Dentofacial Orthopedics Explained: Shaping Jaws, Not Just Teeth
Dentofacial orthopedics is the branch of orthodontics that guides the growth of the jaws and the surrounding facial structures while a child is still developing. Orthodontics moves teeth through bone. Dentofacial orthopedics goes a layer deeper and influences the bone itself, along with the muscles and sutures that shape the palate, the lower jaw, and the airway. Both halves are written into the specialty’s formal name: orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.
Dietrich Family Orthodontics has been guiding growing smiles since 1966, and Dr. Todd Dietrich, DDS has practiced orthodontics since 1992. From our Akron, OH office on W Exchange St, we use growth-timed appliances to widen narrow palates, create room for permanent teeth, and correct jaw relationships braces alone cannot reach.
Timing is limited, which is why the distinction matters. The mid-palatal suture, the seam running front to back along the roof of the mouth, stays responsive to gentle widening forces through childhood and early adolescence, then gradually fuses. Lower jaw position responds best during an active growth spurt. Miss those windows and the same problem may later need compensation with tooth movement alone, or jaw surgery in adulthood.
Conditions that respond to orthopedic guidance:
- Narrow upper jaws that produce a crossbite, where upper back teeth bite inside the lower ones
- Severe crowding caused by too little arch width for the permanent teeth waiting underneath
- Protrusive upper front teeth paired with a lower jaw that sits too far back
- Underbites, where the lower jaw grows ahead of the upper
- Open bites driven by prolonged thumb sucking or persistent tongue thrust
Every plan begins with records rather than guesswork. Digital X-rays show tooth position, root development, and how the upper and lower jaw bases relate, while iTero® digital scanning captures a precise 3D model of both arches without impression trays.
What Families Gain From Dentofacial Orthopedics in Akron, OH
Dentofacial orthopedics in Akron, OH uses a child‘s own growth to correct the foundation of the bite. Widening a narrow palate, coordinating the jaws, and creating space for erupting teeth can reduce crowding, resolve crossbites, shorten later treatment with braces, and in some cases avoid corrective jaw surgery.
Growth is leverage, and working with it tends to produce results that are more stable and less invasive:
- Room made, not teeth removed. Expanding a constricted upper arch at the right age often creates enough width for permanent teeth to erupt into place, reducing the chance healthy teeth must be extracted later.
- Skeletal correction, not camouflage. Addressing a jaw imbalance while the bones are still adaptable treats the cause. Waiting means tipping teeth to disguise a difference that remains underneath.
- Protection for vulnerable front teeth. Upper incisors that stick far forward are exposed during falls and sports. Retracting them early lowers that risk.
- Simpler second phase. Children whose foundation has been corrected frequently need a shorter, more straightforward course of braces once all the permanent teeth arrive.
- Better function day to day. Correcting a crossbite or a shifted bite improves chewing, evens enamel wear, and eases strain on the jaw joints.
None of this replaces braces or Invisalign® clear aligners. Orthopedic work builds the frame; alignment sets the teeth within it.
Inside an Orthopedic Treatment Plan: From First Records to Retention
Treatment moves through four stages at our Akron, OH office: a complimentary evaluation with digital imaging, a growth-based plan review, an active appliance phase with regular adjustments, and a stabilization period that holds the new dimensions while permanent teeth finish erupting.
Stage one: the complimentary growth evaluation
We examine the bite in all three planes, chart erupting teeth, measure arch width, and check for shifts when the jaw closes. Digital X-rays show unerupted teeth and root development, and an iTero® scan replaces the impression tray. Parents leave knowing whether treatment is needed now, later, or not at all. Consultations are complimentary.
Stage two: mapping the plan to your child’s growth
Dr. Dietrich reviews the findings and explains which appliance fits the problem, how long the active phase should run, and what comes next if a later phase of braces is expected. Our team verifies insurance benefits and sets up monthly payments before treatment starts.
Stage three: the active appliance phase
Placing a fixed appliance such as a palatal expander takes one appointment and involves no drilling. Removable appliances are fitted and adjusted for comfort. When an expander needs daily turns at home, we demonstrate the technique until you are confident. Speech and eating feel odd for several days, then normalize.
Stage four: adjustment and monitoring visits
Short visits every few weeks let us track expansion, confirm the bite is responding, and adjust force levels. Because we follow growth as well as appliance progress, these visits double as eruption checkups.
Stage five: holding the correction
New bone fills in behind an expansion, and that fill-in needs protected time. We keep the appliance passive in place, or switch to a retaining appliance, until the change is stable. Many children then enter a resting period, returning periodically until the remaining permanent teeth arrive.
Active phases typically run in months, not years, and the resting interval varies with each child’s eruption pattern. We give a realistic range once records are reviewed.
Is Your Child a Candidate for Dentofacial Orthopedics in Akron, OH?
Candidacy depends far more on growth stage than on age alone. Age seven is the checkpoint the American Association of Orthodontists points to for a child’s first orthodontic evaluation, because the front permanent teeth and first molars have usually arrived by then and developing skeletal patterns become visible.
Signs that deserve an early look
- Upper back teeth biting inside the lower back teeth on one or both sides
- The lower jaw sliding sideways when your child closes
- Front teeth that do not touch when the back teeth are together
- A chin that appears set well behind or well ahead of the upper lip
- Baby teeth lost much earlier or much later than siblings and classmates
- Mouth breathing, snoring, or a persistent thumb or finger habit past the preschool years
Older children and teenagers
Some correction remains available into the early teens, particularly work that leans on a pubertal growth spurt to advance the lower jaw. Once growth finishes the toolkit narrows: adult skeletal differences are either camouflaged with tooth movement or addressed by coordinating orthodontics with jaw surgery.
When we recommend watching instead of treating
An early evaluation is not a commitment to early treatment. Many of the children we see at our Akron office simply return for periodic growth checks. Recommending an appliance before it is warranted adds cost and appointments without improving the result, so we say so when waiting is the better choice.
Orthopedic guidance compared with tooth-only orthodontics
| What we are treating | Orthopedic guidance in a growing child | Tooth movement after growth ends |
|---|---|---|
| Target of the force | Jaw width, jaw position, sutures, and bone | Crowns and roots of individual teeth |
| Ideal timing | During active skeletal growth | Any age with healthy bone and gums |
| Typical appliances | Expanders, functional appliances, facemask, habit appliances | Braces or Invisalign® clear aligners |
| Effect on arch size | Genuine width and length gained | Existing space redistributed |
| Severe skeletal cases | May reduce or avoid the need for surgery | Surgery coordinated with orthodontics may be required |
| Result on the X-ray | Changed jaw relationship | Changed tooth position within the same jaws |
At a consultation we will show you which column your child falls into using their own images.
Why Choose Dietrich Family Orthodontics in Akron
Growth-guided treatment rewards judgment and consistency, and we have practiced both in Akron since 1966.
- Nearly six decades in this community. We have followed local families through multiple generations of childhood growth patterns.
- An orthodontist reading every record. Practicing orthodontics since 1992, Dr. Todd Dietrich, DDS holds membership in the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the Ohio Dental Association (ODA).
- Honest timing. Monitoring visits are part of care, not a lost opportunity, and we say plainly when waiting is the right answer.
- Digital records children tolerate easily. iTero® digital scanning means no impression trays for a seven-year-old.
- Continuity into finishing treatment. Metal braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign® clear aligners as a certified provider, and retainers are all offered here, with no handoff to another practice.
- Budgeting help before you commit. We coordinate insurance benefits and arrange monthly payments.
Our second office in Wadsworth gives families a choice of locations when schedules get complicated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dentofacial Orthopedics in Akron, OH
How is dentofacial orthopedics different from regular braces?
Braces reposition teeth within the jaws you already have. Dentofacial orthopedics changes the jaws themselves, using a growing child’s biology to widen the palate, redirect growth, or reposition the lower jaw. The two work together: appliances build the foundation, then braces or aligners refine tooth positions.
At what age should orthopedic treatment start?
There is no single age. What matters is matching the appliance to the growth stage, which is why an evaluation by age seven is recommended. Palatal expansion works best before the mid-palatal suture matures, while advancing the lower jaw depends on the adolescent growth spurt. Your child’s X-rays show where they sit in that sequence.
Does a palatal expander hurt?
Turning an expander creates pressure rather than sharp pain. Children often describe a tingling behind the nose or below the eyes that fades within minutes. Tenderness while chewing during the first week is normal, and soft foods with an over-the-counter pain reliever manage it.
Will my child still need braces afterward?
Usually yes. Orthopedic treatment corrects the framework, but individual teeth still need aligning once the permanent set erupts. That second phase is often shorter and less complicated than it would have been without the groundwork.
What does treatment cost at your Akron office?
Fees depend on the appliance, the length of the active phase, and whether finishing treatment is included, so we quote real numbers after the exam rather than by phone. Consultations carry no charge, and our team reviews insurance coverage and payment options at that visit.
Book a Complimentary Growth Evaluation at Our Akron Office
If something about your child’s bite or the way their teeth are coming in has been on your mind, an evaluation answers it. Dial (330) 864-2101 to reach Dietrich Family Orthodontics, and we will find a time that works around school and activities.
Our Akron office is at 1690 W Exchange St, Akron, OH 44313. Hours for both locations appear on our website, and our team confirms them by phone. Families closer to the south side of the region can also be seen at our Wadsworth office.
Please arrive with your insurance card plus any X-rays your child’s general dentist has taken lately. The visit covers an examination, digital imaging, and a plain answer about whether to treat now or keep watching, at no cost and with no pressure either way.
Families who live closer to our Wadsworth office can read about dentofacial orthopedics in Wadsworth, OH instead, and we regularly welcome patients from Fairlawn and Copley. You can also request an appointment online at any hour.