Orthodontic Profession Mourns the Death of Dr. Stephen Tracey

ORANGE, Calif., May 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The orthodontic profession mourns the loss of one its most beloved clinicians, innovators and educators, Dr. Stephen Tracey. Dr. Tracey had been in private practice in Upland, Calif. for 30 years. On April 30, 2016, he succumbed to an illness that he had been fighting for the past year; he was 57 years old.

An innovator par excellence, Dr. Tracey continually pioneered the use of advanced technologies to benefit patients and clinical treatment, including the early use of lasers for soft-tissue contouring with proficiency certification in both diode and Er:TAG lasers. He was an early adopter of temporary skeletal anchorage, CBCT and digital orthodontics combined with 3D appliance fabrication. He was also a forerunner in utilizing sleep apnea therapies. Having recognized national trends in plastic surgery that translated to orthodontics as early as the 1990s, he made aesthetics the cornerstone of his practice. "We will all remember his energy, his desire to delve into new ideas, and the ingenious ways he used and leveraged new technologies to help serve patients for better outcomes and lives," stated Patrik Eriksson, Ormco President. "Given that his practice was close to Ormco, he graciously made himself available to treat Ormco employees and their families in his practice and in the Kavo Kerr Group Learning Center. By conducting a myriad of clinical evaluations for Ormco, he provided insightful feedback on existing and developing products including Inspire ICE™, Insignia™ Advanced Smile Design™ and most notably, the VectorTAS™ miniscrew system where he was integral in the system's development and doctor education program. Orthodontics has lost a great pioneer and leader, leaving thousands of colleagues and friends bereft all over the world."