Meet Dr. Kelley
Board Certified Orthodontist
Originally from Atlanta, Dr. James E. Kelley II moved to Charleston after he married Anne Blakeney of Mt. Pleasant. He attended Wake Forest University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in biology.
Dr. Kelley isn’t the first dentist in his family. His father was a pediatric dentist in Atlanta, which played a large role in his desire to open his own practice. His sister is also a general dentist in the Athens area. So after college, Dr. Kelley went on to join his family of dentists. He went to dental school at the Medical College of Georgia. Then he went on to receive a post-graduate degree in orthodontics.
Also noteworthy, as a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Kelley is board certified. This voluntary certification required him to complete additional rigorous exams. Only a small percentage of practicing orthodontists have completed this certification.
In addition, Dr. Kelley is active in many dental organizations. He is currently the Vice President of the South Carolina Association of Orthodontists. He is a past orthodontic advisor to the Carolina Dental Forum. He is an active member of the “Airway Aware Charleston” study club and practices airway focused orthodontics. Additionally, he is the former President of the Georgia Orthodontists Foundation.
Lastly, when heʼs not at work, Dr. Kelley enjoys spending time with his wife, Anne, and their children, Elizabeth, Harriet, and James. They also have a springer spaniel. Dr. Kelley is an avid golfer, triathlete, and he is an active member of St. Michaelʼs Church.
Meet Dr. Gardner
Board Certified Orthodontist
Dr. Roberta Gardner graduated from the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), College of Dental Medicine. She then received her Master’s degree in Orthodontics from the University of Tennessee *UT). During her specialty training at UT, she conducted research on why lower teeth get crooked as we get older. She has had several articles published based on her research in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. She continues to be active in research and academics through her work as an Associate Professor at the Orthodontic Residency Program at MUSC. She is an active member of the “Airway Aware Charleston” study club and practices airway focused orthodontics. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with the orthodontic residents while keeping current with the latest orthodontic technology.
Dr. Gardner is a diplomate of The American Board of Orthodontics. Differing from being state/national board certified which is a requirement of all practicing dentists, a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics must pass a voluntary examination which includes a rigorous set of written and clinical evaluations. Once certified, the Diplomate must be recertified every 10 years to maintain Board Certified status.
Dr. Gardner is also a member of several professional organizations including:
- American Association of Orthodontists
- Southern Association of Orthodontists
- American Dental Association
- South Carolina Dental Association
- Charleston Association of Orthodontists, where she serves as President
Dr. Gardner and her husband, Jeff, have two daughters, Sophie and Lydia. The Gardners attend the Church at Lifepark. In her spare time, Dr. Gardner enjoys yoga, spinning, and spending precious time with her family.