APPLE ORTHODONTIX INC
S-1/A, 1997-11-18
HEALTH SERVICES
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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 18, 1997
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-38817
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-1

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------

                             APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

   DELAWARE                                                                
(STATE OR OTHER                8021                             74-2795193  
JURISDICTION OF     (PRIMARY STANDARD INDUSTRIAL             (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR    CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER)           IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
ORGANIZATION)
                            ------------------------

       APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC.                    MICHAEL W. HARLAN
    2777 ALLEN PARKWAY, SUITE 700              APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC.
        HOUSTON, TEXAS 77019                2777 ALLEN PARKWAY, SUITE 700
           (713) 852-2500                       HOUSTON, TEXAS 77019
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND                (713) 852-2504
          TELEPHONE NUMBER,              (NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, 
INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S      AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA 
    PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)              CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                            ------------------------

                                   COPIES TO:

          LOUISE A. SHEARER                                ALAN J. BOGDANOW
        BAKER & BOTTS, L.L.P.                           HUGHES & LUCE, L.L.P.
           ONE SHELL PLAZA                                 1717 MAIN STREET
            910 LOUISIANA                                     SUITE 2800
        HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002                             DALLAS, TEXAS 75201

                            ------------------------

     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
                            ------------------------

     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box. [ ]

     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]

     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]

     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]

     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 13.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

     The following table sets forth the expenses to be paid by the Company
(other than underwriting compensation expected to be incurred) in connection
with the offering described in this Registration Statement. All amounts are
estimates, except the SEC Registration Fee, the NASD Filing Fee and the American
Stock Exchange Additional Listing Fee.


SEC Registration Fee.................  $     15,280
NASD Filing Fee......................         5,542
American Stock Exchange Additional
Listing Fee..........................        17,500
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses...........
Printing Costs.......................
Legal Fees and Expenses..............
Accounting Fees and Expenses.........
Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees and
Expenses.............................
Premiums for D&O Insurance...........
Miscellaneous........................
                                       ------------
     Total...........................  $
                                       ============


ITEM 14.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

  DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

     Section 145(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
"DGCL") provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by
reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgements, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
such person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or
proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of NOLO
CONTENDERE or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that
the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful.

     Section 145(b) of the DGCL states that a corporation may indemnify any
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or
is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such
person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any
claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of
Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine
upon application that,
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of
the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

     Section 145(c) of the DGCL provides that to the extent that a present or
former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or
otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in
subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or
matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection
therewith.

     Section 145(d) of the DGCL states that any indemnification under
subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made
by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination
that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or
agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable
standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b). Such determination
shall be made with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time
of such determination, (1) by the board of directors by a majority vote of the
directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though
less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors, even though less
than a quorum, or (3) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if
obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.

     Section 145(e) of the DGCL provides that expenses (including attorneys'
fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the
corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or
officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such
person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in
Section 145. Such expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by former
directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such
terms and conditions, if any, as the operator deems appropriate.

     Section 145(f) of the DGCL states that the indemnification and advancement
of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of
Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those
seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any
bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise,
both as to action in such person's official capacity and as to action in another
capacity while holding such office.

     Section 145(g) of the DGCL provides that a corporation shall have the power
to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at
the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person
in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or
not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such
liability under the provisions of Section 145.

     Section 145(j) of the DGCL states that the indemnification and advancement
of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall, unless
otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has
ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent, and shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

  RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides that a
director of the Company shall not be personally liable to the Company or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under
Section 174 of the DGCL or (iv) for any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended to authorize the
further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the
liability of a director of the Company,

                                      II-2
<PAGE>
in addition to the limitation on personal liability described above, shall be
limited to the fullest extent permitted by the amended DGCL. Further, any repeal
or modification of such provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation
by the stockholders of the Company shall be prospective only, and shall not
adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director of the
Company existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

  BYLAWS

     The Bylaws of the Company provide that the Company will indemnify and hold
harmless any director or officer of the Company to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, as in effect as of the date of the adoption of the Bylaws or
to such greater extent as applicable law may thereafter permit, from and against
all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, judgments, penalties, fines, amounts
paid in settlement and expenses (including attorneys' fees) whatsoever arising
out of any event or occurrence related to the fact that such person is or was a
director or officer of the Company, and further provide that the Company may,
but is not required to, indemnify and hold harmless any employee or agent of the
Company or a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise who
is or was serving in such capacity at the written request of the Company;
provided, however, that the Company is only required to indemnify persons
serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company for the
expenses incurred in a proceeding if such person is a party to and is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in such proceeding, or if unsuccessful
in the proceeding, but successful as to a matter in such proceeding, the
expenses attributable to such matter; and provided further, that the Company
may, but is not required to, indemnify such persons who are serving as a
director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at the written
request of the Company for the expenses incurred in a proceeding if such person
is a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in such proceeding.
The Bylaws further provide that, in the event of any threatened, or pending
action, suit or proceeding in which any of the persons referred to above is a
party or is involved and that may give rise to a right of indemnification under
the Bylaws, following written request by such person, the Company will promptly
pay to such person amounts to cover expenses reasonably incurred by such person
in such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon the receipt by the
Company of (i) a written undertaking executed by or on behalf of such person,
providing that such person will repay the advance if it is ultimately determined
that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as provided in
the Bylaws and (ii) satisfactory evidence as to the amount of such expenses.

  UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

     The Underwriting Agreement provides for the indemnification of the
directors and officers of the Company in certain circumstances.

  INSURANCE

     The Company maintains liability insurance for the benefit of its directors
and officers.

ITEM 15.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.

     The following information relates to securities of the Company issued or
sold within the past three years which were not registered under the Securities
Act:

     On October 11, 1996, the Company issued 420, 415.5, 52.5, 40, 10, 10, 10, 5
and 5 shares of Common Stock to TriCap Funding I, L.L.C., John G. Vondrak,
D.D.S., W. Daniel Cook, Robert J. Syverson, Roxanne Robertson, Wm. Randol
Womack, D.D.S., Duncan Y. Brown, D.D.S., Wanda Rose and Stephen DeOrlow,
Trustee, respectively, the founders of the Company, for $0.01 per share. On
December 9, 1996, the Company issued 23.5, 24.5, 5 and 2.5 shares of Common
Stock to Michael W. Harlan, LeeAnn Peniche, Orthodontic Investors of Texas II,
Inc. and Allan Benson, respectively, for $3.00 per share. Such issuances were
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of
Section 4(2) thereof as transactions not involving any public offering.

                                      II-3
<PAGE>
     In April 1997, each outstanding share of Common Stock was reclassified into
4,012.5569 shares of Class B Stock (the "Stock Split"), which was subsequently
readjusted in May 1997 with the net effect of a 3,270-for-one split. The Stock
Split and adjustment were exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act as they did not involve a "sale," as defined in Section 2(3) of
the Securities Act.

     Simultaneously with the completion of its IPO, the Company issued 3,025,621
shares of Common Stock in connection with the acquisitions of the Founding
Affiliated Practices. Such issuances were exempt from the registration
requirements of Section 4(2) thereof as transactions not involving any public
offering.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

     (a)  Exhibits.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                                  DESCRIPTION
- ------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>                       <S>
          +1.1       --   Form of Underwriting Agreement
           3.1       --   Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference from the Company's
                          Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-22785)).
           3.2       --   Bylaws (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
                          (Registration No. 333-22785)).
           4.1       --   Form of certificate evidencing ownership of Common Stock of Apple Orthodontix, Inc.
                          (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
                          (Registration No. 333-22785)).
           4.2       --   Form of Registration Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference from the Company's
                          Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-22785)).
           4.3       --   Registration Rights Agreement among Apple Orthodontix, Inc., John G. Vondrak, D.D.S. and
                          TriCap Funding I, L.L.C. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration
                          Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-22785)).
           4.4       --   Registration Rights Agreement between TriCap Partners, L.L.C. and Apple Orthodontix, Inc.
                          (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
                          (Registration No. 333-22785)).
          +5.1       --   Opinion of Baker & Botts, L.L.P.
          10.1       --   Revolving Credit Facility with Texas Commerce Bank, National Association
         +10.2       --   Apple Orthodontix, Inc. 1997 Stock Compensation Plan
          10.3       --   Form of Option Agreement
          10.4       --   Employment Agreement between Apple Orthodontix, Inc. and John G. Vondrak, D.D.S.
                          (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
                          (Registration No. 333-22785)).
          10.5       --   Employment Agreement between Apple Orthodontix, Inc. and Robert J. Syverson (Incorporated
                          by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
                          333-22785)).
          10.6       --   Employment Agreement between Apple Orthodontix, Inc. and Michael W. Harlan (Incorporated
                          by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
                          333-22785)).
          10.7       --   Employment Agreement between Apple Orthodontix, Inc. and W. Daniel Cook (Incorporated by
                          reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
                          333-22785)).
          10.8       --   Employment Agreement of H. Steven Walton (Incorporated by reference from the Company's
                          Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-22785)).
          10.9       --   Amendment to Employment Agreement of H. Steven Walton
          10.10      --   Form of Service Agreement for Founding Affiliated Practices (Incorporated by reference
                          from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-22785)).
          10.11           -- Form of Alternative Service Agreement for Founding
                          Affiliated Practices (Incorporated by reference from
                          the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
                          (Registration No.
                          333-22785)).
          10.12           -- Form of Flat Fee Service Agreement for Founding
                          Affiliated Practices (Incorporated by reference from
                          the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
                          (Registration No.
                          333-22785)).
</TABLE>
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                                  DESCRIPTION
- ------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>                       <S>
+21.1       --   Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 23.1       --   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

+23.2       --   Consent of Baker & Botts, L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

 24.1       --   Power of Attorney (contained on the signature page of this 
                 Registration Statement)
</TABLE>
- ------------

+ Filed herewith

     (b)  Financial Statement Schedules.

     All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or because the
required information is contained in the Financial Statements or Notes thereto.

ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows:

          (1) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
     Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
     persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 14,
     or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
     Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
     the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
     claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payments
     by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
     controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
     action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
     controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
     registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
     settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
     jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against
     public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
     the final adjudication of such issue.

          (2) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed
     as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
     contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule
     424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be
     part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared
     effective.

          (3) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
     prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
     the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
     time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                      II-5
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

     PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC. HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED
ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF
HOUSTON, STATE OF TEXAS, ON NOVEMBER 18, 1997. 
                                          APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC.
                                          By:/s/ JOHN G. VONDRAK, D.D.S.
                                                 JOHN G. VONDRAK, D.D.S.
                                                 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF
                                                 EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     EACH PERSON WHOSE SIGNATURE APPEARS BELOW HEREBY APPOINTS MICHAEL W. HARLAN
AND H. STEVEN WALTON AND EACH OF THEM, ANY OF WHOM MAY ACT WITHOUT THE JOINDER
OF THE OTHER, AS HIS TRUE AND LAWFUL ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT AND AGENTS, WITH FULL
POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND RESUBSTITUTION, FOR HIM AND IN HIS NAME, PLACE AND
STEAD, IN ANY AND ALL CAPACITIES TO SIGN ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS (INCLUDING POST-
EFFECTIVE AMENDMENTS) TO THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY REGISTRATION
STATEMENT FOR THE SAME OFFERING FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 462 UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1993, AND TO FILE THE SAME, WITH ALL EXHIBITS THERETO AND ALL OTHER
DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, WITH THE COMMISSION, GRANTING UNTO SAID
ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT AND AGENTS FULL POWER AND AUTHORITY TO DO AND PERFORM EACH AND
EVERY ACT AND THING APPROPRIATE OR NECESSARY TO BE DONE, AS FULLY AND FOR ALL
INTENTS AND PURPOSES AS HE MIGHT OR COULD DO IN PERSON, HEREBY RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING ALL THAT SAID ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT AND AGENTS OR THEIR SUBSTITUTE OR
SUBSTITUTES MAY LAWFULLY DO OR CAUSE TO BE DONE BY VIRTUE HEREOF.

     PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES INDICATED AND ON NOVEMBER 18, 1997.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               SIGNATURES                                          TITLE
- ----------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------
<C>                                       <S>
       /s/JOHN G. VONDRAK, D.D.S.         Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
          JOHN G. VONDRAK, D.D.S.         (Principal Executive Officer)
       /s/MICHAEL W. HARLAN               Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal
          MICHAEL W. HARLAN               Financial and Accounting Officer)
       /s/W. DANIEL COOK                  Director
          W. DANIEL COOK
       /s/WILLIAM W. SHERRILL             Director
          WILLIAM W. SHERRILL
       /s/ROD L. CROSBY, JR.              Director
          ROD L. CROSBY, JR.
       /s/CLYDE C. WADDELL, JR.           Director
          CLYDE C. WADDELL, JR.
</TABLE>
                                      II-6

                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1
                                                                  11/17/97 DRAFT

                        2,960,000 Shares of Common Stock


                             APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC.

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                              November  __, 1997


BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
COWEN & COMPANY
EQUITABLE SECURITIES CORPORATION
as Representatives of the
  several Underwriters named in
  Schedule I attached hereto
c/o Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
245 Park Avenue
New York, New York  10167

Dear Sirs:

      Apple Orthodontix, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"), proposes, subject to the terms
and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares
of its class A common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), and
certain stockholders of the Company named in Schedule II hereto (the "Selling
Stockholders") propose, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to
sell to the Underwriters 460,000 shares of the Common Stock, for an aggregate of
2,960,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Firm Shares"). The Company also proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to sell to the Underwriters,
for the sole purpose of covering over-allotments in connection with the sale of
the Firm Shares, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional 444,000
shares (the "Additional Shares") of Common Stock. The Firm Shares and any
Additional Shares purchased by the Underwriters are referred to herein as the
"Shares." The Shares are more fully described in the Registration Statement
referred to below.
<PAGE>
      1.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

      A.    The Company  represents  and warrants to, and agrees with,  the
Underwriters that:

      (a) The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement, and has filed an amendment or amendments
thereto, on Form S-1 (No. 333-38817), for the registration of the Shares under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). Such registration statement,
including the prospectus, financial statements and schedules, exhibits and all
other documents filed as a part thereof, as amended at the time of effectiveness
of the registration statement, including any information deemed to be a part
thereof as of the time of effectiveness pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A
or Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations of the Commission under the Act (the
"Regulations"), is herein called the "Registration Statement" and the
prospectus, in the form first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
of the Regulations or filed as part of the Registration Statement at the time of
effectiveness if no Rule 424(b) or Rule 434 filing is required, is herein called
the "Prospectus." The term "preliminary prospectus" as used herein means a
preliminary prospectus as described in Rule 430 or 430A of the Regulations. Any
registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Regulations is
herein called the "462(b) Registration Statement," and after such filing the
term "Registration Statement" shall include the 462(b) Registration Statement.

      (b) At the time of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
462(b) Registration Statement or the effectiveness of any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement, when the Prospectus is first filed with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 434 of the Regulations, when any
supplement to or amendment of the Prospectus is filed with the Commission and at
the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date (as hereinafter respectively
defined), if any, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
amendments thereof and supplements thereto complied or will comply in all
material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Regulations
and does not or will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact and does
not or will not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein (i) in the case of the
Registration Statement, not misleading and (ii) in the case of the Prospectus,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. When
any related preliminary prospectus was first filed with the Commission (whether
filed as part of the registration statement for the registration of the Shares
or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Regulations) and when
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first filed with the Commission,
such preliminary prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto
complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act and
the Regulations and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact and
did not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein in light of the 

                                       2
<PAGE>
circumstances under which they were made not misleading. No representation or
warranty is made in this subsection (b), however, with respect to any
information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or any related preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through you as
herein stated expressly for use in connection with the preparation thereof. If
Rule 434 is used, the Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 434.

      (c) Arthur Andersen LLP, who have certified the financial statements and
supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, are independent
public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Act and the
Regulations.

      (d) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse
change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in the
business, prospects, properties, operations, condition (financial or other) or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole,
whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business. The
Company (i) has no subsidiaries other than Apple Orthodontix of Canada, Inc., an
Alberta corporation, and Apple Acquisition of Texas, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, neither of which is a "significant subsidiary" (as that term is
defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Act and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of the Company, and (ii)
except as set forth in clause (i), does not own or control, directly or
indirectly, any corporation, association, limited liability company, trust or
other entity. Since the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of the PA
Affiliates (as defined below) has incurred or undertaken any liabilities or
obligations, direct or contingent, that are material to the Company, except for
liabilities or obligations that are reflected in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus.

      (e) The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver the Shares to be sold by the Company
(the "Company Shares") to the Underwriters as provided herein. This Agreement
and the transactions contemplated herein have been duly and validly authorized
by the Company and this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by the Company.

      (f) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i)
violate or conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms and
provisions of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse
of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the creation
or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
the Company (A) pursuant to any agreement, instrument, franchise, license or
permit to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or its properties
or assets may be bound or (B) any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or
regulation of any court or any public, governmental or regulatory agency or body
having jurisdiction over the 

                                       3
<PAGE>
Company or any of the Company's properties or assets or (ii) violate or conflict
with any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the
Company, except, in each case referred to in clause (i), for such violations,
conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not
have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, properties,
operations, condition (financial or other) or results of operations of the
Company (a "Material Adverse Effect"). No consent, approval, authorization,
order, registration, filing, qualification, license or permit of or with any
court or any public, governmental or regulatory agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or the Company's properties or assets is required
for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without
limitation, the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares to be issued, sold and
delivered by the Company hereunder, except the registration under the Act of the
Shares and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations,
filings, qualifications, licenses and permits as may be required under state
securities or Blue Sky laws or applicable securities laws of Canada in
connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters.

      (g) All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Class B common
stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company ("Class B Stock") are duly and
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable and were not issued
and are not now in violation of or subject to any preemptive rights. The Shares,
when issued, delivered and sold in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly
and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, and will not
have been issued in violation of or be subject to any preemptive rights. The
Company had, at September 30, 1997, an authorized and outstanding capitalization
as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Common Stock
and the Class B Stock conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All offers and sales of Common Stock
(other than the Company Shares) and Class B Common Stock by the Company and any
securities of Apple Orthodontix of Canada, Inc. were issued and sold pursuant to
(i) a registration statement declared effective under the Act, or (ii) an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Act and, in either case,
were the subject of an available exemption from the registration requirements of
applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or applicable securities laws of
Canada.

      (h) The Company has been duly organized, is validly existing and is in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company is duly
qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in
which the character or location of its properties (whether owned, leased or
licensed) or the nature or conduct of its business makes such qualification
necessary, except for those failures to be so qualified or in good standing
which will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect. The Company is not (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation
or by-laws, (ii) in violation of any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or
regulation of any court or any public, governmental or regulatory agency or body
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Company's properties or
assets or (iii) in breach of or in default in the performance or observance of
any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
contract, including without limitation, any Service Agreement (as defined

                                       4
<PAGE>
below), indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to
which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound, or to which
any of its properties or assets is subject, except, in each case referred to in
clause (ii) or (iii), for any such violations, breaches or defaults which would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

      (i) Except as described in the Prospectus, there is no litigation or
governmental proceeding to which the Company is a party or to which any property
of the Company is subject or which is pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company which might result in a Material Adverse
Effect or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Effect, or
which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus. There are no contracts or documents of the Company which are
required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement by the Act or the
Regulations which have not been so filed.

      (j) To the best knowledge of the Company, and except for any of the
following which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect, (i) there is no litigation or governmental proceeding to which
any PA Affiliate is a party or to which any property or assets of any PA
Affiliate is subject or which is pending or contemplated against any PA
Affiliate, and (ii) none of the PA Affiliates is in violation of any provision
of its certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, or other organizational
documents, or of any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation of any
court or any public governmental or regulatory agency or body having
jurisdiction over any PA Affiliate or the properties or assets of any PA
Affiliate, or in breach or default in the performance or observance of any
material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
agreement, including without limitation, any Service Agreement, instrument,
franchise, license or permit to which any PA Affiliate is a party or by which
any of their respective properties or assets may be bound.

      (k) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly,
any action designed to cause or result in, or which constitutes or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Shares.

      (l) The financial statements, including the notes thereto, and supporting
schedules included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present
fairly the financial position of the Company as of the dates indicated and the
results of its operations for the periods specified; except as otherwise stated
in the Registration Statement, said financial statements have been prepared in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis; and the supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration
Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and the
other financial and statistical information and data set forth in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement
thereto) is, in all material respects, accurately presented and prepared on a
basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the
Company.

                                       5
<PAGE>
      (m) Except as described in the Prospectus, no holder of securities of the
Company has any rights to the registration of any securities of the Company
because of the filing of the Registration Statement or otherwise in connection
with the sale of the Shares contemplated hereby.

      (n) The Company is not, and upon consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not be, subject to registration as an "investment
company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

      (o) The Company has not violated any foreign, federal, state or local law
or regulation relating to the protection of human health and safety, the
environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or
contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), or any foreign, federal or state law
relating to the practice of orthodontics or governing provision of orthodontic
services or the collection and/or application of fees therefrom ("Applicable
Health-Care Laws"), or any foreign, federal or state law relating to
discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees or any applicable
foreign, federal or state wages and hours laws, or any provisions of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1976, as amended, or the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, which, singly or in the aggregate, might
result in any Material Adverse Effect or any development involving a Material
Adverse Effect.

      (p) The Company has all requisite power and authority and all such
permits, consents, approvals, licenses, franchises, orders and authorizations of
governmental or regulatory authorities ("permits"), including, without
limitation, under any applicable Environmental Laws and Applicable Health-Care
Laws and related governmental regulations, as are necessary to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as now being conducted and as
proposed to be conducted, as described in the Prospectus, except where the
failure to have any such permits would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company has fulfilled and performed all of
its material obligations with respect to such permits and no event has occurred
which allows, or after notice or lapse of time (or both) would allow, revocation
or termination thereof or would result in any other material impairment of the
rights of the holder of any such permit; and, except as described in the
Prospectus, such permits contain no restrictions that are materially burdensome
to the Company. Each of the (i) orthodontists and (ii) other professionals
involved in providing orthodontic care to patients (each, an "Orthodontic
Professional") who is employed by or affiliated with a professional corporation,
professional association, limited liability company or other entity that, on or
prior to the Closing Date, will have entered into an acquisition agreement
providing for the acquisition by the Company of certain assets owned by such
entity and/or a management service agreement or similar contract (each, a
"Service Agreement") with the Company (individually a "PA Affiliate," and
collectively, the "PA Affiliates") has such permits under Applicable Health-Care
Laws and related governmental regulations (including, as applicable, state and
local licenses to practice orthodontics and federal Drug Enforcement Agency
Controlled Substances Registration Certificates) as are necessary to provide
orthodontic care in such jurisdictions as are 

                                       6
<PAGE>
contemplated by the Service Agreement entered into, or to be entered into,
between that PA Affiliate and the Company on or prior to the Closing Date; to
the knowledge of the Company, each of such Orthodontic Professionals has
fulfilled and performed all of his or her material obligations with respect to
such permits and no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of
time (or both) would allow, revocation or termination thereof or would result in
any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of such permit; and,
to the knowledge of the Company, except as described in the Prospectus, no such
permit contains any restrictions that are materially burdensome to the holder
thereof or the PA Affiliate with which that holder is affiliated or employed.
The Company's business practices do not violate any foreign, federal or state
laws regarding orthodontist ownership of (or financial relationship with), and
referral to, entities providing orthodontics-related goods or services, or laws
respecting financial interests held by orthodontists in entities to which they
may refer patients for the provision of orthodontics-related goods or services,
except for such violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a Material Adverse Effect. None of the PA Affiliates (or any of their respective
predecessors) has billed or accepted payment from any Medicare, Medicaid or
CHAMPUS program since May 29, 1997 and, to the knowledge of the Company, during
the two years preceding the date of this Agreement.

      (q) Except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), subsequent to the
respective dates as of which such information is given in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), neither
the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the PA Affiliates has
incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, or entered into any
transaction, not in the ordinary course of business, that is material to the
Company, and there has not been any change in the capital stock, or material
increase in the short-term debt or long-term debt, of the Company or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any of the PA Affiliates.

      (r) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto), (i) the Company owns or possesses
valid and enforceable rights to use all patents, trademarks, trademark
registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, trade names,
copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and rights described in the
Prospectus as being owned by it or material to the conduct of its business
(collectively, "Material Proprietary Rights"), and (ii) the Company is not aware
of any claim to the contrary or any challenge by any other person to the rights
of the Company with respect to any Material Proprietary Right or of any facts
that would render any Material Proprietary Right invalid or inadequate to
protect the interest of the Company.

      (s) Neither the Company nor any of its predecessors has ever been a party
to a collective bargaining agreement. There is (i) no significant unfair labor
practice complaint pending against the Company or, to the best knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company, before the National Labor Relations
Board or any state or local labor relations board and (ii) no significant
strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending against the Company or, to
the best knowledge of the Company, threatened against it.

                                       7
<PAGE>
      (t) Except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus or such as are not material to the business, prospects, properties,
operations, condition (financial or other) or results of operations of the
Company, the Company has good and marketable title, free and clear of all liens,
claims, encumbrances and restrictions except liens for taxes not yet due and
payable, to all property and assets described in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus as being owned by it. All leases (whether relating to real
property or personal property) to which the Company is a party are valid and
binding and no default by the Company, or, to the knowledge of the Company, by
any other party thereto, has occurred or is continuing thereunder which, singly
or in the aggregate, might result in a Material Adverse Effect or any
development involving a prospective Material Adverse Effect, and the Company
enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such leases to which it is
a party as lessee with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the
use made by the Company.

      (u) The Company and each of the PA Affiliates carry, are covered by, or,
at the time of their affiliation with the Company, will be covered by (which
coverage will continue after the date of such affiliation), insurance in such
amounts and covering such risks as is reasonably necessary for the conduct of
their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as
is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, each of the PA Affiliates (other than Darrell G.
Smith, D.D.S., P.C. and D.G. Smith Orthodontics, A Professional Corporation)
currently maintains or, at the time of their affiliation with the Company, will
be covered by (which coverage will continue after the date of such affiliation)
comprehensive professional liability insurance with limits of not less than
$1,000,000 per claim and aggregate policy limits of not less than $3,000,000 per
orthodontist.

      (v) All material tax returns required to be filed by the Company (or its
predecessors) in any jurisdiction have been filed, other than those filings
being contested in good faith, and all material taxes, including withholding
taxes, penalties and interest, assessments, fees and other charges due pursuant
to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company (or its
predecessors) have been paid, other than those being contested in good faith and
for which adequate reserves have been provided.

      (w) To the Company's knowledge, neither the Company (or any of its
predecessors) nor any of its employees or agents has made any payment or
received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation,
which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

      (x) The Company (i) makes and keeps accurate books and records and (ii)
maintains internal accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that
(A) transactions are executed in accordance with management's authorization, (B)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its financial
statements and to maintain accountability for its assets, (C) access to its
assets is permitted only in accordance with 

                                       8
<PAGE>
management's authorization and (D) the reported accountability for its assets is
compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is
taken with respect to any differences.

      (y) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
there are no business relationships or related party transactions required to be
disclosed therein by Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Commission.

      (z) The shares of Common Stock currently outstanding are listed on, and
upon notice of issuance or sale, as the case may be, the Company Shares will be
approved for listing on, the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX").

      (aa) The Service Agreements entered into between the Company and the
Founding Affiliated Practices (as defined in the Prospectus) have not been
amended, modified, replaced or superseded. The Service Agreements utilized by
the Company with respect to PA Affiliates acquired or affiliated with subsequent
to the Company's acquisition or affiliation with the Founding Affiliated
Practices do not differ substantively from those entered into with the Founding
Affiliated Practices, if any, in the same jurisdiction in any respect relevant
to the compliance of such Service Agreements with the laws, rules and
regulations of such jurisdictions governing the practice of orthodontics,
including, without limitation, laws concerning the corporate practice of
orthodontics, fee splitting and self-referrals. Schedule III hereto lists all PA
Affiliates acquired by or affiliated with the Company subsequent to May 29, 1997
and the state or province of Canada where each such PA Affiliate is located or
practices.

      (bb) The Company has filed in a timely manner with the Commission each
document required to be filed by it pursuant to the Exchange Act, each such
document at the time it was filed conformed in all material respects to the
requirements of the Exchange Act and none of such documents contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

      B. Each Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, represents and
warrants to, and agrees with, each of the several Underwriters that:

      (a) Such Selling Stockholder has (i) caused a certificate or certificates
representing either (A) the number of Shares to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder hereunder or (B) a number of Shares of Class B Stock equal to the
number of Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder (the
"Stockholder Shares") to be delivered to ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C., endorsed in blank or with blank stock powers duly executed, with
signatures appropriately guaranteed, such certificate or certificates to be held
in the custody of ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., in accordance with
terms of a custody agreement in the form heretofore delivered to you, for
delivery pursuant to the provisions hereof on the Closing Date, and (ii) granted
an irrevocable power of attorney to each of John G. Vondrak, D.D.S., Michael W.
Harlan, and H. Steven Walton, as such Selling 

                                       9
<PAGE>
Stockholder's attorney-in-fact (the "Attorney-In-Fact") in the form heretofore
delivered to you (the custody agreement, together with the irrevocable power of
attorney, executed by such Selling Stockholder being hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Custody Agreement").

      (b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Custody Agreement by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will
not (i) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions
of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time, or
both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the creation or imposition
of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of such Selling
Stockholder or any property or assets of such Selling Stockholder, pursuant to,
any agreement, instrument, franchise, license or permit to which such Selling
Stockholder is a party or by which any of such Selling Stockholder's properties
or assets may be bound or (ii) violate or conflict with (A) if such Selling
Stockholder is not a natural person, any provision of the certificate or
articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of such
Selling Stockholder or (B) any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or
regulation of any court or any public, governmental or regulatory agency or body
having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder or any of such Selling
Stockholder's properties or assets. No consent, approval, authorization, order,
registration, filing, qualification, license or permit of or with any court or
any public, governmental or regulatory agency or body having jurisdiction over
such Selling Stockholder or any of such Selling Stockholders properties or
assets is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
or the Custody Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the sale and delivery of the
Stockholder Shares, except the registration under the Act of the Stockholder
Shares, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations,
filings, qualifications, licenses and permits as may be required under state
securities or Blue Sky laws or applicable securities laws of Canada in
connection with the purchase and distribution of the Stockholder Shares by the
Underwriters.

      (c) Such Selling Stockholder has the power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and to sell and deliver the Stockholder
Shares to the Underwriters as provided herein. This Agreement, the Custody
Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein have been duly and validly
authorized by such Selling Stockholder and this Agreement and the Custody
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Selling
Stockholder.

      (d) This Agreement and the Custody Agreement are legal, valid and binding
agreements of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable against such Selling
Stockholder in accordance with their respective terms, except as that
enforceability may be subject to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                                       10
<PAGE>
      (e) Such Selling Stockholder has good, valid and marketable title to the
Stockholder Shares, free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances,
restrictions, security interests, stockholders' agreements, voting trusts, other
defects in title whatsoever and restrictions on transfer (other than those
restrictions on transfer imposed by the Act and state securities or Blue Sky
laws or applicable securities laws of Canada), with full power to sell, assign,
transfer and deliver such Stockholder Shares hereunder, and, upon the delivery
of and payment for such Stockholder Shares as herein contemplated, each of the
Underwriters will acquire good, valid and marketable title to the Stockholder
Shares, free and clear of all liens, pledges, encumbrances, claims, security
interests, stockholders agreements, voting trusts, other defects in title
whatsoever and restrictions on transfer (other than those restrictions on
transfer imposed by the Act and the securities or Blue Sky laws of certain
jurisdictions).

      (f) Such Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly or
indirectly, any action which constituted or which was designed to constitute or
which might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the shares of Common Stock, and other than as
permitted by the Act, such Selling Stockholder has not distributed and will not
distribute any prospectus or other offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Shares.

      (g) When the Registration Statement shall become effective, when any
amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, when the Prospectus
is first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Regulations,
when any amendment of or supplement to the Prospectus is filed with the
Commission and at the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, if any, such
parts of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments
thereof and supplements thereto as they relate to such Selling Stockholder or
are based upon information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such
Selling Stockholder expressly for use therein will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact and will not omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

      (h) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, such Selling Stockholder (i) does not have any preemptive right,
co-sale right or right of first refusal or other similar right to purchase any
of the Shares that are to be sold by the Company or any of the other Selling
Stockholders to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) does not
own any warrants, options or similar rights to acquire, and does not have any
right or arrangement to acquire, any capital stock, rights, warrants, options or
other securities from the Company.

      (i) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, such Selling Stockholder does not possess any registrations rights
with respect to any securities of the Company.

                                       11
<PAGE>
      (j) Except as set forth on Schedule V hereto, neither such Selling
Stockholder nor any of such Selling Stockholder's affiliates directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or
is under common control with, or had any other association with (within the
meaning of Article I of the Bylaws of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD")), any member firm of the NASD.

      2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SHARES.

      (a) On the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company and the Selling Stockholders agree to sell to the
Underwriters and the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase
from the Company and the Selling Stockholders, at a purchase price per share of
$____, the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the respective names of the
Underwriters in Schedule I hereto plus any additional number of Shares which
such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of
Section 9 hereof.

      (b) Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for,
the Firm Shares shall be made at the offices of Baker & Botts, L.L.P., One Shell
Plaza, 910 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002, or at such other place as shall be
agreed upon by you and the Company, at 10:00 A.M. on the third or fourth
business day (as permitted under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act) (unless
postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 hereof) following the
date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or, if the Company has
elected to rely upon Rule 430A of the Regulations, the third or fourth business
day (as permitted under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act) after the
determination of the initial public offering price of the Shares), or such other
time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by
you and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein
called the "Closing Date"). Payment shall be made to the Company and to the
Selling Stockholders by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated
by the Company, against delivery to you for the respective accounts of the
Underwriters of certificates for the Firm Shares to be purchased by them.
Certificates for the Firm Shares shall be registered in such name or names and
in such authorized denominations as you may request in writing at least two full
business days prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit you to examine
and package such certificates for delivery at least one full business day prior
to the Closing Date.

      (c) In addition, the Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the option
to purchase up to 444,000 Additional Shares at the same purchase price per share
to be paid by the Underwriters to the Company and to the Selling Stockholders
for the Firm Shares as set forth in this Section 2, for the sole purpose of
covering over-allotments in the sale of Firm Shares by the Underwriters. This
option may be exercised at any time, in whole or in part, on or before the
thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice by you to
the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional
Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time, as
reasonably determined by you, when the Additional Shares are to be delivered
(such date and time being herein sometimes 

                                       12
<PAGE>
referred to as the "Additional Closing Date"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Additional Closing Date shall not be earlier than the Closing Date or earlier
than the second full business day after the date on which the option shall have
been exercised nor later than the eighth full business day after the date on
which the option shall have been exercised (unless such time and date are
postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 hereof). Certificates
for the Additional Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such
authorized denominations as you may request in writing at least two full
business days prior to the Additional Closing Date. The Company will permit you
to examine and package such certificates for delivery at least one full business
day prior to the Additional Closing Date.

      The number of Additional Shares to be sold to each Underwriter shall be
the number which bears the same ratio to the aggregate number of Additional
Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name
of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto (or such number increased as set forth
in Section 9 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares, subject,
however, to such adjustments to eliminate any fractional shares as you in your
sole discretion shall make.

      Payment for the Additional Shares shall be made by wire transfer of same
day funds upon delivery of the certificates for the Additional Shares to you for
the respective accounts of the Underwriters, which delivery shall be made at the
offices of Baker & Botts, L.L.P., One Shell Plaza, 910 Louisiana, Houston, Texas
77002, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable.

      3. OFFERING. Upon your authorization of the release of the Firm Shares,
the Underwriters propose to offer the Shares for sale to the public upon the
terms set forth in the Prospectus.

      4.    COVENANTS.

      A.    The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriters that:

      (a) If the Registration Statement has not yet been declared effective, the
Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement and any
amendments thereto to become effective as promptly as possible, and if Rule 430A
or Rule 434 is used or the filing of the Prospectus or a supplement to the
Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b) or Rule 434, the Company will
file the Prospectus (properly completed if Rule 430A has been used) or such
supplement to the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 434 within the
prescribed time period and will provide evidence satisfactory to you of such
timely filing. If the Company elects to rely on Rule 434, the Company will
prepare and file a term sheet that complies with the requirements of Rule 434.

      The Company will notify you immediately (and, if requested by you, will
confirm such notice in writing) (i) when the Registration Statement and any
amendments thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission for
any amendment of or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or for any additional information, (iii) of the mailing 

                                       13
<PAGE>
or the delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment of or supplement
to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (iv) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of the initiation, or the
threatening, of any proceedings therefor, (v) of the receipt of any comments
from the Commission and (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notification
with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in
any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that
purpose. If the Commission shall propose or enter a stop order at any time, the
Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any such
stop order and, if issued, to obtain the lifting of such order as soon as
possible. The Company will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement,
any filing under Rule 462(b) of the Regulations, or any amendment of or
supplement to the Prospectus (including the prospectus required to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 434) that differs from the prospectus on file at
the time of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement before or after the
effective date of the Registration Statement to which you shall reasonably
object in writing after being timely furnished in advance a copy thereof.

      (b) If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to
be delivered under the Act any event shall have occurred as a result of which
the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would, in the judgment of the
Underwriters or the Company, include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary at any time to amend or
supplement the Prospectus or Registration Statement to comply with the Act or
the Regulations, the Company will notify you promptly and prepare and file with
the Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement (in form and substance
satisfactory to you) which will correct such statement or omission and will use
its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement declared
effective as soon as possible.

      (c) The Company will promptly deliver to you one signed copy and as many
conformed copies of the Registration Statement, including exhibits, and all
amendments thereto as you may reasonably request, and the Company will promptly
deliver to each of the Underwriters such number of copies of any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, and all amendments of
and supplements to such documents, if any, as you may reasonably request.

      (d) The Company will endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with you, at
or prior to the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, to qualify
the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws relating to the
offering or sale of the Shares of such jurisdictions as you may designate and to
maintain such qualification in effect for so long as required for the
distribution thereof; except that in no event shall the Company be obligated in
connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general
consent to service of process.

                                       14
<PAGE>
      (e) The Company will make generally available (within the meaning of
Section 11(a) of the Act) to its security holders and to you as soon as
practicable, but not later than [45] days after the end of its fiscal quarter in
which the first anniversary date of the effective date of the Registration
Statement occurs, an earning statement (in form complying with the provisions of
Rule 158 of the Regulations) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive
months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement.

      (f) During the period of 90 days from the date of the Prospectus, the
Company will not, without the prior written consent of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
("Bear Stearns"), issue, sell, offer or agree to sell, grant any option for the
sale of, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Stock (or
any securities convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable for Common
Stock), and the Company will obtain the undertaking of each of its officers,
directors and Selling Stockholders not to engage in any of the aforementioned
transactions on their own behalf, other than (i) the sale of the Shares
hereunder, (ii) the Company's issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of
presently outstanding stock options, (iii) the Company's issuance of up to
3,500,000 shares of Common Stock in connection with additional acquisitions or
affiliations, and (iv) the issuance of awards under the Company's 1997 Stock
Compensation Plan, as in effect on the date hereof, so long as, in the case of
any issuance described in clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this sentence, the
recipient of those shares agrees to be bound by an agreement in the form
previously delivered to you pursuant to which such recipient agrees with the
Company not to offer, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to purchase or
otherwise transfer or dispose of any of those shares at any time before the
expiration of a specified period of time (not less than 90 days from the date of
the Prospectus in the case of an issuance described in clause (ii), (iii) or
(iv) of this sentence) and the certificate or certificates evidencing those
shares bear a legend to that effect.

      (g) During a period of three years from the effective date of the
Registration Statement, the Company will furnish to you copies of (i) all
reports to its shareholders; and (ii) all reports, financial statements and
proxy or information statements filed by the Company with the Commission, the
AMEX or any other national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market.

      (h) The Company will apply the proceeds from the sale of the Company
Shares as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" in the Prospectus.

      (i) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Shares to be listed
on the AMEX.

      (j) The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be
delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act, will file all documents required to
be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange
Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.

      (k) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed
to, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization
or manipulation of the 

                                       15
<PAGE>
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Shares or otherwise during the period of 90 days from the effective date of the
Registration Statement.

      B. Each Selling Stockholder covenants and agrees with the several
Underwriters that:

      (a) During the period of 90 days from the date of the Prospectus, no
Selling Stockholder (including such Selling Stockholder's successors, assigns,
heirs and legatees) will, without the prior written consent of Bear Stearns,
sell, offer or agree to sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly,
any Common Stock other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence,
such Selling Stockholder agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer
instructions with the Company's transfer agent against the transfer of shares of
Common Stock held by such Selling Stockholder during such 90-day period without
Bear Stearns' written consent.

      (b) Such Selling Stockholder will advise the Attorney-in-Fact before the
Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, if any, if any statement to be
made on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in the certificate contemplated by
Section 6(g) would be inaccurate if made as of the Closing Date or the
Additional Closing Date, respectively.

      (c) Such Selling Stockholder will cooperate with the Company to cause the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time and in endeavoring
to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws relating
to the offering or sale of the Shares of such jurisdictions as you may designate
and will make such applications, file such documents and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose.

      (d) Such Selling Stockholder will not take, directly or indirectly, any
action designed to, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in,
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or otherwise during the period of 90
days from the effective date of the Registration Statement.

      (e) Such Selling Stockholder will use such Selling Stockholder's
reasonable best efforts to do or perform all things required to be done or
performed by it prior to the Closing Date to satisfy all conditions precedent to
the delivery of the Stockholder Shares.

      (f) Until the Additional Closing Date or, in the event the over-allotment
option described in Section 2(c) is not exercised, until 30 days after the date
of the prospectus, each Selling Stockholder agrees to notify you promptly of any
information that comes to such Selling Stockholder's attention that would cause
such Selling Stockholder to have reason to believe that his or its
representations, warranties and statements in this Agreement are not accurate in
all material respects.

                                       16
<PAGE>
      (g) Except as herein contemplated with respect to the Stockholder Shares
included in the Registration Statement on behalf of such Selling Stockholder,
each Selling Stockholder agrees to waive any registration rights to which such
Selling Stockholder may be entitled in connection with the public offering
herein contemplated.

      (h) At any time during the period described in Section 4A(b) hereof, if
there is any change in the information referred to in Section 1B(g) above, such
Selling Stockholder will immediately notify you of such change.

      5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. Whether or not the transactions contemplated in
this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company
hereby agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the
obligations of the Company and the Selling Stockholders hereunder, including
those in connection with (i) preparing, printing, duplicating, filing and
distributing the Registration Statement, as originally filed and all amendments
thereof (including all exhibits thereto), any preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (including, without
limitation, fees and expenses of the Company's accountants and counsel), the
underwriting documents (including this Agreement and the Agreement Among
Underwriters and the Selling Agreement) and all other documents related to the
public offering of the Shares (including those supplied to the Underwriters in
quantities as hereinabove stated), (ii) the issuance, transfer and delivery of
the Company Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes
payable thereon, (iii) the qualification of the Shares under state or foreign
securities or Blue Sky laws, including the costs of printing and mailing a
preliminary and final "Blue Sky Survey" and the fees of counsel for the
Underwriters and such counsel's disbursements in relation thereto, (iv) listing
of the Shares on the AMEX, (v) filing fees of the Commission and the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., (vi) the cost of printing certificates
representing the Shares and (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or
registrar, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel and any other special
experts retained by the Selling Stockholders and transfer or other taxes payable
on the Stockholder Shares, which are to be borne by the Selling Stockholders in
proportion to the number of Stockholder Shares being sold by each.

      6. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Shares and the Additional Shares,
as provided herein, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholders herein contained, as of
the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (for purposes of this Section 6
"Closing Date" shall refer to the Closing Date for the Firm Shares and any
Additional Closing Date, if different, for the Additional Shares), to the
absence from any certificates, opinions, written statements or letters furnished
to you or to Hughes & Luce, L.L.P. ("Underwriters' Counsel") pursuant to this
Section 6 of any misstatement or omission, to the performance by the Company and
the Selling Stockholders of their respective obligations hereunder, and to the
following additional conditions:

      (a) The Registration Statement, including any 462(b) Registration
Statement, shall have become effective and the approval of the AMEX of the
listing of the Shares, 

                                       17
<PAGE>
subject only to notice of issuance, as applicable, shall have been received not
later than 5:30 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement, or at such
later time and date as shall have been consented to in writing by you; if the
Company shall have elected to rely upon Rule 430A or Rule 434 of the
Regulations, the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in a
timely fashion in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and, at or prior to the
Closing Date no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof shall have been issued and no
proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission.

      (b) (1) At the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, if any, you
shall have received the opinion of Baker & Botts, L.L.P., counsel for the
Company, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, if any,
addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory to you, to
the effect that:

            (i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing and
      is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company
      is duly registered and qualified and in good standing as a foreign
      corporation in each of the following United States jurisdictions: Arizona,
      California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Montana, Nevada, New
      Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Virginia. The Company has
      all corporate authority required to own, lease and operate its respective
      properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus. To the knowledge of such counsel, the
      Company is not in violation of any provision of its restated certificate
      of incorporation or by-laws.

            (ii) The Company has an authorized capital stock as set forth in the
      Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All of the outstanding shares
      of Common Stock, including without limitation the Stockholder Shares, and
      Class B Stock are duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid
      and nonassessable and were not issued in violation of or subject to any
      preemptive or similar rights under its restated certificate of
      incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents, the laws of the
      State of Delaware or, to the knowledge of such counsel, otherwise. The
      Shares to be delivered by the Company on the Closing Date have been duly
      and validly authorized and, when delivered by the Company in accordance
      with this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and
      nonassessable and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to
      any preemptive or similar rights under its restated certificate of
      incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents, the laws of the
      State of Delaware or, to the knowledge of such counsel, otherwise. The
      Common Stock and the Class B Stock conform in all material respects as to
      legal matters to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus.

            (iii) The Shares to be sold under this Agreement and the other
      shares of Common Stock that will be outstanding on the Closing Date have
      been approved for listing, subject to notice of issuance, on the AMEX.

                                       18
<PAGE>
            (iv) The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into
      this Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver the Shares to be delivered
      by the Company to the Underwriters as provided herein; the execution and
      delivery of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under,
      this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Company; and
      this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and
      delivered by the Company.

            (v) To the knowledge of Louise Shearer, Jennifer De La Rosa, Shanna
      Jones and Kevin Blodgett, there are no pending or threatened litigation or
      governmental or other action, suit, proceeding or investigation before any
      court or before or by any public, regulatory or governmental agency or
      body against, or involving the properties or business of, the Company
      which is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus which has not been properly disclosed
      therein.

            (vi) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and
      the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated in this
      Agreement (including the issuance, delivery and sale of the Company Shares
      pursuant to this Agreement) and compliance by the Company with the terms
      of this Agreement (A) do not and will not result in any violation of any
      provision of the restated certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the
      Company or (B) do not and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of
      any of the terms of, or constitute a default under, or result in the
      creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
      the Company under, (i) any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument
      (a) to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its
      properties is bound and (b) which has been described in or filed as an
      exhibit to the Registration Statement, (ii) any existing applicable law,
      rule or regulation (other than securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
      states or other jurisdictions, as to which such counsel need express no
      opinion) or (iii) any judgment, injunction, order or decree known to such
      counsel of any government, governmental instrumentality or court having
      jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, except, in each
      case referred to in this clause (B), for such conflicts, breaches or
      defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances as would not have a Material
      Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration,
      filing, qualification, license or permit of or with any court or any
      public, governmental or regulatory agency or body having jurisdiction over
      the Company or any of its properties or assets is required for the
      execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation
      of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (1) such as may be
      required under state securities or Blue Sky laws or the securities laws of
      Canada in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by
      the Underwriters (as to which such counsel need express no opinion) and
      (2) such as have been made or obtained under the Act.

            (vii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
      amendments thereof or supplements thereto (other than the financial
      statements and schedules 

                                       19
<PAGE>
      (including the notes thereto and the auditors' reports thereon) and the
      other financial data included therein and the exhibits thereto, as to
      which no opinion need be rendered) appear on their face to comply as to
      form in all material respects with the requirements of Form S-1 and the
      applicable Regulations with respect thereto.

            (viii) The Registration Statement is effective under the Act, and,
      to the best knowledge of such counsel after making telephone inquiries to
      staff members of the Commission on the Closing Date, no stop order
      suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
      post-effective amendment thereof has been issued and no proceedings
      therefor have been initiated or threatened by the Commission and all
      filings required by Rule 424(b) of the Regulations have been made within
      the time period required by such Rule 424(b).

            (ix) To the knowledge of Louise Shearer, Jennifer De La Rosa, Shanna
      Jones and Kevin Blodgett, there are no contracts, indentures, mortgages,
      loan agreements, notes, leases or other instruments required to be
      described or referred to in the Registration Statement or to be filed as
      exhibits thereto other than those described or referred to therein or
      filed as exhibits thereto.

            (x) The Company has corporate power and authority to own its
      properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus.

            (xi) The Company is not an "investment company" or a company
      "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the
      Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

            (xii) The statements under the captions "Risk Factors--Potential
      Effect of Shares Eligible for Future Sale on Price of Common Stock," "Risk
      Factors--Certain Anti-takeover Provisions" (with respect to the
      descriptions of Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Act, the provisions of the
      Act, the terms of the lock-up agreements in connection with the issuance
      and sale of the Shares hereunder and the terms of the registration rights
      agreements with the Founding Affiliated Practices and TriCap Funding I,
      L.L.C. (specifically excluding the numbers of shares covered by such
      agreements, but specifically including the interpretation that such
      agreements apply to all shares of Common Stock and Class B Stock of the
      Company held by persons who are parties to such agreements)) "Management's
      Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations"
      (with respect to the description of the TCB Facility set forth therein),
      "Management--Employment Agreements," "Management--1997 Stock Compensation
      Plan," "Certain Transactions" (with respect to the description of the
      Subscription Agreement set forth therein), "Description of Capital Stock,"
      "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" (with respect to the descriptions of
      Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Act, the provisions of the Act, the terms
      of the lock-up agreements in connection with the issuance and sale of the
      Shares hereunder and the terms of the registration rights agreements with
      the Founding Affiliated Practices and TriCap Funding I, L.L.C.
      (specifically excluding the 

                                       20
<PAGE>
      numbers of shares covered by such agreements, but specifically including
      the interpretation that such agreements apply to all shares of Common
      Stock and Class B Stock of the Company held by persons who are parties to
      such agreements)) and "Underwriting" in the Prospectus and Item 14 of Part
      II of the Registration Statement, insofar as such statements constitute a
      summary of legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein,
      are accurate in all material respects and fairly present the information
      called for with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings.

            (xiii) In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
      participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the
      Company, representatives of the independent public accountants of the
      Company and representatives of the Underwriters at which the contents of
      the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related matters were
      discussed and that, although such counsel is not passing upon, and does
      not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness
      of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the
      Prospectus, except as specified above, such counsel advises you that, on
      the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality to a large extent on
      statements and other representations of officers and other representatives
      of the Company), no facts have come to such counsel's attention that lead
      such counsel to believe that the Registration Statement (other than (i)
      the financial statements and schedules (including the notes thereto and
      the auditors' reports thereon) included therein and (ii) the other
      financial information contained therein, and it being understood that such
      counsel is making no statement herein as to the accuracy of any statement
      or representation in any exhibit to the Registration Statement), as of its
      effective date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
      omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein
      not misleading, or that the Prospectus (other than (i) the financial
      statements and schedules (including the notes thereto and the auditors'
      reports thereon) included therein and (ii) the other financial information
      contained therein, as to which such counsel has not been asked to
      comment), as of its issue date or the Closing Date or the Additional
      Closing Date, as the case may be, contained or contains an untrue
      statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
      necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
      circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

            (2) At the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, if any, you
shall have received the opinion of H. Steven Walton, in-house counsel for the
Company, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, if any,
addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory to you, to
the effect that:

            (i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing and
      is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company
      is duly registered and qualified and in good standing as a foreign
      corporation in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of its
      properties (whether owned, leased or licensed) or the nature or conduct of
      its business makes such registration or 

                                       21
<PAGE>
      qualification necessary, except where the failure so to register or
      qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has all
      corporate authority required to own, lease and operate its respective
      properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus. To the knowledge of such counsel, the
      Company is not in violation of any provision of its restated certificate
      of incorporation or by-laws.

            (ii) Such counsel does not know of any pending or threatened
      litigation or governmental or other action, suit, proceeding or
      investigation before any court or before or by any public, regulatory or
      governmental agency or body against, or involving the properties or
      business of, the Company which is of a character required to be disclosed
      in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus which has not been
      properly disclosed therein.

            (iii) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company
      and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated in
      this Agreement (including the issuance, delivery and sale of the Company
      Shares pursuant to this Agreement) and compliance by the Company with the
      terms of this Agreement (A) do not and will not result in any violation of
      any provision of the restated certificate of incorporation or by-laws of
      the Company or (B) do not and will not conflict with, or result in a
      breach of any of the terms of, or constitute a default under, or result in
      the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or
      assets of the Company under, (i) any agreement, indenture, lease or other
      instrument (a) to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or
      any of its properties is bound and (b) which has been described in or
      filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (ii) any existing
      applicable law, rule or regulation (other than securities or Blue Sky laws
      of the various states or other jurisdictions, as to which such counsel
      need express no opinion) or (iii) any judgment, injunction, order or
      decree known to such counsel of any government, governmental
      instrumentality or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of
      its properties, except, in each case referred to in this clause (B), for
      such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances as
      would not have a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval,
      authorization, order, registration, filing, qualification, license or
      permit of or with any court or any public, governmental or regulatory
      agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
      properties or assets is required for the execution, delivery and
      performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
      contemplated hereby, except for (1) such as may be required under state
      securities or Blue Sky laws or the securities laws of Canada in connection
      with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters (as
      to which such counsel need express no opinion) and (2) such as have been
      made or obtained under the Act.

            (iv) To the knowledge of such counsel, (i) there are no contracts,
      indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes, leases or other instruments
      required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or
      to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those described or referred to
      therein or filed as exhibits thereto, 

                                       22
<PAGE>
      (ii) the descriptions thereof or references thereto are correct and (iii)
      no default exists in the due performance or observance of any material
      obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
      indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument so
      described, referred to or filed, except for such defaults that would not,
      individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (v) The Company has full corporate power and authority, and all
      necessary governmental authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses,
      certificates, franchises and permits of and from all governmental
      regulatory officials and bodies (except where the failure so to have any
      such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, franchises
      or permits, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material
      Adverse Effect), to own its properties and to conduct its business as now
      being conducted and as proposed to be conducted, as described in the
      Prospectus.

            (vi) Except as described in the Prospectus, such counsel does not
      know of any holder of any securities of the Company or any other person
      who has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to sell
      or otherwise issue to them, or to permit them to underwrite the sale of,
      any of the Shares.

            (vii) The statements under the captions "Risk Factors--Government
      Regulation," "Risk Factors--Potential Effect of Shares Eligible for Future
      Sale on Price of Common Stock," "Risk Factors--Certain Anti-takeover
      Provisions," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
      and Results of Operations" (with respect to the description of the TCB
      Facility set forth therein), "Business--Service Agreements,"
      "Business--Orthodontist Employment Agreements," "Business--Litigation and
      Insurance," "Business--Government Regulation," "Management--Employment
      Agreements," "Management--1997 Stock Compensation Plan," "Certain
      Transactions," "Description of Capital Stock," "Shares Eligible for Future
      Sale" and "Underwriting" in the Prospectus and Items 14 and 15 of Part II
      of the Registration Statement, insofar as such statements constitute a
      summary of legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein,
      are accurate in all material respects and fairly present the information
      called for with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings.

            (viii) In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
      participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the
      Company, representatives of the independent public accountants of the
      Company and representatives of the Underwriters at which the contents of
      the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related matters were
      discussed and that, although such counsel is not passing upon, and does
      not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness
      of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the
      Prospectus, except as specified above, such counsel advises you that, on
      the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to such counsel's attention
      that lead such counsel to believe that the Registration Statement (other
      than (i) the 

                                       23
<PAGE>
      financial statements and schedules (including the notes thereto and the
      auditors' reports thereon) included therein and (ii) the other financial
      information contained therein, and it being understood that such counsel
      is making no statement herein as to the accuracy of any statement or
      representation in any exhibit to the Registration Statement), as of its
      effective date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
      omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein
      not misleading, or that the Prospectus (other than (i) the financial
      statements and schedules (including the notes thereto and the auditors'
      reports thereon) included therein and (ii) the other financial information
      contained therein, as to which such counsel has not been asked to
      comment), as of its issue date or the Closing Date or the Additional
      Closing Date, as the case may be, contained or contains an untrue
      statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
      necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
      circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

            (3) At the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, if any, you
shall have received the opinion of Code Hunter Wittman, counsel for the Company,
dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, if any, addressed to the
Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

            (i) Apple Orthodontix of Canada, Inc. has been duly organized and is
      validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the Province of
      Alberta, Canada. Each of the Company and Apple Orthodontix of Canada, Inc.
      is duly registered and qualified and in good standing as a foreign
      corporation in each jurisdiction in Canada in which the character or
      location of their respective properties (whether owned, leased or
      licensed) or the nature or conduct of their respective businesses makes
      such registration or qualification necessary, except where the failure so
      to register or qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

      (c) At the Closing Date, you shall have received the opinion of Mayor,
Day, Caldwell & Keeton, L.L.P., counsel for the Selling Stockholders, dated the
Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to
the Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory to Underwriters'
Counsel, to the effect that:

            (i) This Agreement and the Custody Agreement have been duly executed
      and delivered by or on behalf of each Selling Stockholder.

            (ii) The Custody Agreement is the legal, valid and binding agreement
      of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable against such Selling Stockholder
      in accordance with its terms, except as that enforceability may be subject
      to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
      reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights
      generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
      such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                                       24
<PAGE>
            (iii) To the knowledge of such counsel, each Selling Stockholder
      that is not a natural person has the requisite power and authority to
      enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the
      Custody Agreement and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to
      be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant thereto.

            (iv) To the knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval,
      authorization, order, registration, filing, qualification, license or
      permit of or with any court or any public, governmental or regulatory
      agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the Selling Stockholders or
      any of their respective properties or assets is required for the
      execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation
      of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Selling Stockholders,
      except for (1) such as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky
      laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the
      Underwriters (as to which such counsel need express no opinion) and (2)
      such as have been made or obtained under the Act.

            (v) Upon the delivery of and payment for the Shares to be sold by
      the Selling Stockholders pursuant to this Agreement as herein
      contemplated, and assuming each Underwriter takes delivery without
      knowledge of any adverse claims, such Underwriter will be a protected
      purchaser with respect to such Shares within the meaning of Article VIII
      of the UCC and will acquire all rights of such Selling Stockholder in such
      Shares, free and clear of all adverse claims.

      (d) You shall have received legal opinions of the local counsel listed on
Schedule IV hereto dated the Closing Date, substantially in the forms previously
delivered to and approved by you, which opinions shall address, to your
satisfaction, with respect to such PA Affiliates, the enforceability of the
acquisition agreements and the related Service Agreements underlying such
acquisitions or affiliations and the compliance of the transactions and
arrangements between the Company and each such PA Affiliate contemplated by the
related Service Agreement with applicable government rules and regulations
concerning or involving the corporate practice of dentistry or orthodontics, fee
splitting and self-referrals.

      (e) All proceedings taken in connection with the sale of the Firm Shares
and the Additional Shares as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form
and substance to you and to Underwriters' Counsel, and the Underwriters shall
have received from said Underwriters' Counsel a favorable opinion, dated as of
the Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Company Shares by
the Company, the sale by the Selling Stockholders of the Stockholder Shares, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and such other related matters as you
may reasonably require, and the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have
furnished to Underwriters' Counsel such documents as they may reasonably request
for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

      (f) At the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, if any, you shall
have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of the 

                                       25
<PAGE>
Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that (i) the condition set forth
in subsection (a) of this Section 6 has been satisfied, (ii) as of the date
hereof and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case
may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 1
hereof are accurate, (iii) as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing
Date, as the case may be, the obligations of the Company to be performed
hereunder on or prior thereto have been duly performed and (iv) subsequent to
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not sustained any material loss or
interference with its respective businesses or properties from fire, flood,
hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or
from any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding, and there has
not been any material adverse change, or any development involving a material
adverse change, in the business, prospects, properties, operations, condition
(financial or other) or results of operations of the Company, except in each
case as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.

      (g) At the Closing Date you shall have received a certificate executed by
the Attorney-in-Fact on behalf of the Selling Stockholders, dated the Closing
Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of such Selling
Stockholders set forth in Section 1 hereof are accurate, and that as of the
Closing Date the obligations of such Selling Stockholders to be performed
hereunder on or prior thereto have been duly performed.

      (h) At the time this Agreement is executed and at the Closing Date, you
shall have received a letter from Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
accountants for the Company, dated, respectively, as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and in form
and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

            (i) they are independent certified public accountants with respect
      to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the Regulations and
      stating that the answer to Item 10 of the Registration Statement is
      correct insofar as it relates to them;

            (ii) stating that, in their opinion, the financial statements and
      schedules of the Company included in the Registration Statement and the
      Prospectus and covered by their opinion therein comply as to form in all
      material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act
      and the applicable published rules and regulations of the Commission
      thereunder;

            (iii) they have performed the procedures specified by the American
      Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim
      financial information as described in Statement of Auditing Standards No.
      71, Interim Financial Information, on the unaudited financial statements
      included in the Prospectus;

            (iv) on the basis of the review referred in clause (iii) above and
      procedures consisting of a reading of the latest available unaudited
      interim consolidated financial 

                                       26
<PAGE>
      statements of the Company, a reading of the minutes of meetings and
      consents of the stockholders and board of directors of the Company and the
      committees of such board subsequent to December 31, 1996, inquiries of
      officers and other employees of the Company who have responsibility for
      financial and accounting matters of the Company with respect to
      transactions and events subsequent to December 31, 1996 and other
      specified procedures and inquiries to a date not more than three days
      prior to the date of such letter, nothing has come to their attention that
      would cause them to believe that: (A) the unaudited financial statements
      and schedules of the Company presented in the Registration Statement and
      the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the
      applicable accounting requirements of the Act and, if applicable, the
      Exchange Act and the applicable published rules and regulations of the
      Commission thereunder or that such unaudited consolidated financial
      statements are not fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted
      accounting principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with
      that of the audited consolidated financial statements included in the
      Registration Statement and the Prospectus; (B) with respect to the period
      subsequent to December 31, 1996 there were, as of the date of the most
      recent available monthly consolidated financial statements of the Company
      and as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the date of
      such letter, any changes in the capital stock or long-term indebtedness of
      the Company or any decrease in the net current assets or stockholders'
      equity of the Company, in each case as compared with the amounts shown in
      the most recent balance sheet presented in the Registration Statement and
      the Prospectus, except for changes or decreases which the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus disclose have occurred or may occur or which
      are set forth in such letter; (C) that during the period from December 31,
      1996 to the date of the most recent available monthly consolidated
      financial statements of the Company and to a specified date not more than
      five days prior to the date of such letter, there was any decrease, as
      compared with the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year, in the
      Company's total revenues, or total or per share net income, except for
      decreases which the Registration Statement and the Prospectus disclose
      have occurred or may occur or which are set forth in such letter; or (D)
      that for the most recently completed fiscal month for which monthly
      consolidated financial statements of the Company are available, there was
      any decrease, as compared with the immediately preceding fiscal month, in
      the Company's monthly total revenues, or total monthly or monthly per
      share net income, except for decreases which the Registration Statement
      and the Prospectus disclose have occurred or may occur or which are set
      forth in such letter; and

            (v) stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers
      of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, and other financial
      information pertaining to the Company and the PA Affiliates set forth in
      the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, which have been specified
      by you prior to the date of this Agreement, to the extent that such
      amounts, numbers, percentages and information may be derived from the
      general accounting and financial records of the Company and the PA
      Affiliates or from schedules furnished by the Company, and excluding any
      questions requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results

                                       27
<PAGE>
      obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries, and other
      appropriate procedures (including procedures with respect to the unaudited
      pro forma service fees presented in the Registration Statement and the
      Prospectus) specified by you set forth in such letter, and found them to
      be in agreement.

      (i) Prior to the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, if any, the
Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished to you such further
information, certificates and documents as you may reasonably request.

      (j) You shall have received from each person who is a director or officer
of the Company, an agreement to the effect that such person will not, directly
or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Bear Stearns, offer, sell,
offer or agree to sell, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose (or
announce any offer, sale, grant of an option to purchase or other disposition)
of any shares of Common Stock (or any securities convertible into, exercisable
for or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock) for a period of
90 days after the date of the Prospectus.

      (k) At the Closing Date, the Shares shall have been approved for listing,
subject to notice of issuance, as applicable, on the AMEX.

      If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been
fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, or if any of the certificates,
opinions, written statements or letters furnished to you or to Underwriters'
Counsel pursuant to this Section 6 shall not be in all material respects
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to you and to Underwriters'
Counsel, all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled by you
at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date and the obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase the Additional Shares may be canceled by you at, or at
any time prior to, the Additional Closing Date. Notice of such cancellation
shall be given to the Company and the Selling Stockholders in writing, or by
telephone, telex or telegraph, confirmed in writing.

      7.    INDEMNIFICATION.

      (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, against any and all losses,
liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including but
not limited to attorneys' fees and any and all expenses whatsoever incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement
of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may
become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the registration
of the Shares, as originally filed or any amendment thereof, or any related
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or
amendment thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or 

                                       28
<PAGE>
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent but only to
the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of
or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any
Underwriter through you expressly for use therein; and PROVIDED FURTHER, that
the foregoing indemnity with respect to the preliminary prospectus shall not
inure to the benefit of any Underwriter or any person who controls such
Underwriter on account of any claim arising from the sale of the Shares by such
Underwriter to any person if a copy of the Prospectus shall not have been given
by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person at or prior to the final
written confirmation of the sale of such Shares to such person and the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of a
material fact contained in such preliminary prospectus was corrected in the
Prospectus. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which
the Company may otherwise have including under this Agreement.

      (b) The Selling Stockholders, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the
Exchange Act, against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and
expenses whatsoever as incurred (including but not limited to attorneys' fees
and any and all expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or
defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or
litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject
under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the registration of
the Shares, as originally filed or any amendment thereof, or any related
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or
amendment thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of any Selling Stockholder expressly for use therein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the foregoing indemnity with respect to the preliminary prospectus shall
not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter or any person who controls such
Underwriter on account of any claim arising from the sale of the Shares by such
Underwriter to any person if a copy of the Prospectus shall not have been given
by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person at or prior to the final
written confirmation of the sale of such Shares to such person and the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of a
material fact contained in such preliminary prospectus was corrected in the
Prospectus; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that each Selling Stockholder shall not be
liable under this Section 7 for any amounts in excess of the product of the
purchase price per share set forth in Section 2 hereof and the number of Shares
being sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder. This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which the Selling Stockholders may otherwise
have including under this Agreement.

      (c) Each Underwriter severally, and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, each of the directors of the Company, each Selling
Stockholder, each of the officers of the Company who shall have signed the
Registration Statement, and each other person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange
Act, against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as
incurred (including but not limited to attorneys' fees and any and all expenses
whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all
amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), jointly or several, to
which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement for the registration of the Shares, as originally filed or any
amendment thereof, or any related preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or
in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through you
expressly for use therein; provided, HOWEVER, that in no case shall any
Underwriter be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the
underwriting discount applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter
hereunder. This indemnity will be in addition to any liability which any
Underwriter may otherwise have including under this Agreement. The Company and
the Selling Stockholders acknowledge that the statements set forth in the last
paragraph of the front cover page of the Prospectus, in the paragraph on page 2
of the Prospectus and in the first, third and eighth paragraphs under the
caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus constitute the only information
furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Underwriter expressly for use in the
Registration Statement relating to the Shares as originally filed or in any
amendment thereof, any related preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or in
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, as the case may be.

      (d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a),
(b) or (c) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under such subsection, notify each party against whom
indemnification is to be sought in writing of the commencement thereof (but the
failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have under this Section 7 unless such party has been
materially prejudiced thereby). In case any such action is brought against any
indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to 

                                       29
<PAGE>
participate therein, and to the extent it may elect by written notice delivered
to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such
indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its or their own
counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at
the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i) the employment of
such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by one of the indemnifying
parties in connection with the defense of such action, (ii) the indemnifying
parties shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such
action within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or
(iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or
additional to those available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in
which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the right to direct the
defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of
which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the indemnifying parties.
It is understood, however, that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in
connection with any one such suit or proceeding or separate but substantially
similar or related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out
of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable
fees and expenses of (A) more than one separate firm of attorneys, plus one
additional firm of attorneys serving as local counsel, at any time for the
Underwriters and all controlling persons of Underwriters, which firm or firms
shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, (B) more than one
separate firm of attorneys, plus one additional firm of attorneys serving as
local counsel, at any time for the Selling Stockholders, which firm or firms
shall be designated in writing by the Attorneys-In-Fact and (C) more than one
separate firm of attorneys, plus one additional firm of attorneys serving as
local counsel, at any time for the Company and all controlling persons of the
Company, which firm or firms shall be designated in writing by the Company,
unless, in any such case, the indemnifying party or parties shall have
specifically approved the retaining of more than one counsel. Anything in this
subsection to the contrary notwithstanding, an indemnifying party shall not be
liable for any settlement of any claim or action effected without its written
consent; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

      8. CONTRIBUTION. In order to provide for contribution in circumstances in
which the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason
held to be unavailable from any indemnifying party or is insufficient to hold
harmless a party indemnified thereunder, the Company, the Selling Stockholders
and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnification
provision (including any investigation, legal and other expenses incurred in
connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or
proceeding or any claims asserted, but after deducting in the case of losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and expenses suffered by the Company and any
Selling Stockholder any contribution received by the Company or such Selling
Stockholder from persons, other than the Underwriters, who may also be liable
for contribution, including persons who control the Company within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, officers of the
Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company) as
incurred 

                                       30
<PAGE>
to which the Company, one or more of the Selling Stockholders, and one or more
of the Underwriters may be subject, in such proportions as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling
Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the
offering of the Shares or, if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law
or indemnification is not available as a result of the indemnifying party not
having received notice as provided in Section 7 hereof, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to above but also
the relative fault of the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters
in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the
Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as (x) the total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting
discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the
Company, (y) the total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts
and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Selling
Stockholders, and (z) the underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters, respectively, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover
page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company and the Selling
Stockholders and of the Underwriters shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company, the Selling Stockholders or the
Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company,
the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this Section 8, (i) in no case shall any Underwriter be liable or responsible
for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the Shares
purchased by such Underwriter hereunder, and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8 and the
preceding sentence, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten
by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the
amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay
by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Selling
Stockholder shall be liable under this Section 8 for any amounts in excess of
the product of the purchase price per share set forth in Section 2 hereof and
the number of Shares being sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder. For
purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act
shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, each person, if
any, who controls a Selling Stockholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as such Selling Stockholder, and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act 

                                       31
<PAGE>
or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have
signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to clauses
(i) and (ii) of this Section 8. Any party entitled to contribution will,
promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or
proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may
be made against another party or parties, notify each party or parties from whom
contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or parties
shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from
any obligation it or they may have under this Section 8 or otherwise, unless
such party or parties has been materially prejudiced thereby. No party shall be
liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its
consent; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

      9. DEFAULT BY AN UNDERWRITER.

      (a) If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their
obligation to purchase Firm Shares or Additional Shares hereunder, and if the
Firm Shares or Additional Shares with respect to which such default relates do
not (after giving effect to arrangements, if any, made by you pursuant to
subsection (b) below) exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Shares
or Additional Shares, the Firm Shares or the Additional Shares to which the
default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in
proportion to the respective proportions which the numbers of Firm Shares set
forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I hereto bear to the aggregate
number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of the non-defaulting
Underwriters.

      (b) In the event that such default relates to more than 10% of the Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, you may in your discretion
arrange for yourself or for another party or parties (including any
non-defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters who so agree) to purchase such Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, to which such default relates
on the terms contained herein. In the event that within five calendar days after
such a default you do not arrange for the purchase of the Firm Shares or
Additional Shares, as the case may be, to which such default relates as provided
in this Section 9, this Agreement or, in the case of a default with respect to
the Additional Shares, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of
the Company to sell the Additional Shares shall thereupon terminate, without
liability on the part of the Company or the Selling Stockholders with respect
thereto (except in each case as provided in Sections 5, 7(a) and 8 hereof) or
the Underwriters, but nothing in this Agreement shall relieve a defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters of its or their liability, if any, to the other
Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholders for damages occasioned by
its or their default hereunder.

      (c) In the event that the Firm Shares or Additional Shares to which the
default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are
to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, you or the Company
shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as
the case may be for a period, not exceeding five business days, in order to
effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the 

                                       32
<PAGE>
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents and
arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which, in the opinion
of Underwriters' Counsel, may thereby be made necessary or advisable. The term
"Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted
under this Section 9 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to
this Agreement with respect to such Firm Shares and Additional Shares.

      10. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS. All representations and
warranties, covenants and agreements of the Underwriters, the Selling
Stockholders and the Company contained in this Agreement, including the
agreements contained in Section 5, the indemnity agreements contained in Section
7 and the contribution agreements contained in Section 8, shall remain operative
and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person thereof or by or on behalf
of the Company, any of its officers and directors or any controlling person
thereof or any Selling Stockholders, and shall survive delivery of and payment
for the Shares to and by the Underwriters. The representations contained in
Section 1 and the agreements contained in Sections 5, 7, 8 and 11(d) hereof
shall survive the termination of this Agreement, including termination pursuant
to Section 9 or 11 hereof.

      11.   EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT; TERMINATION.

      (a) This Agreement shall become effective upon the later of when (i) you
and the Company shall have received notification of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or (ii) the execution of this Agreement. If the purchase
price per Share has not been agreed upon prior to 5:00 P.M., New York time, on
the seventh full business day after the Registration Statement shall have become
effective, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate without liability to the
Company, the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters except as herein expressly
provided. Until this Agreement becomes effective as aforesaid, it may be
terminated by the Company by notifying you and the Selling Stockholders or by
you by notifying the Company and the Selling Stockholders.

      (b) You shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior
to the Closing Date or the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the
Additional Shares at any time prior to the Additional Closing Date, as the case
may be, if (A) trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended or
materially limited on the AMEX, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been
fixed or maximum ranges for prices shall have been required on the AMEX, the
listing of the Common Stock on the AMEX shall have been terminated, or the
Company shall have been notified that such suspension or termination is being
contemplated; or (B) any domestic or international event or act or occurrence
has materially disrupted, or in Bear Stearns' opinion will in the immediate
future materially disrupt, the market for the Company's securities or securities
in general; or (C) if trading on the New York or American Stock Exchanges shall
have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been
fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required, on
the New York or American Stock Exchange by the New York or American Stock
Exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental 

                                       33
<PAGE>
authority having jurisdiction; or (D) if a banking moratorium has been declared
by a state or federal authority or if any new restriction materially adversely
affecting the distribution of the Firm Shares or the Additional Shares, as the
case may be, shall have become effective; or (E) if (i) the United States
becomes engaged in hostilities or there is an escalation of hostilities
involving the United States or there is a declaration of a national emergency or
war by the United States or (ii) there shall have been such change in political,
financial or economic conditions, and the effect of any such event in (i) or
(ii) in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
offering, sale and delivery of the Firm Shares or the Additional Shares, as the
case may be, on the terms contemplated by the Prospectus.

      (c) Any notice of termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be by
telephone, telex or telegraph, confirmed in writing by letter.

      (d) If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to any of the
provisions hereof (otherwise than pursuant to (i) notification by you as
provided in Section 11(a) hereof or (ii) Section 9(b) hereof), or if the sale of
the Shares provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the
obligations of the Underwriters set forth herein is not satisfied or because of
any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or any Selling
Stockholder to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof,
the Company and any defaulting Selling Stockholder, jointly and severally, will,
subject to demand by you, reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket
expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel), incurred by the
Underwriters in connection herewith.

      12. NOTICES. All communications hereunder, except as may be otherwise
specifically provided herein, shall be in writing and, if sent to any
Underwriter, shall be mailed, delivered, or telexed or telegraphed and confirmed
in writing, to such Underwriter c/o Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., 245 Park Avenue,
New York, New York 10167, Attention: Syndicate Department; if sent to the
Company, shall be mailed, delivered, or telegraphed and confirmed in writing, to
the Company, 2777 Allen Parkway, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77019, Attention:
Michael W. Harlan; if sent to the Selling Stockholders, shall be mailed,
delivered or telegraphed and confirmed in writing, to the Attorneys-In-Fact,
2777 Allen Parkway, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77019.

      13. PARTIES. This Agreement shall insure solely to the benefit of, and
shall be binding upon, the Underwriters, the Company and the Selling
Stockholders and the controlling persons, directors, officers, employees and
agents referred to in Sections 7 and 8, and their respective successors and
assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this
Agreement or any provision herein contained. The term "successors and assigns"
shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of Shares from any of
the Underwriters.

      14. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

                                       34
<PAGE>
      If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among you, the
Company and the Selling Stockholders, please so indicate in the space provided
below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding
agreement among us.

                                Very truly yours,

                              APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC.



                              By:________________________________
                              John G. Vondrak, D.D.S.
                              Chief Executive Officer



                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS




                              By:__________________________________________
                                                  ,Attorney-in-Fact for the
                              Selling  Stockholders  named in  Schedule  II
                              hereto



Accepted as of the date first above written.

BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
COWEN & COMPANY
EQUITABLE SECURITIES CORPORATION

By:   BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.



By:_________________________________
Robert A. Yedid
Managing Director

On behalf of themselves and the other
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE I

                                                       NUMBER OF FIRM
NAME OF UNDERWRITER                                 SHARES TO BE PURCHASED

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
Cowen & Company
Equitable Securities Corporation

             Total.................................       2,960,000
                                                          =========
                                      I-1
<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE II

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

                                                     SHARES OF
                                        SHARES OF  CLASS B STOCK
                                         COMMON       TO BE        TOTAL
           NAME OF                     STOCK TO BE   CONVERTED    SHARES TO
     SELLING STOCKHOLDER                   SOLD      AND SOLD      BE SOLD
                                         -------      -------      -------
Julius A. Binetti .................        6,562        5,634       12,196
Paul E. Bonham ....................       14,500         --         14,500
Thomas K Chubb ....................       12,000         --         12,000
Stanley D. Crawford ...............       14,000         --         14,000
Tom C. Davis ......................         --         17,500       17,500
Anthony Deluke ....................       20,000         --         20,000
Robert J. Dennington ..............        7,374         --          7,374
David L. Dennis ...................         --          8,500        8,500
Jess H. Dickinson .................         --         27,469       27,469
Robert S. Fields ..................       20,000         --         20,000
Andrew K. Girardot ................       20,000         --         20,000
W. Patrick McMullen, III ..........         --         10,000       10,000
Mark Mills ........................       17,610         --         17,610
John E. Myers .....................         --         14,872       14,872
Carlos F. Navarro .................        2,500         --          2,500
Michael R. and Jane L .............
Nicolais ..........................         --         10,000       10,000
Gary Pezza ........................        6,562        5,634       12,196
Paul Rigali .......................       16,683         --         16,683
Budd Rubin ........................        5,000         --         5,.000
John Dell Sauter ..................       17,692         --         17,692
Don Schmitz .......................       11,682         --         11,682
Charles L. Schnibben ..............       33,000         --         33,000
Ronald N. Spiegel .................        6,176         --          6,176
Donald Steen ......................         --         22,534       22,534
Thomas A. Tiller ..................       17,000         --         17,000
Calvin Don Tyner ..................         --         30,000       30,000
Jack Utley ........................       12,443         --         12,443
Western Indemnity Insurance .......       16,406       28,167       44,573
                                         -------      -------      -------
     Total ........................      277,190      182,810      460,000
                                         =======      =======      =======

                                      II-1
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE III

                                  PA AFFILIATES

[Sommer]

[The Orthodontic Place]

[Woodside]

[Hart]

[Lindsey]

Alfredo de Alba D.D.S.
1415 Ridgeback Road, Suite 3
Chula Vista, CA  91910
Affiliation Date:  July 22, 1997

Mark Antosz D.D.S.
4935 - 40 Avenue N.W., Suite 406
Calgary, Alberta T3A2N1
Affiliation Date:  July 27, 1997

Terry D. Carlyle, D.D.S.
1525 Weber Centre
5555 Calgary Trail
Edmonton, Alberta T6H5P9
Affiliation Date:  July 27, 1997

John D. Doucet, D.D.S., Dip. Ortho
5400 Portage Road, Suite 202
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G5X7
Affiliation Date:  July 27, 1997

William Finnegan, B.SC., D.D.S., O.D.
1270 Princess Royal Avenue
Nanaimo, BC V9S3Z7
Affiliation Date:  July 27, 1997

David C. Hobson, D.D.S., M.S.
1617 St. Mark Plaza, Suite F
Stockton, CA  95207
Affiliation Date:  August 15, 1997

Charles C. Smith, D.D.S.
310 Hudson Avenue, Suite 205
Salmon Arms, BC V1E4N3
Affiliation Date:  July 27, 1997

Gary F. Stauffer, D.D.S.
529 - 5 Street S.
Lethbridge, Alberta T1J2B9
Affiliation Date:  July 27, 1997

                            [TO BE VERIFIED/UPDATED]

                                     III-1
<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE IV

                                  LOCAL COUNSEL

- - Georgia

                             [NAMES TO BE PROVIDED]

                                      IV-1
<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE V

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
                            ASSOCIATED WITH THE NASD


Tom C. Davis
David L. Dennis
W. Patrick McMullen III
Michael R. Nicolais

                                      V-1

                                                                     Exhibit 5.1
                             BAKER & BOTTS
    AUSTIN                        
    DALLAS                       L.L.P.
    MOSCOW                  ONE SHELL PLAZA                                 
   NEW YORK                  910 LOUISIANA            TELEPHONE: (713) 229-1232
WASHINGTON, D.C.       HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-4995      FACSIMILE: (713) 229-1522


064163.0103                                                  November 18, 1997


Apple Orthodontix, Inc.
2777 Allen Parkway, Suite 700
Houston, Texas 77019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            As set forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration
No. 333-38817 (the "Registration Statement"), filed by Apple Orthodontix, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the
Company's Class A common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"),
certain legal matters in connection with the Common Stock are being passed upon
for the Company by us. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you
for filing as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.

            We understand that the shares of Common Stock to be offered for sale
pursuant to the Registration Statement (the "Shares") and any additional shares
that may be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to the underwriters'
over-allotment option as described in the Registration Statement (the
"Additional Shares") are to be sold pursuant to the terms of an Underwriting
Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") in substantially the form to be filed
as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration Statement.

            In our capacity as your counsel in the connection referred to above,
we have examined the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the
Company, each as amended to date, the originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified, of corporate records of the Company, including minute
books of the Company as furnished to us by the Company, certificates of public
officials and of representatives of the Company, statutes and other instruments
and documents as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In giving such
opinions, we have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company with
respect to the accuracy of certain factual matters contained in such
certificates.
<PAGE>
BAKER & BOTTS
    L.L.P.
Apple Orthodontix, Inc.               -2-                      November 18, 1997


            On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions,
limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

            1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly
      existing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

            2. When offered as described in the Registration Statement, and upon
      (a) the taking of action by a duly authorized officer of the Company to
      approve the Underwriting Agreement and (b) the sale of the Shares and any
      Additional Shares in accordance with the terms and provisions of the
      Underwriting Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the
      Shares and any Additional Shares will be duly authorized by all necessary
      corporate action on the part of the Company, validly issued, fully paid
      and nonassessable.

            3. The Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders identified in
      the Registration Statement are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
      and nonassessable.

            The opinions set forth above are limited in all respects to the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as in effect on the date
hereof.

            We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to
the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under "Legal Matters" in
the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement.

                                Very truly yours,
                                
                                /s/ BAKER & BOTTS, L.L.P.
                                    Baker & Botts, L.L.P.    

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                            APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC.

                          1997 STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN

                 AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 1997
<PAGE>
              APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC. 1997 STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN
                 AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 1997

                                   ARTICLE I
                                    THE PLAN

     1.1  NAME  This Plan shall be known as the "Apple Orthodontix, Inc. 1997
Stock Compensation Plan." Capitalized terms used herein are defined in ARTICLE
VII hereof.

     1.2  PURPOSE.  The purpose of the Plan is to promote the growth and general
prosperity of the Company by permitting the Company to grant to Employees,
Nonemployee Directors, Advisors, and Orthodontists Common Stock of the Company
and Options to purchase Common Stock of the Company. The Plan is designed to
help the Company and its Subsidiaries attract and retain superior personnel for
positions of substantial responsibility and to provide Employees, Nonemployee
Directors, Advisors, and Orthodontists with an additional incentive to
contribute to the success of the Company. The Company intends that Incentive
Stock Options granted pursuant to ARTICLE III shall qualify as "incentive stock
options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

     1.3  EFFECTIVE DATE.  The Plan shall become effective upon the Effective
Date.

     1.4  ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE.  Any Employee, Nonemployee Director,
Advisor, or Orthodontist shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. Subject
to the following provisions, including without limitation SECTION 4.5, the
Committee may grant Options or Restricted Stock in accordance with such
determinations as the Committee from time to time in its sole discretion shall
make; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to
persons who are Employees.

     1.5  SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.  The shares of Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Plan shall be either authorized and unissued shares of Common
Stock or shares of Common Stock issued and thereafter acquired by the Company.

     1.6  MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PLAN SHARES.  Subject to adjustment pursuant to the
provisions of SECTION 6.2, and subject to any additional restrictions elsewhere
in the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be
issued and sold hereunder shall not exceed the greater of (a) 1,000,000 shares
or (b) 12 percent of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding
on the last day of each calendar quarter. No more than 500,000 shares of Common
Stock shall be available for Incentive Stock Options. Subject to adjustment
pursuant to the provisions of SECTION 6.2, and subject to any additional
restrictions elsewhere in the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which Options may be granted to any Optionee during
the term of the Plan shall not exceed 500,000 shares.

     1.7  OPTIONS AND STOCK GRANTED UNDER PLAN.  Plan Shares with respect to
which an Option shall have been exercised or a Restricted Stock Award shall have
vested shall not again be available for grant hereunder. If Options terminate
for any reason without being wholly exercised or Restricted Stock is forfeited,
new Options or Restricted Stock may be granted hereunder covering the number of
Plan Shares to which such Option termination or forfeiture relates.

     1.8  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.  The Company shall not issue any certificate for
Plan Shares pursuant to the Plan prior to fulfillment of all of the following
conditions:

          (a) The admission of the Plan Shares to listing on all stock exchanges
     on which the Common Stock is then listed, unless the Committee determines
     in its sole discretion that such listing is neither necessary nor
     advisable;

          (b) The completion of any registration or other qualification of the
     offer or sale of the Plan Shares under any federal or state law or under
     the rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
     other governmental regulatory body that the Committee shall in its sole
     discretion deem necessary or advisable; and

                                       1
<PAGE>
          (c) The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any federal
     or state governmental agency that the Committee shall in its sole
     discretion determine to be necessary or advisable.

     1.9  RESERVATION OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.  During the term of the Plan,
the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available such number of shares
of Common Stock as shall be necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Plan as
to the number of Plan Shares. In addition, the Company shall from time to time,
as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Plan, seek or obtain from any
regulatory agency having jurisdiction any requisite authority that is necessary
to issue Plan Shares hereunder. The inability of the Company to obtain from any
regulatory agency having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Company's
counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance of any Plan Shares shall relieve
the Company of any liability in respect of the nonissuance of Plan Shares as to
which the requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

     1.10  TAX WITHHOLDING.

          (a)  CONDITION PRECEDENT.  The issuance of Plan Shares is subject to
     the condition that if at any time the Committee shall determine, in its
     discretion, that the satisfaction of withholding tax or other withholding
     liabilities under any federal, state or local law is necessary or desirable
     as a condition of, or in connection with, such issuances, then the
     issuances shall not be effective unless the withholding shall have been
     effected or obtained in a manner acceptable to the Committee.

          (b)  MANNER OF SATISFYING WITHHOLDING OBLIGATION.  When a Participant
     is required by the Committee to pay to the Company an amount required to be
     withheld under applicable income tax laws in connection with the exercise
     of an Option or the receipt or vesting of Restricted Stock, such payment
     may be made (i) in cash, (ii) by check, (iii) if permitted by the
     Committee, by delivery to the Company of shares of Common Stock already
     owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value on the Tax Date equal
     to the amount required to be withheld, (iv) through the withholding by the
     Company ("Company Withholding") of a portion of the Plan Shares acquired
     upon the exercise of the Options (if applicable) having a Fair Market Value
     on the Tax Date equal to the amount required to be withheld or (v) in any
     other form of valid consideration, as permitted by the Committee in its
     discretion.

          (c)  NOTICE OF DISPOSITION OF STOCK ACQUIRED PURSUANT TO INCENTIVE
     STOCK OPTIONS.  The Company may require as a condition to the issuance of
     Plan Shares covered by any Incentive Stock Option that the party exercising
     such Option give a written representation to the Company, which is
     satisfactory in form and substance to its counsel and upon which the
     Company may reasonably rely, that he shall report to the Company any
     disposition of such shares prior to the expiration of the holding periods
     specified by Section 422(a)(1) of the Code. If and to the extent that the
     realization of income in such a disposition imposes upon the Company
     federal, state or local withholding tax requirements, or any such
     withholding is required to secure for the Company an otherwise available
     tax deduction, the Company shall have the right to require that the
     recipient remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy those
     requirements; and the Company may require as a condition to the issuance of
     Plan Shares covered by an Incentive Stock Option that the party exercising
     such Option give a satisfactory written representation promising to make
     such a remittance.

1.11  EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.

          (a)  METHOD OF EXERCISE.  Each Option shall be exercisable in
     accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement pursuant to which the
     Option was granted. No Option may be exercised for a fraction of a Plan
     Share.

          (b)  PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE.  The purchase price of any Plan Shares
     purchased shall be paid at the time of exercise of the Option either (i) in
     cash, (ii) by certified or cashier's check, (iii) if permitted by the
     Committee, by shares of Common Stock, (iv) if permitted by the Committee,
     by cash or certified or cashier's check for the par value of the Plan
     Shares plus a promissory note for the balance of the purchase price, which
     note shall provide for full personal liability of the maker and shall
     contain such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine, including
     without limitation the

                                       2
<PAGE>
     right to repay the note partially or wholly with Common Stock, (v) by
     delivery of a copy of irrevocable instructions from the Optionee to a
     broker or dealer, reasonably acceptable to the Company, to sell certain of
     the Plan Shares purchased upon exercise of the Option or to pledge them as
     collateral for a loan and promptly deliver to the Company the amount of
     sale or loan proceeds necessary to pay such purchase price or (vi) in any
     other form of valid consideration, as permitted by the Committee in its
     discretion. If any portion of the purchase price or a note given at the
     time of exercise is paid in shares of Common Stock, those shares shall be
     valued at the then Fair Market Value.

     1.12  ACCELERATION IN CERTAIN EVENTS.  The Committee may accelerate the
exercisability of any Option in whole or in part at any time. Notwithstanding
the provisions of any Option Agreement, the following provisions shall apply:

          (a)  MERGERS, CONSOLIDATION, ETC.  In the event that the Company
     shall, pursuant to action by the Board, at any time enter into an agreement
     whereby the Company will merge into, consolidate with, or sell or otherwise
     transfer all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation and
     provision is not made pursuant to the terms of such transaction for the
     assumption by the surviving, resulting, or acquiring corporation of
     outstanding Options, or for the substitution of new Options with
     substantially equivalent benefit therefor, each outstanding Option shall
     become fully (100%) vested. The Committee shall advise each Optionee, in
     writing, of the manner and terms under which such fully vested Options
     shall be exercised.

          (b)  CHANGE IN CONTROL.  Anything contained herein to the contrary
     notwithstanding, (1) an Optionee shall become fully (100%) vested in each
     of his or her Options upon the occurrence of a change in control (as
     defined below) or a threatened change in control (as determined by the
     Committee in its sole discretion); and (2) no Option held by an Optionee at
     the time a change in control or threatened change in control occurs or at
     any time thereafter shall terminate for any reason before the end of the
     Option's express term. For purposes of this section, "change in control"
     means one or more of the following events:

             (i)  Any person within the meaning of Section 13(d) and 14(d) of
        the Exchange Act, other than the Company (including its subsidiaries and
        affiliates), has become the beneficial owner, within the meaning of Rule
        13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of 33% or more of the combined voting
        power of the Company's then outstanding Common Stock or equivalent in
        voting power of any class or classes of the Company's outstanding
        securities ordinarily entitled to vote in elections of directors
        ("voting securities"); or

             (ii)  Shares representing 33% or more of the combined voting power
        of the Company's voting securities are purchased pursuant to a tender
        offer or exchange offer (other than an offer by the Company or its
        subsidiaries or affiliates); or

             (iii)  As a result of, or in connection with, any tender offer or
        exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or
        contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions (a
        "Transaction"), the persons who were Directors of the Company before
        the Transaction shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board of the
        Company or of any successor to the Company; or

             (iv)  Following the Effective Date, the Company is merged or
        consolidated with another corporation and as a result of such merger or
        consolidation less than 40% of the outstanding voting securities of the
        surviving or resulting corporation shall then be owned in the aggregate
        by the former shareholders of the Company, other than (A) any party to
        such merger or consolidation, or (B) any affiliates of any such party;
        or

             (v)  The Company transfers more than 50% of its assets, or the last
        of a series of transfers results in the transfer of more than 50% of the
        assets of the Company, to another entity that is not wholly-owned by the
        Company. For purposes of this subsection (v), the determination of what
        constitutes 50% of the assets of the Company shall be made by the
        Committee, as constituted

                                       3
<PAGE>
        immediately prior to the events that would constitute a change of
        control if 50% of the Company's assets were transferred in connection
        with such events, in its sole discretion.

     1.13  WRITTEN NOTICE REQUIRED.  Any Option shall be deemed to be exercised
for purposes of the Plan when written notice of exercise has been received by
the Company at its principal office from the person entitled to exercise the
Option and payment for the Plan Shares with respect to which the Option is
exercised has been received by the Company in accordance with SECTION 1.11.

     1.14  COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS.  Plan Shares shall not be issued
with respect to any Option or any Restricted Stock Award unless the issuance and
delivery of the Plan Shares (and the exercise of an Option, if applicable) shall
comply with all relevant provisions of state and federal law (including without
limitation (i) the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and (ii) the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Plan
Shares may then be listed) and shall be further subject to the approval of
counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. The Committee may also
require a Participant to furnish evidence satisfactory to the Company, including
without limitation a written and signed representation letter and consent to be
bound by any transfer restrictions imposed by law, legend, condition, or
otherwise, that the Plan Shares are being acquired only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute the shares in violation of
any state or federal law, rule, or regulation. Further, each Participant shall
consent to the imposition of a legend on the certificate representing the Plan
Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option or a Restricted Stock Award
restricting their transfer as required by law or this section.

     1.15  EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE OF OPTIONEE.  Nothing in the Plan or in any
Award granted hereunder shall confer upon any Employee any right to continued
employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or limit in any way the
right of the Company or any Subsidiary at any time to terminate or alter the
terms of that employment. Nothing in the Plan or in any Award granted hereunder
shall confer upon any Nonemployee Director or Advisor any right to continued
service as a Nonemployee Director or Advisor of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary at
any time to terminate or alter the terms of that service.

     1.16  RIGHTS OF OPTIONEES UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE.  In
the event an Optionee ceases to be an Employee, Nonemployee Director, Advisor,
or Orthodontist for any reason other than death, Retirement, Permanent
Disability, for Cause or upon providing certain required notice of termination
prior to an annual anniversary of an Employee's employment agreement with the
Company, (i) the Committee shall have the ability to accelerate the vesting of
the Optionee's Option, in its sole discretion, and (ii) such Optionee's Option
shall be exercisable (to the extent exercisable on the date of termination of
employment or rendition of services, or, if the vesting of such Option has been
accelerated, to the extent exercisable following such acceleration) at any time
within three months after the date of termination of employment or rendition of
services, unless by its terms the Option expires earlier or unless, with respect
to a Nonqualified Stock Option, the Committee agrees, in its sole discretion, to
further extend the term of such Nonqualified Stock Option. In the event an
Optionee ceases to serve as an Employee, Nonemployee Director, Advisor, or
Orthodontist due to death, Permanent Disability, Retirement, for Cause or upon
providing certain required notice of termination prior to an annual anniversary
of an Employee's employment agreement with the Company, an Optionee's Options
may be exercised as follows:

          (a)  DEATH.  Except as otherwise limited by the Committee at the of
     the grant of an Option, if an Optionee dies while serving as an Employee,
     Nonemployee Director, Advisor, or Orthodontist or within three months after
     ceasing to be an Employee, Nonemployee Director, Advisor, or Orthodontist
     his Option shall become fully exercisable on the date of his death and
     shall expire 12 months thereafter, unless by its terms it expires sooner or
     unless, with respect to a Nonqualified Stock Option, the Committee agrees,
     in its sole discretion, to further extend the term of such Nonqualified
     Stock Option. During such period, the Option may be fully exercised, to the
     extent that it remains unexercised on the date of death, by the Optionee's
     personal representative or by the distributees to whom the Optionee's
     rights under the Option shall pass by will or by the laws of descent and
     distribution.

                                       4
<PAGE>
          (b)  RETIREMENT.  If an Optionee ceases to serve as an Employee or
     Nonemployee Director as a result of Retirement, (i) the Committee shall
     have the ability to accelerate the vesting of the Optionee's Option, in its
     sole discretion, and (ii) such Optionee's Option shall be exercisable (to
     the extent exercisable on the effective date of such Retirement or, if the
     vesting of such Option has been accelerated, to the extent exercisable
     following such acceleration) at any time within three months after the
     effective date of such Retirement, unless by its terms the Option expires
     earlier or unless, with respect to a Nonqualified Stock Option (other than
     an Option granted pursuant to SECTION 4.5), the Committee agrees, in its
     sole discretion, to further extend the term of such Nonqualified Stock
     Option.

          (c)  DISABILITY.  If an Optionee ceases to serve as an Employee,
     Nonemployee Director, Advisor, or Orthodontist as a result of Permanent
     Disability, the Optionee's Option shall become fully exercisable and shall
     expire 12 months thereafter, unless by its terms it expires sooner or,
     unless, with respect to a Nonqualified Stock Option (other than an Option
     granted pursuant to SECTION 4.5), the Committee agrees, in its sole
     discretion, to extend the term of such Nonqualified Stock Option.

          (d)  CAUSE.  If an Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company or a
     Subsidiary or ceases to serve as a Nonemployee Director, Advisor, or
     Orthodontist because the Optionee's relationship with the Company or a
     Subsidiary is terminated for Cause, the Optionee's Options shall
     automatically expire on the date of such termination. If any facts that
     would constitute Cause for termination or removal of an Optionee are
     discovered after the Optionee's relationship with the Company has ended,
     any Options then held by the Optionee may be immediately terminated by the
     Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Optionee is an Employee
     employed pursuant to a written employment agreement with the Company or a
     Subsidiary, the Optionee's relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary
     shall be deemed terminated for Cause for purposes of the Plan only if the
     Optionee is considered under the circumstances to have been terminated
     "for cause" for purposes of such written agreement or the Optionee
     voluntarily ceases to be an Employee in breach of such Optionee's
     employment agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary.

          (e)  NOTICE.  If an Optionee's employment agreement with the Company
     or a Subsidiary is terminated by either the Company, a Subsidiary, or the
     Optionee by providing certain required notices of termination prior to an
     annual anniversary of such Optionee's employment agreement, the Options
     that are vested as of the date of termination shall remain exercisable for
     a period of twelve months (three months if Incentive Stock Options) after
     the date of termination and shall expire at the end of such twelve-month
     period (three-month period if Incentive Stock Options).

     1.17  TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.  Except as may be agreed upon by the
Committee in accordance with the following paragraph, Options shall not be
transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, with
respect to Nonqualified Stock Options, pursuant to the terms of a qualified
domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of ERISA, or the
rules thereunder, and, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, may be exercised
during the lifetime of an Optionee only by that Optionee or by his legally
authorized representative. The designation by an Optionee of a beneficiary shall
not constitute a transfer of the Option. The Committee may, in its discretion,
provide in an Option Agreement that Nonqualified Stock Options granted hereunder
may be transferred by the Optionee to members of his immediate family, trusts
for the benefit of such immediate family members and partnerships in which such
immediate family members are the only partners.

     1.18  INFORMATION TO PARTICIPANTS.  The Company shall furnish to each
Participant a copy of the annual report, proxy statements and all other reports
sent to the Company's shareholders. Upon written request, the Company shall
furnish to each Participant a copy of its most recent Form 10-K Annual Report
and each quarterly report to shareholders issued since the end of the Company's
most recent fiscal year.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                 ADMINISTRATION

     2.1  COMMITTEE.  Subject to SECTION 2.2, the Plan shall be administered by
a Committee of not fewer than two members of the Board. Each member of the
Committee shall be a "Non-Employee Director"

                                       5
<PAGE>
within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Moreover, in the event
any Awards granted hereunder are intended to qualify as performance-based
compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, all members of the Committee
shall be "outside directors" within the meaning Section 162(m) of the Code and
the regulations thereunder. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee
shall have the sole discretion and authority to determine from time to time the
Employees, Non-Employee Directors, Advisors, and Orthodontists to whom Awards
shall be granted and the number of Plan Shares subject to each Award, to
interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind any rules and regulations
necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan, to determine and
interpret the details and provisions of each Award Agreement, to modify or amend
any Award Agreement or waive any conditions or restrictions applicable to any
Awards (or the exercise thereof), and to make all other determinations necessary
or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

     2.2  APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE.  The Committee shall be appointed by the
Board; provided that the Board may remove any Committee member, with or without
cause.

     2.3  MAJORITY RULE; UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT.  A majority of the members
of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and any action taken by a majority
present at a meeting at which a quorum is present or any action taken without a
meeting evidenced by a writing executed by all members of the Committee shall
constitute the action of the Committee. Meetings of the Committee may take place
by telephone conference call.

     2.4  COMPANY ASSISTANCE.  The Company shall supply full and timely
information to the Committee on all matters relating to Employees, Nonemployee
Directors, Advisors, and Orthodontists, their employment, death, Retirement,
Permanent Disability, or other termination of employment or other relationship
with the Company, and such other pertinent facts as the Committee may require.
The Company shall furnish the Committee with such clerical and other assistance
as is necessary in the performance of its duties.

     2.5  EXCULPATION OF COMMITTEE.  No member of the Committee shall be
personally liable for, and the Company shall indemnify all members of the
Committee and hold them harmless against, any claims resulting directly or
indirectly from any action or inaction by the Committee pursuant to the Plan,
including without limitation any determination by the Committee regarding
whether a "change in control" (within the meaning of SECTION 1.12) is
threatened or any failure by the Committee to consider such a determination.

                                  ARTICLE III
                            INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS

     3.1  TERMS AND CONDITIONS.  The terms and conditions of Options granted
under this Article may differ from one another as the Committee shall, in its
discretion, determine, as long as all Options granted under this Article satisfy
the requirements of this Article.

     3.2  DURATION OF OPTIONS.  Each Option granted pursuant to this Article and
all rights thereunder shall expire on the date determined by the Committee, but
in no event shall any Option granted under this Article expire earlier than one
year or later than 10 years after the date on which the Option is granted. In
addition, each Option shall be subject to early termination as provided
elsewhere in the Plan.

     3.3  PURCHASE PRICE.  The purchase price for Plan Shares acquired pursuant
to the exercise, in whole or in part, of any Option granted under this Article
shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Plan Shares at the time of
the grant of the Option; provided, however, in the event of the grant of any
Option to an individual who, at the time the Option is granted, owns shares of
stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes
of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or affiliate thereof within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Code, the purchase price for the Plan Shares
subject to that Option must be at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of those
Plan Shares at the time the Option is granted and the Option must not be
exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of its grant.

     3.4  MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF OPTIONS FIRST EXERCISABLE IN ANY CALENDAR YEAR.  The
aggregate Fair Market Value of Plan Shares (determined at the time the Option is
granted) with respect to which Options issued under this Article are exercisable
for the first time by any Employee during any calendar year under

                                       6
<PAGE>
all incentive stock option plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
affiliates shall not exceed $100,000. Any portion of an Option granted under the
Plan in excess of the foregoing limit shall be considered granted pursuant to
ARTICLE IV.

     3.5  INDIVIDUAL OPTION AGREEMENTS.  Each Employee receiving Options
pursuant to this Article shall be required to enter into a written Option
Agreement with the Company. In such Option Agreement, the Employee shall agree
to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Options made pursuant
hereto, and such other matters as the Committee deems appropriate.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                           NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS

     4.1  OPTION TERMS AND CONDITIONS.  Subject to Section 4.5, the terms and
conditions of Options granted under this Article may differ from one another as
the Committee shall, in its discretion, determine as long as all Options granted
under this Article satisfy the requirements of this Article.

     4.2  DURATION OF OPTIONS.  Each Option granted pursuant to this Article and
all rights thereunder shall expire on the date determined by the Committee. In
addition, each Option shall be subject to early termination as provided
elsewhere in the Plan.

     4.3  PURCHASE PRICE.  The purchase price for the Plan Shares acquired
pursuant to the exercise, in whole or in part, of any Option granted under this
Article shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Plan Shares at the
time of the grant of the Option.

     4.4  INDIVIDUAL OPTION AGREEMENTS.  Each Optionee receiving Options
pursuant to this Article shall be required to enter into a written Option
Agreement with the Company. In such Option Agreement, the Optionee shall agree
to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Options made pursuant
hereto, and such other matters as the Committee deems appropriate.

     4.5  AUTOMATIC GRANTS TO NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS.  Each Nonemployee Director
shall automatically be granted a Nonqualified Stock Option to purchase 10,000
shares of Common Stock either (i) upon initial election or appointment to the
Board or (ii) if the Nonemployee Director is serving on the Board on the date
the Plan is approved by the Company's stockholders, on the date the Plan is so
approved. Each Nonemployee Director will receive a Nonqualified Stock Option to
purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock on the date of each annual meeting of
stockholders of the Company subsequent to his initial election as a director.
The purchase price for Plan Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise, in whole
or in part, of any Option received by Nonemployee Directors shall be the Fair
Market Value of the Plan Shares on the date of grant of such Option. One half of
each Option shall become exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of
grant of such Option and the remaining one half of each Option shall become
exercisable on the second anniversary of the date of grant. Each Option shall
expire on the day prior to the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of such
Option, unless otherwise specified herein. Nonemployee Directors shall not be
eligible to receive any other benefits or grants under the Plan other than as
provided in this Section.

                                   ARTICLE V
                                RESTRICTED STOCK

     5.1  GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.  The Committee may, in its sole
discretion, grant Restricted Stock Awards in accordance with the terms and
conditions set forth in the Plan. Each Restricted Stock Agreement may contain
such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the
Plan, as are determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

     5.2.  TERMS AND CONDITIONS.  Each Restricted Stock Award confers upon the
recipient thereof the right to receive a specified number of shares of Common
Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of each Participant's
Restricted Stock Agreement. The general terms and conditions of a Restricted
Stock Award will be as follows:

          (a)  Any shares of Common Stock awarded hereunder to a Participant
     will be restricted for a period of time to be determined by the Committee
     for each Participant at the time of the Award, which

                                       7
<PAGE>
     period shall be not more than ten years. The restrictions will prohibit the
     sale, assignment, transfer, pledge or other encumbrance of such shares, and
     will provide for possible reversion thereof to the Company in accordance
     with subparagraph (b) during the period of restriction.

          (b)  All Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan to a Participant will
     be forfeited and returned to the Company in the event the Participant's
     employment or service with the Company or a subsidiary thereof is
     terminated prior to the expiration of the period of restriction, unless the
     Participant's termination of employment or service is due to his death,
     Permanent Disability or Retirement or unless the Committee, in its sole
     discretion, waives the restrictions established in accordance with
     subparagraph (a) with respect to any or all of the shares of Restricted
     Stock.

          (c)  In the event of a Participant's death or Permanent Disability,
     the restrictions established in accordance with subparagraph (a) will lapse
     with respect to all Restricted Stock awarded to the Participant prior to
     any such event, and the shares of Common Stock involved will cease to be
     Restricted Stock and will no longer be subject to forfeiture to the Company
     pursuant to subparagraph (b).

          (d)  In the event of a Participant's Retirement, the restrictions
     established in accordance with subparagraph (a) will continue to apply
     unless the Committee in its sole discretion shortens the restriction
     period.

          (e)  Stock certificates issued with respect to Restricted Stock Awards
     will be registered in the name of the Participant, but will be delivered by
     him to the Company together with a stock power endorsed in blank. Each such
     certificate will bear the following legend:

        "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE,
        RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND CERTAIN OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET
        FORTH IN THE APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC. 1996 STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN AND
        THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY
        THIS CERTIFICATE AND APPLE ORTHODONTIX, INC. ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO
        SUCH PLAN."

     From the time of grant of the Restricted Stock Award, the Participant will
be entitled to exercise all rights (including dividend and voting rights) with
respect to the shares represented by such certificate, subject to forfeiture of
such voting rights and the Common Stock as provided in subparagraph (b).

     (f)  Upon the lapse of a restriction period as determined pursuant to
subparagraph (a), the Company will return the stock certificates representing
the shares with respect to which the restriction has lapsed to the Participant
or his legal representative, and pursuant to the instruction of the Participant
or his legal representative will issue a certificate for such shares that does
not bear the legend set forth in subparagraph (e).

     (g)  Any other securities or assets (other than ordinary cash dividends)
that are received by a Participant with respect to Restricted Stock awarded to
him, which is still subject to restrictions established in accordance with
subparagraph (a), will be subject to the same restrictions and will be delivered
by the Participant to the Company as provided in subparagraph (e).

     5.3.  NOTICE TO COMPANY OF SECTION 83(b) ELECTION.  Any Participant who
exercises an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to have his receipt of
shares of Restricted Stock taxed currently, without regard to restrictions, must
give notice to the Company of such election immediately upon making such
election. Such an election must be made within 30 days after the effective date
of issuance and cannot be revoked except with the consent of the Internal
Revenue Service.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                     TERMINATION, AMENDMENT, AND ADJUSTMENT

     6.1  TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT.  The Plan shall terminate on December 15,
2006. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after that date of termination.
Subject to the limitations contained in this Section,

                                       8
<PAGE>
the Committee may at any time amend or revise the terms of the Plan, including
the form and substance of the Award Agreements to be used in connection
herewith; provided that no amendment or revision may be made without the
approval of the shareholders of the Company if such approval is required under
the Code, Rule 16b-3, or any other applicable law or rule. No amendment,
suspension, or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the
individual who has received an Award hereunder, alter or impair any of that
individual's rights or obligations under any Award granted under the Plan prior
to that amendment, suspension, or termination.

     6.2  ADJUSTMENTS.  If the outstanding Common Stock is increased, decreased,
changed into, or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or
securities through merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, other
reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split,
or reverse stock split, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be
made in the maximum number and kind of Plan Shares as to which Awards may be
granted under the Plan. A corresponding adjustment changing the number or kind
of shares allocated to unexercised Options or portions thereof and outstanding
Restricted Stock Awards, which shall have been granted prior to any such change,
shall likewise be made. Any such adjustment in outstanding Options shall be made
without change in the aggregate purchase price applicable to the unexercised
portion of the Options, but with a corresponding adjustment in the price for
each share covered by the Options. The foregoing adjustments and the manner of
application of the foregoing provisions shall be determined solely by the
Committee, and any such adjustment may provide for the elimination of fractional
share interests.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

     7.1  OTHER COMPENSATION PLANS.  The adoption of the Plan shall not affect
any other stock option or incentive or other compensation plans in effect for
the Company or any Subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, nor shall the Plan
preclude the Company or any Subsidiary or affiliate thereof from establishing
any other forms of incentive or other compensation plans.

     7.2  PLAN BINDING ON SUCCESSORS.  The Plan shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of the Company and any Subsidiary or affiliate of the
Company that adopts the Plan.

     7.3  NUMBER AND GENDER.  Whenever used herein, nouns in the singular shall
include the plural where appropriate, and the masculine pronoun shall include
the feminine gender.

     7.4  HEADINGS.  Headings of articles and sections hereof are inserted for
convenience of reference and constitute no part of the Plan.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                  DEFINITIONS

     As used herein with initial capital letters, the following terms have the
meanings hereinafter set forth unless the context clearly indicates to the
contrary:

     8.1  "ADVISOR" means any individual performing substantial BONA FIDE
services for the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that has adopted the
Plan who is not an Employee or a Director.

     8.2  "AWARD" means a grant of Options under Article III or IV of the Plan
or a Restricted Stock Award under Article V of the Plan.

     8.3  "AWARD AGREEMENT" means an Option Agreement or a Restricted Stock
Agreement.

     8.4  "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

     8.5  "CAUSE" means conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude or a
crime providing for a term of imprisonment in a federal or state penitentiary;
failure or refusal to follow reasonable instructions of the Board; failure or
refusal to comply with the reasonable policies, standards and regulations of the
Company, which from time to time may be established; failure or refusal to
faithfully and diligently perform the usual customary duties of his employment
or service; acting in an unprofessional, unethical, immoral or

                                       9
<PAGE>
fraudulent manner; acting in a manner which discredits or is detrimental to the
reputation, character and standing of Company or a Subsidiary; or the commission
of any other act that causes or reasonably may be expected to cause substantial
injury to the Company.

     8.6  "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     8.7  "COMMITTEE" means the Committee appointed in accordance with SECTION
2.2.

     8.8  "COMMON STOCK" means the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per
share, of the Company or, in the event that the outstanding shares of such
Common Stock are hereafter changed into or exchanged for shares of a different
stock or security of the Company or some other corporation, such other stock or
security.

     8.9  "COMPANY" means Apple Orthodontix, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     8.10  "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board.

     8.11  "EFFECTIVE DATE" means December 15, 1996.

     8.12  "EMPLOYEE" means an employee (as defined in Section 3401(c) of the
Code and the regulations thereunder) of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company that adopts the Plan, including Officers.

     8.13  "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended.

     8.14  "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

     8.15  FAIR MARKET VALUE" means such value as determined by the Committee
on the basis of such factors as it deems appropriate; provided that if the
Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange or transactions in the
Common Stock are quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System, such value as
shall be determined by the Committee on the basis of the reported sales prices
for the Common Stock on the date for which such determination is relevant, as
reported on the national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market
System, as the case may be. If the Common Stock is not listed and traded upon a
recognized securities exchange or on the Nasdaq National Market System, the
Committee shall make a determination of Fair Market Value on a reasonable basis,
which may include the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations for such
stock on the date for which such determination is relevant (as reported by a
recognized stock quotation service) or, in the event that there shall be no bid
or asked quotations on the date for which such determination is relevant, then
on the basis of the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations on the
date nearest preceding the date for which such determination is relevant for
which such bid and asked quotations were available.

     8.16  "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option granted pursuant to
ARTICLE III.

     8.17  "NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board who is not an
Officer or Employee; provided that, as used in SECTION 2.1. the term
"Non-Employee Director" shall have the meaning provided in that section.

     8.18  "NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" means an Option granted pursuant to
ARTICLE IV.

     8.19  "OFFICER" means an officer of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company.

     8.20  "OPTION" means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock
Option.

     8.21  "OPTIONEE" means an Employee, Nonemployee Director, Advisor, or
Orthodontist to whom an Option has been granted hereunder.

     8.22  "OPTION AGREEMENT" means an agreement between the Company and an
Optionee with respect to one or more Options.

     8.23  "ORTHODONTIST" means an orthodontist who has a practice management
contract with the Company or a Subsidiary, or who is a member of or otherwise
associated with an orthodontic practice that has a practice management contract
with the Company or a Subsidiary.

     8.24  "PARTICIPANT" means a person to whom an Award has been granted.

     8.25  "PERMANENT DISABILITY" has the same meaning as that provided in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

                                       10

                                                                    Exhibit 21.1

                     Subsidiaries of Apple Orthodontix, Inc.

              Apple Orthodontix of Texas, Inc., a Texas corporation

            Apple Orthodontix of Canada, Inc., an Alberta corporation


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