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COVID-19 Information – 2022

White Rock Orthodontics Update During the COVID Era

White Rock Orthodontics remains committed to the safety of our patients, our Team, and our families. We continue to ask your help to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Please note that all Team members and both doctors at White Rock Orthodontics are fully vaccinated.

Prior to Entering the Office:

If you or someone in your family has been experiencing flu-like symptoms or has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please do not come to your appointment.
Please notify us and we will reschedule your appointment for a later date.

During Your Visit:

While in the Reception area, masks should be worn at all times while not actively eating or drinking.
During your appointment, please wear your mask at all times when entering and leaving the clinic.
Tooth brushing in the office continues to be suspended at this time. Please brush and floss at home prior to your appointment.
Hand sanitizer is available throughout the office.

We are constantly evaluating the rapidly-evolving federal guidelines to help prevent the spread of this virus.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or text us.

Meet Dr. AJ Ortega

Welcome to White Rock Orthodontics! I am honored to be entrusted with the care of children, teens, and adults of all ages. I believe that orthodontics is a wonderful combination of art and science that can be tailored to each individual’s wishes. Creating a beautiful smile is a team effort that requires constant clear communication and cooperation! My goal is that each patient feels that their individual concerns are addressed and questions are answered completely throughout treatment. It always amazes me to see the changes that occur, not only in a patient’s smile, but also in his or her self-confidence and attitude about smiling! I love it when we help patients “Find Their Smile”!

Education & Experience

I grew up in Dallas and graduated from St. Mark’s School of Texas. My personal journey in becoming an orthodontist took me from Coast to Coast and around the world:

For college, I attended Princeton University (Princeton, NJ) and graduated with a degree in Geology and a minor in Spanish.
I earned my Doctorate of Dental Medicine (DMD) from Harvard School of Dental Medicine (Boston, MA).
I completed a General Practice Residency at the Naval Medical Center San Diego (CA), which gave me invaluable experience in understanding complex dental treatments, including caring for hospitalized children and adults.
I served an additional three years as a Navy dentist, which included a year-long deployment to a tiny island in the middle of the Indian Ocean called Diego Garcia.
I earned my Master of Science (MS) degree and Certificate in Orthodontics from Baylor College of Dentistry (Dallas, TX).

I believe that in order to provide the best treatment for our patients, continuing education for the entire office is paramount. At Baylor, I was fortunate to have been trained in the newest techniques in orthodontics by some of the leaders in the profession. Now, I am committed to continuing education to stay up-to-date in techniques that help deliver the best care for my patients.

History of Service

Immediately after college, I joined the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) where I performed community service for a year in various cities in California and Idaho. During my service in the AmeriCorps NCCC and the US Navy, I learned a deep sense of service and responsibility to give back to the community in which I live and to this great country of ours.

Personal

I live in Lake Highlands and I am fortunate to provide orthodontic care for the community that I know and love. My wife, Lauren, is a pediatrician, and we have two wonderful daughters, Ava and Layla. We’ve also adopted a 3-legged cat named Jade who is the boss of the house!

I believe that the world is an incredible playground for discovery. My family and I can often be found traveling, hiking, camping, and fishing. I also try to stay motivated to work out, run, and stay in shape!

I look forward to getting to know you and helping you “Find Your Smile”!

Our Team

Kimberly RDA

Financial Coordinator

Veronica RDA, SOA

Office Manager, Treatment Coordinator

Yvette RDA

Treatment Coordinator, Scheduling Coordinator

Biranda RDA

Lab & Records Technician

Emily RDA, SOA

Specialized Orthodontic Assistant

Rebecka RDA, SOA

Specialized Orthodontic Assistant

Kimberly is our Financial Coordinator and “Insurance Guru.” She is here to help with all things payment related. Kimberly has been in orthodontics since 1999 and joined the WRO family way back in 2012! She has held almost every position in the office, from chair-side to administrative, so if you have a question…she has the answer! Kimberly loves her cat, Charlie, decorating, watching movies and traveling to see family.

Veronica (aka “V”) is a California native and has fallen in love with North Texas. She has been in Orthodontics for 9 years and joined the WRO family in 2019. You can find her alongside Dr. Ortega in the consultation room. She loves building relationships with patients and their families; her goal is to make every patient comfortable and happy to be here! She has two adorable dogs Tig and Flynn and recently rescued a kitten whose name is Itchy! Outside of the office she enjoys riding her bike, bowling weekly in a league, or catching a flight back home to the California coast!

Yvette joined the WRO family in January of 2021 and has been in orthodontics since 2013. Her favorite thing about work is watching people’s smiles transform along with their confidence. She loves to craft, travel and spend time with her cats, Meow Meow and Kiwi. She enjoys sports, especially hockey and football (go LA Kings and SF 49ers)!

Biranda joined WRO in January 2017 and she has been in the dental field since 2010. Her favorite thing about working in orthodontics is meeting new people and seeing their improvements throughout treatment. Biranda is the mother of 2 girls and 3 boys and outside of the office they enjoy going to sporting events and catching the latest movies.

Emily is our newest team member.She joined the WRO family in February of 2021. She has been working as an Orthodontic Assistant since 2019. She enjoys learning new techniques and getting to personally know each patient. Emily spends her free time hanging out with her family and her 2 year old niece. She likes watching movies and LOVES rainy days.

Rebecka joined the WRO family in May of 2015. She has been in the field since 2011. Her dream is to be an Orthodontist. She’s very passionate about helping patients find their smile and building relationships with our patients. She has 2 fur babies, a cat named Stella and a dog named Apollo and loves spending time with them.

*A Specialized Orthodontic Assistant is a special designation awarded by the American Association of Orthodontists to orthodontic assistants who take a voluntary knowledge and proficiency exam to demonstrate advanced knowledge of orthodontics. To quote from the program handbook: “This is the hallmark of excellence in orthodontic assisting.”