LIVE YOUR BEST SMILE

Dr. Carrie H. Thangamani and her team at CHT Ortho in Hinsdale pride themselves on being the friendly neighborhood orthodontists who treat you like family.

At CHT Ortho, Dr. Carrie H. Thangamani (DDS, MS) says it’s not uncommon for parents to catch up over coffee in the waiting room while their children have appointments in an office designed to make everyone feel welcome.

“It has a light, fun, and cheerful vibe that instantly makes you feel comfortable and at home,” says Dr. Thangamani, who started the Hinsdale practice in 2011. “Simply put, we are truly your neighborhood orthodontist that cares for you like family. While we strive to always be up to date on the newest technologies in how we do orthodontics, I think you could say we are perhaps more traditional in how we care for our patients as people. Technology cannot replace all that we do in dentistry, nor should it.”

As the community-centered practice grew, so did her team. In 2020, Dr. Thangamani welcomed Dr. Ami Rakalla (DDS, MS)—a direct referral from a colleague in Baltimore who said, “I don’t care if you are hiring someone, you need to hire her.”

“Dr. Ami has been a blessing to me, our team, and most importantly, our patients,” says Dr. Thangamani, adding that five years later, they began to search for a third part-time orthodontist to join them. Hinsdale/Oak Brook native Dr. Karen Homsi-Przybylo (DDS, MS) fit the bill perfectly. In addition to rave recommendations, the Hinsdale Central High School graduate had deep ties to the community. “She has also been a welcome and lovely addition to our team.”

Together, this trio of orthodontists at CHT Ortho continue Dr. Thangamani’s founding mission to treat every patient as if they were her own child. Building and maintaining close relationships with patients and their families—many of whom they see every 10 weeks or so—is what keeps the practice’s engine running.

“We love treating families, neighbors, colleagues, and community friends,” she says. “We all live in the area so knowing our patients in and out of the office makes coming to ‘work’ really not work at all.”

As they watch the families they treat evolve and grow, they simultaneously keep a pulse on the latest innovations in orthodontics. Technology is used not to replace the personal touch but to work in ways that make treatment more efficient and effective.

“That often means shorter appointments with less in-office time, more virtual appointments when possible, and treatment options that vary from metal braces to clear removable aligners and many things in between,” explains Dr. Thangamani. “We work with our patients to figure out what options work best for them and their lifestyle. We also realize there are patients who want more in-office care and attention and we cater to that as well—knowing people and caring for their needs at their level is our specialty, along with straightening teeth, of course!”

As your friendly neighborhood orthodontists, the CHT Ortho team gives back to the Hinsdale area community whenever possible—dedicating time outside of the office to local philanthropies and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Thangamani currently serves on the board of the Hinsdale Community House, as well as the village’s Economic Development Commission. Along with another couple, she and her husband look forward to co-chairing the Wellness House Ball in October.

With a company mantra to “Live Your Best Smile,” she says her new dream team is uniquely dedicated to delivering unparalleled care.

“We collaborate continuously on all of our cases and we push each other to strive to the next level,” adds Dr. Thangamani. “Our passion is making you smile!”

CHT Ortho is located at 1 Grant Square, Suite 101, in Hinsdale. For more information, call 630-323-1201 or visit chtortho.com.