Choosing an orthodontist for your child is a personal decision. You want someone you can trust, someone your child feels comfortable around, and a team that takes the time to get to know your family. For some Black families in Atlanta, having an orthodontist who shares their background helps make the relationship feel comfortable from the beginning.
If you are looking for representation, you can find it close to home. Dr. Hazie Simon is a Black orthodontist serving families in Chamblee and the surrounding Atlanta area. At Simon Says Smile Orthodontics, families have a place to ask questions, get to know the team, and decide whether the practice feels right for their child.
Why Representation Matters in Orthodontic Care
Feeling understood by your orthodontist can make it easier to talk openly about your care. A systematic review on diversity-sensitive care found that shared cultural or ethnic backgrounds between patients and providers can influence how patients view their care and their relationship with their provider. For children and parents, that comfort can make it easier to ask questions, raise concerns, and stay involved throughout treatment.
Black families in Chamblee, Dunwoody, and Doraville may also consider representation when choosing an orthodontist. For a child, seeing a Black doctor can challenge assumptions about who works in medicine and what careers might be open to them. It can also give parents the opportunity to choose a provider who may be familiar with some of the experiences or perspectives their family brings into the office.
Meet Dr. Hazie Simon, Your Chamblee Orthodontist
Dr. Simon’s path to orthodontics has shaped the kind of practice he wanted to create in Chamblee. After earning his dental degree and completing his orthodontic residency, he served in the U.S. Navy before opening Simon Says Smile Orthodontics. Those experiences helped shape an approach to care that focuses on getting to know each patient, understanding their needs, and helping children and teens feel more at ease throughout treatment.
Dr. Simon has even turned part of his own story into a children’s book. Simon Says Smile follows a child with braces who eventually becomes an orthodontist himself. It gives young patients a story they can relate to while showing them a Black orthodontist on a journey that might start much like theirs today.
What Representation Looks Like at Simon Says Smile
Representation extends beyond who sits in the treatment chair across the room. At our practice, that means paying attention to how each family is treated throughout their experience with us:
- Personalized care: Every treatment plan reflects your child’s specific needs and goals, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Community roots: Our Chamblee practice was built for the families who live here, with a team that genuinely cares about the community it serves.
- Approachable communication: We take time to answer questions in plain language so you always feel informed about your treatment options.
- Welcoming environment: From the office design to daily interactions, every visit is meant to feel comfortable and judgment-free.
Together, these priorities help us create an environment where patients and families from all backgrounds can feel comfortable, heard, and involved in their care.
Choosing an Orthodontist Who Understands Your Family
When you are comparing options for your child’s care, it helps to look beyond credentials alone. Pay attention to whether the orthodontist and their team listen to your concerns, explain treatment clearly, and take your child’s individual needs into account. A new patient visit is a good opportunity to ask questions, get a feel for the practice, and see how comfortable your child feels with the team.
You should also leave that first visit with a clear sense of why a particular treatment is being recommended. Braces, clear aligners, and other orthodontic options each have their place, but the recommendation should make sense for your child’s teeth, lifestyle, and stage of development. Just as importantly, you should feel comfortable speaking up when something does not make sense, or you want to know more.
Experience the Difference Representation Makes at Simon Says Smile Orthodontics
Finding the right orthodontist is about more than choosing a treatment. You want someone your child feels comfortable talking to and a team that makes it easy for your family to ask questions along the way. For families who value representation in their care, Dr. Hazie Simon offers the opportunity to work with a Black, board-certified orthodontist here in Chamblee.
If you are looking for orthodontic care for your child or teen, we would be happy to get to know your family and talk about what brings you in. Schedule a consultation with our Chamblee team to get started.
