts at Dedham Medical Associates for more than 20 years. He received his DDS from New York University College of Dentistry followed by a dental hospital residency in New Jersey. He then served in the U.S. Navy for two years before going to the Harvard School of Dental Medicine to complete his post-graduate fellowship in Orthodontics. Dr. Miner is a board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics and is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association and numerous other orthodontic specialty organizations. He is also a member of the most prestigious Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontics. Dr. Miner has taught for over 20 years and also served at one point as chairman of the Department of Orthodontics at Harvard. He continues to teach at that dental school and lectures internationally and nationally. In addition, he has sponsored multiple research projects. Dr. Miner resides in Dedham, Massachusetts with his wife, Lynn. He has two grown children, Carolyn and Todd, both of whom are still pursuing their education. In addition to spending time with his family, Dr. Miner enjoys tennis, skiing, sail boarding, and traveling. Dr. Kathleen Chan is a certified specialist in Orthodontics with experience and expertise in all specialty appliances used at Miner Orthodontics. She graduated from McGill University where she earned a B.S. degree. Subsequently, she attended the McGill Dental School and graduated with a Doctorate in Dental Surgery. Recently, she completed a Masters in Oral Biology (M.M.Sc.) and certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Chan is Board Eligible in Orthodontics and a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and other orthodontic organizations. She also enjoys teaching orthodontic residents at the Harvard. Dr. Chan joins Dr. Miner in the care of orthodontic patients on Mondays and Thursdays, adding to appointment availability and greater convenience for you. Dr. Chan lives in Boston with her husband Mike and her son Charlie. She enjoys rollerblading, biking, traveling, reading and watching movies. We are conveniently located at: 1 Lyons St Dedham, MA 02026-5599 Our office is located just off Route 95 (128) at Dedham Medical Associates. The building can be found at the junction of Lyons Street and Route 135 in Dedham. If you are traveling northbound on Route 95 (128), take Exit 17 and turn right onto Route 135 and then right onto Lyons Street. From Route 95 (128) southbound, take Exit 17 and turn right onto Route 135 and then left onto Lyons Street. Lyons Street runs parallel to Route 95 (128). You will find it easier to enter from either end of the building as our office is on the ground level. We pride ourselves in creating beautiful, healthy smiles for patients of all ages. In fact, approximately one-third of our patients today are adults. We have a passion for what we do, and we do it very well! OUR GOAL Our goal is to make your first visit as informative as possible. We want you to leave with a complete understanding of all your treatment and financial options and a familiarity with our team. After you have met with our treatment coordinator, Dr. Miner will discuss your concerns and needs and perform a comprehensive evaluation your teeth, jaw structures and facial pattern. He will review his findings with you and the benefits of any treatment that is indicated. This appointment generally takes 45 to 60 minutes. DIAGNOSTIC RECORDS We may need to more information and analysis to finalize and individualize orthodontic treatment plan for your special needs. In that instance, the next step would be to have Diagnostic Orthodontic Records taken. This appointment takes about forty-five minutes and includes any necessary x-rays, photographs and study models. These records will be analyzed by Dr. Miner to determine a treatment plan geared to your particular problems. In recognition of the scheduling constraints of many people, we are usually able to offer the convenience of taking the diagnostic records immediately for those patients who are ready. PAYMENT PLANS AND INSURANCE We recognize that orthodontics is a valuable investment in a healthy mouth for life. Our goal is to work with you to provide a variety of financial options for you to choose from. We offer a selection of payment plans because we feel that finances should never be an obstacle to treatment. For your convenience, we accept VISA and MASTERCARD. We can also set up automatic deductions from your credit card or bank account. We do accept most insurance carriers and we will be happy to answer any of your insurance questions. OUR COMMITTMENT TO YOU We work very closely with your dentists and appreciate their commitment to your dental health and well being. As a courtesy to them, we do not charge a fee for the initial evaluation. After your initial visit, you and your dentist will both receive information outlining Dr. Miner’s orthodontic findings and recommendations. We look forward to seeing you.CHOOSE YOUR LOOK! You have many choices for straightening your teeth. Technological advances have created options for appliances (braces and retainers) to help you "Smile With Style." Click on the titles to learn more about which appliances are right for you! Invisalign® can give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. It works through a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. So you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign has been proven to be very effective and can be used to treat many different types of problems. Dr. Miner and his associates are certified Invisalign Specialists and can give you more information to help determine if it is right for you. Lingual braces are an innovative approach to orthodontics that has been around for more than twenty years. Brackets are attached to the lingual or tongue side of the tooth and the teeth are moved into place with wires using state of the art technology. These “hidden braces” work the same as those on the outside, but are not visible when you smile. No one will know you have braces unless you tell them. Ceramic braces are tooth–colored brackets that are attached to the outside of your teeth. They are translucent to help them blend in with the color of your tooth. They work the same as traditional braces, but ceramic braces are less visible and the extra expense is minimal. The wire is attached to the braces with tiny tooth colored elastics to hold it in position and move your tooth. Choose ceramic to minimize the “braces” look. Gold braces add a distinct sense of style to your mouth. You can make a unique fashion statement or choose gold braces to enhance your appearance with a gold color that blends well and gives a warm appearance. Gold braces can tastefully enhance facial appearance in a way that is actually more subtle and less obtrusive than ordinary braces - with surprisingly little added cost. mini braces Traditional metal braces are now even smaller and more efficient as well as being more cosmetically appealing. The smaller size improves cleaning access and improves the speed of tooth alignment. You can select colored elastic ties to hold the tooth to the wire that can be changed at each visit and complement your look. You can pick from many colors. Just ask us when you come in. You certainly do not have to be a “metal mouth” when you choose mini braces. ADDRESS: One Lyons Street Dedham, MA 00206 PHONE: (781) 329-1400 FAX: (781) 320-9087 EMAIL: appt@minerortho.com Please click on the "Request an Appointment" link under the family photo.