(WENY) -- Families and patients are figuring out their next steps after Dr. Jason Horn announced the sudden closure of Southern Tier Orthodontics in Elmira on Thursday. Some local dentists and orthodontists are now stepping forward to offer their help to patients in need.

While some patients and their families say the huge financial loss has been the biggest stressor in this situation, they are also concerned about finding a new orthodontist.

A few practices in the area say they are receiving an influx of calls and requests for appointments after STO's closing. They recognize that caring for these patients, many of whom are in the middle of treatment, is proving to be a large need at this moment in time.

Patients are left trying to lock down an appointment wherever they can. Emily Kozemko was one of those lucky enough to find care for her two daughters that have braces but, she says it wasn't easy.

"We're not able to get in until March," said Kozemko. "Talking with other family, friends, etc., finding out that March isn't so bad compared to what some people have had to go through, waiting until June, some people waiting until August to get into another orthodontist in the area."

Options for booking new orthodontists are limited in the region due to the high volume of patients needing to make the unexpected switch.

The Patients of Southern Tier Ortho group on Facebook is now up to around 400 members. Several of them are sharing that their newly booked appointments will require them to travel hours for care.

While patients begin to look for alternative care, some received the following text from Dr. Horn on Friday, saying they are working to prepare the transfer of records. They state anyone in need of immediate care should contact their dentist or local emergency services.

Dear Patients of Southern Tier Orthodontics:

Thank you for your patience during this difficult time. We are receiving all of your emails and calls. We are extremely short staffed at this time and are doing our best to get back to you. Please continue to reach out to us, as we are working diligently to prepare your transfer of records to your new provider and to make ourselves available (as best we can) to support your emergency care in the meantime. Please continue to email us at [email protected] and call 607-226-2075 and we will get back to you as soon as we can. In the meantime, if you or your child are in pain and need immediate care, please reach out to your dentist and / or local emergency services as needed. Thank you again for your patience.


The Director of Operations for Lalor Family Dental, Rose Glanville, shares that the business has received an influx of calls in the last 24 hours and says they are doing whatever they can to open up their doors to new patients.

"So at this time, we are working with one of our orthodontists at our Dinosaur Orthodontics practice in Endicott," said Glanville. "He's looking at his schedule [to see] where he can add some time, where he can add some capacity so that he can help do an initial evaluation for all these patients. We want to make it, you know, financially reasonable for these patients if they want to continue treatment, if they want to start treatment, or if they just want to finish treatment."

Dinosaur Orthodontics is on the same campus as Dinosaur Dental in Endicott. On Friday afternoon, the practice released a statement on Facebook to those looking for care that reads as follows:

"We are sorry to hear about the closing of Dr. Jason Horn’s Southern Tier Orthodontics office in Elmira, NY. Our Lalor Family Dental practices as well as our newest, Dinosaur Orthodontics (on the same campus as our Dinosaur Dental office in Endicott, NY) is happy to take calls and try and accommodate any patients the best we can. Please call our office at (607) 953 4433 (Lalor Family Dental, Elmira) or (607) 953-4445 (Dinosaur Dental/Dinosaur Orthodontics) so a team member can best assist you and your family."

Glanville also added that Lalor Family Dental is hiring and says the business would love to consider employees who are left without work after STO has closed. Information on available jobs can be found here.

Additionally, scheduling for Dinosaur Orthodontics in Endicott is currently about four weeks out and spots are actively being opened up.

Another local dentist is adding her name to the list of those able to help. Dr. Maria E. Marzo DDS is the owner of Finger Lakes Family Dental in Painted Post. Marzo says FLFD is a general dental practice, however, they offer orthodontic care such as Invisalign and Fastbraces. Her goal is to let community members know of all orthodontic services available nearby.

"Every patient will be evaluated on a one-by-one basis," said Dr. Marzo. "We are offering free orthodontic consultations for these patients and for any patient interested in orthodontics. Consultation is free. But as to how we can help, that will determined on a one-by-one basis... I know this must be very hard for everyone and we have openings and we are seeing orthodontic patients, so I just thought I'd offer for those who need somewhere to go to."

If you are an affected patient still looking for orthodontic care, Marzo and Glanville encourage patients to call their offices or go to their respective websites to make an appointment.

Finger Lakes Family Dental can be reached by phone at 607-936-6394 or you can visit the website here.

The Dinosaur Orthodontics website is linked here and the practice can be reached by phone at 607-953-4445.