Meet Dr. Ulla Crouse

Dr. Ulla Crouse grew up in Mikkeli, Finland, and has resided in Brighton, Michigan, since 2005. She and her husband, Brian Crouse, have three children who are now young adults, plus an adopted Miniature Poodle, Boris.

In her free time, she enjoys skiing, Pure Barre, traveling, and time with family and friends.

Dr. Crouse is proud to support the VINA Community Dental Center of Livingston County, which helps provide affordable dental care and education to community members in need.

She also stays connected to her roots as an active member and volunteer with the Finnish Center Association of Michigan, an organization dedicated to preserving Finnish culture and supporting social and educational programs across the state.

In addition, Dr. Crouse enjoys giving back locally by supporting a variety of school programs throughout the area.

You may have noticed that our doctor specializes in “orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.” While most people have heard of orthodontics, many are confused by the dentofacial orthopedics part of the title.

Every orthodontist starts out in dental school. Upon completion of dental school, some graduates immediately go into practice as dentists. Others choose to pursue a specialty, which requires additional schooling during a two- to three-year residency program.

There are nine specialties sanctioned by the American Dental Association. Some you are likely familiar with: pediatric dentistry (dentistry for children), periodontics (dentistry focusing on the gums), and oral surgery. “Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics” is one of the nine specialties.

Essentially, while orthodontics focuses on tooth movement, dentofacial orthopedics guides facial growth and development, which occurs largely during childhood. Appliances are frequently used—the more familiar braces for orthodontics, as well as other specialized appliances like headgear and expanders, depending on the facial abnormalities present.

Sometimes orthopedic treatment precedes conventional braces, but often the two are used together. So if your child gets braces and headgear, he’s actually undergoing orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

Being skilled in both areas, our doctor can diagnose misalignments in the teeth and jaw, as well as the facial structure, and devise a treatment plan that integrates orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic treatments.