Grace's Braces

10/03/2026

I was honored to join the Newtown Rotary Club as a speaker to share my passion for airway health and the connection between oral health, breathing, and overall well-being.

As an orthodontist and national/international airway health speaker, I believe community education is an essential part of caring for patients. My goal is to help families look beyond a straight smile and understand why breathing, sleep, and facial development deserve attention in dental care.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our community through education. Thank you to the Newtown Rotary Club for the warm welcome and for helping bring greater awareness to this meaningful topic.

At Grace’s Braces and Dr. Grace Orthodontics, our philosophy is simple: “Function first, aesthetics follow.” Sharing that philosophy with our community is a privilege. 💙

06/23/2026

Sleep is not just about rest—it’s about brain health.
ADHD and sleep-disordered breathing are more connected than many realize.
At the recent WDSS meeting, Dr. Grace Simco interviewed Dr. Nnamdi, MD,PhD Nnāmd—a sleep psychiatrist, sleep physician, and Stanford Sleep Medicine faculty member—about the connection between ADHD and sleep-disordered breathing including inattention, hyperactivity, and poor focus.

05/29/2026

✨ Foundation First. Smiles That Last. ✨
When a smile appears "hidden," the solution is not always more braces.

In this case, treatment began with MSE skeletal expansion to address the underlying transverse deficiency, followed by aligner therapy to refine the final result.

The goal was not simply straighter teeth—it was to create a broader foundation, fuller smile display, and balanced aesthetics.

✔ MSE Expansion
✔ Aligner Refinement
✔ Non-Gap Expansion Protocol
✔ Fuller Smile Display

Because great smiles are often built from the inside out.

— Dr. Grace Simco

05/10/2026

Having Dr. Mark Hans, the Chairman of the Department of Orthodontics at Case Western Reserve University and author of Essential Facial Growth, present for my lecture was profoundly meaningful. He sit through the entire presentation. It felt like a full-circle moment—from student to presenter—with a mentor who has played such a pivotal role still there, offering encouragement simply through his presence. His belief in his students doesn’t end when formal training does; it evolves into a lasting mentorship that continues to inspire and guide. Truly honored and humbled!

Dr. Mark Hans has had a lasting impact on my professional journey. As his student at CERU, I learned not only orthodontics and facial growth, but also how to think critically and practice with integrity and compassion.

We are all so proud of being part of CWRU .stefanos.matthaios

04/25/2026

✨ Case Highlight ✨
Started with decreased lower facial height and a Class II Division II growth pattern, where a deep bite and facial proportions can make the lower face appear shorter and more compressed.
Through carefully planned orthodontic treatment, we created better vertical balance, improved facial proportions, and a more harmonious profile—all while achieving a naturally beautiful smile.
What stands out most is the elegant change in facial maturity and confidence. Sometimes the most powerful orthodontic results are not the ones that scream “treatment done”—they are the ones that simply make everything look healthier, softer, and beautifully balanced.
Orthodontics is not only about teeth. It is about helping the face grow into its best expression. ✨

02/26/2026

✨ Six-Year Journey. Growth Guided. Function First. ✨
Congratulations to Anneliese on her beautiful, confident new smile.
This transformation was not just orthodontics — it was growth management.
Annelise initially presented with a 10mm overjet and a 100% deep bite
🔬 Phase I (Growth Modification Phase)
The primary goal was to redirect facial growth during a critical developmental window. Treatment focused on improving jaw relationship, optimizing posture, and establishing a stable orthopedic foundation. Early intervention allowed us to influence skeletal pattern rather than simply camouflage it later.
🔬 Phase II (Comprehensive Orthodontic Phase)
Once skeletal balance was improved, Phase II focused on detailed dental alignment and occlusal refinement — respecting the periodontal ligament and ensuring controlled tooth movement within a stable skeletal framework.
At completion, the outcome is more than esthetic.

There are two primary airway pathways — nasal and oral. Severe Class II skeletal patterns often involve narrowing in both. By addressing transverse and sagittal discrepancies early, we support not just smile esthetics, but airway function and long-term health.
🌿

02/06/2026

01/14/2026

Congratulations on Nicole’s beautiful new smile!

As early as 1970, Dr. Andrew Haas published groundbreaking research in the American Journal of Orthodontics showing that true skeletal palatal expansion—rather than teeth tipping—can allow the upper jaw (maxilla) to move forward and downward as normal facial growth is released.

Importantly, true skeletal expansion does not require MARPE or MSE in every case. In his original work, Dr. Haas introduced the Haas-type palatal expander, demonstrating that skeletal expansion could be achieved with thoughtful appliance design and proper timing.

Nicole did not begin treatment with severe crowding, but she did have limited upper tooth display when she smiled. By focusing on true skeletal palatal expansion, we were able to support forward and downward maxillary development, allowing her smile to naturally show more teeth.

In orthodontics, even 1–2 mm of forward growth can make a meaningful difference. The result is a smile that is fuller, wider, and beautifully balanced with her facial structure.

We are so proud of Nicole’s outcome and grateful to be part of her journey.

01/01/2026

Congratulation on Santino's brand new smile. Every orthodontic case has two parts to consider:
1️⃣ the foundation—growth and function
2️⃣ the teeth

In this case, Phase I treatment focused on supporting growth potential using a bonded RPE, Bionator, and headgear, with the goal of optimizing airway, breathing, posture, and jaw development.

Phase II then addressed dental alignment. Four premolars were removed to achieve a stable and balanced occlusion—after the foundational changes were established.

There is ongoing discussion about whether headgear or extractions may affect airway function. From my clinical experience, when growth potential is supported first, the airway can be maintained—and often improved—before addressing dental concerns.

Focusing on the foundation first allows necessary dental corrections to be made thoughtfully, without compromising overall function.

Orthodontics is more than straightening teeth.
It’s about respecting growth, function, and long-term stability. ✨

12/27/2025

Does your child snore or breathe through their mouth at night?
Have speech or attention concerns been brought up at school?
You’re not alone—and these signs may be more connected than we realize.
We’re hosting an interdisciplinary panel discussion with experts in airway orthodontics, speech-language therapy, and mental health to help parents better understand the big picture behind breathing, growth, and development.
🗓 January 16, 2026 | 6:30–8:00 PM
💬 Live Q&A included
Come learn, ask questions, and leave feeling informed and supported.