The Cool Braces Story: 30+ Years of Crafting Smiles
In 2003, Dr. Tahir opened a second location in Berwyn. And when Dr. Analia Tahir (we call her Dr. Lia) joined the practice, two generations of orthodontic artistry converged under one roof. Dr. Tahir's decades of mastery met Dr. Lia's fresh, modern perspective.
The result is a practice unlike any other in the Chicago suburbs.
Dr. Ejaz Tahir
As Adjunct Faculty at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry, Dr. Tahir does not just practice orthodontics. He teaches it. He trains the next generation of orthodontists, sharing the advanced techniques and clinical philosophy that have made Cool Braces what it is today.
Dr. Tahir is known for taking on the cases other practices shy away from. Complex bite corrections, jaw alignment issues that would typically require surgery, severe crowding that seems impossible to resolve with braces alone. He sees these challenges as opportunities to demonstrate what precision and patience can achieve.
Dr. Tahir is also an origami artist. The same patience, precision, and attention to detail that he brings to folding a single sheet of paper into something beautiful, he brings to every smile he creates. He even makes personalized origami for the kids who visit the office.
Dr. Analia Tahir
Here's what makes that rare: Dr. Lia is learning the lessons, techniques, and instincts that took Dr. Tahir 30 years and 25,000+ patients to master, while combining that hard-won knowledge with the contemporary treatment plans and appliances of today. Old-school precision meets modern tools. That's a combination most practices can't offer, because most practices aren't a father and daughter working side by side.
She has a sharp eye for the small details that make a smile look natural, not just straight. The subtle stuff patients notice in the mirror, even if they can't name what's different.
She's also pushing orthodontics forward through technology. Dr. Lia was recently published for her research on how artificial intelligence can be leveraged in orthodontic treatment. It's the kind of work that brings genuinely new thinking into a practice that's always been evolving.
Our Philosophy: Braces‑First by Conviction
Traditional and Premium Metal Braces
“Invisible” Braces and Clear Aligners
Accelerated Orthodontics
Why Cool Braces Is Different From Old-Fashioned Orthodontic Solutions
Community Roots
Frequently Asked Questions
Three things. One, make sure they're an actual orthodontist with residency training. Not a general dentist doing aligners on the side. Two, experience with cases like yours. Three, do they recommend what's best for your teeth, or what's easiest for their schedule? Dr. Tahir has 30+ years, 25,000+ patients, and teaches orthodontics at UIC. He takes on complex cases that other practices send away. Dr. Lia brings a modern eye and a patient experience that today's teens and adults connect with. Come see both of them. First visit is free.
A dental degree (DDS or DMD), plus a three-year specialized orthodontic residency focused on nothing but teeth straightening and bite correction, often earning a master's degree along the way. That residency is the whole difference between a dentist and an orthodontist. Dr. Tahir earned his DDS from UIC and is adjunct faculty at UIC's Department of Orthodontics. He trains the people who might become your next orthodontist somewhere else. Or you could just come to him. Dr. Lia Tahir completed her specialty orthodontic residency at UIC as well, and she's an ABO board-certified orthodontist, a voluntary national credential requiring written and clinical board exams beyond standard licensure.
Yes! Every orthodontist is a dentist, but not every dentist is an orthodontist. The difference? Three extra years of residency training after dental school, focused entirely on straightening teeth and fixing bites. Same idea as a doctor versus a surgeon.
We're Ready When You Are.