About Dr. Cordray

Why I Became an Orthodontist …

Back in the 3rd grade, I chipped my front tooth. Unfortunately, at the time, dentists could not restore my tooth until my senior year of high school. That experience made me sensitive to how people feel when they sense their smile is less than perfect. As a result, being an Orthodontist lets me focus on making everyone’s smile as perfect as absolutely possible.

Also, I was fortunate that while I was still in high school a professor in the Department of Orthodontics took an interest in me (he was my Orthodontist). He helped me understand what great Orthodontics could be.

As a result, it seemed only natural to pursue Orthodontia. I have been doing this for almost 3 decades … and I still enjoy the simple pleasure of helping each of my patients enjoy a spectacular smile.

Why I Have a low “sizzle” Office…

Many of my colleagues have expensively decorated offices with large flat-panel TV screens and other gadgets and entertainment. While impressive, these are things that my mid-western upbringing doesn’t value. Instead, I learned to appreciate craftsmanship. My staff and I strive to always deliver exceptional orthodontics in a comfortable environment but without charging for all of those unnecessary non-orthodontic “extras”.

Accordingly, I focus on the things that deliver exceptional outcomes. For instance, I personally meet with each patient at each appointment to assess progress and make adjustments. I encourage patients to come back every 4 weeks. Focusing on hands-on treatment allows our patients to get their braces off faster.

Importance of Monthly Visits

Monthly visits have another important benefit. After studying, teaching, & researching orthodontia for 30+ years, it is clear that having this faster pace of “fine-tuning” adjustments allows the orthodontist to generate better results. As a perfectionist, it enables me to create not just better-looking smiles, but younger, more beautiful smiles. And that is the very thing that keeps our work meaningful to me and my staff.

As a result, I prefer not to dress up our practice in “showy glitzy things” but to focus on creating a beautiful smile and getting to see each of my patients every time they come in. I didn’t choose to become an Orthodontist for the lifestyle, but for enjoyment of the real and permanent good that comes from giving each patient a truly beautiful smile.

Teaching & Lecturing

Since 1986, Dr. Cordray has taught at The Ohio State University as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthodontics. In addition, he has guest lectured nationally & internationally and has done so most recently in the Graduate Orthodontics Programs at Harvard, The University of Chicago, University of North Carolina, Eastman, Tennessee, and NYU. He was even requested to lecture by the University of Michigan despite Dr. Cordray being an Ohio State alumnus. He has also been a speaker at both the component level (Northeast Society of Orthodontics (NESO) and Great Lakes Association of Orthodontics (GLAO)) and a four time speaker at the national AAO/WFO meetings.

Further, Dr. Cordray served as the Teaching Committee Chairman of the Roth-Williams International Society, a specialty arm of Orthodontics that focuses on both aesthetic and functional aspects of improving patient’s teeth.

Research

Dr. Cordray has authored five articles on advanced treatment methods, and serves as a consultant for the two most respected journals in the orthodontic field: the American Journal of Orthodontics and the Angle Orthodontist. Unusual for most Orthodontists, 30 years after graduation, Dr. Cordray still enjoys working on leading edge research.

Current Research

Dr. Cordray is pioneering new ways to help patients keep their teeth longer when they are dealing with implants, crowns, bridges or other “restorative” teeth issues. The unfortunate reality is that having a crown or bridge puts extra wear and pressure on the remaining teeth which shortens their life span. Fortunately, Dr. Cordray is working with experts in restorative dentistry to develop new methods and techniques to utilize in orthodontia to extend the life of healthy teeth when a patient has multiple restorations / a crown or bridge.

If you want to get technical…

His primary area of focus is clinical orthodontics, with emphasises on the following: functional occlusal concepts, gnathology(the study of the funcitonal aspects of occlusion), and the importance of centric relation treatment, the seated condylar position, and articulator use in orthodontic diagnosis, treatment planning, and occlusal finishing. He also lectures on straight wire appliance treatment mechanics and orthognathic surgical correction and execution.

Education

Miami University (BA Biology)
Ohio State University (D.D.S 1984)
Ohio State University (Masters of Science, 1986)
Board Certified in 1991 (American Board of Orthodontics)
Roth-Williams International Graduate (1994)

Awards

• 1980 – B.A. in Biology (Phi Beta Kappa) from Miami University
• 1984 – D.D.S. degree from Ohio State
• 1986 – Master of Science in Orthodontics from Ohio State University with honors (Phi Kappa Phi)
• 1991 – At the age of 34, Dr. Cordray was Board-Certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, making him one of the youngest to receive that honor.
• 1994 – Completed Roth-Williams International two-year continuing education course in comprehensive clinical orthodontics.
• 1994-9 – Teaching Committee Chairman of Roth-Williams International Society of Orthodontists
• 1992 to Present – Guest Lecturer for the Orthodontics Program at Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
• 1986 to Present – Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at Ohio State University
• 2005 to Present – Member of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists, Eastern Component
• 2006 – Distinguished National Service Award given by the Dawson Center for the Advancement of Dentistry for Outstanding Research
• May, 2006 – Article in American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics [Angle Society research paper] entitled “A three-dimensional analysis of models articulated in the seated condylar position from a deprogrammed asymptomatic population—a prospective study—Part 1”. This paper is quoted extensively on page 106 of Dr. Dawson’s current textbook “Functional Occlusion: From TMJ to Smile Design.” .
• 2008 – Awarded the B. Holly Broadbent Sr. Memorial Lectureship for this occlusion research.
• 2011 – Voted one of Columbus’ best Dentists by Columbus Monthly Magazine
• 2013 – Voted one of Columbus’ best Dentists by Columbus Monthly Magazine
• 2013 – Author of 4 chapters in the newly published Roth-Williams International Society of Orthodontics textbook “Goal-Directed Treatment”

Outside of Work

Originally from Grove City, Dr. Cordray and his wife, Kathy, now live in Worthington with their two daughters, Ruthie and Emma. When not in his Worthington or Grove City office, Frank enjoys spending time with his family. When he is not with Kathy and the girls or working, he likes to recharge by running or playing basketball, and spending time with his dad who lives here in Columbus.