Georgia School of Orthodontics

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-Overview

Georgia School of Orthodontics ("GSO") is a three-year Advanced Specialty Education Program in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics established in 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. The 36-month program is structured to provide evidence-based and collaborative learning opportunities for residents in addition to providing exceptional quality orthodontic care to patients. GSO is the nation's largest orthodontic residency program, with approval from the Commission on Dental Accreditation ("CODA") to enroll thirty-six residents per class.

The main mission of GSO is to educate a diverse group of outstanding dentists to be clinically proficient in the practice of orthodontics while providing economical orthodontic care to local communities and underserved populations. The School works to foster graduates that will increase diversity in orthodontics and provide affordable orthodontic care to communities that are typically underserved.

To accomplish these missions, GSO provides less expensive orthodontic services to communities in the Atlanta area. GSO also offers generous scholarships to qualified underrepresented minority residents to increase the proportion of diverse orthodontists in the workforce.

-Initial Accreditation & Established in 2016

Georgia School of Orthodontics was established in 2016, and received "Initial Accreditation" status from the Commission on Dental Accreditation ("CODA") in August 2016. The inaugural class of residents began the Program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in August 2016. GSO was initially approved by the Commission for 54 orthodontic residents in its three-year program, or 18 residents per class.

When the School opened, its Sandy Springs clinic began providing orthodontic care to patients at close to half the cost of private orthodontists. GSO initially projected that it would have a $25M impact on the metro Atlanta area once the School was fully up and running. Additionally, GSO aimed to provide about $11.6M worth of annual cost savings to patients.

-Second Facility

Since inception, Georgia School of Orthodontics planned to open an additional campus in its second year of operation. The plan for two facilities would alleviate the traffic conditions in metro Atlanta and help the School's clinics serve as many patients as possible.

-First Graduating Class

The first class of orthodontic residents graduated on August 3, 2019 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The graduates successfully completed their didactic, clinical and research requirements. The residents were also instructed about the business aspects of operating an orthodontic practice. In addition to curriculum and business aspects, GSO also encouraged graduates to be supportive of diversity in orthodontics and provide affordable orthodontic care to communities that are typically underserved.

-Increased Class Size Approval and Accreditation

In 2019, the Commission on Dental Accreditation granted GSO "approval without reporting requirements" for seven years. In mid-2020, GSO received approval from the Commission on Dental Accreditation ("CODA") to increase its class size from 18 residents per class to 36 residents per class. With this approval GSO has grown to become the nation's largest orthodontic residency program.

Resident Scholarships

GSO has many different resident scholarship programs to help alleviate the financial burden of school, as well as to acknowledge and reward outstanding orthodontic residents. GSO's primary focus is offering generous scholarships to qualified underrepresented minority residents to increase the proportion of diverse orthodontists in the workforce.

-Charitable Giving

Georgia School of Orthodontics is committed to giving back to the Atlanta community by making orthodontic treatment available to patients who may not otherwise be able to receive state-of-the-art technology and top patient care. One of the school’s primary missions is to provide philanthropic service to the community.

To celebrate its grand opening of the Atlanta clinic in 2016, GSO established the “Gift of a Smile” program and pledged to give $100,000 of complimentary orthodontic treatment to children in the Atlanta area.[18][21] This endeavor supports GSO’s mission to provide easier access to the top-quality orthodontic care at a lower cost than private practice orthodontists GSO’s Gift of a Smile initiative provides complimentary orthodontic treatment to children. Parents apply through GSO by writing letters explaining their child’s need and circumstances. As of late 2020, nearly 20 children in the Atlanta area have received complimentary orthodontic care through the Gift of a Smile program.[18] By providing complimentary orthodontic care to children, GSO also hopes to alleviate some of the financial burden and stress on families due to COVID-19.

GSO also strives to continually support veterans and military personnel. The School has several faculty, staff and residents that have served in the armed forces. GSO also established “Purple Heart Smiles” to provide complimentary orthodontic treatment to the children of Purple Heart recipients. More than 30 children have received complimentary care through this endeavor. GSO has already invested over $100,000 into complimentary orthodontic care for Purple Heart recipients’ children, and as GSO’s program continues to expand, there will be no limit to the number of qualified recipients. Active military members also receive a $300 discount on their orthodontic treatment.

In 2021, GSO launched its Gift of a Smile Heroes initiative, its first complimentary braces or Invisalign® campaign for adult patients. Individuals nominate recipients whom they consider to be local heroes in their communities. They can include poll workers, fire fighters, working mothers, good deed doers, and anyone else that has dedicated their time to helping others. GSO celebrated the launch by initially awarding four recipients with free care, and will continue to select one recipient per quarter.

GSO is also committed to giving back to local schools in the Sandy Springs and Duluth areas. For example, GSO created a “Books & Braces” gift card giveaway whereby the two Gwinnett County teachers who received the most votes won a $200 gift card to use toward school supplies for their classrooms. This program expresses appreciation to teachers in the Atlanta area.

-Institute for Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopedic Research, Board Certification

GSO prioritizes both faculty and resident research, and members of the School have been nationally published in orthodontic and dental literature.

The School’s Director of Research, Dr. John Stockstill, has edited, authored, and co-authored numerous scientific journals and textbooks, holds patents for orthodontic instruments, and has presented orthodontic lectures at the local, regional and international levels. He serves as the associate editor of the American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics.

GSO faculty have been featured in multiple dental and orthodontic publications. These publications include the American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics

, Orthotown, and Dimensions of Dental Hygiene.

As part of the GSO curriculum, the orthodontic residents review current orthodontics-related research literature. Six residents’ findings and conclusions were published in the American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics.

In addition to its rigorous research curriculum, GSO also requires all residents to complete the American Board of Orthodontists written examination in their second year of their residency program. GSO has seen all of its residents successfully pass the exam.

-Importance of Technology

GSO is dedicated to providing the latest cutting-edge technology in both clinics. Not only does modern technology allow residents to learn about the newest trends in orthodontics, it also reassures patients that they are receiving the highest standard of services provided.

The School’s state-of-the-art technology includes Planmeca ProMax 2D S3 X-ray units with dual sensors, iTero intraoral scanners, i-Cat FLX 3D CBCT systems, and Gemini 810+980 Diode Lasers. The clinics’ iTero intraoral scanners provide highly accurate 3D digital images and replace traditional dental impressions. GSO ‘s i-Cat FLX 3D CBCT systems provide high-quality images, low-dose options and fully featured treatment-planning software with enhanced features for highly effective planning in providing the best in patient care. The Gemini 810+980 Diode Lasers are the most powerful dual-wavelength soft-tissue diode laser available, which provide faster, smoother cutting with less tissue tagging.

GSO also offers state-of-the-art Invisalign® products to its patients, in addition to traditional braces.

-GSO Campuses & Clinics

GSO campuses are unique from private practice in multiple ways. They include both academic and clinical facilities. GSO’s clinics not only feature the latest cutting-edge technology, but the School has also prioritized creating a beautiful and relaxing ambiance for its patients.

In 2017, GSO expanded from its main campus in Atlanta to a second facility in Gwinnett. The new campus allowed the School to expand its orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedics specialty education programs, as well as its orthodontic services to another local community.

The Gwinnett campus includes classrooms, research areas, faculty offices, and a nearly 9,000 square foot clinic can hold 20 patient chairs at full capacity and allows for wide walkways and optimized workflow. The open inviting classroom space is also ideal for hosting special lectures and offering CE courses. The location has a modern color scheme, Edison-style lighting installations, high-end features and modern art commissioned by a local artist.[16] Patient chairs in the clinic face a large window that looks outside for a feeling of openness and natural light.

GSO is a dramatic departure from older orthodontic practices that have a closed-in feel, and the patients, residents and staff appreciate the added attention to detail.

-COVID-19 Pandemic

The outset of the COVID-19 global pandemic impacted GSO’s operations beginning in March 2020, and has continued through 2021. In response to the widespread lockdowns, GSO developed a clinical model to its orthodontic residency program. GSO proactively modified curricula to continue the program during restricted times when the school had to close.

Didactic modifications included transitioning from a traditional classroom schedule to virtual learning and a meeting platform that allowed teleconferencing and virtual presentations.

Clinical modifications included limiting in-person clinic visits to emergencies only during the initial stages of the shutdown and the clinical schedule was reduced to allow for recommended physical distancing requirements and protocols. GSO prioritized health and safety and implemented additional sanitation, enhanced protocols and virtual consultations.GSO modified the front desk and patient protocols; no new patients were accepted during the strictest shutdown time. GSO mandated all patients and guests wear masks, patients had to answer questions regarding their present health and their temperature was taken with an infrared thermometer and then patients rinsed their mouths with a debriding agent and oral wound cleaner. Parents stayed in their vehicles while their children went to the clinical area. The front desk called the parent to discuss the patient’s visit. Most patients were assigned a 10-week follow-up reevaluation. Half-way through at five weeks, a resident would conduct a virtual visit with the patient.

As new patients were permitted, they were asked to submit photos of their teeth to serve as an initial evaluation of candidacy for orthodontic treatment. When approved, patients were scheduled for a records appointment, at which point, official orthodontic records would be taken and a resident would be assigned the case.

The clinics were modified to allow for recommended spacing between patients, all equipment and instruments were sterilized as mandated and all faculty, staff and residents wore KN95 facemasks under an N95 facemask and face shield. All workers in the clinic wore clinical jackets or smocks and they were laundered after each day’s use.

Research requirements caused some residents to modify their initial topics or discontinue the project and obtain approval for a new topic due to the shutdown of the clinics.

-Community Accolades

In November 2018, GSO was named a Purple Heart School as a result of its commitment to provide complimentary orthodontic care to the children of Purple Heart recipients. To commemorate the honor, national, state and local members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Sandy Springs District 1 Councilman John Paulson, a Vietnam veteran, joined the Georgia School of Orthodontics’ Atlanta office in Sandy Springs in a special ceremony. The event officially named the school a Purple Heart School, and the ceremony honored veterans and Purple Heart recipients with a proclamation signing and raising of the Military Order of the Purple Heart flag.

In addition, Georgia School of Orthodontics was named Best Orthodontics Practice in Atlanta for 2019 and 2020. Contributing factors included patients’ health and safety as top priority, state-of-the-art digital clinics and 40% less expensive orthodontic care. GSO was noted for offering flexible appointment times, friendly and knowledgeable staff members and modern orthodontic technology.

GSO was also awarded “Among the Best of Gwinnett” in 2019, and won the “Best of Gwinnett Orthodontic Practice” in 2020.

References

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