Orthodontists
Orthodontists are uniquely educated experts in dentistry specializing in straightening teeth and aligning jaws. They prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities.
We recommend that children as young as 7 come in for an orthodontic evaluation. Some children a little younger may also benefit from an evaluation if it is felt preventative treatment may be beneficial.
Some common conditions found in children may include genetic or inherited conditions from parents, such as dental crowding, protruding teeth, too much space between teeth, extra or missing teeth and jaw
growth problems.
Some other conditions develop over time and can be caused by thumb or finger-sucking, mouth breathing, dental disease, poor dental hygiene, accidents, poor nutrition, early or late loss of baby teeth or abnormal
swallowing. Even some birth defects can cause orthodontic problems.
Whatever the cause, most conditions can be successfully treated by one of our orthodontic specialists, who will determine the appropriate timing in the child’s growth to perform the treatment, whether as preventative or to correct the problem.
Dr. Wendy Oakes, DDS has been part of the Snodgrass-King family since 2002. She originally hails from Chattanooga, TN. At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Biology in 1994. Dr. Oakes became a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1999 upon her graduation from Meharry Medical College. She was then accepted to the prestigious Vanderbilt University Medical Center for her three year post-doctoral orthodontic residency which she completed in 2002.
Dr. Peter Wojtkiewicz received his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine in 2001. He completed a three-year post-doctoral residency program in orthodontics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2004. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, Southern Association of Orthodontics, American Dental Associates and the Tennessee Dental Association. In 2004, he was a contributor to a study published in the Angle Orthodontist Journal on the growth of the facial skeleton. Dr. Pete resides in Nashville.
Dr. Ben Neibaur, DMD received his Bachelor’s of Science in Bio-statistics from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and then moved to Cleveland, Ohio to attend Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. While at CWRU, Dr. Ben was the recipient of the American Academy of Oral Pathology highest achievement award. Dr. Ben also was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society for academic and clinical achievement. He was then accepted into the prestigious Vanderbilt University Orthodontic Residency Program under the direction of Dr. Harry Legan and completed the program as Chief Resident. He is a member of the American Dental Association and American Association of Orthodontists. Dr. Ben resides in Franklin, TN with his wife and four boys.
