-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DtucK+9RZz4ZQ1fn99xXzCR/jyYvU5WvumOJda5lrLpp0MV4iMMOZIP7UpzcfZSE
 +j31DgTibZ5CuUK2XslfZA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-020169.txt : 20030822
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-020169.hdr.sgml : 20030822
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030822205630
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-020169
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030822

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ORTHODONTIC CENTERS OF AMERICA INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000931702
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HEALTH SERVICES [8000]
		IRS NUMBER:				721278948
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3850 N CAUSEWAY BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 800
		CITY:			METAIRIE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		504-834-4392

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3850 N CAUSEWAY BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 800
		CITY:			METAIRIE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70002

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH THOMAS W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000926688

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13457
		FILM NUMBER:		03863433

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		323 RAILROAD AVENUE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036611200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		323 RAILROAD AVENUE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	THOMAS W SMITH
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940713
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd16885.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 REPORTING 8/20/03 TRADES IN OCA
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-20</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000931702</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ORTHODONTIC CENTERS OF AMERICA INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OCA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000926688</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH THOMAS W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>323 RAILROAD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>Member of Section 13(d) Group</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15700</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>7.0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>232070</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOw
nership><value>By Smith Family Accounts</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These shares are owned directly by or on behalf of family members of the Reporting Person. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the shares for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Thomas W. Smith</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----