This month, Blue Ridge Orthodontics, along with founder Dr. T. Luke Roberts, reaches a new milestone.
Orthodontics is defined as a specialty field of dentistry, and with good reason: Treating the poor or abnormal alignment of the teeth can be very complex for many patients, and the solutions employed over the years have steadily evolved as technology has advanced.
One such contemporary specialized strategy: Invisalign, which is a series of clear aligners called trays that are outwardly difficult to detect—with no metal wires or brackets like traditional braces, they are also removable for ease of brushing and flossing—and that gradually move the wearer’s teeth into place with each new tray, typically worn for about two weeks before switching out. And 3D computer imaging scans are used in place of having impressions taken to yield more exact images for the aligners.
Here in Asheville, the award-winning Blue Ridge Orthodontics (BRO) specializes in the procedure, along with a full menu of orthodontic treatments, ranging from early prevention for children, to dealing with periodontal disease in adults, to pain-free teeth whitening for all ages.
Ultimately, says Dr. Roberts, it’s all about changing lives and working for the good of the community he and his staff serves.
“We’re [among] the top one percent of Invisalign providers in North America,” notes Dr. Roberts, one of Asheville’s only board certified orthodontists. “I think patients should know this, because it is a broad field. We do a lot of Invisalign, which is largely because we stay at the top of the ever-changing research and advancements with Invisalign.”
Dr. Roberts had originally been on a straight path to medical school, until his uncle, an orthodontist, took him aside one day. “He said, ‘You should consider orthodontics and the path of dentistry.’ He saw in me a passion for helping others, detailed mechanics, and ambition that I didn’t know was there yet. From there, I pursued dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania, where I fell in love with the mechanics and one-on-one patient-doctor relationship that develops out of the dental fields.”
In the summer of 2007 Dr. Roberts, along with his wife and young son, moved to Asheville, where they opened BRO on Walden Ridge Drive. It began with just three staff members; a decade later, that number is up to thirty- five. “We pride ourselves on having great, flexible hours, sponsoring local organizations and schools, and providing the best customer service. We began small, and we’d like to continue to make our patients feel that warm, welcoming feeling that those first patients felt in 2007, when they walked in our doors. We strive to treat each individual and each family, and we want them to know they are unique and that their treatment is meant just for him or her.”
Along the way, the practice has enjoyed some significant milestones. It was the first in Asheville to bring a female orthodontist onto its team, in 2014; currently, in addition to Dr. Roberts, BRO has Dr. Megan Schuler on the staff. And joining just last month was Dr. Tyler Twomley. Also of note: Since 2007 BRO has surpassed $300,000 in charitable giving; created a “Blue Star” program to sponsor one patient a month to receive free orthodontic care; and worked with DSS to identify and treat kids who would never be able to afford treatment otherwise.
Ultimately, says Dr. Roberts, it’s all about changing lives and working for the good of the community he and his staff serves.
“In addition to my amazing staff and patients, I also work with other Asheville dental and medical practitioners to serve the cleft lip and palate needs in our community. I have travelled down a path that my family and my community has helped me along, and I will continue to give back to it and to my family every day, one smile at a time.
“My father, who was a plastic surgeon, did a lot of work for cleft lip and cleft palate patients, and when I was a child, I spent my high school summers in the Dominican Republic, working alongside him in medical missions that served many of these patients. I loved watching how those surgeries completely changed the future of each child—giving them the ability to smile with confidence. Today, I still do. Every smile from a patient is a reminder that I took the right path.”
Blue Ridge Orthodontics will reach another milestone this month when it unveils a new office on Hendersonville Road. “Our dream office,” says Dr. Roberts proudly, “and we can’t wait to open those doors! This next year will be a big one. We’ll open the new office in September and we will celebrate our ten-year anniversary. We’ll also be opening two satellite offices: one in Hendersonville and the other in Brevard. It’s a big, exciting year for us at BRO!”
More info on Blue Ridge Orthodontics online: www.BlueRidgeOrthodontics.com
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