Why Us

We’re one of a kind.
Let us prove it to you.

Why Us?

From the moment you walk into our modern space, you’ll notice that our practice is one of a kind. You can get treatment from a dozen different doctors and get a dozen different results. Let's break it down why our skill level is second to none. Our practice is the local leader in innovative care.

This is all we do

We are all about orthodontic treatment and nothing else. Like any medical specialty, orthodontists dedicate years of study to just aligning your teeth, bite and airway.

Countless 5 star reviews

Decades of delighted patients and families . Dr. Shems and her team are adored and respected, and the love just keeps pouring in.

Lifetime board certified

Dr. Shems proudly holds the title of a lifetime board certified orthodontist. This accolade takes a total of ten additional years to achieve after completing residency. A distinction held by only ⅓ of orthodontists.

The very best in orthodontic innovation

Dr. Shems is dedicated to staying at the forefront of orthodontic innovation. With extensive experience, she seamlessly integrates advanced technology to create personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Our office features a fully digital workflow and offers 3D-printed custom braces from LightForce, as well as aligners from Invisalign, the most trusted clear aligner system. We’re here to craft your perfect smile using the latest technology for more precise results and shorter treatment times.

Invisalign Is Just the Tool. Expertise Makes the Difference.

Providing Invisalign alone isn’t enough to achieve exceptional results. While Invisalign is a powerful tool, expertise is essential in designing a truly customized treatment plan. There is no substitute for experience and knowledge. Dr. Shems is an Invisalign expert, having completed the Invisalign Masters Program, advanced aligner fellowships, and lectured internationally on behalf of Invisalign. She continues to be recognized as a top-level Diamond Provider.

Our work family is adored!

Day in and day out, our team soaks up the love! Their goal is to bring some awesome to your day while delivering excellent care to you or your family. Can you believe together we have over 250 years of orthodontic experience!!! Unmatched.

Community

We’re all part of the same hometown fabric, and Dr. Shems is committed to doing her part. It’s an ongoing joy to support local sports teams, organizations, fundraisers, schools, and so much more. The possibilities are endless, we’re here to make a positive impact for our Southern Maine communities.

Giving Back

Being able to give back is an honor. We stand with those who protect and serve our community. Reduced fees are our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our local protectors, health care workers, military and teachers. It’s our privilege to take care of you.

Excellent
5.0
Raquel Kovar
2 days ago
Everyone at this office goes above and beyond! They truly care how each child feels and wants the best care for them. “This is a great office, I like that the doctors dog comes sometimes. The people that work here are nice” per my daughter. We’ve been extremely pleased with our experience here. All the staff is very welcoming, and informative. All the options are clearly explained. Overall very pleased.
Photo from customer review
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind review🐕🐾
Chelsea Ginn
3 days ago
I love the environment when you walk in it nice to have things for kids to use like the frost wall the ortho bucks are also fun
Photo from customer reviewPhoto from customer review
Response from the owner:Oh yes, the kids love the Ortho Bucks!
Robbyn Mooradian
2 weeks ago
Such a beautiful office with the nicest staff. You feel so comfortable and relaxed in this office. They do a great job. I’ve been in dentistry for over 30 years myself and highly recommend this office.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review Robbyn!
Ashley McAdam
2 weeks ago
Dr. Shems and her team have been absolutely incredible! I am almost done with my treatment and I'm loving my results! In addition to that they have been more than accommodating when I've needed to bring my kids to my appointments. Everyone in the office is kind and professional. I would recommend them without hesitation!
Response from the owner:Ashely, thank you so much for your kind review. We love it when you bring your sweet babies🥰
Rebecca Allyn
3 weeks ago
I have been seeing Dr. Shems and her team for just over a year for Invisalign treatment. I recently finished my treatment and am thrilled with the results. I am 70 years old, never had braces and always wanted straight teeth. That has been accomplished and I am thrilled with the outcome. Dr. Shems put together a treatment plan and her staff went over budget and timeline. I will say I finished treatment just when she thought I would . I had such confidence in her and the entire staff. They are all so kind and personable. Dr Shems is extremely skilled at her specialty. She has all the updated technology to help her in people’s treatment. She answers questions and concerns with no judgment. She has a happy staff which to me says a lot about her as a person. This week I had an assistant who went to school with Dr. Shems, lives a fair distance from Falmouth, but after leaving a practice she had worked in for 30 years now drives to work for her schoolmate and friend, Dr. Shems. That says a lot . No matter what age you are I highly recommend Dr. Shems .
Response from the owner:Becky, we are also thrilled with your results and are so happy for you! Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely review. We really appreciate that you notice how much we love working with Dr. Shems😊
Allie Novicki
3 weeks ago
I recently visited Dr. Shems after losing my retainer and needing a replacement. From the moment I walked into the adorable office, Dr. Shems and the entire team were incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful. They took the time to explain my options, answered all of my questions, and made the process easy and stress-free! From my experience it is clear that Dr. Shems genuinely cares about her patients and goes above and beyond to provide excellent care. I left feeling confident that I was in good hands and made the right decision coming here. I highly recommend Dr. Shems to anyone looking for an orthodontist who is knowledgeable, compassionate, and dedicated to patient comfort.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind review Allie! We love what we do and we love patients like you🥰
Kristan Buckman
1 month ago
Our family has been seeing Dr. Shems for over five years. Our kids’ treatment plans range from pallet expanders to braces and Invisalign. The staff is exceptionally kind, knowledgeable, and fantastic. Their scheduling system is fast, efficient, and communicative. We couldn’t ask for a better place to help our kids with their beautiful smiles!
Response from the owner:Kristan, not only do we love to watch your kids smiles transform but we love to watch them grow! Thank you for your kind review.
Anneke Hohl
1 month ago
Everyone in the office is very nice, welcoming and professional. They really took the time to explain everything, answer our questions and ensure our son received what he needed. He’s had a great result. We highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience and your kind review!
Kirsten Lewis
1 month ago
Dr. Shems and her entire crew are wonderful! They have worked magic on all 3 of my kids’ mouths. I highly highly recommend them!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your review and for trusting us with your children's orthodontic care!
Cora Verrill
1 month ago
They are super nice and they are amazing my teeth were really crooked and now they are un crooked and I just have such a confidence smile
Response from the owner:We are so happy for you Cora😊
Chenango Coutts
1 month ago
Dr. Shems was wonderful with my daughter. Her staff are really great with younger children. My daughter started treatment at 7 and today she is getting her braces off! I would definitely recommend Dr. Shems, in fact I have recommended her to some of my coworkers.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review and trusting us with your daughter's orthodontic care!
Houssein Mouhoumed
1 month ago
Dr. Shems and her entire team are absolutely amazing. From start to finish, they are professional, compassionate, and incredibly attentive. They truly go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and cared for throughout the entire process. Their level of expertise and dedication is unmatched, and you can tell they genuinely care about their patients. I cannot recommend Dr. Shems and her team enough – an outstanding experience all around!
Response from the owner:We're so grateful for your wonderful review! It means so much to know that you are having a wonderful experience.
Dan Leary
2 months ago
So glad to have found Dr Shems & her team! They are all wonderful & provide exceptional care! Having our children see Dr Shems has made such a difference in their teeth, jaw alignment & airway. We had consults with two other local practices that just did not feel quite right. The moment we met Dr Shems and her staff, we knew it was a perfect fit. Dr Shems cares so much about her patients & their families. Cannot recommend this practice enough!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for taking the time to share your positive experience! We truly appreciate your kind review, it means a lot to our team.
Rachel Mutchie
2 months ago
I could not recommend Dr Shem and her staff more! All four of my children have had exceptional care here. Staff are friendly, professional and kind. Stop looking, she’s the one. 🦷
Response from the owner:Thank you for such a kind review Rachel! We love your kiddos😊
Laurie Gilman
2 months ago
Very impressive practice. Felt very comfortable immediately. Great staff with obvious passion and expertise in orthodontics.
Response from the owner:You're the best! Thank you for your kind review Laurie.
Martha & Ryan Cianchette
2 months ago
We would recommend Dr. Shem to anyone seeking dental work! Our daughter has been seeing her for several years now and the change in her smile (and confidence) is amazing. Dr. Shem and her entire team work hard to make sure our daughter has a great experience with every visit, and they take the time to educate us about the treatment plan.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this kind review!
Christie Lagasse
2 months ago
My son went here for his orthodontic work and we had a great experience! He especially loved earning Ortho bucks and looked forward to what he could "buy". Thank you for making the experience so much better for him than when I had orthodontic work decades ago somewhere else!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review!
Jordi St. John
2 months ago
The office staff is friendly, efficient and thorough! Both my children are patients with Dr. Shems for years and we always have very positive experiences!
Response from the owner:Thank you for being awesome patients! We love your family😊
Caitlin Macklin
2 months ago
The moment we walked in - we knew this was the right place. Our daughter has had HUGE success with Dr. Shems’ recommendations in less than a year! We’ve recommended this team to ALL of our friends who have felt the same!! We love the environment, kind team members and organized business practices. Thank you!!
Response from the owner:We are so grateful for your amazing review!!!!
Elizabeth Egan
2 months ago
I can't say enough about Dr.Shems and the staff. They don't just straighten teeth, they make you feel like family. Every visit they remembered my name, asked about my life, and genuinely cared how I was doing. The office is so welcoming that my anxiety about dental work disappeared. My smile looks amazing, but the way they treated me mattered even more. 10/10 recommend. Dr.Shems and the team is kind, patient, and explains everything so you never feel lost. The team celebrates every little win with you. I walked in for braces and walked out with a perfect smile and people I'Il actually miss seeing. Choosing Dr.Shems for such a big step in my life was the best decision I’ve ever made.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a kind, thoughtful review. This means so much to us Elizabeth! We love seeing your family walk through our doors and we are so happy you love your smile😊 Thank you!!
rebecca marcisso
2 months ago
Dr Shems and her team are amazing. My treatment is invasalign revision after having braces years ago. Treatment plan has been responsive and adapted when needed. Can’t wait to see my new smile! My daughter is having an amazing experience with her treatment too! Office has the most laid back therapy dog ever! <3
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! Lola is just the sweetest dog🐶
Amy Connolly
2 months ago
The people here are really nice they always check to make sure nothing they do hurts and are just a kind group of people!
Response from the owner:We love hearing that, thank you!!
Sarah Olivares
2 months ago
Dr. Shems is wonderful and the entire staff is so friendly. It definitely makes it less intimidating for kids! Would highly recommend Dr. Shems to anyone looking for expert and kind orthodontic care!
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting us with your child's ortho care and for your kind review!
MaureenS
2 months ago
Dr. Shems has been treating my kids for the last year and the experience has been wonderful. Everything from scheduling to treatment has been seamless and easy. Highly recommend.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience and for your kind review!
Grace Skelton
2 months ago
I have been so impressed with the speed and ease of my orthodontic treatment from Dr. Shems and her team. The team told me what to expect and I have felt fully prepared and supported throughout the entire process. I started treatment in December and my smile has already transformed completely. My expectations were surpassed!
Response from the owner:Wonderful! We love to hear this. We can't wait to see your final results!

Office Closure Notice

Foreside Orthodontics will be closed July 6–10 so our team can enjoy some well-deserved time with family and friends.

We’ll be back in the office and ready to make you smile on Monday, July 13!

Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July.