About Androscoggin Orthodontics
The Values Behind Our Care
Every decision we make at Androscoggin Orthodontics comes back to three core values: integrity, excellence, and service. They are not aspirational — they are operational. Here is what they mean in practice.
Integrity
Integrity is the value that makes all others possible. It means doing the right thing consistently, under any circumstances.
Orthodontics is more than putting on braces. It is a dental specialty focused on making sound decisions about your dental and facial development, function, and aesthetics. Decisions grounded in integrity will always:
- Prioritize the patient’s best interest above all else
- Be rooted in scientific evidence whenever possible
- Be communicated fully and openly, including all options, risks, benefits, outcomes, and costs
That commitment to transparency extends to our business practices as well. We strive to be fair and straightforward with our fees, billing, and any matters related to your account. No surprises, no runaround.
Service
Service means putting the well-being of our patients, our team, and our community ahead of our own.
For our patients, that means meeting your treatment needs while creating an environment where you genuinely look forward to coming in. For our team, it means treating one another with kindness, thoughtfulness, and respect because the people who care for you deserve the same. For our community, it means showing up: sponsoring local causes, giving back where we can, and making a positive difference in the lives of everyone we touch.
Excellence
Excellence in orthodontics is a standard, not a goal. It drives us to pursue the best possible outcome for every patient, every time.
In practice, that means we:
- Thoroughly diagnose and plan your treatment from the very start, not as we go
- Maintain close attention to detail as treatment progresses
- Work toward the best result possible, and if circumstances require a compromise outside our control, we will discuss it with you honestly and completely
- Stay committed to learning, adopting new technologies when their benefits are proven, and keeping pace with evolving clinical knowledge
We also welcome patient feedback. Continuous improvement only happens when we listen.
Meet Dr. Thomas J. Bauer, D.D.S., M.S.
Dr. Bauer brings a combination of education, experience, and compassion to his orthodontic practice in Auburn, Maine. He has spent his career treating children, adolescents, and adults, and his patients’ outcomes reflect the depth of his training and the care he puts into every case.
Originally from Chicago, Dr. Bauer studied bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Air Force Medical Service Corps. After three years of service, he was awarded an Air Force Health Professions Scholarship and went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2005, followed by an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Dr. Bauer served as a general dentist across three continents — in South Korea, Italy, and North Dakota — before leaving the Air Force in 2011 and pursuing advanced specialty training. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 2014 with both a certificate in orthodontics and a Master of Science degree, the latter earned through original research on maxillary incisor anatomy.
Dr. Bauer has since earned certification as a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a distinction that requires completing a rigorous, voluntary series of written and clinical examinations that only a small percentage of orthodontists pursue. In 2026, Dr. Bauer renewed his Board Certification, reflecting one of the highest credentials in the field.
