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Dominica Portman DMD, MSD | Board-certified Orthodontist

@drdominicaportman

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Cleveland, OH
🇺🇸U.S. Navy Veteran
🔹Orthodontist
🔹Invisalign, braces, expanders for all ages
DM “SMILE” for more info
🇪🇸Se habla español

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Many parents are surprised to learn that we don’t need all of our adult teeth in to start orthodontic treatment (aka, Phase I orthodontics). We can still identify bite problems, jaw growth concerns, and crowding even if all the permanent teeth aren’t in yet. ✨

The goal of Phase I orthodontics is prevention, guidance of jaw growth and development, and making future treatment simpler when possible.

If you suspect your child might have a tooth or jaw issue, an early orthodontic consultation can help to clarify things. Our consultations are always free (and fun!), using the latest technology to help diagnose your child. Tap the link in bio to schedule😊

#orthodontist #braces #invisalign #clevelanddentist by @drdominicaportman

Hi Cleveland!

I’m excited be back in Cleveland where my dental journey began many years ago. Spain born but Cleveland raised, I attended Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine for my DMD degree. I practiced general dentistry for several years, and then found myself back at Case for orthodontics residency. ✨

To date, I have over 10 years of working experience in the dental field and am a huge orthodontics nerd, always reading and taking continuing education courses. My special interests include early childhood (Phase 1) treatment, custom braces, clear aligners (like Invisalign), and adult expansion.

Follow along to see a little piece of my orthodontics world and lots of smiles 😊

Se habla español.

#ClevelandOrthodontist
#ClevelandSmiles
#CLEDentist
#ClevelandOhio
#WomenInDentistry by @drdominicaportman

Orthodontists complete 2-3 additional years of full-time training focused only on moving teeth, jaw growth, bite function, and smile esthetics.

In fact, only about 6% of dentists become orthodontists.

Because moving teeth is not just a cosmetic procedure...
It’s biology, function, airway, growth, and long-term health.

Have questions about the right time to see an orthodontist? DM me “orthodontist” for more info🤎

#clevelanddentist #invisalign #orthodontics by @drdominicaportman

Digital, custom orthodontics. Not just scanning teeth and calling “high-tech”. I’m talking about using technology to plan better, customize treatment, and make the experience more efficient.

AI can generate an Invisalign plan - and then I can change it to make it truly custom.

CBCT lets us evaluate structures in 3D.

3D printing tech allows us to create custom appliances designed around your own anatomy (nothing stock).

The technology matters, but the real advantage is having an orthodontist who knows when to use it, how to interpret it, and when the computer needs to be told: “Nope. We’re doing it differently.”

That’s the kind of modern orthodontics I love 🤎
#orthodontist #invisalign #braces #expanders by @drdominicaportman

If you’re choosing an orthodontist, don’t make the mistake of focusing on price alone.

As a board-certified orthodontist who spent 7 years as a general dentist before specializing in orthodontics, I’ve seen what happens when treatment is done well... and when it’s not.

Orthodontics is about so much more than straight teeth.
It’s about a healthy bite, healthy jaws, airway health, and results that last long after your braces come off.

Before you commit to treatment, ask questions, understand your options, and choose a doctor you trust.

Because this is an investment in your health and confidence for decades to come.

If I were in your shoes, these are the things I’d focus on first.

⬇️ Which one surprised you the most?

#orthodontics #braces #invisalign #clevelanddentist by @drdominicaportman

If we made a Netflix documentary based on real patients in our chair.

A chronic thumb habit isn’t harmless. It’s constant pressure on the palate and on the teeth, and the longer it goes on, the more it affects the bite (narrow arch, open bite, protruding teeth)

Some habits need more than just a “wait it out phase”, and it’s worth a look with a dental professional.

#thumbsucking #orthodontics #braces #expanders by @drdominicaportman

Get that orthodontic consult. The wait is the only thing standing between you and that smile 🦷🤎

#endlesslove #orthodontics #invisalign #braces #cleveland by @drdominicaportman

Dogs are one of my favorite parts of life.

Today I’m breaking the silence and matching the temperaments of dental specialists to dog breeds. 👀😂

Tag your specialist friend or colleague 🤎

#orthodontics #invisalign #braces #dogsofinstagram by @drdominicaportman

As an orthodontist, I see a lot of the same mistakes being made over and over again.

Here are a few things I would never do:

❌ Spend thousands on braces or Invisalign and then stop wearing my retainers. Teeth will shift over time, and retainers remind them where to stay.

❌ Wait until all of my child’s adult teeth are in before getting an orthodontic evaluation. The earlier a child is screened the better their orthodontic journey will be. We can spot problems early and address them much easier while growth is still happening.

❌ Feed my child a primarily soft diet. Tough, crunchy and fibrous foods stimulate the facial muscles and help the jaw bones grow to their potential. Think raw veggies, apples and mangos, tough meats.

❌ Use mouth tape without finding out WHY I’m mouth breathing in the first place. The body is compensating for a reason, and we need to figure it out before resorting to a band-aid fix.

❌ Skip flossing, especially with braces. Food is so easily trapped around brackets and wires, so oral hygiene is extra important during treatment.

❌ Snack all day long and expect my teeth to stay cavity-free. Even snacks that seem healthier like crackers and goldfish can significantly increase cavity risk.

The good news? Most orthodontic problems are easier to prevent than they are to fix. The earlier we screen (especially for kiddos!), the easier orthodontics and dental treatment will be. And the better the oral hygiene is during treatment, the healthier the teeth will be after.

Which one surprised you the most?
👇 Tell me in the comments.

#clevelanddentist #orthodontist #braces #invisalign by @drdominicaportman

A few years ago I noticed something. Life was good…it was comfortable, predictable, stable. But I felt like I wasn’t being challenged anymore and that bothered me more than I expected it would.

So I stopped being so comfortable everyday.

Not perfectly or all at once. But I made a decision to start getting uncomfortable on purpose. (And that’s also when I applied to orthodontics residency 😅)

🤎 Initiate more conversations (easy and hard ones)
🤎 Try things I didn’t think I was the best at… and keep improving at them
🤎 Learn more about people & things I didn’t understand well
🤎 Network more
🤎 Feed the relationships in my life more

And then slowly over time I noticed that my life started to look and feel different. More confidence, more clarity, more skill, and more purpose.

Being comfortable but quietly restless is an invitation to improve✨

#clevelanddentist #invisalign #braces #selfcare #orthodontist by @drdominicaportman

Warning: if you follow me I’ll convince you that Invisalign and retainers are considered self-care. Follow at your own discretion 👀🙃

#orthodontist #clevelanddentist #braces #invisalign #selfcare by @drdominicaportman

The braces camp checklist you didn’t know you needed.

Because no mom wants a “my wire is poking me” call from camp 😅

Save this for later and send it to another camp mom

#clevelanddentist #camppackinglist #summercampvibes #summervibes☀️ #orthodontist by @drdominicaportman