At The Foleck Center in Norfolk, VA, we offer comprehensive orthodontic services to help patients achieve healthy, confident smiles. By combining advanced technology with personalized treatment plans, we make it easier than ever to straighten your teeth and improve your bite—so you can enjoy long-lasting oral health and a smile you’ll love to share.
Orthodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry focused on diagnosing, preventing, and correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. Common orthodontic treatments, such as braces and clear aligners, gently shift teeth into their ideal positions over time.
Orthodontic treatment does more than improve your smile, it can also enhance your overall health by:
At The Foleck Center, we provide orthodontic solutions tailored to patients of all ages. Whether you’re dealing with crowded teeth, gaps, an overbite, or other alignment issues, our team will create a customized plan designed to improve both the health and appearance of your smile.
For patients who want a straighter smile without the look or feel of traditional braces, Invisalign® offers a discreet, comfortable, and highly effective solution. At The Foleck Center, we proudly provide Invisalign treatment to help teens and adults in Norfolk achieve beautifully aligned smiles with minimal disruption to their daily lives.
Invisalign can treat a wide range of orthodontic concerns, including crowded teeth, gaps, overbites, underbites, and crossbites. During your consultation at The Foleck Center, our team will assess your smile, discuss your goals, and determine if Invisalign is the best treatment for your needs.
Orthodontic care isn’t just about creating a straighter smile, it’s also about improving oral health and overall function. Many children, teens, and adults can benefit from orthodontic treatment if they experience issues with the alignment of their teeth or jaws.
Whether you’re considering Invisalign®, Fastbraces®, or traditional orthodontic treatment, The Foleck Center is here to help you achieve a healthy, confident smile that lasts a lifetime.
Our experienced team provides personalized care for children, teens, and adults right here in Norfolk, VA. If you’re ready to explore your options, schedule a consultation today and take the first step toward the smile you’ve always wanted.
Misaligned teeth don’t happen by accident. They develop over time from genetics, habits, or dental issues that go unaddressed. Understanding the who, what, where, when, and why behind malocclusion helps Norfolk families know when it’s time to schedule an orthodontic consultation instead of waiting it out.
Malocclusion, or misaligned teeth and bites, can affect anyone, but certain groups are more likely to need orthodontic treatment:
For families raising kids through these different stages, our family dentistry team keeps an eye on these changes at every routine visit, not just during an orthodontic consultation.
Malocclusion refers to a misalignment between the upper and lower teeth or an irregular positioning of individual teeth. It can show up as crowding, gaps, overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite. Left untreated, it doesn’t just affect appearance. It makes teeth harder to clean thoroughly, which raises the risk of tooth decay and gum disease over time.
Correcting it typically involves one of several orthodontic solutions:
Every plan starts with an orthodontic consultation so the treatment matches the patient’s specific bite and alignment needs.
At The Foleck Center in Norfolk, VA, orthodontic evaluations and orthodontic treatment are provided in-office using modern technology, from digital imaging to precision-fit orthodontic appliances, so families throughout Norfolk have access to full-service orthodontic care and attentive patient care without traveling to a separate specialist.
Timing matters. The American Association of Orthodontists points to around age 7 as an ideal window for a first look, since a mix of baby and permanent teeth makes it easier to catch developing issues early. That said, orthodontic treatment is never limited to childhood. Teens and adults can begin treatment as soon as dental issues are identified. Warning signs that it’s time to schedule a visit include:
These signs are also worth mentioning at your child’s next dental exam and cleaning, even if the visit isn’t orthodontic-specific.
Addressing malocclusion early is a matter of preventative dentistry, not just cosmetics. Straighter teeth are easier to brush and floss effectively, which lowers the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, two of the most common consequences of long-term misalignment.
Properly aligned teeth also distribute bite force more evenly, reducing wear and strain on the jaw. Routine care like fluoride treatments can further protect teeth while alignment is being corrected. With customized treatment plans built around each patient’s needs, orthodontic correction supports both a healthier mouth and a more confident smile.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry notes that habits like these, when they continue past the toddler years, can lead to crooked teeth and bite problems, distinct from the genetic or space-related causes seen in other cases. The American Dental Association notes that these jaw or tooth alignment problems, whether inherited or habit-related, can lead to further oral health issues if left uncorrected.
Left unaddressed, malocclusion also creates a cycle of oral health problems: hard-to-clean spaces trap plaque, plaque buildup accelerates tooth decay and gum disease, and the CDC notes that untreated gum disease and tooth decay are among the leading oral health issues linked to broader wellbeing. This is why oral hygiene habits, early intervention, and routine dental exams should go hand-in-hand with any orthodontic plan, and why patient safety and patient care remain central to how The Foleck Center designs every treatment plan.
Yes. Habits that put steady pressure on the front teeth and roof of the mouth while a child’s bite is still forming, like sucking or pushing against the teeth with the tongue, can push teeth forward, create an open bite, or narrow the palate. The earlier the habit stops, the more likely the bite can correct itself naturally, which is why it’s watched closely during routine visits.
If it continues past the toddler years, the resulting bite changes usually don’t reverse on their own. Teeth may stay pushed forward, a gap can persist between the upper and lower teeth, or the palate can remain narrowed. At that point, orthodontic treatment is typically needed to correct the alignment rather than waiting for it to resolve.
In most cases, yes, or at least be actively working on it. Continuing the habit while wearing an appliance or aligner can work against the movement the treatment is trying to create. Our team can walk you through habit-breaking strategies alongside any treatment plan.
Diagnosis starts with a hands-on exam of how the teeth and jaws fit together, followed by digital imaging to see root position and jaw development that isn’t visible to the eye. From there, our team maps out whether the case involves crowding, spacing, or a bite issue like an overbite or crossbite, and builds a treatment plan around those specific findings.
Yes. Beyond appearance, a misaligned bite can make certain sounds harder to pronounce, add strain to the jaw joint, and wear down tooth enamel unevenly over time. Crowded or overlapping teeth are also harder to clean, which raises the risk of decay and gum irritation in spots a toothbrush can’t fully reach.
The Foleck Center offers expert care and modern technology to guide every patient toward healthier dental alignment. From traditional braces to clear aligners, our team builds customized treatment plans designed around your smile, your schedule, and your goals.
Don’t wait for small dental issues to become bigger ones. As your trusted orthodontist in Norfolk, VA, give our team a call at 757.209.7932 or schedule your orthodontic consultation online, and follow along with real patient stories and updates on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
