Members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) help children, teenagers and adults achieve healthy, beautiful smiles.

Orthodontists are uniquely qualified specialists who diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities to correctly align teeth and jaws. Those who wish to become orthodontists must first graduate from dental school. Their education continues for an additional two-to-three academic years as they study orthodontics at an accredited orthodontic residency program.  Only those with this formal education may ethically call themselves “orthodontists.” As specialists, orthodontists limit their scope of practice to orthodontics.

The AAO is the world’s oldest and largest dental specialty organization. Founded in 1900, it represents more than 18,000 orthodontist members throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. The AAO encourages and sponsors key research to enable its members to provide the highest quality of care to patients, and is committed to educating the public about the need for, and benefits of, orthodontic treatment. 

Only orthodontists qualify for AAO membership. For more information, and to find AAO-member orthodontists near you, visit mylifemysmile.org.