The open treatment bay at McInnes Palmer Orthodontics in Towson, with its row of orthodontic chairs under the windows.

Straight smiles for Towson and Hereford, since 1969.

Dr. Meghan McInnes Palmer grew up watching patients come and go from her father’s orthodontic practice, and joined it in 2010. Braces and Invisalign for children, teens and adults, with a complimentary first consultation.

Towson & Hereford 1969

The year this practice began. Dr. Meghan joined her father here in 2010.

Where Dr. Meghan McInnes Palmer trained, and what she belongs to

Temple UniversityMS & orthodontic residencyPrinceton UniversityBachelor of ArtsUniversity of MarylandDoctor of Dental SurgeryAmerican Association of OrthodontistsMemberInvisalign®Certified providerBaltimore Magazine2025 Top Dentist
The waiting room at the Towson office of McInnes Palmer Orthodontics.
The front desk and waiting area at the Hereford office.

Our story, since 1969

Since 1969 this practice has worked one way. Sit down with every family, explain each treatment before it begins, and stay on time. Dr. Meghan grew up watching the happy, smiling faces come and go from her father’s practice, and in 2010 she joined it.

Two offices now, in Towson and Hereford. Every patient is treated like the most important member of our family.

Why choose us

Explained first, done on time.

Three things parents notice at the first visit, at either office.

A private treatment and consultation room at the Towson office, with seats for parents.
01

A consultation that costs nothing

The worry: being sold treatment nobody needs yet.

The first visit is complimentary. A complete exam with X-rays decides whether treatment is necessary at all. If it is, you leave with a customized plan and every payment option laid out before anything starts.

A treatment room at the Hereford office with its imaging unit.
02

No goop, no gagging

The worry: trays of impression putty, taken again and again.

An iTero® scanner takes a digital impression with a radiation-free laser in as little as two to three minutes. You see your teeth in 3D on the screen, and it works for braces and Invisalign alike.

The waiting area at the Towson office, with a board of patient photographs on the pillar.
03

A waiting room made for families

The worry: younger brothers and sisters with nothing to do.

A spacious waiting room with a game center for patients and their families, and a promise to be prompt. One parent writes that they have never waited longer than ten minutes.

Dr. Meghan McInnes Palmer, DDS, MS, orthodontist at McInnes Palmer Orthodontics.
2010
The year Dr. Meghan joined her father’s practice.

Meet your orthodontist

Dr. Meghan McInnes Palmer, DDS, MS

Grew up in Baltimore, now lives in Glyndon. Roland Park Country School, Princeton, dental school at Maryland, then a Master of Science and her orthodontic residency at Temple University.

Whether it’s celebrating a patient’s first confident smile after treatment, or supporting someone through a complex orthodontic journey, these moments shape me as both a professional and a person. Dr. Meghan McInnes Palmer
  • Orthodontic residency and MSTemple University, after her Doctorate of Dental Surgery at the University of Maryland Dental School at Baltimore.
  • Professional affiliationsAmerican Association of Orthodontists, Maryland State Society of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, Maryland State Dental Association, Baltimore County Dental Association.
  • Cleft lip and palate careThe office is a proud member of the Greater Baltimore Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Team at GBMC.
  • Beyond the officeShe has travelled to Africa to volunteer with orphans, and to Vietnam to help children get out of dental pain.

And the team you will see at every visit.

Coordinators at the front desk and orthodontic assistants at the chairs. Everyone here, in Dr. Meghan’s words, truly cares about our patients and wants to improve their lives.

Now hiring: orthodontic assistants and administrative assistants. Get in touch

Our treatments

A plan as individual as the smile.

Braces, clear aligners, early treatment and jaw correction, for children, teens and adults. One in five orthodontic patients is over 21, according to the American Association of Orthodontists.

Braces

Three kinds, from classic metal to brackets designed to be less visible and more comfortable.

  • Traditional metal, with coloured elastics
  • Self-ligating, with ceramic brackets
  • Low-profile, rhodium-coated
  • Elastics, Forsus™ and palatal expanders
Ask at your consultation →

Invisalign®

Clear, removable aligners, planned from a 3D scan rather than a tray of impression putty.

  • Invisalign® for adults
  • Invisalign® for teens
  • Invisalign® palatal expander
  • Vivera® retainers afterwards
Ask at your consultation →

Early & two-phase

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first visit around age seven. Some children are best left to grow first, with check-ups until the time is right.

  • Phase One: guiding the jaw
  • A resting period, with check-ups
  • Phase Two: usually full braces
  • Crowding around age seven or eight
Ask at your consultation →

Jaw & bite

When the jaws themselves are out of line, braces work alongside an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

  • Surgical orthodontics
  • TMJ and TMD symptoms
  • MARA appliance
  • Retainers, removable or fixed
Ask at your consultation →

What to expect, in numbers.

Around age 7

When the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic visit, while baby and adult teeth are both still there.

About an hour

How long the appointment takes when your braces or appliance go on, with the team on hand to keep you comfortable.

Every 4 to 8 weeks

How often you visit during treatment. Tell us which days and times work best and we plan around them.

20 to 22 hours

How long Invisalign® aligners are worn each day. Out only to eat, brush and floss.

Before & after

Real patients. Our own work.

Six cases from the practice’s own before-and-after gallery. Each one shows the smile and the teeth before treatment on the left, and after on the right.

Before and after orthodontic treatment at McInnes Palmer Orthodontics, case 1: the patient's smile and teeth before treatment on the left, after on the right.BeforeAfter
Before and after orthodontic treatment at McInnes Palmer Orthodontics, case 2: the patient's smile and teeth before treatment on the left, after on the right.BeforeAfter
Before and after orthodontic treatment at McInnes Palmer Orthodontics, case 3: the patient's smile and teeth before treatment on the left, after on the right.BeforeAfter
Before and after orthodontic treatment at McInnes Palmer Orthodontics, case 4: the patient's smile and teeth before treatment on the left, after on the right.BeforeAfter
Before and after orthodontic treatment at McInnes Palmer Orthodontics, case 5: the patient's smile and teeth before treatment on the left, after on the right.BeforeAfter
Before and after orthodontic treatment at McInnes Palmer Orthodontics, case 6: the patient's smile and teeth before treatment on the left, after on the right.BeforeAfter

Office tour

Two offices, one team.

Towson on Bellona Avenue, and Hereford on York Road. Stop by for a tour: you will meet the team, walk through the treatment areas and learn more about the treatments we provide.

Your first visit

Every smile starts with a consultation.

It is complimentary, and it is where you meet the team, learn about orthodontics and find out which treatment fits. At your initial consultation we will:

  1. Review your dental and medical history forms
  2. Give a complete oral exam, with X-rays, to see whether treatment is necessary
  3. Help you create a customized treatment plan
  4. Discuss financial information, insurance options and payment plans
The brushing station at the Towson office, with sinks, toothbrushes and supplies for patients.
The brushing station at the Towson office.

Insurance

The practice accepts most major insurance plans. If your insurance covers any part of treatment, the office staff help with the claims and the paperwork.

Paying for it

  • A payment plan that fits your budget, agreed before treatment begins
  • Most major credit cards accepted
  • For Invisalign®: a courtesy discount for paying in full by cash or check
  • For Invisalign®: payments arranged around your Flex plan

Your account, online

See appointments and your account, sign up for email or text reminders, check payments and print flex-spending and tax receipts. Ask at your next visit to set up your login.

Patient login →

Wearing braces & emergency care

Something poking? Often you can fix it tonight.

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, and both offices provide around-the-clock emergency care. For severe pain, or an appliance problem you cannot manage, call your office. For the small things, this usually works until your next visit:

  • Sore for the first few daysTenderness for three to five days is normal. Stick to soft food and rinse with a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water.
  • A poking wirePush it down with a pencil eraser, or cover the end with soft wax.
  • A loose bracketIf it is still on the wire, leave it and add wax. If it comes off, save it in an envelope and bring it in.
  • Then call usEven once it feels fine, call to book the repair, so treatment stays on schedule.
The brushing station at the Hereford office, with sinks and a shelf of toys and games.
The brushing station at the Hereford office.

Giving back to the community

A different cause every year.

The practice runs its own “Giving Back to the Community” project and supports a different organization each year.

Ronald McDonald House

Patients who lost a retainer could make a donation here to “pay” for the replacement. The team has collected supplies from the house’s wish list and cooked dinner for its families.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The team has taken part in the society’s Light the Night Walk.

Casey Cares Foundation

One of the organizations the practice’s annual project has supported.

BARCS

Baltimore’s open-admission animal shelter, which takes in every animal in need. The practice is proud to support it.

★★★★★
Our son's teeth were so crowded and messed up that I didn't think orthodontics could fix them without pulling at least four teeth. But Dr. McInnes' team widened our son's palate, and straightened all of them perfectly! I couldn’t believe the change! Now our son has a beautiful smile and all of his teeth! (Now it's time for my husband to make an appointment!) Cathy C.Patient review, on our own site
★★★★★
We have been so happy with MPO! The initial visit was organized and incredibly efficient in the scheduling of additional appointments. We have never waited longer than ten minutes which is a miracle in this day and age!! The entire office is friendly and makes my daughter feel comfortable with their smiles! We love coming!! Kim G.Patient review, on our own site
★★★★★
McInnes Palmer Orthodontics made the whole process of braces a breeze. I loved the friendly staff and super quick appointments. Thank you for giving my daughter a great smile. Steven G.Patient review, on our own site
★★★★★
I had such a positive experience from the start. The front office staff, the assistants, and the doctors were so welcoming and friendly. Even my two little girls (future patients) feel right at home if they ever had to come along with me. The progress and treatment is also remarkable; can’t wait for the finished product! Elizabeth S.Patient review, on our own site
★★★★★
We are very happy with Cheyenne’s visits. This is my first experience with braces, and everything has gone extremely well. I really like the staff; they always make us feel welcomes and Cheyenne really likes the wooden coins program. Cheyenne G.Patient review, on our own site

Common questions

What parents ask before they book.

How much does the first visit cost?

Nothing. The initial consultation is complimentary. It includes a review of your dental and medical history, a complete oral exam with X-rays to decide whether treatment is needed at all, a customized treatment plan, and a conversation about costs, insurance and payment plans.

When should my child first see an orthodontist?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends around age seven. By then most children have a mix of baby and adult teeth, which makes it easier to spot and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery. Early loss of baby teeth, mouth breathing, thumb-sucking or crowded front teeth are all good reasons to come in.

Braces or Invisalign?

Both are offered, and the consultation is where you decide. Invisalign aligners are clear and removable, worn 20 to 22 hours a day, with check-ups about every six weeks. Braces come as traditional metal, self-ligating with ceramic brackets, or low-profile rhodium-coated brackets.

Do I still see my regular dentist during treatment?

Yes. Keep visiting your family dentist every six months for cleanings and check-ups, even while you are in braces. If extra dental care is needed, we coordinate with your dentist.

How do I look after my retainer?

Wear it exactly as directed: it holds your teeth in their new, correct positions, and that is what stops them moving back. Retainers can be removable or fixed, and we show you how to care for yours and how long to wear it. After Invisalign, ask about a Vivera® retainer.

Do you take insurance, and can I spread the cost?

The practice accepts most major credit cards and insurance plans, and the office staff help with claims and paperwork. You agree a payment plan that fits your budget before treatment begins. For Invisalign there is a courtesy discount for paying in full by cash or check, and payments can be arranged around your Flex plan.

Visit us

Towson or Hereford, whichever is closer.

Hours
Hours differ by office. Please call to confirm before you visit.
Around-the-clock emergency care for patients at both offices.

Request your free consultation, and we will call you to confirm.

Tell us which office suits you. If a brace or wire is causing severe pain, please phone instead. Please do not send private health information through this form.

✓ Complimentary consultation ✓ Braces & Invisalign® ✓ Two offices