Birmingham Orthodontist

Are you looking for an orthodontist in Birmingham, AL?

We provide orthodontic care for Birmingham families, grounded in 27 years of clinical experience and advanced training in orthodontics.

If your child is showing signs of crowding, your bite has never felt right, or you have spent years hiding your smile, our Birmingham, AL orthodontist can help you sort out what treatment is right for you. Dr. Dominique Backus holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery and a Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics, with 27 years of clinical practice behind her work. At Backus Smiles Orthodontics, we treat children, teens, and adults. Ready when you are, we offer a complimentary first visit so you can ask questions before committing to anything.

Orthodontist in Birmingham, AL

An orthodontist is a dental specialist who corrects the position of teeth and the way the upper and lower jaws fit together. After dental school, an orthodontist trains for additional years in tooth movement, bite correction, and facial growth. As a Birmingham orthodontist, Dr. Backus diagnoses alignment problems, plans treatment, and follows each case from the first visit through retention.

Our patients come to us for different reasons. Some parents bring in young children for an early evaluation. Teenagers often need braces or clear aligners during the years their permanent teeth settle in. Plenty of adults decide, sometimes decades later, that they are finally ready to fix a smile that always bothered them. We see all of them at our Birmingham, AL practice.

Orthodontic Services We Offer in Birmingham

We handle the full range of orthodontic treatment under one roof, from a child’s first appliance to an adult’s clear aligners. What you need depends on your bite, your goals, and your stage of life. Here is what we provide for patients across Birmingham.

• Braces. Fixed braces correct complex crowding and bite problems with steady, predictable force. We fit traditional metal brackets and tooth-colored versions for patients who want something a little less noticeable.
• Invisalign. A series of removable, transparent trays gradually shifts the teeth without brackets or wires. Many teens and adults prefer them because the trays come out for meals, brushing, and the occasional photo.
• Adult braces. It is never too late. We treat plenty of patients who were told as children that nothing could be done, and our options run from discreet aligners to brackets hidden behind the teeth.
• Damon System brackets. These self-ligating brackets move teeth into position with less friction and binding than conventional braces, often resulting in fewer adjustments along the way.
• Spark clear aligners. An alternative aligner system known for its clarity and stain resistance, Spark suits patients seeking a nearly invisible option.
• Lingual braces. Bonded to the back of the teeth, these brackets stay completely out of sight while still correcting alignment.
• Retainers and other appliances. Treatment does not end the day the braces come off. Retainers, expanders, and similar appliances hold or guide teeth at different points in care.
• TMJ treatment. Jaw pain, clicking, and tension headaches sometimes trace back to how the bite functions. We evaluate these concerns when they overlap with orthodontic problems.
• Cleft lip and palate care. Clefts can affect feeding, speech, hearing, and tooth development. Dr. Backus works alongside oral surgeons to correct clefts and manage the dental problems that surface as a child grows.

Why Choose Backus Smiles Orthodontics for Orthodontics in Birmingham, AL?

Experience and Credentials You Can Verify

Dr. Dominique Backus has practiced orthodontics for 27 years. She earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1997 and completed a Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics in 2000, having finished summa cum laude in microbiology beforehand. Her memberships include the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, the Alabama Association of Orthodontists, and the Birmingham District Dental Society, as well as the LSU School of Dentistry and UAB orthodontic alumni associations. Over those years, the work has resulted in thousands of finished smiles across the metro area.

Care That Fits Birmingham Families

We are not a chain. This is a local Birmingham, AL orthodontist practice with deep roots in the community. Dr. Backus volunteers with area charities when she is not creating smiles. We accept most major insurance plans and offer flexible financing so cost is not a barrier to care. Digital imaging keeps appointments efficient and treatment precise. Finished cases, from mild crowding to full bite correction, fill our smile gallery. Patients tend to remember the warmth and patience Dr. Backus brings to every visit just as much as the result.

Understanding Orthodontic Care

Orthodontic problems are common, and most of them respond well to treatment. Knowing what you are dealing with, and what care actually involves, makes the whole decision easier.

Conditions We Treat and Treatment Options

Malocclusion is the catch-all term for teeth and jaws that do not fit together correctly. Most cases fall into a handful of familiar patterns, and the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check around age seven so issues get caught early. We commonly treat:

• Crowding. When the jaw runs short on room, teeth twist, overlap, and trap plaque. Braces or aligners open up space and straighten the arch.
• Overbite, underbite, and crossbite. A bite that meets unevenly wears the teeth and strains the jaw over time. We use braces and appliances to gradually correct bite problems.
• Spacing and gaps. Some patients have the opposite issue, with noticeable spaces between teeth that close nicely under treatment.
• Early signs in children. Crowding, crossbites, and baby teeth that linger too long are common warning signs in children that a checkup can confirm.

What treatment looks like depends on the problem in front of us. Damon System braces move teeth with less friction, lingual braces hide behind the teeth, and removable trays straighten teeth without much notice. For many patients, the real decision is aligners or braces, which comes down to the complexity of the case, the look you want, and how consistently you will wear a tray.

What Should You Expect from Orthodontic Treatment?

• We start with a full exam and digital X-rays, so the plan is based on what is actually happening beneath the surface.
• You will get a clear breakdown of options, length of treatment, and cost before anything begins.
• Adjustment visits happen every few weeks, and most take far less time than the first appointment.
• Some soreness after a tightening is normal and short-lived. It is a sign that the teeth are moving.

Timing matters too. For a young child, early orthodontic care can guide jaw growth before problems take hold. Treatment is not only for kids, either. Plenty of our patients begin Invisalign as adults and finish with a smile they wish they had years earlier.

What Is The Typical Treatment Timeline?

• First visit. A clinical exam, digital images, and a conversation about your goals and concerns.
• Planning. We map out the appliance, the care sequence, and the expected treatment duration.
• Active treatment. Braces or aligners do the work, with check-ins every few weeks. Most courses run for several months to roughly two years.
• Finishing. Once teeth reach their positions, the braces come off or the final aligner is worn.
• Retention. Retainers and appliances hold everything in place so the result lasts.

Every timeline shifts with age, case complexity, and how closely the plan is followed, so treat these as a general arc rather than a promise.

What Should You Bring to Your First Visit?

• Your insurance card and a photo ID.
• Any recent X-rays or records from a previous dentist or orthodontist.
• A current list of medications and relevant medical history.
• The questions on your mind, written down so none slip away.

The first appointment is mostly conversation and evaluation. You will leave knowing whether treatment is needed, what it would involve, and what it would cost.

What Are Some Important Alabama Orthodontic Resources?

Good information helps you make decisions and check credentials. A few reliable sources, none of which replace a conversation with your orthodontist, are worth bookmarking.

• The Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama lets you confirm that a provider holds a current, valid license in the state.
• The Alabama Department of Public Health runs statewide oral health programs, from school screenings to community water fluoridation.
• General guidance on CDC oral health covers prevention, cavities, and how mouth health ties into the rest of the body.
• For families, the CDC also publishes practical advice on children’s oral health and daily care at home.

Contact Backus Smiles Orthodontics

Straightening your teeth, or your child’s, starts with a single appointment. Contact us to set up a complimentary first visit, during which Dr. Backus will examine your bite, answer your questions, and walk you through the options that fit your situation. There is no obligation and no pressure to begin that day. We see children, teens, and adults, and you will always get a straight answer about what treatment would involve. When you are ready to work with a trusted Birmingham orthodontist, we are glad to help. Backus Smiles Orthodontics has cared for Birmingham, AL smiles for more than 27 years, and we would be happy to add yours.