Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Orthodontic Care in Acton, MA
Acton Orthodontic Associates has been dedicated to delivering exceptional orthodontic care to children, adults, and families in Acton, Concord, and surrounding areas for over 50 years. Founded by Dr. Jack Flanagan in the early 1970s, our practice has built a legacy of trust through personalized treatment, scientific rigor, and a commitment to patient-centered care. Dr. Margherita Santoro, a Board-Certified Orthodontist, leads our practice, integrating decades of clinical experience with advancements in orthodontic science. Her expertise, including a Masters degree in Dental Science from Columbia University and leadership roles in academic orthodontics, ensures every patient receives treatment grounded in evidence-based practices.We specialize in addressing complex orthodontic challenges, from malocclusions to interdisciplinary care, while prioritizing patient comfort and protection from unproven trends. Our philosophy emphasizes direct, individualized careevery patient is treated personally by Dr. Santoro, avoiding delegation to assistants. This approach, combined with adherence to protocols from leading health authorities like the ADA and CDC, maintains our reputation as a small, highly qualified practice where excellence is achieved through consistency, accessibility, and a focus on lasting results. We believe in empowering patients through education, ensuring they understand their treatment and actively participate in achieving optimal outcomes.
Services
Braces
Invisalign
Retainers
Orthodontic Consultations
Adult Orthodontics
Details
- Year established: 1970
Highlights and features
- Dr. Santoro has over 30 years of experience and is Board-Certified by the American Board of Orthodontics.
- Direct, personalized care from Dr. Santorono delegation to assistants.
- Specialized treatment for complex orthodontic issues, including surgical and growth-related cases.
- Adherence to CDC, ADA, and AAO protocols for safety and scientific integrity.
- Convenient, small-practice environment prioritizing patient comfort and accessibility.
Associations and certifications
- American Board of Orthodontics
What people say
Heartfelt compliments
Sincere appreciation
Talented patient
Beautifull smiles
Well treated happy families
Services
Braces
Traditional metal braces provide precise tooth movement for comprehensive alignment and bite correction. Ideal for patients of all ages, including children with complex malocclusions, these durable appliances offer reliable results through consistent pressure adjustments. Our approach ensures optimal spacing, occlusion stability, and facial aesthetics while minimizing treatment time.
Invisalign
Invisalign offers nearly invisible, removable aligners to straighten teeth discreetly. Customized treatment plans use advanced computer simulations to map incremental tooth movement, allowing adults and teens to visualize outcomes before starting. This esthetic option suits mild to moderate alignment issues while maintaining oral hygiene accessibility.
Retainers
Custom retainers preserve post-treatment alignment by stabilizing teeth in their new positions. We provide both removable clear plastic and fixed wire options tailored to individual needs. Proper retention prevents relapse, ensuring long-term results following braces or aligner therapy through personalized fit and wear instructions.
Adult Orthodontics
Specialized treatment plans address adult orthodontic needs, focusing on esthetics and oral health improvement. Clear brackets and Invisalign options cater to professional lifestyles while correcting functional issues like overcrowding or jaw misalignment. We integrate dental restorations and periodontal considerations for holistic, age-appropriate outcomes.
Emergency Orthodontic Care
Immediate assistance for broken brackets, poking wires, or lost retainers ensures treatment continuity. Our team prioritizes pain relief and appliance adjustments outside regular hours, providing step-by-step guidance over phone consultations. Prompt response maintains progress while preventing complications from unexpected orthodontic incidents.
People
Margherita Santoro
Orthodontist
Dr. Santoro, a Board-Certified Orthodontist with over 30 years of experience, earned her DDS and Master's in Dental Science from Columbia University. She served as Postdoctoral Program Director at Columbia's Orthodontics Division before transitioning to full-time practice in 2011.
Questions
What orthodontic services do you offer?
We provide braces, Invisalign, retainers, emergency care, and specialized treatment for children and adults with complex cases.
Is the orthodontist board-certified?
Yes, Dr. Margherita Santoro is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, ensuring adherence to rigorous professional standards.
Do you treat adults?
Absolutely. We offer esthetic options like clear brackets and Invisalign tailored to adult patients' needs for discreet, effective treatment.
How are emergencies handled?
We prioritize urgent cases with prompt phone consultations and immediate in-office adjustments for pain relief or appliance repairs.
What areas do you serve?
We treat patients from Acton, Concord, Stow, Maynard, Harvard, Boxborough, Lexington, Lincoln, and Boston, Massachusetts.
What payment methods are accepted?
We accept major credit cards and insurance plans—contact our office directly for specific payment inquiries.
Reviews (1)
Patrick Hearn
Dec 30, 2019
Report
I just completed a 16 month orthodontic treatment with Dr Santoro of Acton Orthodontic Associates. I highly recommend her and this practice. She was knowledgeable, explained thoroughly, efficient, and not excessively expensive. Appointment were scheduled appropriately resulting in wait times of less than 10 minutes and in the one case requiring an unscheduled emergency appointment she was able to fit me in that day by missing her lunch break. She definitely has the long term patient benefit clearly in mind. .
