Dr. Messersmith is the full-time orthodontic faculty member. He is assisted by a talented group of part-time faculty,  who are all dedicated to our patients and thoroughly enjoy the challenges that orthodontics provides. As an orthodontic residency program, the Vanderbilt orthodontic faculty and residents strive to stay current with the most advanced orthodontic techniques to provide you the finest treatment available.

A wonderful advantage of treatment at our clinic is that your diagnosis and treatment plan will be reviewed by multiple orthodontic faculty members prior to any treatment start. When you start treatment, you have the assurance of being treated by a licensed dentist who is specializing in the practice of orthodontics, not by a technician. At Vanderbilt, our residents typically have graduated near or at the top of their dental school class. 

Full-Time Orthodontists: 

	Marion Messersmith, DDS, MSD, Associate Professor, Resident Program Director Dr. Messersmith received his B.S. and D.D.S. degrees from the University of Nebraska. His orthodontic training was completed at Saint Louis University. Prior to his position at Vanderbilt, he started the Tri-Service Orthodontic Residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He was the Chairman and Program Director of Orthodontics at the University of Texas, Houston Health Sciences Center in Houston, Texas and most recently was in private orthodontic practice in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Dr. Messersmith is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. back to top

Part-Time Orthodontists:

• James Cannon, DDS, MS
• Donald George, DDS, MS
• Bruce Haskell, DMD, Ph.D
• William Layman, DMD
• Jon Lucas, DDS
• John Philipose, DMD, MS, MBA
• H. Clifton Simmons, DDS
• Julie Staggers, DDS, MS
• James Thacker, DDS
  
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Residents: