Dr. Susan Korch, DMD, MS, Orthodontist in Hershey, PA
Dr. Susan Korch is an orthodontist in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. She then completed a three-year orthodontic residency at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, during which she earned a Certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics and a Master of Science in Oral Biology. She has practiced in the Harrisburg area since 1998.
I have found it genuinely fulfilling to help patients change how they feel about their smiles. The part that still surprises me is how much of that change is not about teeth at all.
I have worn braces myself, and clear aligners as well. I am also the mother of two boys who were my own patients. So when a parent asks what treatment will actually be like day-to-day, I am answering from three directions at once. I answer as the doctor, as someone who has been through it, and as a parent who watched her children go through it.
The most rewarding part of this work is watching patients grow up. I now treat the children of people I treated years ago, which is a privilege, even if it does occasionally remind me how long I have been doing this.
Education and Clinical Training
My formal education began at the University of Pittsburgh, where I earned a Bachelor of Science and then my Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) at the School of Dental Medicine.
Orthodontics is a specialty, and practicing it requires training beyond dental school. After earning my DMD I completed a three-year orthodontic residency at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. It awarded me a Certificate of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics and a Master of Science in Oral Biology.
That distinction is worth understanding when you are choosing a practice. A general dentist and an orthodontist both attend dental school; the orthodontist then spends several additional years studying tooth movement, jaw growth and facial development exclusively. The master’s degree reflects a research component on top of the clinical residency.
Advanced Training
Providing patients with current technique, and delivering care I would want for my own family, matters to me. Continuing education is how that commitment stays real rather than aspirational.
I completed the Pitts Masters Continuum, a two-year mini-residency in advanced orthodontic technique. The program focuses on efficient tooth movement and on the esthetic detail of a finished smile, and it directly informs the bracket system and mechanics we use here every day.
I attend continuing education courses regularly and remain active in several professional organizations:
- American Dental Association
- American Association of Orthodontists
- Middle Atlantic and Pennsylvania Associations of Orthodontists
- Harrisburg Area Dental Society
I am also certified by the American Academy of Facial Esthetics for therapeutic and esthetic treatment with Botox® and comparable products, which we offer to adult patients. You can read more on our Botox® page.
As a small business owner, I belong to the Women Presidents’ Organization, where I represent healthcare. Meeting regularly with accomplished women who run businesses across this region has made me a better practice owner, and by extension a better doctor to my patients.
Why This Practice Adopts Technology Early
My interest in staying current shows up most visibly in the equipment and methods we use. Korch Orthodontics was among the first practices in this area to adopt each of the following:
- Digital scanning, so that impressions are no longer part of your visit.
- 3D low-dose cone beam imaging, for precise diagnosis at a fraction of conventional radiation exposure.
- Computer-guided indirect bonding, which places every bracket to a digital plan rather than by hand at the chair.
- Korch Cam remote monitoring, which lets me review your progress weekly between visits.
- In-house 3D printing and tooth-movement software, so aligners are designed and produced here rather than shipped out.
None of this is technology for its own sake. Each of these changed something specific for patients: fewer impressions, clearer diagnosis, more accurate bracket placement, and appointments spaced further apart because I can see progress without you sitting in the chair. That last one matters a great deal to families driving in from Harrisburg, Lebanon or Elizabethtown.
Recognition and Community
I was honored to be named a 2017 Woman of Influence by the Central Penn Business Journal.
Since moving to the Harrisburg area in 1998, I have felt fortunate to practice in a community this supportive. Our practice gives back to organizations that look after local families. Among them are the Hershey Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, New Hope Ministries, Lourdeshouse, Morningstar Clinics, Catholic Charities, Cocoa Packs and Dress for Success. We also support our patients’ school, arts and athletic programs throughout the year.
At the holidays our office runs annual food and toy drives, and on weekends I serve as a lector at my church.
At Home
I met my husband, Dr. Thomas Appleby, a general dentist in Carlisle, while we were both in dental school. Together we have been blessed with a wonderful family, including our sons, Aidan and Andrew.
Being a mother to my two boys is among the greatest joys of my life. I treasure the time we spend with our immediate and extended family, along with our cats, Phoebe and Nigel, and our dog, Minka.
Outside the office I enjoy vinyasa yoga, Peloton workouts, music, theater and art. I love to travel, and when I am home I most enjoy the time I spend with my family and our pets.
Schedule a Consultation
Your first exam is free, and it is a conversation rather than a commitment. You will meet me, see your own images, and leave understanding what treatment would involve and what it would cost.
Korch Orthodontics · 357 West Governor Road, Hershey, PA 17033 · (717) 533-7400
Request an appointment or read about what to expect at your first visit.
