Orthodontics Elko Dental Specialists

Only Trust Your Smile To The Specialists

When you’re ready to explore all of the options available in orthodontics, choosing a specialist is the first step. Choosing an orthodontist committed to offering the most patient-friendly treatments available is an important second step. That’s why so many people choose Elko Dental Specialists. No matter your age, we can customize an orthodontic treatment plan that fits not only your teeth – but your life.

All of the technological advancements we offer at Elko Dental Specialists are designed with two things in mind – your experience while in treatment and your results when treatment is complete. Our state of the art technology allows us to capture incredible detail right from the start so we can get great results. We’re also committed to making the very best orthodontic treatment affordable so you never need to compromise between quality and your budget. We have a number of flexible payment options including interest-free financing and we’ll work with you to maximize any insurance benefits you have. Plus, your initial consultation is complimentary. Schedule yours today.


S. Donald Gardner, DMD

Dr. Don Gardner has over 30 years experience as an orthodontic specialist and is known throughout the country as a leader in the field. Dr. Gardner has been practicing exclusively in Elko since 2007 and is now offering his major market expertise. He received his undergraduate education from the University of Utah, and his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Kentucky. He completed a one-year internship at the VA in Los Angeles, and a two-year residency at U.C.L.A. receiving his orthodontic certificate.

Read more about Dr. Gardner

Dr. Gardner is an active member of many local and national professional organizations, where he has served on various committees and boards. These include the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, the Utah Dental Association, the Rocky Mountain Society of Orthodontists, and is past president of the Utah Association of Orthodontists. His hobbies are golf, fishing and travel. He and his wife, Cyndi, work together here at Elko Dental Specialists.

Brian C. Anderson, DDS, MS

Dr. Brian Anderson is originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, but has also lived in Portugal, Iowa, and Minnesota. Dr. Anderson and his wife, Mindy, have three beautiful, little girls and a baby boy.
Dr. Anderson graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brigham Young University with a 3.99 GPA, after which he attended dental school at the University of Iowa. There, as an applicant to post-doctoral orthodontic residency programs, Dr. Anderson was ranked #1 in his class.

Read more about Dr. Anderson

Furthermore, he received the highest score in his dental school class on the National Board Dental Exam Part I, and scored in the 97th percentile nationwide on the both the National Board Dental Exam Part I and Part II. Dr. Anderson received his orthodontic specialty training at the University of Minnesota, where he took additional course work and did original, advanced research to earn a Master of Science degree.

Dr. Anderson loves Elko and Spring Creek, and feels fortunate to practice orthodontics in such a wonderful community, where he has some of his most cherished relationships. Plus, Dr. Anderson has a genuine passion for orthodontics! He feels lucky to feel what occupational psychologists call “flow”—a feeling of “energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process”—every day at work. Creating relationships with patients and using his artistic talents to give them beautiful smiles and more self-confidence is fulfilling and fun! His personal interests include sports, exercise, art (he is a gallery-featured sculptor), travel, community service, and spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Lucas DiCiccio

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Lucas DiCiccio to our orthodontic team. Dr. DiCiccio and Dr. Gardner have known each other for years, share a common passion for treating patients like family and, of course, a shared commitment to creating spectacular smiles for all our patients.

Read more about Dr. DiCiccio

After graduating with a degree in biology from Point Loma Nazarene in San Diego, Dr. DiCiccio earned his DDS degree from Loma Linda University and his degree in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics from the University of Colorado in Denver. He is a second-generation orthodontist so beautiful, healthy smiles literally run in his family. Plus, his time in Denver helped him fall in love with the Mountain West so he’s very excited to be joining us here in Elko.

Outside of the office, Dr. DiCiccio enjoys staying active, cooking, golfing, playing with his dogs (Tyson and Myla), and going on date nights with his wife Cashel.


Orthodontics for Children

What's The Right Age?

Whether you choose metal braces, clear braces or invisible aligners, Elko Dental Specialists is the perfect place to explore all the options. In fact, our patients tell us they can see how passionate we are about their smiles and it's no wonder - we're thinking about smiles all day long.

Though orthodontics can enhance a smile at any age, the American Association of Orthodontics suggests that children be evaluated by the age of 7. At that age, we can advise you of any functional orthodontic problem and determine if treatment will be needed as well as the best time for treatment.

If the teeth are just crooked at an early age (when many baby teeth are left and a few adult teeth are in place), Dr. Gardner and Dr. Anderson will evaluate if any treatment is needed, and, if not, will monitor the child's growth and keep an eye on things until treatment is recommended. But they also understand that, in some cases, the self-esteem and confidence of the child make early treatment a good idea. We provide this initial exam and regular monitoring at no cost to you.



Orthodontic Treatment for Teens & Adults

Options That Fit Your Life

Adults have lots of choices, including Invisalign - for straight teeth without braces, clear braces - when fast, efficient treatment also needs to be discreet and, of course, metal braces.

Whether you want to show the world you’re in treatment or you’d prefer an option that gets the job done without broadcasting to the world that you're in treatment, we have both the technology and the experience to make it happen. And no matter which option you choose, you'll have the confidence that only comes with an Elko Dental Specialists' Smile.

Treatment options for adults today are:

  • more esthetic
  • more comfortable
  • can be virtually invisible

Plus, they require less frequent visits to our office so you can enjoy your time in treatment almost as much as you’ll enjoy having your beautiful new smile.


The Damon Smile System is a fast, comfortable treatment option that give Dr. Gardner and
Dr. Anderson the ability to straighten your teeth comfortably. Damon braces don’t require elastics to hold the wire in place. Instead, the wire moves freely, and your teeth move quickly and efficiently. With the Damon Smile System, Elko Dental Specialists provide:

  • Treatment without tightening
  • Less discomfort
  • Fuller, wider smiles

The Pitts 21 3D control system is for fast and precise finishes. It is a self-ligating bracket system that uses square wire techniques, allowing a 30-40% lighter force for straightening teeth. Some of the benefits are:

  • Provides 3D control sooner and throughout treatment
  • Greater control and comfort with 30-40% lighter forces
  • Progressive slots for intelligent balance of control and movement
  • Predictable finishes in as few as 4 wires


Straight Teeth Without Braces


Making the decision to straighten your teeth is much easier when you know that Invisalign® treatment lets you live your life the way you want to. With Invisalign aligners, you don't need to worry about the gum and mouth irritation other teeth-straightening methods can cause.

Invisalign® clear aligners take a modern approach to straightening teeth, using a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. These aligners are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you simply wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners (and switching to a new set typically every 1-2 weeks) will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements your dentist or orthodontist plan out for you.


No reason To Worry With Invisalign®

  • No metal brackets and no wires to tighten
  • Custom made for you specifically
  • Made of proprietary, multilayer SmartTrack® material to gently shift your teeth into place
  • Removable for special occasions
  • Fewer doctor visits required (approximately every six weeks)
  • Most people don’t even know you are wearing them

Orthodontic Frequently Asked Questions

Get The Answers You Need



Common Problems

Definitions of Problems We See A Lot

Tips from Your Orthodontist In Elko

Dr. Gardner and his team of friendly dental professionals are excited to start you on the journey to a beautiful, healthy smile. While the goal of getting a straighter smile is within reach, quite often we start our journey with bite problems that need fixing. Below you will find a list of very common orthodontic problems that can be fixed through the magic of orthodontics with Dr. Gardner!

Definitions That Are Good To Know

An underbite occurs when the lower jaw extends too far forward, causing the bottom teeth to sit in front of the top upper teeth.
Once of the most common problems we see at our office are spacing issues between teeth. This is what the majority of orthodontic patients seek to resolve. Spacing can be caused by a number of factors including missing teeth, or they could simply be a cosmetic issue that occurred as your adult teeth grew in.
This problem occurs when the upper teeth extend too far forward, while the lower teeth are not extending far enough.
Crowding is characterized by insufficient room for your teeth to come in. Oftentimes you’ll see teeth crossed or overlapping slightly. This can generally be fixed with expansion, and in many cases we can avoid removing any teeth.
Those who are experiencing a crossbite may also be suffering from misaligned jaw growth and tooth stratification. A crossbite is characterized by the upper teeth sitting inside the lower teeth.

Similar to a protrusion, an overbite is characterized by the upper front teeth extending out and over the lower front teeth. This often causes the lower teeth to bite into the roof of your mouth, causing bleeding and pain.

An openbite is caused by the upper and lower front teeth not overlapping. This impacts proper chewing and can often be caused early on by habits like thumb sucking in children.

One characteristic Dr. Gardner will search for is proper back bite matching. When the dental midlines do not match, the back bite is not fitting properly. This can impact everything from jaw to dental function.


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