Dr. Renzi and Dr. House have been providing orthodontics for a combined total of over 60 years!

Orthodontics is part of every accredited Pediatric Dentistry training program in America today.  As Pediatric Dentists, we have the benefit that we see children from infancy and we have the rapport than comes from years of interaction with our patients.  We believe in early intervention and feel fortunate that we are able to anticipate orthodontic problems in our patients from a very young age.  This helps families to plan for the future.  When indicated, orthodontic treatment can benefit many patients.  Early treatment can often avoid more costly or invasive treatment later on.

What problems can orthodontics treat?

Orthodontics can treat a wide range of dental problems and in most cases, completely realign the teeth. 

The typical irregularities requiring orthodontic treatment are as follows:

• Crowding – Crowding means that there is insufficient space within the jaw for all of the adult teeth to fit naturally.  This is a very common condition and it can range from mild to severe.  Crowding may lead to displaced and/or rotated teeth, and in some cases, crowding may cause teeth to become impacted (where they can't erupt).  Periodontal conditions can occur in cases of crowding if the teeth are difficult to clean or if they erupt into a position that is not supported by adequate bone and gingiva (gum tissue).
  
  
• "Overbite" – An "overbite" refers to the protrusion of the maxilla (upper jaw) relative to the mandible (lower jaw).  An "overbite" gives the smile a “toothy” or "buck-toothed" appearance and the chin looks like it has receded.  In dental terminology, this is actually called an overjet.
  
  
• "Underbite" – An "underbite", known as a negative overjet in dental terminology, refers to the protrusion of the mandible (lower jaw) in relation to the maxilla (upper jaw).  An underbite makes the chin look overly prominent. English Bulldogs are classic examples of the "underbite"/negative overjet. 

How can orthodontics help?

Orthodontics offers techniques which will realign the teeth and improve the smile.  There are several treatments Dr Renzi and Dr. House may use, depending on the results of X-rays, iTero digital study models, thorough visual examination, and photographs.

Treatments proposed will depend on your child's/teen's unique needs.  We offer a variety of treatments using state-of-the-art orthodontic materials.

What if my child/teen is anxious or has special needs - can you still do orthodontics?

Yes, many times we can!  Dr. Renzi and Dr. House are both Pediatric Dentists and and they are well trained in behavior management techniques as well as in orthodontics.  Our staff is also comfortable working with patients who are anxious and/or who have special needs requiring orthodontic care.  We can provide additional behavior management techniques, such as nitrous oxide, conscious sedation, or even general anesthesia, if needed for our patients for the placement of appliances.  We have found that over time, our patients typically become more comfortable and cooperative with routine orthodontic visits and these additional behavior management techniques are not needed for the removal of appliances.

There are some patients who are not candidates for orthodontics as they will not tolerate any type of orthodontic appliances or patients whose oral hygiene levels are not adequate for orthodontics.  Dr. Renzi and Dr. House will assess this and will discuss this during the evaluation.  Our doctors and staff are happy to work with patients and their extended families/caregivers to improve oral hygiene so that orthodontics might become a realistic goal.

Do you believe in early orthodontic treatment?

Yes!  As Pediatric Dentists, we strongly believe in early orthodontic treatment.  We provide Phase I orthodontic treatment as well as Phase II orthodontic treatment and single phase orthodontic treatment. 

​Do you provide adult orthodontics?

No.  We only provide orthodontics for our pediatric and teen patients.  There are plenty of well-qualified Orthodontists in the area for adults.

If you have any questions or concerns about orthodontic treatments or how they can benefit your child or teen, please contact our office.