Our practice was started in 1952 by Dr. Harry G. Barrer on North Fifth Street in Reading. As the practice grew, he moved to Sixth Street. Following this move, he was asked by his alma mater, Columbia University, to teach in their orthodontic department.

In 1967 he met Dr. Warne White, an orthodontic student at Columbia University, who in 1969 joined him in practice. At this time, Dr. Barrer left Columbia University when he and Dr. White were asked to join the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. The new practice continued to grow, and the newly named Barrer & White Orthodontists Ltd. moved to their present location in 1971.

Along with several local plastic surgeons, our doctors were instrumental in beginning the Reading Cleft Palate Clinic. This clinic enabled Reading patients to be treated at the Reading Hospital instead of having to travel to Lancaster or the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia. This clinic continues to serve Berks county today.

Dr. Barrer's son, James, joined the practice in 1984. He is a graduate of Bucknell University, the University of Pennsylvania Dental School and University of Pennsylvania Graduate Orthodontic Program. When Dr. Jim joined the practice, plans were underway to enlarge the office at 311 Penn Ave. to its present size. This was completed in 1985.

In 1988, Dr. Douglas White continued the Barrer and White family tradition by joining the growing practice. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Pennsylvania Dental School and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate Orthodontic Program. Prior to returning to the University of Pennsylvania Graduate Orthodontic Program, both Dr. Jim & Dr. Doug completed a year of residency in general dentistry at Community General Hospital.

Dr. Harry Barrer passed away in 1988 but his traditions of caring, teaching and excellence in orthodontics lives on.

"Dr. Jim" and "Dr. Doug," as they are called by our staff and patients, continue the long-standing traditions of Barrer & White Orthodontists by teaching at the University of Pennsylvania Orthodontic Department and treating cleft palate patients with the Reading Hospital cleft palate team.