Editor's note: The following is an interview with Dr. Dan C. Murphy of Grass Valley.

What is your specialty?

I am an orthodontist, and orthodontics is that specialty of dentistry that deals with the correction of cosmetically malaligned teeth and functionally unhealthy dental bite relationships.

Describe your services.

The most common method for effecting the above corrections is still the utilization of “braces”, very small precision stainless steel attachments, or “brackets”, bonded to the surface of the teeth. These small attachments act as handles on the teeth which are then interconnected with a continuous wire, fabricated from different high tech metal alloys, which is actually what is responsible for the application of micro forces to the teeth and the resultant movement of these teeth into their proper positions. Clear or tooth-colored braces are available, and in very select cases even appliances such as Invisalign, a sequential series of clear aligning trays designed to move teeth, however the “gold standard” in orthodontics today is definitely still small precision stainless steel braces.

Describe your background.

Growing up, I was an avid model builder, loving to work with my hands, and that coupled with the fact that my father was a dentist, made it easy for me for me to decide at a very early age that I too wanted to be a dentist. I completed my predental undergraduate studies at USC and went on to dental school also at USC. While in dental school, it became clear that the specialty of orthodontics was my true calling, and I completed my orthodontic specialty residency, again at USC.

How long have you been in Nevada County?

After completing my residency in 1975, my wife, Bonnie, and I were very fortunate to be able to find Grass Valley to start my orthodontic practice and raise our family.

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an orthodontist is the incredibly positive impact we have on a patient's confidence and self esteem which can be so critical during adolescence. It is also very interesting that we treat many adults that were not able to have orthodontic treatment as a child, and who as adults can finally have the cosmetic dental appearance that they have always wanted. In fact we have many situations when the children have completed their orthodontic treatment mom (or dad) decides it's finally their turn for a beautiful smile.

What sets you apart from other care providers?

I am very blessed to have an extremely talented and loyal staff -- Kim, Cindy, Leta and Andrea. They are all like family; Andrea, who is the most junior staff member, has been with me for 20 years. We are all dedicated to the delivery of outstanding orthodontic care, and we maintain an exacting continuing education schedule to stay current with all of the latest orthodontic technological advances, including sterilization protocols. In my personal life I maintain a rigorous fitness schedule and spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor sports with my wife and grown children. I am truly fortunate that I love what I do professionally and have such an extraordinary staff, and I have absolutely no plans of retirement.

Which insurance carriers do you accept?

As do all orthodontic and general dental practices today, we welcome new patients and accept most insurance plans.