Orthodontic Insights from Dexter Orthodontics

Thumb sucking is normal for babies and toddlers, but at a certain age it can start reshaping teeth and jaws. Learn when the habit begins to matter, what it can do to a growing smile, how many bites improve on their own, and gentle ways Dexter Orthodontics helps kids stop.

Caramel and hard candy are obvious, but many broken brackets come from foods that seem perfectly harmless. Learn which everyday foods, snacks, and habits catch families off guard, why they damage braces, and the simple swaps Dexter Orthodontics recommends to keep your child's treatment on schedule.

3D scans, digital treatment plans, and 3D-printed appliances are changing how orthodontic care is planned and delivered. Here's what these tools actually do at each stage of treatment, where they make a real difference, and what they really mean for your child's comfort, precision, and final results.

Starting orthodontic treatment brings up a lot of questions. A Dexter Orthodontics orthodontist answers the ones that come up most often before treatment begins: whether you actually need it, what it costs, how long it really takes, and what happens if your plans change along the way.

The Herbst appliance has helped correct jaw growth in kids for more than a century, but many parents still aren't sure what it actually does. Here's the real history behind it, how it works, what the research shows about results, and why catching this early matters so much for your child's growth.

Wondering how long your child will be in braces? Learn how early treatment, comprehensive treatment, and retention fit together, what typically determines the timeline, and what you can do to help keep your child's treatment on track at Dexter Orthodontics.