Dr. Greg Ross - The Smile Maker
/[As a local Realtor, I am often asked where people should go for shopping, services and doctors. Here is a recommendation borne from being a patient of his, as well as both my kids…]A good smile can be surprisingly powerful. Seeing a genuine smile releases dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin in the brain of the observer, making them feel happier and more relaxed almost immediately. It bypasses skepticism, warms people to you, and can turn an ordinary encounter into a pleasant one. Evolutionarily, a smile communicates ‘I’m not a threat,’ lowering the other person’s guard and making interactions feel safe and inviting. People instinctively perceive smiling faces as more trustworthy and approachable, which can influence cooperation, openness, and even business success.
With such powerful effects, most people seek a good smile to better fit in and succeed in life. Dr. Greg Ross knows this firsthand. His Orthodontics of South Miami (7901 SW 67th Ave, South Miami) had to recently double its size just to handle the growing demand for his services.
“We have created an incredibly friendly place,” explains Ross. “You’re never going to be in pain when you come to our office and it’s a truly happy place.” Dr. Ross even has a mascot dog named Maddox who freely roams the office and puts both kids and adults at ease.
What is special about Dr. Ross is his deep knowledge of orthodontia. The big modernization in orthodontia began in 1999 when a product called Invisalign came to market. Instead of braces (with their uncomfortable glue, metal and mechanical tightening), a series of custom-molded removable plastic trays slowly move teeth to create a beautiful and anatomically corrected smile.
Like many orthodontists, Dr. Ross immediately adopted the technology, but also went well beyond. His practice was one of the first to adopt the iTero 3D scanner, a handheld device that makes incredibly accurate 3D digital models of patient mouths, completely avoiding the old-school mold making with the gooey goop. This alone is a game-changer for his patients.
As the aligner business grew to have multiple competing companies and approaches, Ross made sure he found the right product for the right situation. He was soon one of the leading aligners orthodontists in the country. As an aligner expert, Dr. Ross was sought out by companies to test their latest gear. At present, he is one of only 20 doctors on an advisory board for a company called Oliv Orthodontics. Of the clear aligner companies, Oliv is forging a bold new path. In the near future, through Oliv, Dr. Ross will be able to have a patient check-in from home by taking some photos with their phone and sending them in for analysis.
Dr. Ross is also on the AI orthodontics bandwagon. Working with Oliv’s new process, Artificial intelligence will be leveraged to treat Dr. Ross’ patients by comparing millions of cases to the patient at hand. “What is interesting is that a good orthodontist may have, over the years, seen thousands of patients and with that experience figure out how to best treat a patient. Now, the same orthodontist can tap into the vast database that is being created by the aligner manufacturer who sees millions of cases a year,” suggests Ross. “The result will be superior treatment.”
As for old-school braces, Dr. Ross still uses them too. “It often comes down to the cooperation of the patient as to whether or not we choose aligners or braces for treatment,” explains Dr. Ross. “If the patient wears the aligners when they are supposed to, they work well. But sometimes we need to use braces to make sure the patient is following the treatment they need.”
Raised in Miami, he attended both Palmetto Middle and Miami Palmetto High Schools, and now contributes back to the community he grew up in. Dr. Ross completed his dental training at Nova Southeastern University and his orthodontic residency at the University of Connecticut. He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics.
Outside of his office work, Dr. Greg Ross a member of the craniofacial team at Nicholas Children's Hospital. “I work a lot with the surgeons and speech pathologists there. It's a great thing to be able to work with those patients, among them wounded warriors and young children,” Ross beams with pride as he explains. “We do some of those cases pro bono and they can take a very long time, but those patients are some of my favorite patients.”
Reception and waiting area
His practice has earned glowing reviews, earning a 5/5-star rating on multiple platforms for professionalism, compassion, and treatment results. Besides Orthodontics of South Miami, he also operates his practice at Smiles of Palmetto Bay (7290 SW 168th Street). No matter where you are, he is ready to help you with your best smile for life.
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