Recently, Canadian Orthodontic Partners announced its new partnership with Align Orthodontics' clinics in Edmonton and Sherwood Park, AB, along with Orthodontists Dr. Paul Major, Dr. Karen Hesse, and Dr. Brian Nebbe, as well as their team of clinical professionals.

In addition to practicing orthodontics, Dr. Major is Professor and Chair of the School of Dentistry at the University of Alberta (U of A). Early on, he invited Dr. Hesse, one of his most promising students, to work with Align during the summer months of her undergrad. She then went on to complete her orthodontic training. Dr. Nebbe, originally from South Africa, completed his PhD in orthodontics at U of A under the supervision of Dr. Major — who convinced him to stay in Canada to practice in the field. Both star students were brought on as associates and, eventually, the three doctors became equal partners in the practice. Align Orthodontics has become well known for providing personalized orthodontic treatment and delivering confident, beautiful smiles to children, teens, and adults alike.

We had the opportunity to sit down with the doctors for a Q&A to get to know this team a little better.

Q: Why do you love orthodontics?

A (Karen): The transformation that our patients go through is one of the top reasons I love orthodontics. We often see patients come in that are not very confident, and to bring them to the point where they are proud to smile and feeling joyful again is incredibly rewarding. I also love the opportunity for advancement in orthodontics. I’m continuously learning new techniques, new technology, and innovations that I can bring into my practice — it’s never boring.

A (Brian): I was an orthodontic patient myself as a kid, and when I went for my initial consultation, it left me in awe. I enjoyed the experience, and was so fascinated by the process, I knew at that point that I wanted to be an orthodontist. My doctor at the time took the time to involve me in my treatment — a philosophy that I now take great pride in incorporating into my practice. He showed me the possibilities and breadth of work available in the orthodontic industry. From understanding braces to cleft palate work, and more — I felt early on this was the right path for me, with the opportunity to impact on people’s lives.

A (Paul): It’s wonderful to interact with people, both patients and teammates, on a daily basis. Orthodontic offices are happy places; the patients want to be there, and they always appreciate the outcome of their treatment. This is a very rewarding environment to work in. I also thoroughly enjoy the problem solving aspect of treating patients. It’s like you’re playing chess against nature: nature has chosen where to place the teeth, and it’s up to me to find the most functional and stable place to move them to.

Q: What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishments?

A (Brian): It’s not just one thing for me. I have many accomplishments that I am incredibly proud of, including the diversity of my work. From writing scientific papers to collaborating with teams and the university on new innovative industry techniques, and working with our community; I treasure them all. I also take great pride in the accomplishments I have made outside of work, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, competing in five Ironman and triathlon races, and the 125km Canadian Death Race.

A (Karen): Establishing a strong, community-based practice where people want to go for treatment and can trust their practitioners has been one of my greatest professional accomplishments. It’s taken a lot of work to build such a strong reputation, and for that, I feel proud.

A (Paul): I have spent the bulk of my career as an educator, and have had the opportunity to train many orthodontists in Canada. This is a life achievement for me, making lives better through improving smiles. Of course, on a more personal level, my three adult children and nine grandchildren are my most important achievements.

Q: What will the partnership with COP give you the ability to do that you're looking forward to?

A (Karen/Brian): The COP partnership has allowed us to tap into the strength of the network so that we can continue our ambitions to grow the business. At the same time, we have more time as practitioners to focus on what we love the most — improving the smiles of our patients. We’ve enjoyed the support from COP including marketing, business and strategic planning, and more.

A (Paul): Our practice prides itself on maintaining the highest quality treatment available while making ourselves available to see as many patients as possible. With the administrative support of COP, we can continue to sustain this fantastic momentum.

Q: What do you love to do when you are not at work?

A (Karen): I love sports, being outside, gardening, skiing in the winter, and hiking in the mountains. I’ve also recently taken up golf and look forward to more time doing that this summer.

A (Brian): I’m passionate about the environment. I also really enjoy getting outside and being active, from running to hiking and triathlons.

A (Paul): I don’t think of this as work; this is what I love to do! But outside the office, I love to spend time with my family and grandchildren.

Q: What is your team's favourite office snack to share?

A (Paul): It’s amazing how much chocolate is consumed in our offices! The team also loves to do Starbucks runs for each other.

Read more about this partnership, here