Ottawa families have plenty of choices when it comes to straightening a smile, from long-established Bank Street practices to newer clinics in Kanata and Barrhaven. This list was put together by reading Google, RateMDs and Birdeye reviews alongside each clinic's own site to find practices with a real track record and verifiable detail behind them.
1. Ottawa West Orthodontics
Area: Carling Avenue, west end · Specialty: braces and Invisalign for children, teens and adults · Rating: 4.9 on Google (95 reviews)
Led by Dr. Shari Borsuk, who trained at McGill and did her orthodontic residency at the University of Pennsylvania, this Carling Avenue practice draws consistent praise for its friendly front-desk team and for Dr. Borsuk's own chairside manner. Reviewers repeatedly single out affordability alongside quality of care, which makes it a solid fit for families comparing several quotes.
2. Wellington Village Orthodontics
Area: Holland Avenue, Wellington Village · Specialty: Invisalign, ceramic and Incognito hidden braces · Since: practicing in Ottawa since 2007
Dr. Andrea Picard opened her own clinic in Wellington Village in 2011 after several years practicing in Ottawa, and the office is known for 3D scanning technology used in diagnosis and treatment planning. Patients describe a modern, welcoming space and mention the team being unusually thorough about explaining each stage of treatment before it starts.
3. Stars Orthodontics
Area: Argyle Avenue, downtown · Specialty: full range from metal braces to clear aligners, plus cleft palate care · Rating: 4.8 on RateMDs
Dr. Khaled Sharaf holds a Master of Orthodontics from the University of Alberta and has been a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics since 2013, a credential relatively few Ottawa orthodontists carry. The practice also treats children with cleft palate and other facial anomalies, which sets it apart from clinics focused purely on cosmetic straightening.
4. Dr. John Kershman
Area: Bank Street · Specialty: Invisalign and orthodontic-periodontic combination cases · Rating: 4.6 on RateMDs · Since: 1986
Dr. Kershman is unusual in holding dual specialties in orthodontics and periodontics from a University of Pennsylvania program that admits only one candidate a year, which is useful for patients whose cases involve both gum and alignment issues. Reviewers frequently mention clear communication throughout treatment and satisfaction with final results, particularly for Invisalign.
5. Braces Haven
Area: Barrhaven · Specialty: Invisalign and clear braces, free consultations · Rating: 4.8 on Birdeye (211 reviews)
Dr. Charles Cohen's Barrhaven clinic is a favourite for families in the city's south end, with reviewers describing the team as upbeat and the office as genuinely family-friendly rather than just marketed that way. Flexible, extended payment plans come up often in reviews as a reason patients chose the practice over others.
6. Kanata Orthodontics
Area: Edgewater Street, Kanata · Specialty: braces, Invisalign and dentofacial orthopedics for all ages
Dr. Mark Luden's Kanata practice serves families across Kanata and the wider west end who would otherwise drive downtown for orthodontic care. Parents reviewing the clinic mention quality of work across multiple children treated there and describe the staff as consistently friendly and focused on getting the job done right rather than rushing patients through.
7. docbraces Ottawa
Area: Montreal Road, Ottawa east · Specialty: braces, Invisalign, expanders and ExpressSmile fast-track aligners · Rating: 4.7 on Google (231 reviews)
Part of a multi-location orthodontic group, the Montreal Road clinic offers ExpressSmile, a faster Invisalign track aimed at adults who want results in fewer visits. Reviews are largely positive about results and staff like Dr. Tan, though a few patients note the clinic rotates orthodontists between visits, worth asking about if continuity with one doctor matters to you.
8. Hickman Specialist Group
Area: Bank Street · Specialty: Invisalign and orthodontics alongside prosthodontic specialists · Rating: 4.9 on Google (116 reviews)
Dr. James Hickman's practice combines orthodontics with prosthodontic specialists under one roof, which suits patients who need more than just alignment work. Patients repeatedly describe Dr. Hickman as a perfectionist and mention feeling well cared for at every visit, with staff getting particular praise for explaining treatment clearly.
9. Van Orthodontics
Area: Fernbank Road, Kanata and Stittsville · Specialty: Invisalign for children, teens and adults
Dr. Dong-Phung Van runs a certified Invisalign practice serving Kanata, Stittsville and Nepean, giving west-end families another option closer to home than downtown clinics. The practice is smaller than some on this list, and the reviews available skew toward a close, personalized patient experience rather than high volume.
10. Centertown Orthodontics
Area: Chamberlain Avenue, near the Glebe · Specialty: custom braces and Invisalign exclusively · Rating: 4.4 on Birdeye (50 reviews)
Located near the Glebe, this practice focuses exclusively on braces and Invisalign rather than general dentistry. Reviewers consistently describe the clinic atmosphere as warm and the staff as accommodating, making it a reasonable option for patients in Centretown or the Glebe who want to avoid a drive to the suburbs.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public Google, RateMDs and Birdeye reviews plus each clinic's own website, not from any ottown staff visit or test of these practices. It is not a paid placement and no business on this list paid for inclusion. Ratings and review counts reflect what was visible at the time of research and can change. Last reviewed August 2026.
Sources: RateMDs orthodontist listings for Ottawa, Google Business Profiles, Birdeye review pages, and each clinic's official website.
