Maria Orellana

Professor Maria Orellana was born in Argentina into a dental family.  After obtaining her dental degree, she completed a doctorate (PhD) in Oral Biology and Maxillo-facial Pathology at the Medical College of Georgia in the USA.  Her thesis focused on understanding the biology of tooth movement during orthodontic treatment.  She later completed her specialty in Orthodontics at the prestigious University of Alberta in Canada. At the same time, Prof. Orellana pursued a Master of Sciences.  Her research focused on understanding and preventing caries during orthodontic treatment.

In 2007, Maria joined the University of California, San Francisco as an Assistant Professor of Orthodontics, later becoming Associate Professor and clinical director. She was also a Director and Chair of the Boston University Orthodontic Program in Dubai, UAE.  She currently serves as a Professor and clinical director of the Orthodontic Program at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) at the Erasme Hospital.  Professor Orellana has published extensively in American and International journals and participated in several orthodontics books.  She is also a recognized lecturer in the treatment with clear aligner therapy and has during her career trained thousands of doctors across the globe on how to treat patients with clear aligners.  As a recognized orthodontist specialist, she is also an active member of the American Association of Orthodontics, European Orthodontic Society, Italian Orthodontic Society, World Orthodontic Federation and International Association for Dental Research among others.

Maria believes that each patient deserves to be treated by qualified professionals that could provide the highest quality of care. She believes that this standard of care comes with education and has devoted her career to form the next generation of orthodontist to become compassionate, responsible and overall qualified, educated professionals.