Core Orthodontics uses digital technology to improve comfort, results for patients

For Dr. Tyler DeVaughan, orthodontics is about more than straightening teeth. After graduating from high school in Binger, Oklahoma, DeVaughan decided he wanted to become a dentist. He attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated with honors with his Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 2012. He was drawn to Ada initially because he is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation but also because of the influence of his uncle, Ken Lance. DeVaughan served as a dentist in Ada and Ardmore for the Chickasaw Nation for three years before returning to residency to become an orthodontist.

While DeVaughan liked all the different aspects of dentistry, he really missed orthodontics in particular. He decided to go back to school to become an orthodontist.

“When I found out there wasn’t a full-time orthodontist in the Ada area, it served as increased motivation to return to residency and bring fulltime care to this community,” DeVaughan said.

In order to even apply for a program, however, he had to find the right match for his class rank and achievements as well as his own interests. He returned to school in 2015, this time attending Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. In his residency, he accrued an additional 30 months of strict training focusing solely on orthodontics. Upon graduation, he was awarded a Master of Science degree as well as a specialist certificate for orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. He has been a practicing orthoBy Sunnie Dawn Smith

dontist for two years and, on Sept. 1, 2019, he opened Core Orthodontics located at 500 N. Monte Vista, Suite 1B, just north of Mercy Hospital.

There are many things that DeVaughan enjoys about orthodontics. He said he loves that it is like a puzzle. He has to anticipate how a person is going to grow and change and figure out the best course of action to take in order to best serve their orthodontic needs. Most of all, though, DeVaughan loves the special relationships he gets to have with his patients. Because of the nature of his work, he sees them numerous times during treatment.

“We get to watch them change as their smile changes, and the look on their faces at the end of treatment is unforgettable,” DeVaughan said.

One of the things that sets Core Orthodontics apart from other orthodontists is their use of technology. They are completely digital. They don’t take “goopy impressions” but instead use their iTero digital scanner to make a model of the patient’s teeth that they then print on their 3D printers.

“You can look as hard as you want, and you won’t find one bag of impression material or model stone in our office,” DeVaughan said.

Their technological approach allows them to use their software to run an immediate simulation that can show a patient what their teeth will look like after alignment.

The use of the 3D printer helps DeVaughan and his staff reduce the amount of time and discomfort in the actual process of getting braces. The

Dr. Tyler DeVaughan and his staff at Core Orthodontics use cutting edge digital technology to help improve the comfort and results of their patients while offering a full line of orthodontic options, including traditional braces, clear braces, lingual braces, Invisalign aligners and more. PHOTO BY NICHOLAS GEISLER

braces are placed on a prefabricated tray that allows the process to be completed in under an hour. DeVaughan sets the brackets where he wants them on the teeth digitally, prints a custom tray that holds the brackets and has them placed on the teeth exactly where he wants them.

In addition to the scanner and 3D printer, they also have a cone beam computed tomography machine that analyzes the mouth and airflow in three different dimensions that ensures the most thorough care and treatment possible. They also use a self-ligating bracket system that allows patients to go further in between visits if necessary.

While DeVaughan does place traditional braces, he also works with clear braces, lingual braces and Invisalign aligners. They can also offer an acceler

www.adahub.com • 5 ated treatment that can speed up the time by 50 percent in some cases. The types of treatment offered ranges from full orthodontic work to retainers only – it all depends on the patients and their individual needs. Core Orthodontics is also certified to administer Botox and dermal fillers.

Core Orthodontics takes most major insurances and also offers in-house financing with no interest. They are also extremely proud to announce that they are the preferred orthodontic provider of the Chickasaw Nation Tribal Health Program.

For more information, call Core Orthodontics at (580) 967-1817 or check out their website www.coreorthodontics. com. They are also on social media at Core Orthodontics on Facebook, @coreorthodontics on Instagram or @coreortho on Twitter.