Traditional braces offer reliable, precise control in correcting a wide range of tooth alignment and bite concerns. Today’s braces are durable, effective, and customizable, making them a versatile option for children, teens, and adults with simple or more complex orthodontic needs. At Creekside Orthodontics in Billings, MT, your orthodontist evaluates your teeth, bite, age, and goals before recommending the approach that fits your smile.
What Are Traditional Braces?
Traditional braces use metal brackets bonded to the front of each tooth, connected by an archwire that applies steady, controlled pressure. Over the course of treatment, that pressure moves teeth into a better position and improves how the upper and lower teeth fit together. Because the brackets are fixed in place and work continuously, braces give your orthodontist control well-suited to detailed tooth movement and more involved bite correction.
Today’s brackets and wires are smaller and more comfortable than older designs, and elastics come in a range of colors, which many younger patients enjoy choosing at each visit.
What Traditional Braces Can Correct
Depending on your individual needs, treatment with braces may address:
- Crowded or crooked teeth
- Gaps and spacing between teeth
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Open bites
- Protruding teeth
- Tooth eruption or developing jaw concerns
The type and complexity of the orthodontic problem help determine the most appropriate treatment option, which is what your consultation is for.
Who Traditional Braces Are Right For
Braces for Kids
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. An early visit allows the orthodontist to monitor jaw growth, permanent tooth eruption, and developing bite concerns. Early evaluation does not mean every child needs immediate treatment. In many cases, the right approach is to monitor growth until the most appropriate time to begin care, and then use braces to do the detailed work once enough permanent teeth are in place.
Braces for Teens
The teen years are an important period for bite development as the permanent teeth settle into place and facial growth continues. Braces are a common choice at this stage because they stay in place and continue working without requiring a patient to wear them for a set number of hours each day. Creekside considers both the orthodontic correction needed and how treatment can realistically fit into school, activities, sports, and daily routines.
Braces for Adults
Orthodontic treatment can improve a smile at any age. Adults may seek care for crowding or bite concerns that were never treated, teeth that have shifted after earlier orthodontic treatment, or simply a smile they want to feel more confident about. Adult treatment plans also account for existing dental work, oral health, and individual lifestyle goals.
Designed Around Your Smile
Each series of braces are created according to a treatment plan developed for your individual teeth and bite.
What to Expect During Braces Treatment
A Creekside orthodontist plans and monitors your treatment from your first evaluation through your finished smile.
Consultation and Treatment Plan
Your free consultation begins with an evaluation of your teeth, bite, and, for younger patients, jaw growth and tooth development. Before anything begins, your orthodontist explains which treatment options fit your needs, what the correction involves, and what it will cost.
Placing Your Braces
At your placement appointment, your team bonds each bracket to a tooth and connects them with an archwire. The appointment is longer than a routine visit but does not require anesthesia, and your team will show you how to brush, floss, and eat comfortably with braces before you leave.
Adjustment Visits
Regular visits are part of orthodontic treatment, so Creekside makes care easier to fit into your daily schedule. At each adjustment, your orthodontist checks your progress and adjusts the wires or elastics to keep tooth movement on track. Consistent participation throughout treatment helps keep tooth movement progressing as planned.
Retainers After Braces
Once your braces come off, a retainer holds your teeth in their new position while the surrounding bone and tissue settle. Wearing it as directed protects the result you earned through treatment.
Traditional Braces Compared With Clear Braces and Invisalign®
Traditional braces are one of several options at Creekside. Clear braces provide the same proven tooth-moving control of fixed braces with a more discreet appearance, using tooth-colored or ceramic brackets that blend more naturally with your smile. Invisalign clear aligners use a customized series of nearly invisible, removable aligners and can offer teens and adults a flexible way to fit treatment into everyday life, though they depend on consistent wear.
Traditional braces are often recommended when the correction is complex, when detailed control matters most, or when a patient would rather not manage a removable appliance. You can compare every option on our orthodontic treatment page, and a free consultation lets you compare options and receive a personalized treatment recommendation.
How Long Does Treatment With Braces Take?
Treatment time varies depending on the type and complexity of the orthodontic correction needed and how your teeth respond to treatment. After your evaluation and treatment planning, your orthodontist can give you a personalized estimate rather than a general range.
Cost, Insurance, and Payment Options
The cost of orthodontic care depends on your individual treatment needs and recommended plan. Before treatment begins, Creekside reviews your estimated costs, insurance benefits, and available payment options so you know what to expect.
Creekside Orthodontics accepts most major insurance plans and offers flexible payment options, including CareCredit. The practice also participates in Medicaid and Montana Healthy Kids for qualified patients. Patients who can obtain an orthodontic referral from their Indian Health Services dental practice may have the IHS grant cover the full cost of treatment.
Our team can help you understand the benefits available through your plan and discuss payment arrangements that fit your treatment. Learn more about insurance and payment options.
Why Choose Creekside Orthodontics?
Dr. Chad Lambourne and Dr. Gregory England lead Creekside Orthodontics. Meet our orthodontists to learn more about their training and approach.
- Specialist orthodontic care: our team evaluates the bite, tooth position, growth, and overall smile before recommending treatment, not just the appearance of individual teeth.
- Personalized treatment at every stage: each plan is built around the patient’s development, bite, goals, and daily routine, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Convenient care for busy families: request appointments online or by phone and complete new-patient paperwork before your first visit.
- A friendly, welcoming experience: an energetic, comfortable environment with compassionate care from the first consultation through the finished smile.
Schedule a Free Consultation in Billings
Whether you are exploring braces for your child, your teen, or yourself, the first step is understanding your options. Schedule a free consultation with Creekside Orthodontics in Billings to discuss your concerns, learn which treatment options may be appropriate, and receive a personalized recommendation for your smile.
Creekside Orthodontics
1241 N Transtech Way
Billings, MT 59102
Visit Our Billings Office
Start With a Free Orthodontics Consultation in Billings
Schedule a free orthodontic consultation with Creekside Orthodontics in Billings. You’ll meet with our team, discuss your goals, and learn whether Invisalign is a good fit for your teeth, bite, and lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions About Traditional Braces
When your child is ready for ongoing dental care, the questions you have about what to expect and what to worry about may be overwhelming. Thankfully, Dr. Snider can be your reliable expert! Below, you’ll find plenty of answers to some of the most common questions we receive at our Billings, MT practice. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask directly.
At What Age Should My Child First See an Orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an initial orthodontic evaluation by age 7. At that age, treatment isn’t always necessary, but an evaluation lets the orthodontist monitor jaw growth, permanent tooth eruption, and developing bite concerns, and determine the right time for treatment if needed.
Can Adults Get Braces?
Yes. Orthodontic treatment can move healthy teeth at many ages. Adults seek treatment for many reasons, including crowding, spacing, bite concerns, teeth that have shifted over time, or a desire to improve their smile.
Do Braces Hurt?
Most patients feel pressure or tenderness for a few days after braces are placed and after adjustments, which typically eases on its own. Your team will talk through what to expect and how to stay comfortable during those first days.
What Foods Should Be Avoided With Braces?
Hard, sticky, and chewy foods can loosen a bracket or bend a wire, so it’s best to avoid them during treatment. You will get specific guidance at your placement appointment, along with instructions for brushing and flossing around brackets.
How Do I Know Whether Braces or Aligners Are Right for Me?
The right treatment depends on your teeth, bite, age, growth, orthodontic goals, and lifestyle. During your consultation, your Creekside orthodontist will evaluate your smile and explain which treatment options fit your needs.
Does Insurance Cover Braces?
Many dental insurance plans include orthodontic benefits, but coverage varies by plan. Creekside accepts most major insurance plans and can help you understand your benefits. Flexible payment options, including CareCredit, are also available, and Creekside participates in Medicaid and Montana Healthy Kids for qualified patients.
