Meet Dr Defay

David K. Defay DDS, MS

Dr. David Defay knew at the age of eleven that he wanted to pursue a career in orthodontics. He saw and felt the value of providing lasting, quality smiles to others while experiencing his own orthodontic treatment.  Since that time, Dr. Defay has spent his professional and scholastic career dedicated to becoming one of Utah’s premier orthodontists.

Education:

Dr. Defay completed his undergraduate education at Utah State University majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Chemistry.

He attended the Ohio State University College of Dentistry where he earned the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.  During this time he was ranked in the top 5% of his class and graduated Magna Cum Laude.  As a result of his dedication to excellence, Dr. Defay received many awards and honors during his dental education, including the American Association of Orthodontists Award, the James V. Marquard Award for Quality Patient Care, the OSU College of Dentistry Student Leadership Award, and induction into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society.  Most notably, because of his scholastic achievements, along with his leadership and research involvement, the Ohio State University selected Dr. Defay as its Outstanding Professional Student during his final year of dental school.

Following his doctorate, Dr. Defay continued on to receive his specialty training at the University of Iowa Department of Orthodontics, consistently regarded as one of the top orthodontic residencies in the country.  He received instruction from internationally renowned orthodontic professors and learned the latest in orthodontic technology and evidence based treatment philosophies.  At the completion of his residency, Dr. Defay earned a Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.  He also completed a Master’s Thesis utilizing 3D photograpy to study the genetics of orofacial clefting.  As a result of completing this research Dr. Defay was awarded an MS in Orthodontics from the University of Iowa.