I’m Dr. Wakas Abdulrazzaq, but please call me Dr. Wakas. I’m a board-certified orthodontist, a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, and the founder of The Orthodontic Gallery in Riverview, Florida.
I completed my orthodontic residency through Georgetown University / MedStar Washington Hospital Center, with a weekly clinical rotation at Children’s National Hospital. As the sole orthodontist at The Orthodontic Gallery, I personally oversee the care of every child, teen, and adult we treat.
I’m proud to care for families from Riverview and throughout the Tampa Bay community.
In five years as an orthodontist, Dr. Wakas has treated about 2,000 patients. Dr. Wakas designed The Orthodontic Gallery around continuity, trust, and personal attention.
As the practice’s sole orthodontist, Dr. Wakas personally plans and oversees every patient’s treatment, from the initial consultation through the final appointment. You will see the same orthodontist throughout your care, providing consistency and a clear understanding of your treatment goals and progress.
Families in Riverview and the surrounding Tampa Bay communities deserve to understand who will be caring for them. Here, you can learn about Dr. Wakas’s training, board certification, and approach before your first visit.
Your complimentary consultation includes a comprehensive orthodontic examination and any imaging clinically indicated for treatment planning.
Why Orthodontics
Dr. Wakas’s interest in dentistry began during an elementary school field trip to a dental school. The experience stayed with him, and from that point forward, dentistry became his goal.
His passion for orthodontics developed later, while he was in dental school. Watching patients complete treatment showed him that orthodontic care could change more than the alignment of teeth or the function of a bite. He saw patients smile more freely, carry themselves with greater confidence, and feel more comfortable in their everyday lives.
That combination of clinical precision and meaningful personal impact is what drew Dr. Wakas to orthodontics.
Education and Training
Dr. Wakas earned his first dental degree from the University of Jordan in 2011. After moving to the United States, he completed a second dental degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago, graduating in 2017 with a Doctor of Dental Medicine and a 4.0 GPA.
In recognition of his academic and clinical achievements, he was inducted into the Sigma Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society, and received several merit-based scholarships.
Training in two countries exposed Dr. Wakas to different healthcare systems, educational philosophies, and approaches to patient care. That experience helped shape the thoughtful and adaptable perspective he brings to orthodontics today.
Before specializing, Dr. Wakas practiced general dentistry for two years. This experience gave him a broader understanding of how orthodontic treatment relates to gum health, existing restorations, tooth wear, long-term function, and a patient’s overall dental health.
Orthodontic Residency
Dr. Wakas completed his orthodontic residency through Georgetown University / MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a hospital-based program that provided interdisciplinary experience alongside oral surgeons, pediatric dentists, and craniofacial specialists. His training included a weekly clinical rotation at Children’s National Hospital, where he participated as a member of the orthodontic team caring for patients with craniofacial conditions.
He also served as a visiting lecturer at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
After practicing orthodontics in Maryland, Dr. Wakas moved to the Tampa Bay area in late 2024 and now proudly calls Florida home.
Board Certification and What It Means
Board certification is voluntary and is not required to practice orthodontics. Dr. Wakas chose to pursue this additional professional distinction and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
To become board certified, an orthodontist must complete an accredited orthodontic residency and pass comprehensive written and clinical examinations evaluating diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment management, and critical assessment of treatment outcomes. Certification must also be maintained through the American Board of Orthodontics’ renewal process.
For patients, board certification represents an orthodontist’s voluntary commitment to continued evaluation, professional development, and high standards of specialty care. Learn more about what this distinction means on our board-certified orthodontist page.
Dr. Wakas is also a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association.
A Residency That Included the Hard Cases
Dr. Wakas’s hospital-based orthodontic residency provided experience with complex surgical cases. During his clinical rotation at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., he participated in the orthodontic care of patients with cleft lip and palate, craniofacial syndromes, significant jaw discrepancies, and conditions requiring coordinated surgical care.
He also gained experience caring for children with autism, heightened anxiety, sensory sensitivities, and other behavioral or developmental needs that can make traditional orthodontic visits more challenging.
These experiences influenced how The Orthodontic Gallery was designed. Depending on each patient’s individual needs, accommodations and treatment options may include:
- Private treatment rooms for greater privacy and reduced sensory stimulation
- Nitrous oxide when clinically appropriate for patients experiencing dental anxiety
- Clear-aligner treatment when appropriate for patients who may have difficulty tolerating fixed braces
- Coordinated treatment planning with oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other specialists
If your child has complex orthodontic, medical, developmental, or sensory needs, or you have previously been told that treatment may be especially challenging, we welcome the opportunity to listen, evaluate their needs, and discuss what may be possible.
How He Practices
Dr. Wakas believes patients deserve clear, practical guidance. He will explain your diagnosis, the treatment options appropriate for your needs, the expected timeline and cost of each, and his professional recommendation. You will never be left with a list of choices without help understanding them.
The Orthodontic Gallery uses a digital intraoral scanner to create precise 3D models of the teeth, eliminating traditional impression material in most cases. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is also available when clinically indicated for diagnosis and treatment planning.
Treatment options include metal braces, clear ceramic braces, LightForce custom 3D-printed braces, Invisalign®, Angel Aligners™, and in-house clear aligners. Offering multiple appliance systems allows Dr. Wakas to recommend treatment based on your diagnosis, lifestyle, and goals, not the limitations of a single product.
Why He Built The Orthodontic Gallery
Dr. Wakas founded The Orthodontic Gallery to create a more personal and thoughtful orthodontic experience. The office combines private treatment rooms with a modern open treatment area, allowing care to be adapted to each patient’s comfort and needs.
A fully digital workflow replaces traditional impression material in most cases, while advanced imaging supports precise diagnosis and treatment planning when clinically indicated.
As the practice’s sole orthodontist, Dr. Wakas personally oversees every case, from the initial consultation through the completion of treatment. Every recommendation is based on the individual patient’s diagnosis, goals, lifestyle, and long-term oral health.
Languages: English, Spanish and Arabic
Dr. Wakas is fluent in English and Arabic, allowing him to communicate directly with Arabic-speaking patients and families. The Orthodontic Gallery can also help Spanish-speaking patients better understand their treatment options, instructions, and ongoing care.
Common Questions About Dr. Wakas
Will I see Dr. Wakas at every appointment?
Yes. The Orthodontic Gallery is a single-orthodontist practice. Dr. Wakas personally plans and oversees your care from the initial consultation through the completion of treatment, so you will not be rotated between different orthodontists.
Where did Dr. Wakas complete his orthodontic residency?
Does Dr. Wakas treat adults, or only children and teens?
Both. Adults now make up a large share of orthodontic patients, and this practice focuses on adult cases such as palatal expansion, retreatment after earlier braces, and jaw-alignment planning.