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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.6


                     CONSENT OF U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY

         We hereby consent to the reference to the opinion of our firm under the
captions "Summary - OrthAlliance's Board of Directors Recommends that
OrthAlliance Stockholders Approve the Merger Agreement," "Summary - OrthAlliance
Advisor Said that the Proposed Merger Consideration was Fair to OrthAlliance
Stockholders from a Financial Point of View," "OrthAlliance Special Meeting -
Recommendation of OrthAlliance's Board of Directors," "The Merger - Background
of the Merger," "The Merger - OrthAlliance's Reasons for the Merger;
Recommendations of OrthAlliance's Board of Directors" and "The Merger - Fairness
Opinion of OrthAlliance's Financial Advisor," other references to our firm and
to the inclusion of a copy of our opinion letter as Annex C in the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus which is a part of a Registration Statement on Form S-4
filed by Orthodontic Centers of America, Inc. to which this consent is filed as
an exhibit. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not admit (1) that we come
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
promulgated thereunder or (2) that we are experts with respect to any part of
the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term "experts" as used in
the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder.

                                                 Sincerely,

                                                 /s/ U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray

                                                 U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY