KEITH S. WICKIZER DMD MS ABO

Dr. Keith S. Wickizer is an orthodontist in Summerville, South Carolina, who specializes in providing quality orthodontic care using advanced treatment methods, such as self-ligating braces, Invisalign® and Lingual braces.
Dr. Wickizer was born and raised in Summerville. He is one of the only certified providers of Lingual braces in Charleston and its surrounding areas.

EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Science in Biology at the College of Charleston, Cum Laude
Doctorate in Medical Dentistry at the Medical University of South Carolina, Magna Cum Laude
Certificate in Orthodontics at the University of Louisville, Magna Cum Laude
Master’s in Oral Biology at the University of Louisville, Magna Cum Laude
Dr. Wickizer graduated at the top of his class in dental school with a 3.98 GPA

AWARDS:
Awarded the title of Top Clinical Student
Recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in Orthodontics Award, given to him by the American Association of Orthodontists
PUBLIC LECTURER
Dr. Wickizer has lectured to dental students both at the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of Louisville.

ORGANIZATIONS:
American Dental Association
South Carolina Dental Association
Southern Society of Orthodontists
American Association of Orthodontists
We are happy that you have chosen our office for your orthodontic needs.

EXTENDED BIO
Dr. Keith is a native of Summerville, South Carolina. He began his pursuit of a career in orthodontics after getting his braces placed in his freshman year of high-school, although his want for a lifetime career began much earlier than that….
FB Aug 6 001At age 8, Dr. Keith stretched across his mother’s bed and told his mom that he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do for a living, an odd question for a kid his age. His hard work ethic began very, very early. Dr. Keith began working before he was of age as a dishwasher and prep cook for a friend of the family’s local Italian eatery. Dr. Keith got his first glance at the inner workings of a business, and took away a love of cooking. Being a family friendly business, it was less like a job but more like an internship on customer service and how to treat people. Washing dishes night after night, however, was more like a job.
During his middle and high school years, Dr. Keith grew very fond of the visual arts. He excelled in drawing, painting, and sculpting; earning him many first place wins in local and state wide art contests. Dr. Keith was chosen to attend the Governors School of the Arts during his time at Stratford High School, and was voted one of the top art students by the art faculty. He left his mark on Stratford, as he and a friend designed the high school’s afghan during their senior year, which would be used for years and years by football fans. Some of Dr. Keith’s drawings and paintings still hang on the walls at Stratford.
During high school, Dr. Keith could be found working at the Blockbuster Video off St. James Avenue and as an usher at the North Charleston coliseum. He was always a fan of entertainment, and strengthened his customer service skills working at these two locations. One step into Acuity Orthodontics’ doors and you will feel this passion Dr. Keith holds for treating patients and parents like family.
After high school, Dr. Keith attended the College of Charleston on an academic scholarship. Knowing he wanted to become an orthodontist, his shift in studies turned toward the biologic sciences. He also furthered his study for art, and was accepted into a junior level art class his freshman year; having to receive special permission from the dean to do so.
During his college summers, Dr. Keith began employment with Circuit City, and a new hobby blossomed, the enjoyment of computers and technology. This love never stopped, which is why Acuity Orthodontics is at the forefront of technology. Digital charting, digital X-Rays, and the most advanced orthodontic tools and materials are used on a daily basis.
Dr. Keith attended dental school at the prestigious Medical University of South Carolina. Are you ready for some awards and honors? In 2003, Dr. Keith was accepted into the Presidential Scholars Program, one of the most distinguished honors a student at MUSC can be given. He was elected into the Psi Omega Dental Honor Fraternity, and was given the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in his fraternity for having the highest GPA of its members, a 3.98. He graduated at the top of his class both on academic merit and clinical skill, combining superior knowledge with outstanding hand skills. He received the Outstanding Achievement in Orthodontics Award from the American Association of Orthodontics during his senior year in dental school, along with the Outstanding Achievement Award in Operative Dentistry for his proficiency in dental restorations. He also extracted more teeth and treated more orthodontic cases than any student prior to him in the history of MUSC! Prior to graduation, Dr. Keith was inducted into the prestigious OKU honor fraternity, of which only the top 5% of graduating seniors are allowed to join.
Ask Dr. Keith to this day how he achieved all this, and he’ll be quick to tell you that he truly has a love for dentistry… “It’s arts and crafts every day of my life” The further Dr. Keith studied in dental school, the more he realized that dentistry allowed him to use his passion of art in his work. Whether it comprised sculpting a tooth colored filling, carving a porcelain crown, or creating the perfect smile with a set of braces, his art lives on in his work.
To make extra money in dental school, you could often find Dr. Keith in the dental lab creating other students dentures. Many sets of dentures were molded by Dr Keith with individual acrylic teeth and wax. Dr. Keith once again took work and turned it into having fun, and taught himself how to alter smiles slightly by subtle changes in tooth position, which he now can manipulate with his braces and wires.
After receiving his doctorate from MUSC, Dr. Keith studied orthodontics at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. He received his orthodontic certificate along with his masters in oral biology during his time here. Dr. Keith was faculty during his residency here, teaching orthodontic technique and appliance fabrication to the dental students. He has also lectured to students at the Medical University of South Carolina since his return home. His love for teaching has also encouraged him to start his own school, the Advanced Dental Training Institute, or ADTI, which teaches interested applicants dental assisting. Dr. Keith also donates time to the outreach dental clinic in North Charleston, which performs extractions on those that cannot afford dental care.Dr. Keith is also a huge fan of the water. In high school you could find him and his friends surfing at the washout on folly beach. Realizing he could make his own waves behind the back of a boat, his liking of surfing turned to a love for wakeboarding after graduation. During the winter months he also enjoys snowboarding, a sport he picked up while attending residency in Kentucky.

After orthodontic school Dr. Keith returned home to Charleston to rejoin his family and friends. He designed his office to encompass his many loves and with his mom’s advice of “If you build an office son, make sure you have comfortable dental chairs!”. Dr. Keith took his mom’s advice, and once you sit in one of our memory foam chairs, you will experience just how comfortable a dental visit can be. Combine this with a fun, family atmosphere, a kid’s room full of the coolest video games, and the latest clinical technology on the market, and you will experience just what Acuity Orthodontics is all about!