Halloween Fun

This year for Halloween we dressed up at Bugs and Dr. Barnett was the exterminator. It was a great day and the patients seemed to really enjoy the fun! We saw some great patient costumes as well. Thanks for a great day everyone!

Team Photo Shoot

Recently, at Barnett Orthodontics we had a professional photographer out to take new team photos for our Website, Blog and Holiday card. Undoubtedly, it's important to have fun on a daily basis while working but when a photographer can capture those feelings, you know your working with a professional. Felica Lewis, of FML Photo Design has a true talent for taking great photos. She has the ability to capture her subjects in natural moments and with stunning excellence. Check out a few of the photos here and see her Blog or Website for further information on this excellent talent.

Please go to our website to get updates on new and exciting things about braces and Invisalign in Akron and don't forget to check out Felica's wonderful new photos while there.

An Orthodontist--Advanced Education Beyond Dental School

A dentist who does braces, is not an orthodontist.

Just as there are specialists in medicine (such as cardiologists, gastroenterologists, neurologists, etc.), there are specialists in dentistry. Orthodontists are dental specialists who dedicate their professional lives to correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. While any dentist can use braces to improve tooth alignment, only an orthodontist has advanced education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

Orthodontists are qualified dentists, who after graduating from dental school, go on to additional full-time university-based education in an accredited orthodontic residency program supervised by orthodontists. That training lasts at least two academic years—sometimes more. By learning about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are the uniquely trained experts in dentistry to straighten teeth and align jaws.



Annually, there are only 200 orthodontic residency spots nationwide. This makes Orthodontics one of the most competitive and difficult specialities for dentists to get into. Rest assured, by bringing your child to an orthodontist for braces, you are taking them to one of the very best.

For your braces in the Akron Ohio (OH) area see an orthodontist!
Contact Dr. Barnett at 330-745-4497.

Serving, Akron, Barberton, Norton, Copley, Green, Manchester, Coventry, Canal Fulton, Clinton, Uniontown, Wadsworth, and more!

An Invisalign Testimonial

How are braces placed on the teeth?

How are braces placed on the teeth?

There are two methods of placing brackets on the teeth: direct and indirect bonding.

Teeth are first polished and then prepared with a number of different solutions. The placement of braces requires an extremely dry environment. Therefore, a mouth prop is placed to help keep the tongue and cheeks away from the teeth. A suction tube may also be placed to remove any excess saliva.

In the direct bonding technique, braces are placed one by one, and their positions adjusted in the mouth, prior to being secured to the tooth. This time-consuming process is often completed by dental auxiliaries rather than the orthodontist, as it is usually during busy clinic hours.

Indirect bonding (IB), is an efficient and quick alternative. An impression of the mouth is taken and a model poured. Brackets are then placed on the model and a tray is formed around the teeth and braces in the lab. The braces can be transferred via this tray to the top and bottom teeth all at once.

What are some of the advantages of IB?

• Higher degree of accurate bracket placement than with direct bonding (imagine trying to put a brace accurately on a back tooth inside the mouth compared to putting it on a model where you can move it any way you wish).
• Shorter treatment time and fewer appointments since the brackets are placed more accurately at the first appointment.
• More comfortable and less time spent in the chair for the bonding appointment.
• Often no need for bands, so there is no need for uncomfortable separators
• There is a custom base, allowing the bracket to fit more accurately to the conformation to your tooth.
• The orthodontist is the one who determines the location of each bracket prior to your visit.

At Barnett Orthodontics, we recognize the benefits of IB, even though it requires our team more preparation time, lab work, and requires finely trained technical skills. We pride ourselves on the fact that, whenever possible, our patients have braces placed with this technique. It is our goal to provide you with the most efficient, accurate, and comfortable experience possible, from the first day the braces are placed. Please contact our office via our website if you have any additional questions.

Video Game Entertainment While You Wait

Recently we added some new video gaming technology to our office. While we're working on straightening your smile, entertain yourself with one of our new PlayStation Portable (PSP) video games or one of our Nintendo DualScreen (DS) units.

For years we've had a video game room available for family members who were waiting on patients to complete their appointment. Now, our patients, have the opportunity to play a video game while at their appointment. While our office is great about operating on an accurate schedule there is always a few minutes of down-time during appointments where the games can be utilized. Choose from over 20 different games and ENJOY.

Parents, we haven't forgotten about you...while waiting on your child, enjoy reading our selection of popular magazines. As well, treat yourself to a hot coffee, tea, ice water, summer lemonade or winter hot chocolate.

At what age should orthodontic treatment occur?

Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age 7 or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist or the child's physician.

Call today for an appointment 330-745-4497

Getting braces in Akron Ohio

We at Barnett Orthodontics work hard to give our patients only the best state-of-the-art orthodontic appliances available. This is why we became Invisalign Certified orthodontists early on - to stay on the cutting edge of orthodontics and better serve our Akron area patients. Part of our service includes educating each patient on their options to help them make an empowered decision. This blog is used to provide further information for current and prospective patients. For today's post, we are going to discuss the different types of braces available at our Barberton (OH) orthodontic practice.


Traditional Metal Braces
Your Expert Orthodontist Serving Green, Manchester, Canal Fulton, Uniontown, Barberton, Norton, North Canton, Coventry, Portage Lakes, and Doylestown
Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.


Ceramic Braces
Your Expert Orthodontist Serving Green, Manchester, Canal Fulton, Uniontown, Barberton, Norton, North Canton, Coventry, Portage Lakes, and Doylestown
Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefor less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, they are very popular with adults and teenagers. Ceramic braces are somewhat smoother than metal braces, and we have found them to be equal to metal braces in performance and durability. Clear ceramic braces also will not stain during treatment.


Invisible Braces (Invisalign)
Your Expert Orthodontist Serving Green, Manchester, Canal Fulton, Uniontown, Barberton, Norton, North Canton, Coventry, Portage Lakes, and Doylestown
Clear appliances (such as Invisalign) use a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners to straighten your teeth. And, no one can tell you are wearing those aligners because they are invisible! Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.


Lingual BracesiBraces
Your Expert Orthodontist Serving Green, Manchester, Canal Fulton, Uniontown, Barberton, Norton, North Canton, Coventry, Portage Lakes, and Doylestown
Lingual braces are hidden behind the teeth and are therefore "invisible" when you smile. Lingual braces are 100% customized to match the shape of your teeth, and therefore the metal appliances are created uniquely for you. Lingual braces are a very reasonable option for athletes, models, actors/actresses, musicians who play wind instruments, and adult professionals.


For more information about getting orthodontic treatment in the Akron, Barberton, Norton areas contact the Invisalign orthodontists at Barnett Orthodontics.