About Our Orthodontists
Our orthodontists, Drs. Derek Pollard, Diego Diaz, and Jessica Kehler, as well as their dedicated team of highly-qualified professionals are committed to determining which treatment solution is best suited for your specific orthodontic needs thus rendering the ideal result.
Dr. Pollard has earned a caring reputation. He is committed to hard work and is passionate about delivering functional, healthy and gorgeous smiles.
Dr. Derek Pollard grew up in Coquitlam, BC. He attended post-secondary education at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. Majoring in Kinesiology and minoring in Biochemistry, he received a Bachelor of Science with honors. After graduating from SFU, Dr. Pollard relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba after being accepted in the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Dentistry. Dr. Pollard graduated with honors with a Doctor of Dental Medicine four years later.
During the next year, Dr. Pollard practiced dentistry at two separate general practices in the city of Winnipeg. He additionally worked for Health Canada, traveling to remote First Nation’s communities in Northern Manitoba to offer dental care to these under-serviced communities. Along with his general practice in his first year, Dr. Pollard also held a part-time faculty member position at the University of Manitoba in the Undergraduate Orthodontics department.
Dr. Pollard decided to pursue his passion for Orthodontics in 2008 and headed back to the University of Manitoba as a student after being accepted into the Graduate Orthodontics program. He successfully graduated with a Masters in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics after three years of study.
Since graduation, Dr. Pollard and his wife Courtney moved the beautiful Okanagan Valley. The Kelowna area is ideal for them since they love keeping active with snowboarding, wakeboarding, playing golf and biking. It is the perfect location for raising their family while pursuing their dental dreams.
Dr. Pollard has earned a caring reputation. He is committed to hard work and is passionate about delivering functional, healthy and gorgeous smiles. In 2011, Dr. Pollard opened the doors to his first practice, Mission Creek Orthodontics, which was the first orthodontic office to be located away from the downtown Kelowna core. Four years later, Dr. Pollard partnered with Penticton Orthodontist Dr. Perrin to open Pollard & Perrin Orthodontics in West Kelowna (now called West Kelowna Orthodontics). And finally, after adding Dr. Diaz to the team in 2019, Kelowna Orthodontics was purchased, becoming the group’s most central and largest location. Dr. Pollard looks forward to discussing your orthodontic needs and explaining how this can impact the longevity of your oral health.
Dr. Derek Pollard is a member of the Canadian Association of Orthodontics, College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia, Canadian Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists, and fellow of the Royal College of Dentists in Canada. Dr. Pollard is also the President and Founder of both the Kelowna Orthodontic Study Club (KOSC) and Okanagan Orthodontic Specialists Society (OOSS), as well as a previous President of the Kelowna & District Dental Society (KDDS).
Dr. Diaz looks forward to continuing to learn and stay current in all aspects of dentistry in order to provide the best possible orthodontic treatment for patients in the Okanagan Valley.
Dr. Diego Diaz grew up in North Vancouver, B.C. and at a young age, he realized he had a passion for helping people. While obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia, he became very active philanthropically in organizations like Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver and Muscular Dystrophy Canada. After volunteering at his family dentist’s clinic, Dr. Diaz decided that a career in dentistry would be an excellent way to combine his desire to care for people with his penchant for hands-on work.
He went on to attend the University of Western Ontario to complete his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, followed by a one-year General Practice Residency at Vancouver Coastal Health/UBC. After 2 enjoyable years of general practice in Merritt and Penticton, Dr. Diaz decided to hone his skills in the area of dentistry that intrigued him the most, the specialty of orthodontics. He returned to the University of Western Ontario and completed a 3-year Master’s degree in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.
Dr. Diaz and his wife decided to settle down in the beautiful Okanagan, where he spent some time vacationing as a child. Soon after his B.C. homecoming, Dr. Diaz rekindled his love for philanthropy and became the B.C. Regional Chair of Smiles 4 Canada, a program with the mission statement of arranging pro bono orthodontic services and delivering life-changing treatment for children in need across the country. He is also an active member in the Canadian Association of Orthodontists, American Association of Orthodontists and a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
Dr. Diaz and his wife have been blessed to watch their family grow here in Kelowna and they, along with their daughter and three sons enjoy all outdoor activities the Okanagan has to offer year-round.
Dr. Kehler looks forward to meeting you and helping you achieve a beautiful and functional smile!
Dr. Jessica Kehler grew up in Winnipeg, where she attended The University of Manitoba for undergraduate studies. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 2015 (Psychology major, Chemistry minor), she headed out east to attend the University of Toronto for dental school, graduating in 2020. Jessica then decided to move across the country to Vancouver to follow her life-long dream of becoming an orthodontist. She recently graduated from UBC with her MSc in Craniofacial Science/Diploma in Orthodontics and is now a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
With family in the Okanagan and having visited many times before, Dr. Kehler has decided to set her roots in Kelowna, where she especially enjoys the beautiful Okanagan summers. In her spare time, she likes to stay active outdoors, check out the local wineries, and bake sweet treats.
Dr. Kehler is a member of the British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals, the Canadian Association of Orthodontists, the British Columbia Society of Orthodontists, and the American Association of Orthodontists. In addition she is also a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists in Canada.
She looks forward to meeting you and helping you achieve a beautiful and functional smile!
Our Mission
To achieve spectacular smiles with service second to none.
About Our Office
Thank you for visiting the website of Kelowna Orthodontics, an orthodontic care team committed to creating beautiful, confident smiles throughout the Central Okanagan, from Penticton to Vernon, Merritt to the Kooteneys.
We offer a wide variety of treatment options ranging from traditional, time-proven appliances to the latest innovative orthodontic advancements, including the revolutionary Invisalign system as well as 3D scanning with the iTero system.
Thank you again for visiting our website. Please feel free to contact our office if you have any questions. We look forward to meeting you and seeing you smile!
Insurance & Billing
Our new patient coordinator will answer all your questions regarding your insurance. If you are unsure if you have orthodontic coverage, we recommend you contact your insurance provider directly as we do not have the ability to call on your behalf.
Why Choose Our Practice
Patient First Approach
We put your needs first to achieve efficient and comprehensive treatment in a supportive and nurturing environment.
Welcoming Team
We know that our office is only as effective and as welcoming as the people who work in it, which is why we take pride in our friendly and well-trained team members.
Interest Free Payments
We understand that orthodontic treatment can be a big investment. To help fit it into your specific budget, we are happy to offer zero-interest payment arrangements.
Our Satisfied Patients
We love hearing from our patients! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to provide us with feedback. It means the world to us!