exper xper xpertise
Orthodontist
AzAr OrthOdOntics
The Skilled Orthodontic Practice Is Now Located in Webster Groves By Connie Mitchell
D
r. Mark Azar graduated from Saint Louis University Center for Advanced Dental Education in 1977 and established Azar Orthodontics shortly after. He served the people of Belleville, O’Fallon and Highland, Illinois, developing a busy and well regarded practice. In 2011, Dr. Nick Azar joined his father, Dr. Mark Azar, at Azar Orthodontics, establishing a family-owned business and building on the quality and patient-centered focus of the practice. While Mark had practiced orthodontics for decades in southern Illinois, Nick soon opened an office in Webster Groves to offer convenient orthodontic care to St. Louis area residents. Mark retired in 2013 and Nick’s brother, Dr. Joe Azar, joined the practice in December 2016, continuing the proud family tradition of quality orthodontic services. From minor cosmetic corrections to severe issues requiring surgical and orthodontic treatment, the experienced staff at Azar Orthodontics makes beautiful smiles possible. Braces or aligners are matched to the patient’s needs and may involve traditional brackets and wires, clear aligners or braces placed behind the teeth, known as lingual braces. “We strongly believe in evidence-based treatment planning,” Nick Azar
says. This means that for most children braces are best between the ages of 10 and 13. “While some young children require early intervention, this is only necessary in cases of severe skeletal and/or dental dysfunction, and in most children is not necessary. We aim to educate parents of this fact and support the American Association of Orthodontists recommendation of an initial visit at 7 to 8 years old.” Both Nick and Joe Azar are trained in cleft lip and palate treatment, working with teams from SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and Washington University to treat patients. Staying current with the latest innovations in the field, they also participate in continuing education. Nick Azar serves as an assistant clinical professor at Saint Louis University, while Joe Azar is a committee member in the Greater St. Louis Young Dental Society, helping to organize continuing education events across the metro area. “The key to a successful team in any field is reliability, responsibility and a strong work ethic,” Nick Azar notes. “My father, Dr. Mark Azar, instilled this early on and, as a result, four of our team members who began with him still work in the office today, and average over 25 years of commitment to Azar Orthodontics.”
11 E. Lockwood Ave., Suite 100, Webster Groves 314-968-1800 | azarorthodontics.com 60 June 23, 2017 | LadueNews.com |
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