“I love using my talents to bring about positive, lasting changes in the lives of my patients, and quite literally, giving them a reason to smile. I feel fortunate that I was introduced to the profession at a young age, through my father, who is a practicing orthodontist in California. My fondest memories are the times I spent sitting at his workbench in our garage at night as he taught me how to make retainers, or hanging out in his office with the staff and patients who, through the years, had become more like our extended family.
I enjoy talking with my patients and learning about their hobbies, talents, and professions. As we talk and joke it builds a special rapport as we work together towards the shared goal of a beautiful, healthy smile. When my patients return years later with family or friends, it’s great to hear about all the amazing things they are going on to accomplish!”
Dr. Kaplan attended La Sierra University in Riverside, California to obtain her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology and Biomedical Science. After graduation, she continued her education at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, where she was awarded her Doctorate of Dental Science and graduated in the top of her class. Dr. Kaplan was then accepted into the highly competitive Orthodontic Residency Program at Loma Linda where she earned her Master’s degree.
Since entering the profession, Dr. Kaplan has been at the forefront of every major advancement in orthodontics. Whether it’s state-of-the-art aligner technology or clear self-ligating brackets, she is passionate about providing the most advanced orthodontic care and treatment options available to ensure that her patients have a fantastic orthodontic experience and receive amazing results.
Most recently, Dr. Kaplan has participated in online webinars for topics including TMD and sleep apnea and attended the annual meetings for the American Association of Orthodontics, Invisalign® seminars, and Damon® Forum.
Dr. Kaplan grew up in California, and moved to Colorado Springs in 2011. She is married to Dr. Chad Watts, the owner and orthodontist at Rangewood Orthodontics in Colorado Springs. Together they have five children, Carter 19, Jenna 17, Cohen 14, Caden 7 and Christian 2. When she’s not in the office, Dr. Kaplan can be found at the gym or out hiking, mountain biking or snowboarding on the slopes with her kids.
Together, Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Watts founded the El Paso County chapter of Smile for a Lifetime, an organization that enables them to provide free orthodontic treatment for up to 12 children a year. They are also the volunteer orthodontists for Kids in Need of Dentistry. It is her sincere belief that at the heart of a thriving community are individuals who care for one another in times of need, and that the confidence of a healthy, beautiful smile should be available to everyone.
