Braces: The Appliance, the Mechanics, and What It Corrects
Braces in Wadsworth, OH are fixed appliances that reposition teeth and bites for children, teenagers, and adults. Each tooth receives a small bracket bonded directly to the enamel. A shaped wire runs through those brackets and is held with ties or clips. As the wire tries to return to its programmed shape, it delivers steady, low-grade force that gradually moves each root through bone.
Fixed appliances give an orthodontist the widest range of control available. Because nothing is removed and nothing depends on wear time, Dr. Todd Dietrich, DDS can move individual teeth up, down, sideways, and rotationally at the same time, and can coordinate the two arches so they meet correctly at the end. That is why braces remain the standard for correcting conditions such as:
- Severe crowding where teeth overlap or are blocked out of the arch
- Excess space, including gaps between the upper front teeth
- Deep overbite, where upper teeth cover too much of the lowers
- Underbite, with lower teeth positioned ahead of the uppers
- Posterior or anterior crossbite
- Open bite, where front teeth never touch
- Teeth that erupted rotated, tipped, or impacted
At our 787 High St office in Wadsworth, families choose between traditional metal brackets and tooth-colored ceramic brackets. Metal is stronger and popular with younger patients who enjoy changing the color of their elastic ties at each visit. Ceramic blends with enamel and appeals to older teens and adults who would rather the hardware not be the first thing people see. Invisalign® clear aligners are a third path for the cases that suit them, offered here by a certified Invisalign® provider.
Every plan begins with digital records. iTero® digital scanning builds a detailed three-dimensional model of the teeth and bite without impression trays, which matters a great deal to younger patients and to anyone with a sensitive gag reflex.
Health Reasons Wadsworth Families Straighten Teeth
Braces in Wadsworth, OH deliver more than a photogenic smile. A properly aligned bite spreads chewing forces evenly, protects enamel from uneven wear, reduces the tight contacts where decay begins, and lowers the strain placed on the jaw joints and the muscles that move them.
- Cavity risk drops. Overlapping teeth create surfaces a brush cannot touch and floss cannot pass. Once teeth are aligned, ordinary home care becomes effective care.
- Enamel lasts longer. Teeth that carry more than their share of biting force flatten, chip, and become sensitive. Balanced contact protects them.
- Front teeth are less exposed to injury. Teeth that protrude beyond the lip take the impact in a fall or a collision on the field. Bringing them into the arch reduces that risk.
- Speech and chewing improve. Open bites and severe crossbites interfere with both, and correction is often noticeable to family before it is to the patient.
- Jaw function evens out. When molars meet as intended, the muscles stop compensating for a bite that does not fit.
- Growth can be used, not fought. In children and young teens, treating at the right stage lets us guide development instead of correcting it later.
These benefits compound over a lifetime, which is why so much orthodontic care starts in childhood, and why finishing every case with a retention plan matters just as much as the active phase.
Your Visit-by-Visit Roadmap at Our Wadsworth Office
There are no mysteries in this process. Here is the sequence from your first phone call to the day the brackets come off.
Visit one: complimentary examination and records
We take digital X-rays, clinical photographs, and an iTero® scan, then Dr. Dietrich examines the teeth, the way the arches fit together, and the health of the gums and supporting bone. For growing patients, we also assess how much development is still ahead.
Visit one, continued: the plan and the investment
Before you leave, you will know what needs to change, roughly how long that should take, and what it costs. Our team verifies orthodontic insurance coverage and lays out monthly payment options. Nothing is committed to that day.
Visit two: placing the braces
Bonding runs about an hour to ninety minutes. No needles are involved and nothing is drilled. Teeth are polished, a conditioning gel prepares the enamel, brackets are set individually at planned heights and angles, and the first flexible wire goes in. Younger patients pick their tie colors at the end.
Visits three onward: adjustments every six to ten weeks
Each appointment we replace or activate the wire, add elastics if the bite needs correcting, and verify the teeth are moving on schedule. Broken brackets are repaired at these visits or sooner if needed.
The finishing stage
In the last few months, adjustments become smaller and more detailed as we refine individual tooth positions and settle the bite. Patience here is what separates a good result from a great one.
Removal day and retainers
Brackets are lifted off, adhesive is polished from the enamel, and we scan for custom retainers. We explain the wear schedule, which typically starts near full-time and tapers to nights, and we monitor stability afterward.
Most treatment falls between twelve and thirty months. Mild crowding finishes sooner. Bite correction, impacted teeth, and cases interrupted by growth take longer. You will get a realistic range for your own case once we have reviewed the records, along with an explanation of what could shorten or extend it.
Who Braces Suit Best: Children, Teens, and Adults
Children around age seven
The American Association of Orthodontists suggests a first orthodontic evaluation by about age seven. Most children who come in at that age need nothing yet, but that visit is when we catch crossbites, severe crowding, and habits that are shaping the jaws. Early treatment, when indicated, makes later comprehensive treatment simpler.
Teenagers with the full adult dentition
This is the classic window. Most permanent teeth have arrived, growth is still available to work with, and bone remodels quickly. Braces suit teens well because they cannot be misplaced or left at home, so progress continues regardless of how busy the school year gets.
Adults of any age with healthy support
Grown-ups make up a large part of modern orthodontics. Existing crowns and implants factor into planning, gum health has to be sound first, and mature bone moves a bit more slowly, but the outcome is the same. Ceramic brackets keep the appearance subtle.
What changes by stage of life
The appliance is similar across ages. What differs is the objective and what we monitor along the way.
| Stage | Main objective | What we monitor closely |
|---|---|---|
| Child, mixed dentition | Guide erupting teeth and correct developing crossbites | Eruption sequence, arch width, oral habits |
| Teen, permanent dentition | Full alignment plus complete bite correction | Elastic wear, hygiene, growth timing |
| Adult | Alignment, function, and support for restorative work | Gum and bone levels, existing crowns, clenching |
The consultation is where we decide which of these describes you or your child, and whether now is the right time to begin.
Why Choose Dietrich Family Orthodontics in Wadsworth
This practice has been creating smiles since 1966, and generations of local families have now been through our chairs. Our Wadsworth office serves patients from town as well as from Rittman, Doylestown, Norton, and Medina.
- Specialty training and long experience. Dr. Todd Dietrich, DDS has practiced orthodontics since 1992 and holds membership in the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and the Ohio Dental Association.
- Braces your way. Metal brackets, ceramic brackets, and Invisalign® clear aligners, plus early treatment, teen and adult care, and retainers.
- No impression trays. iTero® digital scanning handles records comfortably and quickly, even for squirmy seven-year-olds.
- Real emergency support. Wire poking the night before a game or a bracket off over the weekend? Call us and we will take care of it.
- Financial clarity. Insurance coordination and monthly payment plans, explained up front rather than after you commit.
- A no-cost first visit. Consultations are complimentary, and you leave with information whether or not you start treatment.
- Two convenient offices. Wadsworth on High St and Akron on W Exchange St, so appointments fit around work and school.
We treat patients like family here, and that shows up in small ways at every appointment.
Braces Questions Wadsworth Patients Ask Us
When should my child first be seen?
Around age seven is the standard recommendation, because that is when enough permanent teeth have arrived to reveal how the bite is developing. Most children simply get monitored at no cost until the right moment arrives.
Is getting braces put on uncomfortable?
Bonding itself is painless. There is no injection and no drilling, just cleaning, bonding, and tying in a wire. Teeth feel tender for perhaps three to five days afterward, and briefly after each adjustment. Soft food and over-the-counter pain relievers manage it comfortably.
How do I keep teeth clean with brackets on?
Brush after every meal, angling the bristles above and below each bracket, and use floss threaders or an interdental brush daily. A water flosser helps. Keep your regular dental cleanings during treatment, because plaque left around brackets can leave permanent white marks on the enamel.
Can my child play sports and instruments with braces?
Yes to both. A mouthguard designed for braces is essential for contact sports, and we will talk about which type suits your child. Brass and woodwind players usually need a couple of weeks to readjust their embouchure, and wax over the brackets helps in the meantime.
What should I do if a bracket comes loose?
Call our office. A loose bracket is not an emergency in most cases, but it needs to be re-bonded so the tooth keeps moving. If a wire end is irritating your cheek, cover it with orthodontic wax until we can see you.
How much do braces cost here?
The figure depends on how complex the case is, how long treatment runs, and which brackets you select, so we quote it precisely at the complimentary consultation rather than over the phone. We check your insurance benefit and build a monthly plan that works for your household.
Schedule a Free Braces Consultation in Wadsworth
Ready to see where you stand? Call Dietrich Family Orthodontics at (330) 334-1698 and we will get you or your child on the schedule for a complimentary examination.
Our Wadsworth office is located at 787 High St, Wadsworth, OH 44281, and our Akron office on W Exchange St is available as a second option. Current hours for both are posted on our website, and our team will gladly confirm them when you call to book.
Bring your dental insurance card and mention any X-rays your family dentist has taken recently. Your visit includes an exam, digital images, and a straightforward discussion of the options, timeline, and cost, with nothing owed and no pressure applied.
Since 1966 we have been straightening smiles for families in this community. We would be glad to help with yours.
Families who live closer to our Akron office can read about braces in Akron, OH instead, and we regularly welcome patients from Rittman and Doylestown. You can also request an appointment online at any hour.