Preventive Orthodontic Treatment

Dr. Ching-Chang Ko earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Kaohsiung Medical College, and a Master of Science degree in bioengineering at National Yang-Ming University. He completed a PhD in bioengineering and biomaterials at the University of Michigan, after which he earned a certificate in orthodontics from the University of Minnesota. Throughout his career, Dr. Ko has held research-related positions in biomedical engineering at the National Yang-Ming University and in the Department of Biological and Materials Science at the University of Michigan. He was also a research associate and an assistant professor in the Department of Oral Science at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. In 2006, he joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Dentistry at Chapel Hill, where he has served in the Department of Orthodontics as an associate professor, a full professor, a program director, and the department's vice chair. In 2017, he was appointed as Chair of the Department of Orthodontics. Dr. Ko is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, and he has received numerous honors that include distinguished alumni awards from his alma mater, and three Faculty Member of the Year awards from the Department of Orthodontics at UNC's School of Dentistry. In 2020, he was recruited to the OSU as Vig/William Endowed Chair for the Division of Orthodontics.

Dr. Henry Fields is originally from Tipton, Iowa. He graduated from Dartmouth  College with a BA. He attended the University of Iowa and was awarded a DDS degree and a masters and certificate in pediatric dentistry.  He attended the University of Washington and earned an MSD and certificate in orthodontics.  Henry taught for 14 years at the University of North Carolina, where he was a faculty member in Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics.  He was promoted through the ranks to professor, was pediatric dentistry graduate program director and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs.  From 1991-2001 Henry was the Dean at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry.  Following that he was the Vig-Williams Endowed Chair of Orthodontics for 14 years. He provides patient care in orthodontics and is Chief of Orthodontics at Nationwide Children's Hospital.  Scholarly interests have resulted in approximately 120 papers, two books—one, Contemporary Orthodontics, soon to be in its 7th edition.   He reviews for:  the Angle Orthodontist and the AJODO.  Henry has served organized dentistry as President of the Columbus Dental Society; President of the Ohio Dental Association and Chair of the for-profit subsidiary; Vice-chair of the Commission on Dental Accreditation and Chair of the ADA Council of Government Affairs.  He has been recognized by the Ohio Dental Association, the Southern Society of Orthodontists, the Australian Society of Orthodontists Foundation for Research and Education, the St. Louis University Education and Research Foundation and Callahan Commission for his work.  At the 2023 AAO Annual Meeting the SOE conference will be named in his behalf, and he will be named the Earl and Wilma Shepard award winner for distinguished service by the ABO.

Dr. J. Lawrence Hutta is a board certified orthodontist who received his dental degree Cum Laude from The Ohio State University in 1983. He received his orthodontic specialty training under Dr. J. Daniel Subtelny at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1986. Dr. Hutta is an Associate Professor of Orthodontics at The Ohio State University as well as The University of Rochester. Immediately upon graduation, Dr. Hutta entered private practice. His proactive treatment philosophy has always included early interceptive orthodontic treatment. He has lectured extensively on this topic. More recently, he is also involved in Pediatric Sleep Medicine diagnosis and treatment planning in collaboration with sleep medicine physicians. This treatment helps young patients achieve better airways through oral orthodontic appliances. Dr. Hutta is passionate about new technology and advances in orthodontic treatments and diagnosis. He maintains a very busy private practice in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. John Christensen is a dual trained pediatric dentist and orthodontist from Durham, NC. Dr. Christensen is one of a small number of dual trained individuals who practice both specialties. In addition to private practice, he teaches in the pediatric dental residency program at the University of North Carolina where his responsibilities include teaching early orthodontic treatment concepts, how to manage trauma and missing teeth with orthodontic care, and how to guide multidisciplinary approaches in children with unusual problems. Dr. Christensen is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. He received his graduate training in Pediatric Dentistry and in Orthodontics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Christensen is author and one of the editors of the 6th Edition of Pediatric Dentistry: Infancy Through Adolescence.

Dr. Mayhew received his DDS in 1979 and his certificate and MS in Pediatric Dentistry in 1981 from the UNC School of Dentistry. He joined a pediatric dental practice in Boone, NC that year and in 1984 returned to the UNC School of Dentistry to obtain his orthodontic degree, receiving his specialty certificate in orthodontics and MS in Orthodontics in 1986. He returned to his practice in Boone after graduation and since 1986, Dr. Mayhew operated dual practices in Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in two cities.  Dr. Mayhew is Board Certified in both specialties, the first dual trained and dual Board Certified practitioner in North Carolina to stay active in both specialties.

With the companies Ormco, Cadent OrthoCAD and Kodak Carestream, Dr. Mayhew has enjoyed contributing his knowledge in orthodontics on self- ligation, CAD-CAM digital orthodontics, and 3-D imaging, having lectured throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia since 2003. He has also published several research, case reports, and informational articles on pediatric dentistry and orthodontic topics. Dr. Mayhew is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as well as regional, state, and local dental organizations, having held leadership positions in organized dentistry. He is a past president of the UNC Orthodontic Alumni Association and a past president of the North Carolina Academy of Pediatric Dentists. In 2010, Dr. Mayhew was honored into membership of the American College of Dentists and, in 2014, The International College of Dentists, both recognizing his contributions to organized dentistry.

Besides working full time in his private practice, Dr. Mayhew also currently holds a position of Adjunct Professor at the UNC-CH School of Dentistry. He serves on the Sports Medicine Team at Appalachian State University and organized and serves as the Director for the North Carolina-South Carolina Damon Study Club.