Meet Dr. James Kessel

Dr. Kessel first dreamed of becoming an orthodontist after a 9th-grade survey pointed him toward a career in dentistry, and then his family happened to move into a new neighborhood directly next door to an orthodontist. After working in that orthodontist’s office as a lab technician, Dr. Kessel knew that he wanted to be an orthodontist so that he could use his love of science and interact with patients to make great smiles.

 

After graduating from Grandville High School, Dr. Kessel earned his undergraduate degree in Biology at Hope College, graduating magna cum laude. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, where he then became a clinical instructor in Oral Diagnosis and Radiology. Finally, to reach his goal of becoming an orthodontist, Dr. Kessel furthered his education at Saint Louis University, graduating at the top of his class and achieving a Master of Science degree in orthodontics in 1987.

 

Dr. Kessel is a board-certified orthodontist. He believes in giving back to the community and the profession, and is involved in many dental and orthodontic associations, including the Kent County Dental Society, the West Michigan District Dental Society, the Michigan Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the Michigan Association of Orthodontists, the Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists, and the American Association of Orthodontists. He is also a member and past president of the Orthodontic Education and Research Foundation.

 

Dr. Kessel has been married to his wife, Cindy, for over 35 years. They have been blessed with two sons and a daughter: James Jr., Joseph, and Jayne. They also have two Labrador retrievers, Rubicon and Willy, whose names reflect Dr. Kessel’s love of Jeeps. Dr. Kessel recently became a first-time grandpa and is smitten with his new granddaughter. Besides spending time with family, Dr. Kessel enjoys working outdoors and spending time at their cottage on Lake Michigan.

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Dr. Daniel Bouwens

A native of West Michigan, Dr. Bouwens graduated from Zeeland High School and then completed his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Hope College. While at Hope, he was captain of the swim team and received All-American recognition; additionally, he was awarded membership in the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

 

Dr. Bouwens then attended the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. He had the distinction of induction into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the National Dental Honor Society. At the completion of his dental training, Dr. Bouwens moved to North Carolina to complete his orthodontics training in Chapel Hill. He received his Master of Science degree and specialty certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics from the University of North Carolina.

 

Dr. Bouwens developed his passion for orthodontics after his own treatment was completed as a teenager. He is committed to excellence in patient care and enhancing his patients’ oral health, esthetics, and function. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and the Michigan Dental Association.

 

Dr. Bouwens loves spending time with his wife, Jayme, their three kids, Andrew, Lila, and Nolan, and their Boston terrier, Remy. He loves supporting his kids at their sporting events and is an avid fan of UM and UNC athletic teams.  In addition, he enjoys camping, traveling, and skiing as a family.

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Dr. Jayne Kessel

Dr. Kessel couldn’t be more excited to return home to Kessel & Bouwens Orthodontics! She grew up in West Michigan, graduating from South Christian High School before moving on to Hope College, where she studied Chemistry and Spanish and played volleyball on the national championship team. After college, she completed dental school at the University of Michigan, where she graduated as salutatorian of her class. Since Dr. Kessel grew up around the KB Ortho office and even assisted here during undergrad, it wasn’t a surprise when she chose to specialize in orthodontics after dental school. She earned her Master of Science degree and Certificate in Orthodontics at the University of Iowa in June 2022.

 

Dr. Kessel is in the process of becoming a board-certified orthodontist. She is also a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Michigan Association of Orthodontists, the Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists, the Michigan Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. In addition to standard orthodontic treatment, Dr. Kessel has advanced training in orthodontic mini-screw implants (TADs), Invisalign, orthognathic surgery integrated treatment, craniofacial anomaly treatment, and soft tissue lasers.

 

Dr. Kessel loves the art and science of orthodontics and is passionate about her work. She enjoys getting to know her patients throughout treatment and watching their smiles transform. She’s an enthusiastic learner and is always striving to be a better orthodontist.

 

Outside of the office, Dr. Kessel loves spending time with her husband, Brad, and their black lab, Summit. She enjoys hiking, playing volleyball, watching Michigan football, traveling, and spending time at Lake Michigan.

 

Meet the Team

We love working as a team to help you achieve your dream smile! Each of our team members is experienced, professional, caring, and highly skilled. Our friendly and kind staff will work hard to make your orthodontic experience pleasant and positive. We want to make you feel right at home in our office!