Why Choose Us?

Selecting an orthodontist for your smile is a BIG decision!  We know you have options and hope you will consider Orthodontic Associates of Iowa for your orthodontic needs!  Your smile says so much about who you are, so it’s important that you feel completely comfortable with your orthodontist and staff.  At Orthodontic Associates of Iowa we are confident that you will not only complete your treatment with a beautiful smile tailored to your unique facial features, but also will thoroughly enjoy your experience with us as you become one of our OAI family members!  Our number one priority is your satisfaction and we appreciate the opportunity to serve you!  Below are just a few things that sets our practice apart:


Board Certification

Dr. Kaci C. Vela, DDS, MS is a board certified orthodontist.  Most people think that all orthodontists are board certified when they complete their residency training.  This is not the case as board certification is optional!  To become board certified, each orthodontist must pass a rigorous written exam.  Then the orthodontist must submit multiple challenging cases that they personally treated from start to finish and be subjected to an intense oral examination and case review with the leading specialists in the field.  Once this testing is satisfactorily completed, only then is board certification awarded https://www.americanboardortho.com/.  Board certification is an additional step an orthodontist takes in order to show their ongoing commitment to achieving the finest orthodontic outcome supported by evidence-based principles based in strong science and research.  Simply straightening the front teeth is fast and easy…anyone can do it!  The difference is that a board-certified orthodontist strives to achieve not only the most esthetic outcome, but also an ideal functional occlusion (bite) and long-term stability so that your smile will last a lifetime!  We are proud that  Dr. Kaci C. Vela is a board certified orthodontist.  She was one of only a few orthodontists that successfully completed her board examination immediately following residency and in addition, one of her cases was selected to be presented at the annual AAO meeting by the board examiners!  


Care and Commitment

From the front office to the exam room, our practice consists of professionals who take your oral health very seriously. Using state-of-the-art equipment designed with safety and efficiency in mind, we are able to offer top-notch care. As you walk through our office, you will notice that everything is modern, comfortable and clean. If fact, we care so much about your safety that we employ a full-time sterilization manager who is in charge of maintaining perfect sterilization of our instruments and the facility based on sound OSHA principles for your protection!  Your safety and comfort are our priority.  


Honesty and Affordability

We appreciate that orthodontic treatment is a large financial investment and therefore want to help you understand the financial considerations. At your initial visit, our financial coordinator will review the treatment fee and will provide you with a financial quote up front so you know exactly what to expect.  We are very transparent with our fees so there are no surprises mid-treatment!  To help make treatment more affordable, we offer in-office financing with flexible payment plans to fit your budget.  We also accept Care Credit and are in network with most insurance plans. We are happy to help you navigate your dental insurance, Flex Spending and/or Health Saving Accounts and will do our best to maximize your benefits!  


Quick and Easy Access to Care

We are the only full-time orthodontic practice in Mt. Pleasant, IA.  This means that ALL appointments will be scheduled in Mt. Pleasant so there is no need to drive all the way to Iowa City or Coralville during your treatment.  Because this is our full-time practice, we are also able to take care of small issues that sometimes occur in between visits like clipping a poking wire, removing a loose bracket or even replacing a lost or broken retainer in a timely manner before the teeth move!  


Comprehensive Dental Care in One Convenient Location

Because we are located within Dental Specialists of Iowa, we have access to an oral surgeon, endodontist (root canal specialist), prosthodontist, periodontist (gingival / gum and bone specialist), and pediatric dentist.   So instead of making appointments at multiple offices – for example if you need a root canal or simply need an opinion about a tooth that is root canal treated before starting orthodontic treatment, or if you need to have an impacted canine exposed or teeth pulled to facilitate your orthodontic treatment – we are able to handle ALL aspects of your specialty dental care in one convenient location.  All of our dental specialists are carefully vetted colleagues who apply the same professional principles that we do.  In addition to having access to the best specialists in the field, we are able to reduce your cost by sharing records and x-rays, coordinate your appointments for the ultimate in convenience and even offer same day consults with multiple specialists to save you valuable time!  


Comfort

We respect and understand that many patients experience dental anxiety. At OAI, we do everything possible to make sure that you or your child’s experience is painless, pleasant and enjoyable. By communicating clearly what to expect during treatment, we are often able to alleviate dental fear. We encourage you to ask questions and foster an honest and open communication with all of our patients!  All of our staff strive to be as gentle as possible so that you or your child are comfortable and enjoy your smile transformation process!  Plus, we love what we do so it’s a lot of fun!


Personalized Service

At OAI, you aren’t just another patient. We take an interest in you personally in addition to your oral health needs. Dr. Kaci provides an individualized treatment plan for each and every patient that is tailored to their unique facial features.  In addition, we only hire exceptional staff who share this practice philosophy to ensure our patients are receiving the very best orthodontic care in a safe environment.  In fact, our clinic manager, Allie, is a Registered Nurse and our head assistant, Bri, is a CNA.  We are confident you’ll enjoy your orthodontic journey with us because we truly care about each and every one of our patients!  When you choose us for your orthodontic journey, you become a member of the OAI family!   


Technology

At Orthodontic Associates we utilize the most advanced and proven technology in order to efficiently give our patients that perfect smile in the shortest amount of time.  Digital impressions with the 3Shape Trios Scanner and also the iTero Invisalign Scanner, 3D x-rays with the iCat and digital x-rays are just a few things that set us apart!  

Give us a call today! We’ll make sure you are happy you chose Orthodontic Associates of Iowa for your orthodontic needs!