Why Your Child Needs Early Orthodontic Care

/0 Comments/in , /by

Orthodontic care is a step above the general daily care that you may be used to. Your children’s smile is essential, and many issues can affect your child’s ability to live their lives to the fullest.

The experienced team at Hockenberger Orthodontics of Norton, OH, is proud to serve the local community with exceptional dental care services, including professional orthodontic care, which helps to ensure and preserve the smiles of tomorrow.

What are Orthodontics?

One of the most critical conversations in your household will be the conversation around the possibility of your child needing braces. Orthodontic dental care teams specialize in jaws and misaligned teeth. While braces are a common solution, many tools and procedures may suit your child.

Why Would My Child Need Orthodontic Care?

Orthodontic care is essential for everyone, but seeing a professional as early in life is crucial. If your child is of middle school age, here are some signs they may need care:

Still Has Baby Teeth

Children start losing baby teeth as early as five and should have most adult teeth by thirteen. It’s important to check in with an expert if your child is not losing their baby teeth regularly or the tooth is growing back in an improper position.

Hard to Bite and Chew

Misaligned teeth cause chewing and biting issues, and children can get food stuck in their teeth and gums, which may not be removed with brushing. The earlier bite issues are resolved, the better.

Speaking and Other Mouth-Related Issues

Jaw and tooth issues can cause difficulty breathing, so you may find that your child is consistently breathing through their mouth. Misaligned teeth can also cause speech issues and can affect facial symmetry.

Your Local Dental Care Specialist

When your child consistently complains about dental care issues, it may be time to see an orthodontic professional. During your next appointment with the qualified team at Hockenberger Orthodontics of Norton, OH, you can be sure you receive the best care and guidance your unique situation deserves.

How Long Will My Child Need Braces for Orthodontic Care  

/0 Comments/in , /by

If you are curious about getting braces for yourself or your child, you might wonder how long you would have to wear these orthodontics. Here at Hockenberger Orthodontics, we work with patients individually to determine the length of a dental treatment. Serving the community of Norton, OH, our orthodontist, Dr. Hockenberger, will diagnose your oral work and determine a treatment program and time frame for braces.

How Long Do I Need Dental Braces

The biggest question dental patients have when they are told they need braces is, “How long do I have to wear them?” The treatment period for dental orthodontics, called braces, is typically two years.

However, every patient is unique and will need to wear braces for the time it takes to reposition their teeth and gums safely and successfully.

What is Life With Braces Like

Life with braces is full of exciting challenges as we work with you to straighten your teeth. You will use colorful rubber bands and fun wax to move your brackets and help align your bite.

Expect to visit the orthodontist and dentist more often than you do without braces. Typically, you will see the orthodontist monthly to adjust brackets and work with different areas of the teeth.

Metal braces and Invisalign clear aligners start with a mold to determine the exact position of your teeth and gums. Invisalign then uses this mold to create a clear aligner, while the dentist uses the information to determine future realignments.

If you have metal braces, the brackets will be cemented to the front of your teeth throughout the orthodontic treatment. Once the braces come off, so do the brackets, and you have a complete set of newly aligned teeth.

Sign Up for Braces in Norton, OH

Contact us at 330-825-7060 to request braces at Hockenberger Orthodontics in Norton, OH.

Do Crooked Baby Teeth Mean Your Child Will Have Crooked Adult Teeth?

/0 Comments/in , /by

It can be concerning for parents if their child’s teeth come in crooked at first. They may picture sky-high dental bills for braces in the future, or they may just have trouble cleaning their kids’ teeth if they’re not evenly spaced. If you’re wondering what crooked teeth will mean for their adult teeth, we’ll look at what causes crooked teeth and what you can expect.

What Causes Crooked Baby Teeth?

There are a few culprits here for crooked baby teeth in Norton, OH, and they include:

  • Genetics: The combination of the mother’s and father’s genes can make for some interesting interpretations in your child’s mouth.
  • Tongue thrusting: When a child isn’t swallowing correctly, the tongue movements can cause the teeth to come forward. Sometimes called an open bite, you can identify this condition if the front tooth doesn’t meet the bottom when the child closes their mouth.
  • Additional teeth: If an extra tooth comes in between the front teeth, it will need to be extracted before it can wreak havoc elsewhere. (This is rare, but it does occur.)

What Do Crooked Baby Teeth Mean for Adult Teeth?

Thankfully, it usually doesn’t mean anything. The older the child gets, the more their mouth and jaw will change. As they grow, their teeth tend to straighten out. This means that even if the baby teeth are all over the place, you won’t necessarily have to worry about their permanent teeth appearing in the same positions.

Orthodontists in Norton, OH

If you’re looking for dentists in Norton, OH that can help you navigate your child’s development, the staff at Hockenberger Orthodontics is here to help. Whether you’re interested in a specific treatment or just have general questions, contact us today to see what we can do.