Embracing smiles

The newest medical office in town, Brunswick Orthodontics, is already rooted in the community. It is part of a growing dental hub that has flourished over the decades under the leadership of Dr. Milton Ntragatakis—evolving into a one-stop destination for comprehensive dental care.

Right next door, Brunswick KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry has been serving families since 2010, providing specialized care for young patients. Just beyond that, Advanced Dentistry by Dr. John Heffernan opened its doors in 2021, expanding the range of services to adults. Now, with the addition of Brunswick Orthodontics, the dental campus spans 15,000 square feet.

“We have been offering orthodontics for children for the past decade as part of Brunswick KiDDS, but now Dr. Zachary Lawrence is overseeing a standalone orthodontics practice right next door that serves both children and adults, and we will be referring our patients here,” Dr. Milton says. “It is the only orthodontics office in Brunswick that is fully staffed five days a week and can handle every orthodontic issue.”

Over the years, Dr. Milton noticed that when parents saw the transformation of their children’s smiles after braces, oftentimes they wanted their teeth straightened, too. Now it is possible to treat the entire family in one convenient location.

“We often have mothers and fathers seeking treatment for themselves after seeing how easy and effective orthodontic treatment has become,” Dr. Milton says. 

“Our growth has always been dictated by the needs of the community,” he adds. “Brunswick KiDDS currently has 12,000 patients and, of those, 1,600 cases require some type of orthodontic treatment.” 

Meet Dr. Zack

Before opening Brunswick Orthodontics, Zachary Lawrence, DMD, MSD (or Dr. Zack as he is affectionately called by his patients), practiced orthodontics at an office on the East Side and at Brunswick KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry. Between both offices, he has handled more than 5,000 cases.

Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Dr. Zack has deep roots in the community he serves. After completing his dental degree and orthodontic residency at Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Zack stayed in his hometown with a mission to modernize orthodontic care with completely digital technology, such as intraoral scanning (no more gooey impressions that trigger gag reflexes), digital X-rays, 3D printing and indirect bonding.

A son of an orthodontist, Dr. Zack is proud to carry on the family legacy. He takes a holistic approach to treatment planning, prioritizing not only straight teeth but also overall health and well-being. With an airway-focused mindset, he aims to optimize breathing and facial development, helping patients achieve more than just beautiful smiles.

Brunswick Orthodontics is well versed in both traditional braces and clear aligners and develops an individual treatment plan for each patient. Both options are offered at the same price, so the choice depends on patient preference and specific issues.

“Dr. Zack possesses clinical excellence and is one of the most humble practitioners I have ever met,” Dr. Milton says. “He is honest, transparent and very caring.”

Dr. Brittany Celebrates 10 Years

The Brunswick Orthodontics plan was set in motion when Dr. Brittany joined the Brunswick KiDDS team in 2015. It was a 10-year plan involving releasing Dr. Milton from pediatric dentistry to focus on providing the orthodontic services the community needed and eventually hiring an orthodontist to take over this part of the operation. 

Dr. Brittany showed a level of excellence, loyalty and commitment like no one else. In the process, she brought her husband, Dr. John Heffernan, to add adult dentistry services, allowing the dental team to treat patients of any age in at the Brunswick campus. 

“July marks 10 years from the day we “shook hands” and our dreams have become reality,” Dr. Milton says. “But it wouldn’t have happened without the Heffernans.”

Taking Care of Business

Such an expansion would need a level of business systems and management that the small dental organization would not have the capacity for if it wasn’t for Business Manager Rhonda Billman. After a career that included leadership positions at The Ohio State University and Southwest General Health Center, Rhonda brought a wealth of experience when she joined the practice in 2021. 

“Because of Rhonda’s contributions, we were able to secure the financing necessary to acquire the building and expand our clinical space to 15,000 square feet,” Dr. Milton says.

This was the high note of an illustrious career that Rhonda waited to announce her retirement just a few weeks ago on July 3. “Even though she is no longer a full-time member of our team, she will always be part of our family,” Dr. Milton says. “In her honor, the conference room we use to hold all our staff meetings and celebrations is now called the Rhonda Billman Conference Room.”

Brunswick Orthodontics is located at 1818 Pearl Road in Brunswick. To make an appointment, call 330-859-6775 or visit BrunswickOrtho.com for more information.