Anna Schlenker ’26: Noxon Orthodontics

Intern Nolan Carlstrom and I at the welcome wall

Orthodontics is a profession that blends precision, patience, and personalization. After going through my own orthodontic treatment a few years ago and then observing from the doctor's side, I have come to appreciate the importance of having a healthy, aligned smile. Straight teeth are not only important for aesthetics, but also for proper oral function and long-term dental health. This summer, I had the privilege of interning with Dr. Stephen Noxon, Dr. Julianne Bruno, and their team at Noxon Orthodontics. I worked alongside the doctors and assistants to help maintain an efficient workflow and completed various tasks throughout the day. For another look at the same practice, take a look at Nolan Carlstrom's blog.

My first responsibility was to organize the trays that were needed for each patient's visit.  The trays needed to be lined up and ready for the assistants to quickly grab and take back to the chairs for the appointment. For example, one type of tray was called a “Boff” tray, which was for patients who were getting their braces off during the appointment. The Boff tray included tools such as wire cutters, band remover pliers, and drills for polishing. As soon as an appointment was finished, I would take these trays out of the way and sanitize the desk and chair. I would also wipe down the dirty tools and place them in their respective sterilizers.

Trays for different types of appointments

In addition to preparing and cleaning trays, I had multiple smaller tasks at the office. One of which was refilling the bracket trays. Bracket trays consist of little pouches of individual brackets that are made specifically for each individual tooth. A full bracket tray mirrors a standard set of teeth using a numbering system to label each tooth. The brackets would then go on the trays for each patient's visit.

Full set of brackets

One of my more interesting responsibilities was to help prepare the retainers. Noxon Orthodontics makes retainers in their in-house lab for patients at the end of the braces/Invisalign treatment and for patients looking to prevent their teeth from shifting.  This process starts with a 3D scan of the patient’s teeth and bite. Using a device called an iTero scanner, assistants would run a camera along the patient's teeth and then bite. The 3D scan is then sent to the computer in the lab and a mold would be printed.

Itero Scanner                                     3D Mold

The next step is lining the crevices and “holes” of the mold with blackout so the retainer can be easily removed in and out of the patient's mouth. Then, a thin sheet of plastic is melted and folded over the 3D mold to create the retainer, which is then trimmed and polished. The photo below shows an assistant working in the lab to polish a retainer for a client by using spinning drills and devices to cut down the plastic.

Assistant polishing retainers

Polishing the retainers is an important and specialized step in the retainer-making process because it ensures that the retainer fits comfortably and securely in the patient’s mouth without causing irritation or sharp edges. Watching this process from start to finish gives me a deep appreciation for the precision and care involved in creating something as seemingly simple as a retainer. Every step, from lining the mold with blackout to melting the plastic and carefully polishing the edges, is essential to ensuring the final product is both functional and comfortable.

Before the patients came in to pick up their retainers, I cleaned and packed the retainers for the assistants. I gave each one a quick disinfect, popped it into a labeled case, added care instructions, and made it look good. It was a small part of the process, but it helped keep everything running smoothly.

Washing made retainers

My favorite part of interning at Noxon Orthodontics this summer was seeing how every patient’s journey was unique. I always thought orthodontics was just for teens getting braces, but I quickly realized it’s so much more. It's adults coming in for Invisalign, older patients getting fitted for new retainers, and all kinds of different treatment plans in between.

My internship at Noxon Orthodontics gave me a deeper understanding of the orthodontic field, while also showing me how teamwork, dependability, and clear communication are essential in a professional setting. I’m incredibly grateful to Dr. Noxon and Dr. Bruno for sharing their time and expertise with me throughout this internship.