Orthodontics is more than just “moving teeth." Much of what we do affects the facial profile, shape of the face, breathing efficiency, swallowing and speech, along with many other factors. Orthodontists Associates of Western New York has been at the forefront of orthodontic care for over 50 years.
The history of our practice began in 1951 when our founder, Dominic A. Colarusso, Sr., graduated from the University at Buffalo School of Dentistry. After several years practicing as a general dentist, he returned to college for advanced studies. In 1961, Dr. Colarusso, Sr., otherwise known as “Dr. Bucky” by his friends and patients, received his Certificate in Orthodontics from Columbia University.
Throughout the last century, orthodontic philosophies evolved around treatment of the permanent dentition. Practitioners of the profession were trained to wait until all the permanent teeth had erupted before initializing treatment. This led to a reactive approach to dento-facial development. A reactive approach resulted in orthodontists needing to extract many more permanent teeth to treat a patient than a proactive approach.
As time went on, some orthodontists recognized that taking on more proactive, rather than reactive, strategies could yield better results. Dr. Colarusso, Sr. and his associates were some of the first orthodontists to embrace an early orthodontic treatment approach on a day-to-day basis. In their opinion, this was a more practical approach to reaching better-looking, more stable orthodontic results. These philosophies remain an integral part of our treatment planning today.
In 1993, Dr. Colarusso’s son, Dominic A. Colarusso, Jr., DDS, and his nephew, Steven Hietanen, DDS, formed Orthodontists Associates of Western New York, PC. By adhering to their mission, the doctors continually advance the practice by implementing new technologies, enhancing their diagnosis and treatment planning.
This rich history, combined with cutting-edge technologies, has placed Orthodontists Associates of Western New York, PC on the path to seeking out and providing a higher standard of care for its patients.