Clarksville sits just across the river from Jeffersonville, and yet many families in Clark County have never had their child evaluated by a residency-trained orthodontic specialist. That gap matters more than most parents realize. The provider directing orthodontic care shapes every aspect of what happens — from how bite alignment and crowded teeth are identified in childhood to how well results hold long-term. Properly aligned teeth are easier to keep clean, reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, and support healthy oral function throughout life. For families along the Ohio River corridor, access to that level of care is now right across the bridge.
Dr. Heather McCullum opened McCullum Orthodontics in Jeffersonville to give Southern Indiana families the kind of doctor-led, specialist-only care that is harder to find than it should be. She earned her DMD summa cum laude from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry — graduating as valedictorian of her class — and completed her orthodontic residency there, serving as class president and contributing original research on reducing patient radiation exposure during routine treatment imaging. After 14 years of clinical work across Illinois and Kentucky, she returned home to open a practice built around lasting relationships and meticulous, individualized care. Clarksville families can access the full range of orthodontic services we offer with no referral required.
Many orthodontic offices in Clark County are part of larger corporate networks or staffed by general dentists who offer orthodontics as a secondary service. McCullum Orthodontics is neither. Dr. McCullum founded this practice with a specific intention: to provide boutique, specialist-led care to Southern Indiana families who deserve more than the impersonal experience that high-volume offices deliver.
Among her honors are the American Association of Orthodontists Award, the American College of Dentists Student Leadership and Professionalism Award, and induction into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Delphi Society. For Clarksville families comparing providers, those recognitions point to a doctor whose commitment to doing things right began long before she opened her own practice.
Beyond credentials, the culture of McCullum Orthodontics is shaped by Dr. McCullum’s personal values. As a mother of a child with special needs, she brings a perspective and patience to every appointment that families with sensory or behavioral considerations notice immediately. Clarksville families who have hesitated to bring a child into an orthodontic setting often find that McCullum Orthodontics is a different experience than they expected.
Whether your child needs early interceptive care, your teenager is ready for braces or Invisalign clear aligners, or you are an adult who has been putting off treatment for years, McCullum Orthodontics offers individualized care at every stage. Most treatment timelines run between 12 and 24 months depending on case complexity, and Dr. McCullum explains the clinical reasoning behind every recommendation she makes so families can make informed decisions before committing to a plan.
In-office 3D printing technology allows the practice to fabricate custom retainers and mouthguards on-site, delivering shorter wait times and a more precise fit than lab-outsourced alternatives. It is one of many ways the practice has invested in technology that makes a real difference in the day-to-day patient experience.
For parents in Clarksville with young children, the most important thing an orthodontist can offer is an honest early assessment. Crooked teeth, crowded teeth, and bite alignment problems are easiest to correct during childhood, when the jaw and facial structures are still developing. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, all children should have an orthodontic check-up by age 7 — because specialists can identify problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth at that age that are far more manageable when caught early. Early evaluation can also reduce the likelihood of needing permanent tooth extractions or more complex treatment down the line.
Clarksville children who need interceptive care have access to airway-focused palatal expansion, Herbst appliances, facemask therapy, space maintainers, and habit correction appliances at our practice. When a child’s case involves jaw growth modification, Dr. McCullum draws on her training in dentofacial orthopedics to guide development in the right direction — delivering a level of care that general dentists offering in-house orthodontics simply are not trained to provide.
Teenagers ready to begin treatment can choose from traditional metal braces, clear ceramic braces, or clear aligners — including Invisalign — when clinically appropriate. Adults in Clarksville who have been considering treatment will find a welcoming environment and a doctor who takes their goals seriously. Whether you are straightening teeth for the first time or addressing relapse after prior treatment, Dr. McCullum will walk you through every option and what to realistically expect.
McCullum Orthodontics accepts most major PPO insurance plans and provides detailed insurance guidance before treatment begins so families understand exactly what their plan covers. Interest-free payment arrangements are available for out-of-pocket costs, and every new patient receives a complimentary consultation at no charge.
These options make it straightforward for Clarksville families to begin care without financial uncertainty holding them back. Our team walks through what a treatment plan would involve, how long it would take, and what the out-of-pocket cost would look like with and without insurance — so families leave that first appointment with real information, not a vague estimate.
Dr. Heather McCullum has spent 14 years refining her approach to orthodontic care and returned to Southern Indiana to bring that depth of clinical knowledge home to the community she loves. Her practice is built around lasting relationships, individualized treatment planning, and a standard of clinical care that Clarksville families will notice from the very first visit. We are proud to serve Clarksville and the surrounding Clark County communities from our Jeffersonville location, and we warmly welcome new patients of every age. To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. McCullum, contact our office and take the first step toward orthodontic care your whole family can feel good about.
McCullum Orthodontics is conveniently located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, serving patients throughout southern Indiana and the greater Louisville area.
