Pediatrics CertifiedKirt Simmons, DDS

Kirt Edward Simmons earned D.D.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and then completed a residency in orthodontics and NIH fellowship in craniofacial anomalies at the University of North Carolina (UNC). Dr. Simmons held faculty orthodontist positions on the cleft/craniofacial teams of Indiana University and UNC. His research pursuits involved craniofacial abnormalities, bone physiology, dental implants, orthodontic pain, TMD, and the effects of endocrine disorders on facial and dental growth. Currently, Orthodontic Director at Arkansas Children's Hospital, Dr. Simmons provides all orthodontic treatment services for the Craniofacial Deformities and Cleft Lip and Palate Teams.

Dr. Simmons has held leadership positions in the Arkansas Association of Orthodontists, Southwest Society of Orthodontists, American Association of Orthodontists, and the American Dental Association. He has also volunteered as dental/orthodontic consultant for The MAGIC Foundation, Wide Smiles, the Turner's Syndrome Society, and the Noonan's Syndrome Society.

Dr. Simmons' career-long primary interest has been the treatment of patients with cleft lip/palate and craniofacial anomalies. He has been an active member of the ACPA since 1986, instrumental in the development of the ACPA website and Cleft Serve. He is currently a Section Editor of the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal and serves on the ACPA Program Committee. Dr. Simmons has contributed chapters on orthodontic treatment of cleft patients to both plastic surgery and orthodontic textbooks and presented across the United States and around the world to medical specialists and researchers.