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Our new office is custom designed utilizing state of the art orthodontic technology 

At Solem Orthodontics our mission is to provide exceptional quality orthodontic care with empathy, respect, and individual pride. Our Practice is a place where the genuine care and comfort of our patients and office visitors is our highest priority.

 

We strive to provide the finest personal orthodontic service available. Our valued patients and guests enjoy a friendly, relaxed, yet professional office environment.

 

We strive to make each patient’s orthodontic experience a positive one. 

TOUR OUR OFFICE

WHAT SETS US APART

We Care

Our team is willing to make accommodations for all patients. We strive to provide the highest level of care with compassion and patience. 

Expertise & 

​Experience

​Our team has the expertise and experience to address the full range of orthodontic needs, from the most standard to the highly complex.

  • Our team has decades of combined experience working specifically in orthodontics

  • Certification by the American Board of Orthodontics: Only 30% of orthodontists are certified by this rigorous examination process

  • Specialized training in the treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate and Developmental Disorders

  • Dr. Solem has taught on faculty at major orthodontic programs including UCLA and the University of California, San Francisco

  • Dr. Solem has published leading research in high ranking orthodontic journals and presented at major national meetings (see below)

Technology

Our office uses the most up-to-date technology available including:

  • Digital panoramic X-ray system (Vatech Pax-i) that provides high resolution images of jaws and teeth at a lower radiation dosage than standard X-ray machines 

  • 3D intraoral scanner that creates high-resolution images of your teeth (no impressions needed anymore!)

  • 3D printing technology for all appliances (retainers, expanders, aligners) for improved accuracy

OUR STAFF

R. Christian Solem, DMD, MS
 

Committed to helping and empowering others through oral health, Dr. Solem began his career in dentistry at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston where he graduated cum laude. He completed an undergraduate degree in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2014 he became certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.


During dental school, Dr. Solem pursued an elective four month dental externship at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless. Healthy and with a restored dentition, many patients were able to find jobs and a place to live again. He also trained in the pediatric dentistry clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he treated children with special needs and illnesses. Motivated by this work, he pursued orthodontic residency training at the University of California, San Francisco.

 

After completing orthodontic residency in 2013, Dr. Solem worked for one year as a craniofacial orthodontist at Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan. At this center, he treated children with rare diseases and developmental anomalies, including cleft lip and palate. This work was done in close collaboration with other medical disciplines (plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, speech pathology, and audiology) to provide complex orthodontic treatment to all age-ranges of children. He currently serves on the board of the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists.


Dr. Solem lives in Pleasant Hill, CA with his family, where he enjoys running, biking, surfing, and playing the cello. He’s delighted to join the wonderful team of dental specialists serving the communities of Pleasant Hill, Concord, Walnut Creek and Martinez.

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Trisha Cardamone

Treatment Coordinator & Front Administrator

 

I started my career in pediatric dentistry. I have now been working in orthodontics for 25 years. I love working in orthodontics it has become a huge passion of mine. It is such a wonderful experience to see how something as simple as a smile can change the lives of so many people. I am excited to be part of the team at Solem Orthodontics and look forward to meeting some new faces. In my spare time away from work I enjoy spending time with my family, doing projects around the house, cooking, hiking, kayaking or enjoying a day at the beach.

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Isabel Valdivia

Orthodontic Assistant

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Hello! My name is Isabel Valdivia. I graduated from DVC’s Dental Assisting Program in May of 2022. I enjoyed and learned a lot in the program. My favorite part was the externships. I externed at Solem Orthodontics as part of the program requirement. I learned so much in such little time. Towards the end of my externship, Dr. Solem generously offered me a position. As of today I am still learning everyday and enjoy working at Solem Orthodontics improving smiles. I am excited for what the future holds for this incredible office. In my spare time I enjoy binge watching shows with my husband and reading books.

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Maria Guzman

Orthodontic Assistant

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...more to come

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Jennifer McMillan

Orthodontic Assistant

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I’ve been working in orthodontics for over twenty years now. I love how we can change a person’s life by giving them a great smile. The transformations are very rewarding. I am so proud to be part of our team! In my spare time I enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends. My favorite place to visit is the beach anywhere.

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Orthodontic Research Authored by Dr. Solem

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  1. Solem, R.C., Eames, B.F., Tokita, M., Schneider, R.A. 2011 Mesenchymal and mechanical mechanisms of secondary cartilage induction. Developmental Biology 356: 28-39.

  2. Solem, R.C., Marasco, R., Gutierrez-Pulido, L., Kim, S-H, Nelson, G. Three-dimensional Soft and Hard Tissue Change in the Treatment of Bimaxillary Protrusion. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, 2013 Aug; 144 (2)

  3. Solem, R.C. Limitation of a cross-sectional study. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, 2015 Aug; 148:205.

  4. Solem, R.C., Martz, M., Weiss, E., Reese, P., Kawamoto, H., Lee, J. Multidisciplinary Treatment of Antley-Bixler Syndrome. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 2016 June.

  5. Solem, R.C., Ruellas, A., Oberoi, S., Lee, J., Miller, A., Kelly, K., Ricks-Oddie, J., Cevidanes, L. Congenital and Acquired Mandibular Asymmetry: Mapping Growth in Three Dimensions. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, 2016 Aug;150(2):238-51.

  6. Elizabeth J. Volpicelli,  Miles Pfaff,  Kevin Hakimi, James P. Bradley, R. Christian Solem, Justine C. Lee. Psychosocial Development of Pediatric Patients with Craniofacial Anomalies: Differences in the Elementary, Middle, and High School Years. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2017 Jan

  7. Solem, R.C. Utilizing three dimensional data in orthodontic practice and research. Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research, 2017 Oct.

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