What It Means to Choose a Board-Certified Orthodontist in Houston
Not all orthodontists are board-certified. Every orthodontist must complete dental school, finish specialty training, and hold a license to practice, but only a select group go on to earn board certification through the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). At Greater Houston Orthodontics, all three of our doctors, Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, and Dr. Panagiotis Kyteas, are Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics. Here is what that distinction means, and why it is worth looking for when you choose an orthodontist.
What Is the American Board of Orthodontics?
The American Board of Orthodontics is the only orthodontic certifying board recognized by the American Dental Association. Founded in 1929, it is also the oldest specialty board in all of dentistry. Its mission is to raise the quality of orthodontic care by promoting excellence through rigorous certification, encouraging continuing education, and supporting collaboration among specialists. In short, the ABO exists to hold orthodontists to a high, independently verified standard, and to give the public a clear way to recognize the doctors who meet it.
Why Board Certification Matters for You
Board certification is voluntary, which is exactly what makes it meaningful. An orthodontist who pursues it is choosing to be examined and held accountable by their peers, beyond anything licensing requires. It signals a commitment to:
- Advancing their skills and staying current with the latest, evidence-based techniques
- Holding their own clinical results to a demanding external standard
- Ongoing learning and accountability throughout their career
For a patient, choosing a board-certified orthodontist is a simple way to gain confidence that the person planning your treatment has gone above and beyond. It is less a piece of paper than a promise: that your orthodontist is deeply committed to delivering the best possible result.
The Path to Board Certification
The ABO certification process is comprehensive and demanding. It generally involves four parts:
- Written examination. A challenging exam covering the full scope of orthodontic knowledge, from diagnosis and treatment planning to the biomechanics of how teeth move.
- Clinical examination. The orthodontist presents detailed case reports from their own practice or residency, demonstrating successful treatment across a range of complex problems. A panel of expert examiners evaluates each case for quality and outcome.
- Oral examination. An in-person session in which the orthodontist’s academic knowledge, clinical decision-making, and judgment are evaluated across real and hypothetical scenarios.
- Ongoing renewal. Certification is not permanent. It must be renewed periodically (every ten years), so a Diplomate has to keep demonstrating their commitment to excellence throughout their career, not just once.
Because of that rigor, the initial path to certification can take years beyond residency, which is part of why only about half of orthodontists complete it.
A Fully Board-Certified Team
What sets our practice apart is that board certification is not the achievement of one doctor here, it is the standard for the whole team. Dr. Davoody, Dr. Mehr, and Dr. Kyteas are all ABO Diplomates, and Dr. Davoody is additionally a member of the prestigious Angle Society of Orthodontists, one of the field’s most selective honor societies. When you are treated at Greater Houston Orthodontics, that shared standard is the baseline for your care, whichever doctor and whichever of our two locations you choose. You can read more about each doctor’s training on our meet the doctors page.
Why an Entire Board-Certified Team Is Rare
Many practices can point to one board-certified doctor. Far fewer can say that every orthodontist on staff has earned the distinction. Because certification is voluntary, demanding, and time-consuming, a practice where all of the doctors are Diplomates reflects a deliberate, shared commitment to the same high standard. For patients, that consistency is the real benefit: whichever of our doctors you see, and at whichever of our two locations, the credential behind your care does not change. It also means complex cases can draw on three board-certified perspectives rather than one, which is exactly the kind of depth a multi-doctor practice is built to provide.
What Board Certification Means for Your Treatment
Credentials are only meaningful if they translate into better care, and board certification does. The same rigor that the certification process demands, careful diagnosis, evidence-based planning, and honest self-evaluation of results, is the rigor our doctors bring to your treatment plan. It is why we take the time to gather thorough diagnostic records, explain the reasoning behind a recommendation, and set realistic expectations rather than overpromising. Board certification is not a marketing badge to us; it is a description of how we practice every day.
How to Verify Board Certification
We encourage patients to be informed. You can verify any orthodontist’s board certification directly through the American Board of Orthodontics at americanboardortho.com. Asking whether an orthodontist is board-certified, and confirming it, is a smart, simple step when choosing who to trust with your smile, or your child’s.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist?
An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed at least two to three additional years of full-time specialty training focused on aligning teeth and correcting bites. Board certification is a further, voluntary step beyond that training.
Are all orthodontists board-certified?
No. All orthodontists are licensed specialists, but only about half pursue ABO board certification, which is voluntary. All three doctors at Greater Houston Orthodontics are board-certified.
Does board certification expire?
Yes. ABO certification must be renewed periodically (every ten years), so Diplomates continually demonstrate their commitment to current standards and ongoing education.
Why should I choose a board-certified orthodontist?
It gives you added assurance that your orthodontist has met a rigorous, independently verified standard of knowledge and clinical skill, and is committed to staying at the forefront of the specialty.
How long does it take to become board-certified?
Beyond four years of dental school and two to three years of orthodontic residency, the certification process itself adds significant preparation through written, clinical, and oral examinations. That investment of time is part of why the distinction is meaningful.
Is a board-certified orthodontist better than one who is not certified?
Many excellent orthodontists are not board-certified, since it is voluntary. What certification adds is independent, verifiable assurance that a doctor has met a rigorous external standard, which is a helpful signal when you are deciding whom to trust.
Are your doctors’ certifications current?
Yes. All three of our doctors are current Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics, and the credential requires ongoing renewal rather than a one-time test, so it reflects a continuing commitment to the latest standards of care.
Does board certification apply to both braces and Invisalign?
Yes. Board certification reflects an orthodontist’s overall expertise in diagnosis and treatment planning, which applies across every method we use, including braces and Invisalign.
