Dr. Todd Dietrich has been providing superior orthodontic care since 1992. A native of Northeastern Ohio, Dr. Dietrich earned his dental degree from The Ohio State University and completed his specialty training in Orthodontics at Case Western Reserve University.

In his leisure time, Dr. Todd enjoys travelling, cooking and spending time outdoors with his family. He can also be found on the golf course, fly fishing, alpine and cross-country skiing. You may also spot Todd on a John Deere tractor at his family farm.

A native of Akron, Ohio, Dr. Carl Dietrich has been practicing orthodontics since 1966. He attended Duke University for his undergraduate studies and earned his dental degree and specialty training in Orthodontics from Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Carl is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and American Dental Association. He is also a past president of the Cleveland Orthodontic Society and a past trustee of the Ohio Dental Association. In giving back to the community, Dr. Carl has been a board member of the Akron Beacon Journal Charity Fund and a member of the Akron Rotary.

In his spare time he enjoys golf, fishing, skiing and spending time with his seven grandchildren. His daughter, Elizabeth, is the mother of two of his grandsons and his son, Dr. Todd, is the father of five.

Dr. Lisa Dietrich earned her dental degree from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1990. She practiced dentistry full time for three years before starting her family. After raising her and Dr. Todds five children, she has joined Dietrich Family Orthodontics part-time as the Professional Relations Coordinator.

Dr. Lisa also works at home, managing the family farm (Black Pond Farm) and homeschooling their daughter. She is an active member of her church, St. Pauls Episcopal Church, and the Akron Womens Garden Club. She enjoys travelling with Dr. Todd to see their older children, riding horses, skiing and hiking.

We know that our office is only as effective and as welcoming as the people who work in it, which is why we take pride in our friendly and well-trained team members! We put your needs first to achieve efficient and comprehensive treatment in a supportive and nurturing environment. We promise to speak candidly with you about possible treatments as well as any risks and associated costs of treatment, and how treatment can address your individual needs.

Brooke is a Clinical Coordinator who has worked for Dietrich Family Orthodontics since 2009. Her favorite thing about orthodontics is seeing patients develop the confidence that comes from having a beautiful smile. Brooke loves our patients because they are fun and give her more energy! She loves working with Dr. Dietrich because of the relaxed and comfortable work environment he creates. A native of Wadsworth, Ohio, Brooke is married and has two teenage boys. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her sisters and extended family, reading, and watching her boys play sports.

Office Manager Stephanie is the Office Manager for Dietrich Family Orthodontics; she has been with the practice since 2007. What she loves about orthodontics is building relationships with families and seeing the progress of patient's smiles from start to finish. Stephanie's favorite things about working with Dr. Dietrich are creating new contests and being a part of a fun upbeat office. Native to Bedford, Ohio; she now resides in Peninsula with her dog, Roxy, cat Arya and husband. In her free time she enjoys golfing, food trucks, traveling and crafting paper flowers.

Treatment Coordinator Abby is the Treatment Coordinator for Dietrich Family Orthodontics; she has been with the practice since 1995. Abby helps assess the needs of new patients. Her favorite thing about orthodontics is giving people a beautiful smile that they can be proud of. She loves her patients because she can develop friendships with them and they help connect her to the community. Abby is a native of Wadsworth, Ohio. Abby and her husband Tom have four sons between the two of them.She volunteers for the Wadsworth Blue Tip Festival and Matchstick Race committees.

Clinical Coordinator Justina is a Clinical coordinator for Dietrich Family Orthodontics; she started working in the dental field in 2004 and has been with the practice since 2013. Justina loves watching the process of orthodontics from start to finish, seeing how excited patients are when they get their braces off. Originally from Chester, West Virginia, she has been married for five years and has a daughter, two sons and a dog named Chloe. In Justina's free time she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, going to concerts, backpacking, skiing and enjoying the outdoors.

Orthodontists are dental specialists who diagnose and treat problems with the position, alignment or spacing of the teeth, and related irregularities in the face and the jaw. We use a number of special treatments, including braces and other oral appliances, to correct these problems.

There are two good reasons: aesthetics and function. Having an attractive smile not only changes the way people see you it enhances your own self-image as well. Orthodontic treatment also allows your teeth to function better and makes it easier to keep them clean, which can improve your overall health.

You're never too old to begin orthodontic treatment but if you start at an earlier age, your problems may be easier to treat. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child who may need orthodontic treatment should come in for a first visit around age 7.

Teeth that are protruding, crowded together or erupting out of position are clear indications that treatment is needed (View Examples). Less obvious signs are mouth breathing, frequent biting of the cheek or palate, speech difficulties, and thumb sucking that goes past 3-4 years of age. If teeth don't meet properly when the mouth closes, or if jaws make sounds or shift as they move, this may also indicate an orthodontic problem.

Having braces put on is generally painless. Some people experience minor aches and pains in the first couple of days or so, as they adjust to wearing their appliances; periodic adjustments may sometimes cause soreness as well, though it typically lasts only a short time. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to alleviate any discomfort, but are usually unnecessary.

It's different for each person, but generally the active stage of treatment (that is, wearing braces or other appliances) may take from 6-30 months. After that, a retainer is worn for at least several months more.

If your teeth are severely crowded (because your mouth is too small to properly accommodate all of them) or if you have impacted teeth (teeth that are trapped beneath the gum line by other teeth) then extraction may be necessary. In the case of younger patients, early treatment may make extraction unnecessary.

Yes you should pass up the types of foods that could damage or become trapped in your braces. Some of these include raw vegetables, hard candy, caramel, taffy and ice cubes (fortunately, ice cream is OK). We will give you a list of foods to avoid.

In a word: Yes. Of course, whether you wear braces or not, we recommend you wear a mouthguard when playing most sports. Musicians are generally able to play their instruments just as they did before, but they may need a short adjustment period after getting braces.

You do in fact, it's more important than ever! Keeping teeth free of plaque (and potentially, decay) can be challenging when you're wearing braces. Your dentist can help you avoid these problems with frequent cleanings and exams.

Almost always, the answer is yes: If you don't wear a retainer, your teeth can rapidly shift out of position and then all the effort put into your treatment is lost! Your retainer helps you maintain that good-looking smile for a lifetime.

Orthodontic care is a long-term investment in your health and well-being. Yet its cost hasn't increased as fast as many other consumer prices, and many financing options are available that make orthodontic care affordable. Weighed against the true cost of living with problem teeth, however, orthodontic treatment can be a wise investment indeed.

The Magic of Orthodontics Proper alignment of the teeth is basic to Smile Design. Their position dictates how they work together and affects the way you look and smile. Only orthodontic treatment can move teeth into the right position. Simply put, when things look right, they probably are right. Learn the basics of smile analysis and design and whether the magic of orthodontics will work for you... Read Article

Orthodontics for the Older Adult Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, so there's no such thing as too old for braces. In fact, nowadays about one out of every five orthodontic patients is an adult. Yet this figure represents only a small portion of adults who could actually benefit from orthodontic treatment... Read Article