Dr. Randy L Gittess

Meet Dr. Gittess - "When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you"
Dr. Randy Gittess enjoys putting those smiles on people's faces. His office in Winter Springs is not far from downtown Orlando. Dr. Gittess' patients range from adolescents and professionals to those in their golden years.
"The ideal candidate for braces," explains Dr. Gittess, "is one with a positive self-image who is willing to make a short-term sacrifice for a long- term benefit." While appearance is generally "the greatest motivator" for wearing braces, health concerns often place an adult under orthodontic care. Invisible braces are now a great option for adult orthodontic treatment.
One such concern is TMJ (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction syndrome - a cause of sore jaw joints, headaches, neck stiffness and muscle spasms. Orthodontic appliances often provide relief from these problems and circumvent degeneration. Learn More
Dr. Gittess believes education is a life-long endeavor. A precocious and a …bright student, Gittess skipped two grades in school and entered college when he was 16. Adept with his hands, his hobbies have included sculpting and woodworking. After Gittess graduated from high school, the family moved to Coral Gables where he earned a degree in chemistry and philosophy at the age of 20 from the University of Miami.
Wanting to combine his talents and aptitude, Gittess decided on the field of dentistry. "Dentistry gave me the opportunity to be scientific and also creative." He continued his education at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, becoming a Doctor of Dental Surgery.
After Gittess opened his private practice in Miami in 1977, he found that "more and more of my free time was spent in the nearby orthodontic office." That's when he decided to further his dental education and pursue orthodontics. Dr. Gittess attended the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia for three years to receive his certificate in orthodontics.
Dr. Gittess concluded that Central Florida was the place to be. His private practice in orthodontics and TMJ therapy was established in 1981. Central Florida became home when he married Beth, a respiratory therapist, in 1989. Their first child, David, was due on their first anniversary; their second, Annie, arrived around their second anniversary. When not devoting time to his practice, Gittess is totally immersed in family life. "My wife and I spend a lot of time together," he says. The family enjoys taking day trips to Silver Springs, Weeki Wachee or Cocoa Beach. Gittess also finds time to golf. He wishes he could pursue his interest of woodworking. However, he cannot risk injury to his hands. His hands are his livelihood and his patients depend upon his hands to put smiles on their faces.
The team spirit is represented in all Dr. Gittess' staff, from the person who greets patients, to the lab technician to the shuttle driver. Dr. Gittess credits his staff in achieving a people-oriented practice. "It has taken me years to assemble this wonderful staff," says Gittess. "These people are extended family - they are not only bright and capable, they're people I enjoy living my life with week in and week out."
Dr. Gittess also provides a school-to-office shuttle service for school-age children that gets kids to their appointments and then back to class. This innovative concept works very well for the 80 percent of homes in which both parents work. Often it's inconvenient for parents to take off work, this service makes it easier for parents and fun for the kids.
Gittess' orthodontic care changes more than just teeth. It transforms those who were self-conscious about their smiles into people with a winning grin. "An added plus," says Gittess,"is that after the braces come off, they pay more attention to their dental health." All the more reason for Dr. Gittess to smile.
Dr. Gittess is an active member in the American Association of Orthodontists, Florida Society of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association and Central District Dental Society.
Florida State Board Certi