Dr. William (Bill) Harrell
Dr. William (Bill) Harrell, DMD, C-DSM
Orthodontics, Dental Sleep Medicine
USA
Dr. William (Bill) Harrell is a highly experienced and respected orthodontist, with a career spanning over four decades in the field of dentistry. He graduated from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham in 1975 and completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1977. Dr. Harrell is a Board-Certified Orthodontist (ABO), achieving certification in 1989, and is also certified in Dental Sleep Medicine, reflecting his commitment to continuing education and advancing his practice.
Dr. Harrell currently operates a private orthodontic practice in Alexander City and Auburn/Opelika, Alabama, where he specializes in airway-centered orthodontic diagnosis and treatment, as well as managing TMJ Disorders. He has a long history of leadership in the orthodontic community, having served as Vice-President and President of the Alabama Association of Orthodontists, as well as in various roles within the 9th District Dental Society of Alabama, including Sect-Treasurer, Vice-President, and President. Additionally, Dr. Harrell has contributed to the Alabama Dental Association’s Board of Trustees and House of Delegates and has been involved with numerous committees of the American Association of Orthodontists.
Dr. Harrell is also known for his pioneering use of technology in orthodontics, being the first private orthodontic practice in Alabama to implement ConeBeam CT (CBCT) and the first in the United States to combine both CBCT and 3D facial imaging (3dMD) as early as 2005.
Throughout his career, Dr. Harrell has worked with notable pioneers in the field of TMJ Disorders, including the late Dr. Bill Farrar and Dr. Bill McCarty in Montgomery, AL, and he continues to advocate for the integration of orthodontics and sleep medicine in improving patient outcomes. Dr. Harrell serves as the Chairperson of the RadSite ConeBeam CT Standards Committee, where he helps set standards for insurance reimbursement in the industry.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Harrell is a respected academic figure. He is currently writing and serving as the lead editor of a forthcoming textbook, Sleep, Craniofacial Form, and Airway Function Disorders: Interdisciplinary Approach for Assessment, Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention, to be published by Springer in 2025. The textbook, which focuses on pediatric sleep disorders and their impact on craniofacial development, brings together experts in various fields, including sleep medicine, neurology, orthodontics, and allied healthcare disciplines, with the goal of bridging the gap between medicine, dentistry, and allied healthcare professionals.
Dr. Harrell’s dedication to advancing his field through innovation, leadership, and education makes him a key figure in both orthodontics and dental sleep medicine. He continues to shape the future of pediatric sleep disorder management and craniofacial care through his practice, leadership roles, and contributions to academic literature.
