Orthodontics

Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of dental and skeletal abnormalities.  

 

Orthodontist

Orthodontists are specialists in moving teeth and aligning jaws.   An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed an additional 2-3 years of schooling beyond dental school to become a specialist. This means that all orthodontists are dentists first, but out of 100 dental school graduates only 6 go on to become orthodontists.

 

Orthodontic treatment involves "appliances" that produce consistent, gentle forces to move teeth into proper positions.  These appliances can be made out of metal, ceramic, or plastic.  At Hocking Orthodontics we use traditional metal braces, esthetic ceramic braces, and Invisalign (plastic aligners).  For our younger patients who need early interceptive treatment, we also use expansion appliances, retainers, and functional appliances.

  

Orthodontic treatment is customized to each patient, and the duration of treatment varies greatly.  An average orthodontic treatment is 24 months, however if a patient only has alignment issues without a bite discrepancy, treatment could be as short as a few months!  This is why it is important to come in and get a proper diagnosis on your specific case!