The Cuozzo Technique: What It Means & How It Came to Be

We’ve established the difference between orthodontists and dentists. Orthodontists have additional schooling, specialized training, certification—and orthodontics is all we do. But what about the difference from one orthodontist to the next? In any profession, there are different philosophies and approaches to the task at hand. At Cuozzo Orthodontics, we’ve developed our own special way of straightening teeth. It’s called the Cuozzo Technique.

Inspired by the Alexander Discipline
Board-certified orthodontist and former NFL quarterback Dr. Gary Cuozzo founded Cuozzo Orthodontics in 1972, following in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Pasquale Cuozzo, who went into orthodontics in 1931. Dr. Gary became a proponent of the Alexander Discipline, developed by Dr. R.G. “Wick” Alexander to streamline orthodontic treatment, enhance patient comfort, and establish long-term stability in teeth. Over time, Dr. Gary fine-tuned his use of the core Alexander principles while incorporating subtle aspects of other proven orthodontic methods to create the one and only Cuozzo Technique.

A Family Practice
The Cuozzo family has been one of the most trusted NJ orthodontists for decades. Today, Dr. Gary’s son, Dr. Patrick Cuozzo, runs the practice. Dr. Pat joined in 1997 and started off by working alongside his father. A few months in, Dr. Gary turned to Dr. Pat.

“What are you doing?” Dr. Gary said sarcastically.

Dr. Pat, recently trained and certified, looked at his dad confused.

“You’re going to have these kids in braces forever,” Dr. Gary said. “Here’s how it’s done.”

That was the day Dr. Pat began learning the Cuozzo Technique. Soon, Dr. Pat would become the one to champion the tradition. In 2013, Dr. Pat was invited by Dr. Alexander himself to speak at the Alexander International Symposium. "For an orthodontist, being asked to speak at the Alexander International Symposium is like going to the Super Bowl," Dr. Pat said in a fitting comparison considering his father’s career in the NFL.

CE Squared
Most patients don’t necessarily want to know the science of teeth straightening. So, Dr. Pat simplifies the Cuozzo Technique to three words, simplified even further into three syllables: CE Squared.

“It’s controlled, it’s efficient, and it’s effective,” Dr. Pat says.

By “controlled,” we mean that the Cuozzo Technique is clinically repeatable. Every orthodontist in our practice provides treatment with the same overall approach. The technique is efficient because, like Dr. Alexander’s original proposition, it aims to let patients get their braces off sooner. And it’s effective, well, because we all know…

It’s All About Results
Patients may not care so much about the science, but they do want to know that they’re going to see improvement—in their teeth, their smile, and in turn, their confidence. The Cuozzo Technique enables us to address common challenges, apply clinically proven braces, and achieve long-lasting results. Schedule your consultation today and learn more about our process in person.