Your Family’s Hometown Orthodontist
A smile is part of who a person is, Dr. John says. “And as an orthodontist, I have the opportunity to help children and adults feel great expressing themselves through their smiles.
About the McDonalds
Dr. McDonald and his wife, Meredith, have been married for over two decades. Their children, Claire and Isaac, participated in the Spanish immersion program in the West Salem public schools before heading east for college. Dr. John and his family enjoy the outdoors, theater, and traveling together. Dr. John also regularly plays ice hockey at the Sherwood Ice Arena in several of their adult leagues (It is no-contact adult ice hockey, not quite like the NHL!)
Growing Up in Salem
Dr. John and his three siblings were raised in Salem and graduated from South Salem High School. He is a true product of the Willamette Valley having spent his summers either picking strawberries, working in the cannery, as well as spending 2 summers moving irrigation pipe in green bean and mint fields while working for a local farmer. During the school year, he worked in his father’s orthodontic office, where he trimmed plaster models, did odd jobs, and decided that he would be an orthodontist someday. After high school, he earned his undergraduate degree at Colorado College and went on to earn his dental degree from Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU). Dr. McDonald served as class president and graduated with honors in fixed prosthodontics.
Education and Experience
After graduating dental school, Dr. John joined the Army. He was stationed in Ft. Campbell, KY, where he underwent extensive advanced training in the general dentistry residency program. Dr John then went on to serve for a year in Korea before being stationed in Heilbronn, Germany, where he managed a large army dental clinic.
Following his service, Dr. John returned to Oregon and practiced general dentistry in Salem and Portland before being accepted to attending the orthodontic program at the University of Pennsylvania. It was there he met his wife, Meredith, and together they returned to Salem for Dr. John to join his father Terry at McDonald Orthodontics. Dr. John and Dr Terry practiced side by side until 2008, when Dr. Terry retired.
Joining my father in practice was a proud moment for both of us. For me, I was able to tap into his vast experience and accelerate learning and understanding of the complexities of orthodontic treatment. The mentorship I received from him continues to this day, as he still teaches the orthodontic program at OHSU and we talk (shop) on a regular basis.
DR. JOHN MCDONALD
A Long Legacy of Smiles
In 2017, McDonald Orthodontics celebrated 50 years of creating great smiles in Salem, Keizer and the greater Willamette valley. Dr John is now treating some 4th generation patients in families whose great grandparents were treated by Dr Terry years ago. Dr John is proud to continue the legacy of providing the best possible orthodontic treatment for each patient. In addition to his full time practice, Dr John has lectured across the country on orthodontic diagnosis, treatment mechanics, and orthodontic treatment systems. Dr John is also speaker and Key Opinion Leader for 3M Oral Care, a global leader in orthodontic technology, innovation, and research.
Dr. John is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. To achieve board certification, hundreds of hours of study, hands-on patient cases, and critical peer review are required. Less than 30% of orthodontists nationwide have earned this distinction with only one other orthodontist in Salem/Keizer having achieved this status.
Dr John is excited by the advancements taking place in orthodontics today. He is committed to providing the best available treatment options to his patients. He is one of the few orthodontists in Oregon providing Bollard Plates www.lesschin.com as treatment for the nonsurgical correction of Class 3 patients (Sometimes called Underbites). He is also the only orthodontist in the Salem Keizer area providing Mini implant Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE also referred to as MSE) to provide nonsurgical palatal expansion to adults and older teens.
Professional Associations
- Member, American Association of Orthodontics
- Diplomate American Board of Orthodontics
- Member + Past President, Marion Polk Dental Society
- Member, American Dental Association
