Matthews Orthodontists

Dr. Gary Starr, DDS, MS, PA

Dr. Starr loves being an orthodontist. He has a passion for giving every patient the best smile they could possibly obtain and making the experience as enjoyable as possible. Having practiced in Matthews since 1990, Dr. Starr prides himself on having one of the top orthodontic practices in the nation, using all of the latest technology in an office with a fun and caring atmosphere.

Dr. Starr earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University. He went on to earn his DDS from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, where he received the American College of Dentists Award for Outstanding Performance and Professionalism. Dr. Starr earned his MS in Orthodontics from the University of Michigan, where he founded the Graduate Orthodontics Residents Program. He loves rooting for all his alma mater's teams, but he is truly a diehard Blue Devil fan.

While best known for his excellence in orthodontics, Dr. Starr is also widely recognized in the community for his generosity. He consistently supports several non-profit organizations and athletic groups in the area and is well known for his extraordinary generosity in our local schools. Dr. Starr serves on the Board of Directors at Freedom School Partners, an organization dedicated to serving at-risk students and families living in Charlotte. In 2011, Dr. Starr launched a local chapter of the national non-profit organization, Smile for a Lifetime, whose mission is "to create self-confidence, inspire hope and change the lives of children in a dramatic way" by providing braces at no cost to disadvantaged children who otherwise would not have the opportunity for orthodontic care.

Dr. Starr is a proud father of three. In addition to enjoying his kids' activities, he also loves traveling, playing golf and tennis, cheering on the Carolina Panthers, and spending time with family and friends. Dr. Starr is passionate about education as a means to building a better community, and continually lends support to local Charlotte area schools.

Dr. Steven Dickens, DDS, MS, PA

Dr. Dickens earned his DDS degree with Distinction at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill in 2003. His achievements in dental school include being elected into OKY Dental Honor Society and receiving the Edgar Baker Research Fellowship. Through this fellowship, Dr. Dickens was involved in research on long-term facial aesthetics which was subsequently published in The World Journal of Orthodontics and cited in multiple textbooks and journals. He also completed his orthodontic residency and masters degree at UNC - Chapel Hill, where he was awarded the G. Randolph Babcock Fellowship and became Chief Resident in his final year of school. He is recognized for his contributions to the 4th edition of Contemporary Orthodontics, the world's most widely published and used orthodontic textbook. All of these achievements came while rabidly cheering his beloved Tar Heels!

Dr. Dickens joined Starr Orthodontics in 2008. In 2012, he was named partner and Starr Orthodontics officially became Starr & Dickens Orthodontics. In addition to his love of creating beautiful, healthy smiles, Dr. Dickens is passionate about giving back to the community in which he lives. He frequently donates his services to the North Carolina Missions of Mercy - Charlotte, whose purpose is to provide complimentary dental care to the citizens of Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area. In 2011, Dr. Dickens launched a local chapter of the national non-profit organization, Smile for a Lifetime, whose mission is "to create self-confidence, inspire hope and change the lives of children in a dramatic way" by providing braces at no cost to disadvantaged children who otherwise would not have the opportunity for orthodontic care. Dr. Dickens feels very fortunate to be in a profession that helps kids and adults feel better about themselves.

Dr. Dickens lives in Matthews with his wife, Liz, and their four children, Lilly, Quinn, Isaac and Zeke. They enjoy spending time with their families, walking the Charlotte greenways and exercising at the Siskey YMCA. They love to travel and cheer on the Carolina Tar Heels. Dr. Dickens and Liz have competed in many races, including the successful completion of the NYC Marathon. Dr. Dickens also loves photography, ever striving to be as great a photographer as his Pulitzer Prize winning uncle. 

 Memberships

American Association of Orthodontists
On this site, you can learn about orthodontists-specialists in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The correction of tooth and jaw alignment results in a healthy, attractive smile that's good for life.

www.braces.org

American Dental Association (ADA)

The ADA is the professional association of dentists committed to the public's oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement.

www.ada.org