Floyd Jesse Cawthon III, DDS
Dr. Floyd Jesse Cawthon III is an experienced orthodontist and dental educator with more than four decades of clinical, academic, and research involvement in dentistry. He is board eligible in orthodontics and has practiced extensively in private and group practice settings throughout California, with a career distinguished by clinical excellence, teaching, and scholarly contribution.
Dr. Cawthon earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Howard University College of Dentistry following undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He completed postgraduate orthodontic training at Louisiana State University School of Dentistry and has continued advanced education throughout his career, including orthodontic surgery forums and dental sleep medicine mini-residencies at UCLA.
Clinically, Dr. Cawthon has practiced orthodontics and comprehensive dental care in multiple private practices across Northern, Southern and Central California, including long-standing private practice in Los Angeles. His expertise includes orthodontics, orthognathic surgery planning, dental sleep medicine, and interdisciplinary care. He has also worked collaboratively with oral surgeons and specialists in complex treatment planning environments.
Dr. Cawthon has a strong academic and instructional background. He served as a clinical instructor in the Cleft Palate Division at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital and has remained actively involved in teaching, mentorship, and professional education throughout his career. His early exposure to hospital-based dentistry and craniofacial care laid the foundation for a career emphasizing precision, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based practice.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Cawthon has an extensive research and publication history, with peer-reviewed articles published in the Journal of Dental Research and multiple presentations delivered at national and international dental conferences. His research interests have included dentofacial relationships, craniofacial anatomy, oral oncology, and preventive dentistry.
Dr. Cawthon is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Dental Association®, California Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He has also been recognized with multiple awards for research excellence, community dentistry, and contributions to dental education.
Dr. Cawthon brings a rare combination of clinical depth, academic rigor, and instructional experience, making him a valuable leader, educator, and mentor within advanced dental and orthodontic training environments.