Garrett Orthodontics
1640 Palmetto Grande Drive
Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464
(843) 881 9514
garrettsmiles.com
At Garrett Smiles Orthodontics, creating the perfect smile for each patient is an art form.
“There’s an art to orthodontics that most people don’t realize; that’s the part I get excited about,” Dr. Justin Garrett said. “It’s not just about aligning the teeth. It’s about getting the smile in harmony with the rest of the face. I see a lot of patients who don’t show their upper teeth when they smile, and most people – especially if they already have straight teeth – have no idea how much more attractive their smiles could be. My favorite thing to hear a patient or parent say is, ‘Wow, I didn’t even know you could change that.’”
With an office in Mount Pleasant and another in North Charleston, Garrett Smiles Orthodontics works with more Invisalign patients than any other orthodontic practice in Charleston.
“We can finish a wider range of cases to a higher quality result than what used to be possible,” Dr. Garrett stated.
While Invisalign (clear plastic trays that work like braces) remain a popular choice for adults and older teens, Dr. Garrett’s staff considers each patient’s personality before committing to traditional metal braces or Invisalign.
“We ask the teens and the parents about the child’s habits. Do they leave their backpacks at school? Do they remember their chores? Based on these answers, we help the parents choose,” he said. “I love traditional braces, but, for the patients who want Invisalign, we are there for them when others may have said no.”
The practice also uses a 3-D Invisalign scanner when making impressions of patients’ mouths. This scanner eliminates the need for traditional trays and provides a more accurate model of the teeth and gums.
“Impressions are universally hated,” Dr. Garrett acknowledged. “The 3-D scanner makes the process much easier.”
The scanner is so effective that his North Charleston patients are often asked to come to the Mount Pleasant office – where the scanner is located – in order to have their impressions taken.
Garrett Smiles Orthodontics wants everyone who comes to the office to feel at ease.
“We aim to give the best customer service that we can deliver,” Dr. Garrett said.
His dog, Professor, can be found by the front desk, greeting all who stop by. The office also offers a rewards program called Beagle Bucks, which allows patients to accumulate points by brushing their teeth, taking care of their braces and completing their regularly scheduled dental visits. The points can be redeemed for gift cards to stores such as iTunes, TCBY or Game Stop.
Though he grew up in Virginia and earned his bachelor’s at the University of Virginia, Dr. Garrett now calls Charleston home. He was first introduced to the area when he moved here after college and became a ghost tour guide downtown.
“That was a fun job,” he said, “but I knew I wanted to do something else long-term.”
That something else was dental school at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and an orthodontics residency at St. Louis University. He returned to Charleston after his residency and his two-year-old practice is thriving.
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