Vanderbilt Dental

At Vanderbilt, your diagnosis and treatment plan will be reviewed by several orthodontic faculty members. When you start treatment, you'll be under the care of a licensed dentist specialized in orthodontics. Dr. Marion Messersmith is our full-time orthodontic faculty member. He is assisted by a talented group of part-time faculty who are all dedicated to our patients and enjoy practicing orthodontics.

Marion Messersmith, DDS, MSD
Chief, Division of Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Associate Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Director, Orthodontics Residency Program
Dr. Messersmith received his B.S. and D.D.S. degrees from the Univ. of Nebraska. His orthodontic training was at Saint Louis University. Before coming to Vanderbilt, he started the Tri-Service Orthodontic Residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He was Chairman and Program Director of Orthodontics at the University of Texas, Houston Health Sciences Center and most recently was in private  practice in Los Alamos, N.M. Dr. Messersmith is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.

Richard C. Shin, B.D.S., D.D.S., M.S.
Assistant Professor, Division of Orthodontics
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, VUMC

Dr. Richard Shin joined Vanderbilt in 2012. Prior to his appointment here, he was in private practice in Southern California. Dr. Shin specializes in phase 1 orthodontic treatment, cleft and craniofacial anomalies, surgical orthodontic procedures, adult orthodontics and the use of temporary anchorage devices.

Part-Time Orthodontists

Jack C. Fisher, DMD

Dr. Fisher is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. He completed his orthodontic residency at the Medical College of Georgia, and has been practicing orthodontics since 1983. He has had faculty appointments at NYU, Louisville and, now, Vanderbilt. He is interested in the use of skeletal anchorage devices, having developed systems for its use.
 

Clayton M. Fulks, DMD

Dr. Fulks has practices in Hendersonville, Gallatin and White House, Tenn. He completed his orthodontic training at Vanderbilt University after receiving his DMD from Nova Southeastern University. When not spending time with his wife and young children, Dr. Fulks enjoys hunting, fishing, country music, and college football.
 

Joe E. Gibson, DDS, MS
Dr. Gibson has practiced in Morristown, Tenn. since 1987. He received his dental degree as well as his Master Degree in Orthodontic s from the University of Tennessee. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and has been in private practice for 25 years. An avid pilot as well as community leader, Dr. Gibson is on the Hamblen County Board of Education and is a deacon of First Baptist Church in Morristown. Dr. Gibson is married and has three children.
 

Joel Gluck, DDS
Dr. Joel Gluck has practiced orthodontics since 1983. He earned his dental degree at the University of Tennessee. HIs orthodontic residency was at Michigan, where he also received a Master of Science degree. In 1993, he became board certified and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Gluck is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Vanderbilt University Medical School and is on staff at Vanderbilt Hospital.
 

Jon Lucas, DDS
Dr. Jon Lucas practices in Franklin, Tennessee. His DDS is from the University of Tennessee and his orthodontic training is from Vanderbilt. Dr. Lucas enjoys treating adults and children. He is an avid runner and has completed the New York marathon.

Allen H. Moffitt, D.M.D., M.S.D.
Dr. Moffitt received his D.M.D. in 1970 from the University of Kentucky College of
Dentistry and his certificate in orthodontics and M.S.D. in 1974 from the University of Washington Dental School.  He has practiced orthodontics for over 38 years in Murray, Ky.  He is a former Director of the American Board of Orthodontics, a member of the Midwest Angle Society and serves as Associate Editor of Continuing Education for the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.

John Pryse, DDS
Dr. Pryse has been in private practice for 35 years. He earned his D.D.S. in 1974 from the University of Tennessee Dental School and earned a certificate in orthodontics in 1977 from the University of Louisville. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, has served as the director from Tennessee to the Southern Association of Orthodontics, and holds many other certifications and honors.

Residents

Jasleen Raina
Jasleen received her Bachelor of Dental Surgery in India and her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She practiced general dentistry in Illinois and Florida before starting the orthodontic residency program. Jasleen is eager to make a difference in her patient’s lives. She and her husband like to travel and spend time outdoors in their free time.


Dan Schruth
Dan is originally from Spokane, Washington. He received both his undergraduate and dental school degrees from the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to starting the orthodontics residency, Dan worked as a general dentist in a private practice and a community health clinic in the Puget Sound region. He enjoys being active - golf, running, and skiing whenever he can get the opportunity. Dan plans to practice orthodontics in the Northwest in the future, but loves the new adventure and experience of living in Nashville, Tennessee.

Robert Smith
Rob is from Provo, Utah. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Cincinnati prior to attending dental school at Harvard University. Rob spent the last five years practicing general dentistry in Cincinnati, OH where he plans to return after finishing the orthodontic residency at Vanderbilt. He and his wife Heidi have been married for twelve years and have five children: Jordan (11), Madison (9), Ashley (7), Walker (6), and Cannon (4). Rob’s motto is “work hard and play hard”—he enjoys cycling, hunting and traveling with his family.
 

	Debra Carlton, Administrative Officer Debra has worked at Vanderbilt since 2001, and joined the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 2011.
	Rachel Gerber, Assistant Manager Rachel has worked at Vanderbilt since 1998, and joined the orthodontics team December 2011.
	Peggy Wilson Peggy is the Divsion Education Specialist. She has worked in Orthodontics since 1998. Before coming to Vanderbilt in 1991, Peggy and her husband Dave kept busy raising a daughter and twin sons. Peggy was born and raised in California. She attended the University of Arizona before moving to Nashville in 1977.   peggy.wilson@vanderbilt.edu
	Melissa Staggs, RDA Melissa is the full time Clinical Coordinator for the Orthodontic Residency Program.
	Trudi Marsh Trudi has worked in the orthodontic field since 1994. She has been with the Division of Orthodontics at Vanderbilt since 2004. She is originally from Southern California and has lived in Tennessee since 1986. Trudi enjoys being with her three children, interior design, and the beach. trudi.marsh@vanderbilt.edu
	Jennifer Sanchez Jennifer joined the Vanderbilt Orthodontic Clinic in 2012. She became a registered Dental Hygienist in 2007.