Denver Braces Treatment for Kids, Teens, and Adults

At Foundations Orthodontics, our bite correction expert and board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Renee Moran, Caitlin White, and our team do more than just straighten the teeth with dental braces; we take a holistic approach that accounts for the entire dental and facial systems in order to create a stable, strong foundation for your new smile.

While braces are a tried and true way to achieve outstanding results in patients of all ages, we know some patients worry about having the notorious “metal mouth.” That’s not the case at Foundations Orthodontics! We offer a variety of different types of braces, including modern metal braces that are smaller and more streamlined than those of the past, as well as aesthetic, clear braces. We pair both our metal braces and clear, ceramic braces with heat-activated archwires that use your body heat to help teeth move more quickly and with less discomfort.

To find out which of our Denver braces options are right for you, schedule an exam at our Denver, Centennial, Granby, or Winter Park, Colorado orthodontics offices today!

Do I Need Braces?

If you have a problem with your bite or you have misaligned teeth, braces are an excellent choice. Our doctors use braces for kids, teens, and adults to fix a range of orthodontic concerns. While the only way to know for certain whether braces are the best solution for you is to schedule a consultation (you can book your visit here!), to give you a better idea, here are some of the most common reasons our Denver braces patients seek out treatment:

Crowding

When there’s not enough room in the jaw to fit all of the teeth, in an attempt to squeeze in, teeth may overlap, twist, or get blocked out of line. Crowded, crooked teeth are harder to keep clean, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Crowding can also result in uneven wear and put undue stress on the jaw joints, leading to TMJ dysfunction, headaches, and pain.

Both metal braces and clear braces can create more space to alleviate crowding. When crowding is due to an upper jaw that’s too small, phase 1 orthodontic treatment while a patient is still growing may be recommended prior to braces in the teen years. By expanding the jaw, we can encourage the permanent teeth to erupt in their ideal positions, while also improving the bite and opening the airway.

Spacing

Spacing, sometimes referred to as “gap teeth,” is when there are gaps between two or more teeth. Spacing can make oral hygiene more difficult, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease, as well as cause bone loss, uneven wear of the enamel, and stress on the jaw joints.

Our doctors can use any of the different types of braces for gaps between the teeth. Even if a patient has a missing or impacted tooth, braces can help to align the remaining teeth, making room for an impacted tooth to erupt on its own or for your dentist to place a restoration like a dental bridge or dental implant to replace a missing tooth.

Overbite (Deep Bite)

Overbite refers to the vertical overlap of the front teeth. While almost everyone has some degree of an overbite, when the top teeth overlap the bottom teeth to an excessive degree, it’s known as a deep bite, and orthodontic treatment is recommended. In extreme cases, the bottom teeth may even bite into the soft tissues behind the top teeth.

If not treated, an excessive overbite, or deep bite, can make the front teeth more susceptible to injury, cause breathing difficulties, including sleep apnea, interfere with chewing and speaking, result in jaw and TMJ pain, cause headaches, and increase the likelihood of developing gum disease and cavities.

The good news is, braces are an excellent way to treat a deep bite. Our doctors will create a treatment plan that straightens the teeth, helps the upper and lower jaw come together properly, and encourages the healthiest and most stable TMJ position. In some cases, particularly when an excessive overbite is skeletal in nature, early diagnosis and intervention will help achieve the best results.

Overjet Teeth

When a patient’s top front teeth stick out too far forward in relation to the bottom front teeth, they’re said to have overjet teeth. The terms overjet and overbite are often used interchangeably. However, there is a difference between the two. While overbite is in reference to the vertical overlap of the front top teeth over the front bottom teeth, overjet describes the horizontal distance between upper and lower front teeth. Any of our Denver braces choices will be effective for overjet teeth correction.

Open Bite

An open bite is when there is a complete lack of an overbite. In cases of an open bite, there will be an opening or space between the top and bottom teeth when the jaws are closed. An open bite can interfere with biting, chewing, and speaking, as well as cause jaw pain, TMJ dysfunction, and headaches. Additionally, the teeth that are touching will become overloaded and the enamel will break down. Our doctors can often treat an open bite with either metal braces or clear, ceramic braces.

Crossbite

When some of the bottom teeth sit in front of some of the top teeth when the mouth is closed, it’s called a crossbite. A patient can have a posterior crossbite (back crossbite) or an anterior crossbite (front crossbite). A crossbite can usually be treated with braces.

However, since patients often compensate for a crossbite by shifting the jaw to one side, it can lead to permanent changes in the jaw and facial structure. When this is the case, early diagnosis and treatment, which will most commonly involve the expansion of the upper jaw in phase 1 treatment, followed by braces in phase 2 treatment, could be the ideal approach.

Underbite

An underbite is when the bottom teeth are positioned in front of the top teeth when the jaws are closed. An underbite can increase the risk of developing cavities and gum disease; interfere with breathing, chewing, and speaking; cause facial asymmetry; result in TMJ dysfunction and pain; and lead to excessive wear of the enamel. While braces can fix an underbite, many times, early orthodontic treatment while a child is still growing can help direct jaw growth, and prevent the need for corrective jaw surgery down the road.

The Benefits of Braces Treatment With a Holistic Approach'

Of course, our Denver clear braces and metal braces will improve the appearance of your smile and face as a whole. However, the benefits of braces, particularly in the context of our holistic approach, are more than just cosmetic and include:

Promoting healthy teeth and gums by making teeth easier to clean
Warding off excessive wear of the teeth
Correcting facial asymmetry
Preventing bone loss and, as a result, tooth loss
Optimally positioning the jaw joints to treat or prevent TMJ problems, jaw and facial pain, headaches, and dysfunction
Strengthening the entire chewing system, and helping you bite into foods and chew properly for good nutrition
Improving speech
Opening the airway, which alleviates sleep-disordered breathing like sleep apnea
Helping with teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism)
Shifting protruding teeth back, making them less susceptible to injury
Boosting confidence and self-esteem!