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Orthodontist in Livonia, MI: What Detroit-Area Dentists Should Know Before Referring

Orthodontist in Livonia, MI: What Detroit-Area Dentists Should Know Before Referring

11/3/2026 1:59:00 PM   |   Comments: 0   |   Views: 26
Every general dentist eventually faces the same question chairside: is this a case to watch, or a case to refer? For many practices across the Detroit metro area, that referral goes to Dr. Nawaf Masri of Masri Orthodontics. As a board-certified orthodontist in Livonia, Dr. Masri treats children, teens and adults from his office on Levan Road, and his practice has built a large referral base from dentists throughout the region. Here is what referring dentists and their teams should know about his training, the treatment options his office offers, and the cases where an orthodontic consult can change the outcome.

A Specialist Who Started in General Dentistry

Dr. Masri understands the general practice side of the referral because he lived it. He completed his dental training at Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry in Cleveland, Ohio in 1996, graduating at the top of his class. While in dental school he received the Procter and Gamble Award for Outstanding Clinical Skills and was elected for the Dean's Medal for outstanding scholarship and leadership.

After graduation, he practiced general dentistry in Cleveland for several years. He then returned to Case Western Reserve University's Graduate Orthodontic Department, where he earned an orthodontic certificate and a Master of Science degree in Orthodontics.

He has stayed closely involved with the wider dental community. Dr. Masri served as president of the Western Branch of the Detroit District Dental Society for the 2011 to 2012 term. He is an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, the Michigan Dental Association, the Wayne County Dental Society, the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists and the Charles Tweed Foundation for Orthodontic Research. He also hosts continuing education classes that teach dentists and their staff about invisible orthodontics and current orthodontic techniques.

Why Board Certification Matters When You Refer

Dr. Masri is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). Founded in 1929, the ABO is the oldest specialty board in dentistry and the only certifying board recognized by the American Dental Association for the specialty of orthodontics.

Board certification is voluntary, and it goes a large step beyond the two to three years of advanced education required to become an orthodontic specialist. Candidates pass a written examination, then present detailed case reports that expert examiners evaluate in a clinical examination, followed by an oral examination on academic and clinical topics. Certification is time-limited, so Diplomates must re-examine periodically to keep it. For a referring dentist, that means the specialist receiving your patient has shown documented results across a broad range of cases.

Early Evaluations: Age 7 Is the Starting Point

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a child's first orthodontic evaluation at age 7. Treatment usually isn't needed that young, and when it isn't, Dr. Masri monitors growth and development and starts treatment only when the timing is ideal.

For children with clear indications, early treatment can influence jaw growth, harmonize the width of the dental arches, improve eruption patterns, lower the risk of trauma to protruded upper incisors, preserve or gain space for erupting permanent teeth and reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth. Waiting until every permanent tooth has erupted can leave a jaw discrepancy that is too severe for an ideal result with braces alone.

At Masri Orthodontics, first phase treatment focuses on developing jaw size to make room for the permanent teeth and on relating the upper and lower jaws to each other. A resting period follows, with recall visits usually every six months while the remaining permanent teeth erupt. The second phase begins once all permanent teeth are in and usually involves braces for an average of 24 months, followed by retainers.

Adult Patients and Periodontal Coordination

One out of every four orthodontic patients is an adult, and adult cases are where coordination with the general dentist matters most. Adults may have experienced breakdown or loss of teeth and of the bone that supports them, and they may need periodontal treatment before, during or after orthodontic treatment. Bone loss can also limit how far, and in which direction, teeth can safely be moved.

Because adult jaws are no longer growing, jaw surgery is more often part of the conversation. Some adults with a narrow upper jaw may be candidates for mini-screw-assisted expansion (MARPE) instead. At the initial examination, Dr. Masri outlines the treatment plan, the expected treatment time and the approximate cost, so the patient and the referring office both know what to expect.

TADs: Conservative Options for Complex Cases

Temporary anchorage devices (TADs) are a major part of how Dr. Masri approaches difficult cases. TADs are titanium-alloy mini-screws, 6 to 12 millimeters long and 1.2 to 2 millimeters in diameter, fixed temporarily to bone to provide a stable anchor point for tooth movement. They are placed in the bone between the roots of the teeth or in the roof of the mouth, where mini-screws can also anchor a MARPE expander.

Placement is minimally invasive and often done with only topical anesthetic, and the TAD can be used as anchorage immediately. According to the practice, TADs can help eliminate jaw surgery in some cases, close spaces where teeth are missing without tooth replacement, replace headgear and make difficult tooth movements more predictable. The site highlights an open bite case Dr. Masri treated without jaw surgery. TADs are placed only in patients with permanent teeth, and patients with active periodontal disease may not be candidates. The office also trains other clinicians in TAD use.

Esthetic and Accelerated Options for Adults

Many adult patients want treatment that others won't notice. Dr. Masri is a certified Invisalign provider, and the practice also offers Invisalign Teen, Damon System braces, iTero digital scanning and custom lingual braces.

Lingual treatment is a particular focus. Dr. Masri was the first in Michigan to adopt Incognito hidden braces combined with Wilckodontics, also called Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics (AOO), a periodontal procedure introduced to the American Association of Orthodontists in 1998. The practice reports that 3M Unitek recognized it as the only Center of Excellence Provider of Incognito Hidden Braces in Michigan, and Dr. Masri is a certified AOO provider. The practice states that AOO can shorten many cases to 3 to 8 months, compared with the 1.5 to 3 years typical of conventional fixed treatment.

Making the Referral Easy for Patients

Masri Orthodontics offers a complimentary consultation, and patients can complete the initial exam, payment plan and health history from home through the practice's teleorthodontics option. Financing options are available for patients who need them.

The office is at 15230 Levan Road in Livonia, MI 48154, and can be reached at (734) 261-8860. Hours are Monday and Tuesday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Friday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

For general dentists in Livonia and the surrounding communities, a strong orthodontic partner means fewer compromised results and patients who come back to your chair with healthier, better-aligned teeth. Whether the case is an early jaw discrepancy, an adult with periodontal history or a complex open bite, a consult with a board-certified specialist is often the clearest next step.
Category: Orthodontics
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