Dr. James R. Waters was born and raised on the Pecos River in southern New Mexico. He moved to Texas in 1989 to attend Angelo State University where after three years he graduated Valedictorian of the Science College in 1992 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. Dr. Waters was accepted into the University of Texas San Antonio Dental School (ranked #1 dental school in the United States) and in 1996, again graduated with honors at the top of his class. At the same time, Dr. Waters was married to his Dallas-native wife, Kim, and seeking to achieve an even higher level of clinical skills and medical knowledge, Dr. Waters applied and was accepted into the University of Nebraska Medical Center General Practice Residency. During the next 15 months, Dr. Waters served the regional community at the University Hospital and several children’s clinics treating patients with severe medical and dental reconstructive needs. Following his graduation from UNMC in 1997, Dr. Waters and his wife moved to the Oregon coast and started a general dental practice. After three years as a family practitioner (one at the University Hospital), Dr. Waters was invited to attend the prestigious St. Louis University CADE Orthodontic Program. After three years of advanced specialty training, finally at the pinnacle of his eduction, Dr. Waters again graduated valedictorian in 2001 while receiving a Master’s of Science in orthodontics along with being honored with the coveted J. P. Marshall Award for Highest Achievement in Clinical Excellence.
With these top credentials from the St. Louis University, Dr. Waters moved back to Texas in 2001 as an orthodontist and joined the practice of Dr. Robert Kavieff in Austin and Bastrop. Dr. Waters worked side-by-side with Dr. Kavieff to learn more advanced techniques and appliances Dr. Kavieff had designed and mastered over the previous 42 years of private practice. In December of 2002, Dr. Kavieff retired, passing the torch of his prestigious practice to Dr. Waters who in turn has taken over both the Austin and Bastrop practices with the same passion and drive for excellence that made Dr. Kavieff one of the most well respected orthodontists in the state, if not the country. In fact, this orthodontic practice has been a continuation of excellence first initiated in the 1940s by Dr. John McNutt, one of the first accredited orthodontists that moved to Austin. Dr. McNutt, who still resides in Austin, was a champion of his profession actively educating the public to the benefits of fluoride and advancing the very profession of orthodontics as the first dental specialty. John relocated his original Austin practice to the current 1814 West 35th Street location in 1972 and built the original structure that has been given the significant facelift seen today. The practice in Bastrop, established by Dr. Kavieff in the late 1980s is housed in a beautiful traditional white stone dental office where patients are seen on Wednesdays.
In the grand tradition of this practice and as a resident of Stenier Ranch since 2001, Dr. Waters is excited to bring his service to his neighbors in Steiner Ranch and West Austin by building his new state-of-the-art orthodontic office in Steiner Ranch across from the Steiner Ranch Welcome Center. Steiner Ranch Orthodontics opened late 2007 and has been growing steadily thanks to the many kind referrals from local patients, dentists, and friends. The Steiner Ranch office was designed by a team of local architects as a modern, Texas Hill country styled, free-standing building in the Visat Ridge Business Center on North Quinlan Park Road. Residents of Steiner Ranch, Riverplace, Lakeway, Hudson Bend, Four Points, and the surrounding corridors are invited to call for complimentary exams at 266-8585. Dr Waters will remain the only orthodontist at each location sharing days between these two main offices. Patients in Bastrop will continue to see Dr. Waters on the current two Wednesdays per month schedule in Bastrop.”
Dr. Waters and his wife Kim, a designer by degree, now have four children; Hope and Cole both attend the Steiner Ranch Elementary School, while the younger two, Luke and Ava, travel with mom between offices. Dr. Waters’ extended family includes the thousands of patients treated and maintained over the past years. It is because of these patients and their many wonderful referrals that this practice is able to exist.