Dr. Hockenberger attended Dental School at The Ohio State University, where he graduated with honorsreceiving a Doctor of Surgery degree in 1992. He was selected as the team dentist for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In 1995, he returned to Ohio State and completed a three-year residency in orthodontic earning a Certificate in Orhtodontics and Master of Science degree.
After completing his dental and orthodontic education, Dr. Hockenberger continues his education through many orthodontic seminars and courses. He is a member of an interdisciplinary dental group and an orthodontic study group, and regularly exceeds the state minimum requirement for continuing education hours. Dr. Hockenberger feels that by keeping abreast of the latest methods and technologies, he is able to provide the highest quality treatments for his patients.
Dr. Hockenberger has been practicing orthodontics since 1998 and practiced general dentistry from 1992 to 1995. His background in dentistry gives him a greater understanding of how important orthodontic treatment is to the dental and overall health of his patients. He enjoys helping each patient achieve a beautiful smile and healthy bite that will last a lifetime.
Dr. Hockenberger enjoys getting to know each patient personally, interacting with them at each visit, and hearing stories about their lives and families. He feels the greatest reward of his job is seeing patients smiling and happy at the end of treatment. Dr. Hockenbergers staff helps him provide the highest quality treatments, and he is grateful for their commitment to excellence and their gentle, caring, and friendly nature.
Dr. Hockenberger was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. He began practicing in the Akron area in 1998. In addition to his time spent in the office, he is actively involved in charities, fundraisers, walkathons, and volunteered at Akron Childrens Hospital in the Cranial Facial clinic. He is the former President of the Akron Dental Society, President of the Cleveland Society of Orthodontics, President of the Ohio Association of Orthodontics, and served on the Executive committee of the Ohio Dental Association. In addition to those listed above he values his memberships in all his professional organizations such as:
When he is not in the office he truly loves living life for all that it is. He has a love for travel and enjoys the people he meets and the places he discovers around the world. He loves playing rounds of golf with friends and colleagues. He is an excellent cook and shares his creativity with all those around him. His devoted clinical team holds a special place in his heart. He is often rewarding their efforts and hard work with various trips and team bonding activities throughout the year.
His love for the Ohio State Buckeyes is one of his most well known qualities. He rarely misses a Buckeye game and makes every OSU experience amazing for his friends and family. His passion is helping people and giving back to the community through his many contributions to the surrounding schools and their programs. He also avidly supports the businesses and activities of his patients and their families.
At our orthodontic practice, we work hard to treat our patients the same way we would like to be treated: with respect, professionalism, and sensitivity toward our needs. We understand the expectations of the patients and families we serve, and we do everything we can to make sure that each patient has an exceptional experience at our practice.
For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you'll feel more self-confident. During your treatment, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible.
Orthodontic appliances can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. They may be removable or they may be brackets bonded to the teeth. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to a corrected position. This is a great time to wear braces! Gone are the days when a metal band with a bracket was placed around each tooth. You can often choose brackets that are clear or metallic, and sometimes you can choose the color of the ties that hold the wire in brackets. Wires are also less noticeable than they used to be, and the latest materials move teeth faster with less discomfort to patients.
Treatment time typically ranges from one to three years, depending on the growth of the patient's mouth and face, and the severity of the problem. Patients grow at different rates and will respond variously to orthodontic treatment, so the time until case completion may differ from the original estimate. The patient's diligent use of any prescribed rubber bands or headgear is an important factor in achieving the most efficient treatment. Interceptive or early treatment procedures may take as few as six months.