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.

Orthodontist Serving Downtown Birmingham

If you are looking for an orthodontist serving Downtown Birmingham, Backus Smiles provides specialized orthodontic care for children, teenagers, and adults from across the city center. Dr. Dominique Backus has decades of experience evaluating and treating concerns involving tooth alignment, bite development, and jaw relationships. Patients from Downtown Birmingham, including those near the central business district, Railroad Park, Regions Field, UAB, and surrounding areas, can visit Backus Smiles for braces, Invisalign, clear aligners, retainers, early orthodontic evaluations, and other treatment options. Schedule a complimentary first visit to discuss your concerns and find out which orthodontic approach may be right for you.

Orthodontic Statistics in Birmingham

Orthodontic problems reach every age group here, not just kids. Adults make up a growing share of the patients we see, and children are being evaluated earlier than they were a generation ago. The reasons are much the same across the metro: crowded teeth, uneven bites, and jaws that did not grow the way they should.

Birmingham has the population to match that demand. It is a family city, and a sizable share of residents are still in the years when jaws grow and permanent teeth come in, which is the window when most orthodontic problems first show up.

• About one in three orthodontic patients is now an adult, according to the American Association of Orthodontists.
• Close to 19% of Birmingham residents are under 18, the age range for that first evaluation, per Census QuickFacts.
• The AAO recommends a first orthodontic check-up by age seven, before most permanent teeth arrive.
• Between 5% and 12% of people develop a jaw-joint disorder at some point, based on facial pain data from the NIDCR.

Common Causes of Crooked Teeth and Bite Problems

Crooked teeth rarely come from one thing. Genetics, habits, and the way the jaws grow all play a part, and most patients we see in Birmingham have some mix of them. Knowing what caused a problem helps explain why a particular treatment makes sense, and whether it is likely to come back without follow-up care.

• Genetics. Jaw size, tooth size, and bite patterns are passed down in families. If a parent had crowding or an underbite, a child often inherits the same tendency, which is one reason early evaluation is useful.
• Thumb-sucking and pacifier habits. Sucking that continues past the toddler years can push the front teeth forward and change how the upper jaw develops. The longer the habit lasts, the more it tends to affect the bite.
• Early or late loss of baby teeth. Baby teeth hold space for the permanent ones. When they fall out too soon or linger too long, the adult teeth can drift, crowd, or come in out of position.
• Mouth breathing and airway issues. Chronic mouth breathing, sometimes tied to enlarged tonsils or allergies, can shape how the jaw and palate grow over time.
• Tongue thrust. A tongue that pushes against the teeth when swallowing or resting can nudge them out of alignment and lead to an open bite.
• Jaw and joint problems. When the upper and lower jaws do not meet correctly, the strain can show up as clicking, soreness, or headaches. These concerns sometimes overlap with the bite, and we evaluate them together when they do.
• Injury or trauma. A blow to the mouth can shift teeth or affect jaw growth in a child, sometimes years before the change becomes obvious.
• Congenital conditions. Some children are born with differences that affect tooth development, including cleft lip and palate. Dr. Backus coordinates that dental work with a child’s surgeons as the child grows.

Most of these causes respond well to treatment, especially when they are caught while a child is still growing. For adults, the same problems are still correctable, though they sometimes take a little longer to resolve.

Birmingham Orthodontist FAQs

How much do braces or aligners cost?

There’s no flat rate. What you pay depends on the problem, the appliance, and how long you are in treatment. A minor correction costs less than full bite work, and braces and aligners aren’t always priced the same. We put the number in writing before you commit to anything, along with the payment plans that fit your budget. Most insurance covers part of orthodontic care, and our office handles the filing. For a real figure instead of a phone estimate, come in for a complimentary first visit.

Do I need a referral to see an orthodontist?

No. You can see an orthodontist directly, without a referral from a general dentist. Plenty of our patients come in on their own after noticing crowding, a shifting bite, or a smile they want to change. If your dentist suggested an evaluation, bring any records or images they took, since they can save a step. Either way, the first appointment starts with a full exam of your teeth and jaws.

What are my options if I don’t want visible braces?

Several. Clear aligners are removable trays that most people never notice, and many teens and adults choose them for that reason. For treatment that stays completely out of sight, braces can be bonded to the back of the teeth. The right choice depends on the complexity of your case and how consistently you will wear a removable tray. We will tell you honestly which one fits, rather than pushing the pricier option.

Are some braces more comfortable or lower-maintenance?

Self-ligating brackets can help. They hold the wire without elastic ties, which lowers friction and often means fewer adjustment visits. They are still fixed braces, so they handle complex cases that aligners cannot always manage. Comfort is personal, and some soreness after an adjustment is normal and short-lived. Getting used to life with braces usually takes a week or two, and it gets easier from there.

Can jaw pain or headaches be related to my bite?

Sometimes. When the upper and lower teeth don’t meet evenly, the muscles and joints that move the jaw can strain, and that strain can show up as clicking, tenderness, or headaches. Not every headache traces back to the bite, so we evaluate carefully before suggesting anything. When the bite is a factor, correcting the alignment can take pressure off the joint. We start with the least invasive option that fits.

What happens after my braces come off?

Teeth drift over a lifetime, so the last stage of treatment is retention. Once the braces come off or the final aligner is worn, you move into a retainer that holds everything in place. Most patients wear one full-time for a short while, then only at night, for the long term. We fit it, show you how to care for it, and replace it if it is ever lost or broken so your result stays put.

Do you treat adults, or only children and teens?

Both. A good share of our patients are grown, and many were told as children that nothing could be done. That is rarely true today. We treat adults with the same range of options we offer younger patients, from clear aligners to hidden braces, and we work around busy schedules. Adults across Birmingham, AL come to us for that reason, whether they skipped treatment growing up or are fixing teeth that shifted with age. It is never too late to correct a bite or straighten a smile you have never liked.

Orthodontic Care Across the Birmingham Area

Backus Smiles Orthodontics draws patients from across the city and the surrounding communities. Families come to us from Southside and Highland Park, from Forest Park and Avondale, and from the neighborhoods around Five Points South, along with the suburbs that ring the metro. Wherever you are coming from, our Birmingham, AL practice sees children, teens, and adults for evaluations, braces, aligners, and long-term care. Distance is rarely the deciding factor, since most treatment happens in visits spaced several weeks apart.

Local Resources for Birmingham Orthodontic Patients

A few Birmingham institutions offer care and information that patients sometimes need alongside private orthodontic treatment. We share them for convenience only.

• UAB Dentistry Orthodontics, part of the UAB School of Dentistry, provides orthodontic care through its faculty and resident clinics. Call (205) 934-3000.
• Children’s of Alabama is the state’s pediatric hospital and a resource for families whose children have cleft, craniofacial, or complex medical needs. Call (205) 638-9100.

Backus Smiles Orthodontics is not affiliated with these organizations, and listing them is not an endorsement. They are provided as independent points of reference.

About Backus Smiles Orthodontics

Dr. Dominique Backus earned the James P. Bordelon, DDS Memorial Award for Clinical Excellence in Orthodontics, and she brings that same standard to a practice known for its warmth. Her commitment to Birmingham reaches well past the office. Through community involvement with groups like Camp Smile-A-Mile and The Bell Center, her support has helped raise more than $120,000 in three years for children and adults with disabilities. When she is not creating smiles, she is usually with her husband, Jeff, and their three children, or reading and playing tennis.

Backus Smiles Orthodontics Birmingham Orthodontist

3507 Old Montgomery Hwy, Birmingham, AL 35209

What Our Clients Say

★★★★★

“Best orthodontist in Birmingham! Dr. Backus is the best! Her staff is excellent, too! I started seeing her in 2001 (after moving back from Florida) as a mid 40’s woman still wearing retainers and nite guards.”

JLRA

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Additional Resources

• Does My Child Need Early Orthodontics?
• 8 Key Signs Your Child Needs Braces
• Tips for Helping Your Child Adjust to Life With Braces
• Taking Care of Your New Braces
• Gum Chewing and Headaches

Contact Backus Smiles Orthodontics

Choosing an orthodontist is a long relationship, not a one-time purchase, so it is worth starting with a real conversation. Your first visit with our Birmingham orthodontist costs nothing: we examine your teeth and jaws, explain what treatment would involve, and put the price and timeline in writing before you decide anything. At Backus Smiles Orthodontics , we see children, teens, and adults, and we will work with your schedule to find times that fit. When you are ready to talk through your options, contact us and we will take it from there.