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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UqxPiGfhySdoH/MUouvQ6sVT/weMzn0++LWiSoFfCLj6CxUrekjlpDc/iBH6CD0Z
 rhM1tz6piuax4+UEoFMxlQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-019216.txt : 20030827
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-019216.hdr.sgml : 20030827
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030827152505
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-019216
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030825
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030827

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PALMISANO BARTHOLOMEW F JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001225945

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13457
		FILM NUMBER:		03868517

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3850 CAUSEWAY BLVD SUITE 800
		CITY:			METAIRIE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70002

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-25</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000931702</issuerCik><issuerName>ORTHODONTIC CENTERS OF AMERICA INC /DE/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>oca</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001225945</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>PALMISANO BARTHOLOMEW F JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>3850 N. CAUSEWAY BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>METAIRIE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>70002</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle></re
portingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option to Buy Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.75</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-25</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>18692</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-08-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underl
yingSecurityShares><value>18692</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>65150</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/  Bartholomew F. Palmisano, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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