RETIRED - Dr. Linda Rigali
I am so fortunate to have the profession that I do. I truly love improving someone’s smile! A great smile is more than aesthetics; it can give someone confidence as well as overall dental health. Over the years, I have met numerous young people who have become upstanding adults and now bring their children to see us. I have raised my three children in the community and have come to know the people and families we treat as more than just patients.
The biggest change in orthodontics over the last several years has been in technology. Every continuing education course I take is exciting because it allows me to offer our patients the latest in orthodontics, from digital models to accelerated tooth movement. At times, it is hard to sift through what may just be slick advertising from the big companies and determine what can truly benefit my patients. Hence, continuing to study is imperative!
Several years ago, I became a board-certified orthodontist, which is a level beyond what many orthodontists achieve from their formal education. This was a ten-year process to prove the quality of my work to the board in a written, oral, and practical exam.
I am a native of this area, having grown up in Holyoke and South Hadley. Northampton has been my home for almost 30 years. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine with honors. Immediately after graduation, I served a residency at Western Massachusetts Hospital in Westfield. From there I was fortunate to be accepted into the orthodontic graduate program at Boston University.
In my spare time, you may find me reading the next great John Grisham novel or catching up on my orthodontic journals. My husband and I enjoy biking in the summer and skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.