Choosing orthodontic care for yourself or your child brings up plenty of questions, and clear answers make each decision easier. This resource center gathers plain-language guides on bite problems, treatment options, daily care, and paying for treatment, along with trusted Alabama and national resources for families across the Birmingham area. When you want a personal recommendation, a Birmingham orthodontist can evaluate your teeth and bite in person. Backus Smiles welcomes patients at our office on Old Montgomery Highway in the Homewood area. For forms, office policies, and at-home instructions, visit our patient resources page.
Getting Started With Orthodontic Care
Many questions come up before anyone mentions braces. These guides explain what an evaluation involves and how to tell when it may be time to schedule one.
What to Expect at Your First Orthodontic Visit. Our first visit guide covers the exam, photos, digital records, and treatment discussion, plus what to bring and which questions to ask before you leave.
When Should Your Child First See an Orthodontist? Parents often wonder how early is too early. Our guide to early checkup timing explains what an early evaluation looks for and why a checkup does not always mean treatment starts right away.
Orthodontist vs. Dentist: What’s the Difference? Your general dentist and your orthodontist play different roles in your care. This orthodontist and dentist comparison describes the added training behind the specialty and why you keep seeing your dentist during treatment.
Signs You or Your Child May Need Braces Crowding, bite discomfort, and trouble chewing can all be reasons to schedule an evaluation. Our list of signs you need braces describes what to watch for in children, teens, and adults, without replacing an in-person exam.
Understanding Common Orthodontic Problems
Orthodontic problems involve how the teeth and jaws fit together as much as how a smile looks. These pages explain common conditions in everyday language so you can have a more informed conversation at your consultation.
Common Bite Problems Explained. Overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, and overjet each describe a different way the teeth can meet. Our bite problems guide explains each one and how it may affect chewing and speaking.
Crowded Teeth and Gaps Between Teeth. Teeth can crowd together or spread apart for a range of reasons. Our page on crowding and spacing looks at common causes and how alignment can affect brushing, flossing, and tooth wear.
Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment Beyond a Straight Smile. Orthodontic care can affect more than appearance. Our overview of orthodontic treatment benefits explains the functional reasons patients consider treatment, using measured and sourced information.
Orthodontic Treatment Options
Patients today have more than one way to straighten teeth and correct a bite. Backus Smiles offers metal and clear braces, Damon™ System self-ligating braces, lingual braces placed behind the teeth, Invisalign® clear aligners, and Spark™ Clear Aligners. These guides explain how the options differ so you can weigh them before your visit.
Types of Braces Explained. Our types of braces guide compares metal, ceramic, self-ligating, and lingual braces on appearance, upkeep, and the kinds of cases each may suit.
Braces vs. Clear Aligners: Which Is Right for You? Case complexity, daily wear time, and lifestyle all shape this choice. Our braces or aligners comparison walks through each factor so you know what to ask about.
Orthodontic Treatment for Adults. Adults pursue orthodontic care for many reasons, from long-standing crowding to teeth that have shifted over time. Our guide to adult orthodontic treatment covers discreet options, gum and bone health, and coordinating care with your dentist.
Orthodontics for Kids and Teens. Treatment for an 8-year-old often looks different from treatment for a 14-year-old. Our page on orthodontics for kids explains early interceptive care, comprehensive teen treatment, common appliances such as expanders, and how families can plan around school schedules.
Cleft Lip and Palate Orthodontic Care. Children born with a cleft lip or palate may face tooth development problems that call for coordinated care as they grow. Our cleft care guide explains how orthodontic treatment can fit into a team plan alongside oral surgeons and other providers.
Life During Orthodontic Treatment
Once treatment begins, daily habits and regular appointments matter. These guides help patients and parents handle routine care, unexpected problems, and the transition out of active treatment.
Caring for Your Braces or Aligners. Brushing around brackets, choosing foods, and keeping aligners clean all take some practice. Our braces and aligner care page shares practical tips, including ways to manage soreness after adjustments.
How Long Does Orthodontic Treatment Take? Treatment length depends on your evaluation. Our treatment timeline guide explains how case complexity, age, wear time, and appointment attendance can each affect the schedule.
How to Handle an Orthodontic Emergency. A poking wire or loose bracket is usually manageable until your next visit, while a hard blow to the mouth may need urgent attention. Our orthodontic emergency tips explain when to call our office and when to seek urgent care.
Playing Sports With Braces. Athletes in Birmingham-area school and club leagues can keep playing during treatment with the right precautions. Our page on sports with braces covers mouthguard types and what to do after a hit to the mouth.
Retainers: Protecting Your Results After Treatment. Teeth can shift after braces or aligners come off. Our retainer guide compares fixed and removable retainers and explains general wear and cleaning habits.
Paying for Orthodontic Treatment
The cost of care depends on the treatment plan recommended at your evaluation. These pages explain what shapes that cost and which benefits and payment tools may help your family plan ahead.
How Much Do Braces Cost? Treatment type, case complexity, length of care, and retainers all influence the total. Our guide to the cost of braces breaks down each factor so the numbers at your consultation make sense.
Orthodontic Insurance, HSAs, FSAs, and Payment Plans. Orthodontic benefits often come with lifetime maximums and age limits. Our page on insurance and financing explains how coverage typically works, how tax-advantaged accounts may apply, and how Alabama Medicaid and ALL Kids fit in.
Trusted Oral Health Resources
Outside organizations can help you verify credentials, understand coverage, and learn more about specific conditions. These sources offer reliable information for Birmingham and Alabama families.
- Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama: The board’s dental license lookup lets you confirm that an Alabama dentist or orthodontist holds a current license.
- American Association of Orthodontists: The AAO’s orthodontist locator tool lists member orthodontists, which is helpful when you want to confirm specialty membership.
- ADA MouthHealthy: The American Dental Association’s orthodontics overview explains how braces, aligners, and retainers are used to create and keep a healthy bite.
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: The NIDCR cleft information page gathers federal and nonprofit resources for families learning about cleft lip and palate.
- IRS Publication 502: The IRS guide to medical and dental expenses describes which costs count as qualified expenses, a useful starting point before you check your HSA or FSA plan rules.
- Alabama Medicaid: The agency’s dental program FAQ notes that medically necessary orthodontic treatment must be requested through a qualified multidisciplinary clinic and approved by Medicaid in advance.
- ALL Kids: Alabama’s CHIP program, administered by the Alabama Department of Public Health, offers low-cost ALL Kids coverage that includes dental care for eligible children under 19.
- InsureKidsNow.gov: The federal Medicaid dentist locator helps families find a dentist who sees children and accepts Medicaid and CHIP.
- Children’s of Alabama: Birmingham families can learn about the hospital’s Cleft and Craniofacial Center, which uses a multidisciplinary team to care for children born with craniofacial differences.
- American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association: ACPA’s approved team finder helps families locate cleft and craniofacial teams that meet its standards for team care.
Local Birmingham Resources
Families in Birmingham, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, and Mountain Brook often weigh drive time and school-day scheduling along with credentials. Our office at 3507 Old Montgomery Highway sits in the Homewood area, and we also see patients through our Sylacauga orthodontist office. Families north of the city can learn about care for Gardendale orthodontic patients.
Choosing an Orthodontist in Birmingham: Questions to Ask. Our guide to choosing an orthodontist explains which credentials to check, what a helpful consultation feels like, and how location and appointment times may affect your family’s routine.
Birmingham Orthodontic FAQs. Our Birmingham orthodontic FAQs offer quick answers about areas served, scheduling around the school day, and other local questions, with links to the full guides for more detail.
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation With a Birmingham Orthodontist
Backus Smiles is led by Dr. Dominique Backus, who brings 27 years of experience to care for children, teens, and adults. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1997, an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Certificate in 1998, and a Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics in 2000, along with the James P. Bordelon, DDS Memorial Award for Clinical Excellence in Orthodontics. She is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Southern Association of Orthodontists, and the American Dental Association. Her community involvement earned a 2010 Volunteer in Philanthropy Award.
Our team offers traditional braces, lingual braces placed behind the teeth, early orthodontic care, and clear aligner treatment with Invisalign® or Spark™ Clear Aligners. Our Homewood-area office makes us an orthodontist close to home for many families, including those who drive in from Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook. Your first visit is complimentary, and you can reach our office to schedule a visit.