Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman
Orthodontics, Smile Design & Modern Patient Care x INLOVE
An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman orthodontist and founder of Essex Orthodontics believes a beautiful smile has the power to transform far more than appearance—it can change confidence, support oral health, and influence the way someone experiences the world. For Dr. Clanaman, orthodontics is never simply about straightening teeth. It is about understanding the person behind every smile and creating results that enhance facial harmony, support lifelong oral health, and empower patients to live with greater confidence.
Combining Ivy League education, board-certified orthodontic expertise, and a deeply compassionate approach to patient care, Dr. Clanaman has created a boutique practice where advanced technology meets genuine human connection. Every treatment is thoughtfully personalized, every patient is truly heard, and every smile is designed to look naturally beautiful.
In this exclusive conversation with INLOVE Magazine, Dr. Clanaman shares her philosophy on confidence, facial aesthetics, innovation, and why the greatest transformations often happen long after treatment is complete.
INLOVE: Your philosophy goes far beyond straight teeth—you often speak about facial balance, confidence, and lifelong health. When you first meet a patient, what do you notice that most people never see when they look in the mirror?
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman: When I first meet a patient, I notice much more than whether their teeth are straight. I notice how often they smile—and whether they smile freely or seem to hold back. I look at how their lips come together at rest, the width and shape of their smile, the relationship between the upper and lower jaws, and the balance of their facial profile…
INLOVE: Many people believe orthodontics is simply cosmetic. From your perspective, how can properly aligned teeth influence everything from oral health to facial harmony and even the way someone carries themselves through life?
INLOVE: You’ve combined Ivy League education with board-certified orthodontic expertise, but patients often describe your greatest strength as your compassion. How do you balance clinical precision with creating an experience where patients genuinely feel seen, heard, and cared for?
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman: I often think about how I want to feel when I go to a doctor’s appointment, particularly when it is a doctor with whom I will have an ongoing relationship…
INLOVE: Today’s adults are embracing orthodontic treatment more than ever before. What do you tell someone in their 30s, 40s, 50s—or beyond—who believes they’ve “missed their chance” to have the smile they’ve always wanted?
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman: I tell them very simply: you have not missed your chance…
INLOVE: Airway-focused orthodontics is becoming an increasingly important conversation in dentistry. Why should parents and adults understand that orthodontic treatment can involve much more than aesthetics, and how can evaluating breathing, jaw development, and function change someone’s quality of life?
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman: The teeth do not exist in isolation. They are closely connected to the jaws, tongue, lips, facial muscles, breathing patterns, and overall growth and function…
INLOVE: Every smile tells a different story. Can you share a patient transformation that has stayed with you—not because of the clinical result, but because of the emotional impact it had on that person’s life?
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman: I once treated a woman in her 30s who told me during her consultation that she was struggling to find the confidence to put herself out there in the dating world…
INLOVE: Technology has transformed modern orthodontics, from digital scanning to customized treatment planning. How has innovation allowed you to create more comfortable, precise, and predictable experiences for your patients?
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman: At Essex Orthodontics, nearly every aspect of the patient experience is digital. We no longer rely on traditional, uncomfortable, goopy impressions…
INLOVE: As both an orthodontist and a mother, you understand families from two very different perspectives. How has motherhood influenced the way you communicate with children, reassure parents, and build lasting relationships with the families who trust you with their smiles?
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman: Becoming a mother gave me an entirely new perspective on patience, communication, trust, and the realities of motherhood…
INLOVE: Beautiful smiles may begin with science, but they often feel like works of art. Do you see orthodontics as a form of artistry, and how do you create results that look naturally balanced rather than simply “perfect”?
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman: I see orthodontics as a true combination of science and artistry…
INLOVE: Looking ahead, what is your vision for Essex Orthodontics, and what legacy do you hope every patient carries with them long after their braces or aligners are gone?
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman: I started Essex Orthodontics with a simple but deeply meaningful vision: to create a modern, family-oriented orthodontic practice that provides exceptional care in a highly personalized setting…
“Orthodontics isn’t about changing who someone is—it’s about helping them feel comfortable showing the world who they’ve always been.”
— Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman
Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman orthodontist expertise is rooted in personalized care, modern treatment planning, and creating confident smiles for patients of all ages.
The most remarkable orthodontic transformations are rarely measured only by straighter teeth. They are reflected in renewed confidence, healthier smiles, and lives changed in ways that extend far beyond the mirror. Through her blend of clinical excellence, artistic vision, and genuine compassion, Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman reminds us that the most beautiful smiles are those that allow people to feel completely comfortable being themselves.
As a Dr. Elizabeth Clanaman orthodontist feature, this INLOVE Magazine interview explores her approach to orthodontics, patient relationships, and the future of smile design.
https://www.essexorthodonticsnj.com/
Words by Elle Taylor
