It is a real treat getting to know our Birmingham Mom Collective partners better, and Dr. Deborah Sema from Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics is no exception!
When you first meet Dr. Sema, you immediately feel like you’ve known her for years. Her warm and personable manner endears you to her right away. It’s no wonder her patients love her and continue to recommend her to their friends and younger siblings.
A Beach Girl at Heart
Dr. Sema was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, while her father was stationed there in the Air Force. The “aloha spirit” and sense of adventure never left her, and she dreams of returning to her roots some day. Who could blame her? Hawaii during a quarantine sounds heavenly!
After Hawaii, her family moved to Gulfport, Mississippi, then to Grand Bay, Alabama. She always considered herself something of a “country coastal girl” who still loves anything outdoors, especially the beach. She stayed nearby for college, too, attending Spring Hill College in Mobile.
From Pediatrician to Orthodontist
While at Spring Hill, she majored in Biology and was on track for medical school to become a pediatrician. But unbeknownst to her, those plans were about to change. A friend working at a local dental office invited her to come work there in between her college classes. It was then she gained the appreciation for dentistry, along with its predictable schedule.
Upon graduation, she moved to Birmingham to attend UAB’s School of Dentistry. After receiving her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, she completed a year of Advanced Education in General Dentistry before entering the master’s program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. She also continued her credentials by becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
She moved back to south Alabama for a bit before returning to the Birmingham metro area to set up her practice. And we’re so glad she did!
Renovated Train Depot
If you’ve never visited her office, you’re missing out! Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics’ office is housed in a converted 1870’s train station complete with the original heart pine floors. Yes. You read that right! How cool is that?! When Dr. Sema toured the space in 2003 to convert into her new practice, she was sold.
Silver Linings in a Pandemic
While the pandemic is not fun for anyone, there are a couple of silver linings. The first being Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics’ new outdoor waiting space. Since only patients can go back for treatment, Dr. Sema and her staff wanted to make sure friends and family had a cool place to wait besides the typical indoor waiting room. So they built an outdoor waiting space complete with air conditioning, zero gravity chairs, and corn hole! Don’t mind me while I just go hang out there by myself one day, Dr. Sema! (P.S. Did I mention all her new inside-the-office safety procedures? Her office has installed UV lights on the air conditioners to purify the air, added additional top-of-the-line disinfectant spray, and she’s even hired someone solely responsible for health screening each patient that walks through the door!)
The second silver lining is due to my own personal experience as an adult who wore Invisalign. Same old story: I had braces as a teen . . . lost my retainer decades ago . . . my teeth shifted post-partum, and voilà–I found myself in Invisalign talking with a lisp! Well my fellow mom friends, I’ve got great news for you: this is your time to straighten! With all the mask ordinances and requirements, it’s a great time to get fitted for metal braces or Invisalign since no one will know you’ve got braces on anyway! Just think, when the pandemic is over, you could have straight teeth and no one will be the wiser!
Patients Young and Old
What Dr. Sema loves the most about her job is the relationships she makes. Tweens and teens come to her for braces, and just as they reach their orthodontia finish line, a younger sibling comes along. She also sees their parents and other adults, too! She estimates 25-35% of her practice are adults.
Dr. Sema finds her life’s work rewarding and finds fulfillment in the way she and her staff love each other and their patients. They find satisfaction in the success and confidence they see in each patient’s new smile!
Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics is ready to see you soon!
Give them a call today at (205) 900‑4705 for a free consultation at their Birmingham/Homewood office OR their McCalla office.
