Northern Smiles Dentistry Orthodontics
Orthodontist in North Phoenix, AZ
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Precise Treatments
Getting a smile you can't wait to show off takes precision! Our expert team has the equipment and training to ensure you gain a smile you love.
Affordable Treatments
Orthodontic treatment is an investment in a lifetime of healthier teeth. We offer braces and clear aligners at competitive rates with CareCredit financing and lay out the full cost before you begin.
Flexible Scheduling
Orthodontics means regular adjustment visits over many months. We schedule them around school, work, and family life so treatment stays on track without disrupting your routine.
What orthodontic treatment is available at Northern Smiles?
Orthodontic treatment moves teeth into better alignment using steady, gentle pressure applied over months. We offer traditional metal braces, tooth-coloured ceramic braces, and clear aligners; the right choice depends on how complex your case is, your age, and your lifestyle. We treat children, teens and adults. Straightening teeth is not only cosmetic — crowded or misaligned teeth are harder to clean and more prone to decay and gum disease, and an uneven bite can wear enamel unevenly. Braces in Arizona typically cost $3,000 – $7,000 for metal and $4,000 – $8,000 for ceramic, with dental insurance commonly covering up to 50%. Clear aligners run about $3,000 – $4,000 for minor corrections and $6,000 – $8,000 for complex cases. Treatment usually runs 18 months to two years, with a short adjustment visit every few weeks, and finishes with a retainer to hold the result. Consultations are free.
A Great Looking Smile
Braces & Orthodontics at Northern Smiles
Northern Smiles Dentistry & Orthodontics provides full orthodontic care in Phoenix, AZ for children, teens, and adults. Dr. Troy Stansberry evaluates your bite, explains what is actually causing the problem, and lays out the options before any appliance goes on.
This page covers braces and growth-guiding treatment. If you are specifically after removable trays, see ClearCorrect clear aligners in North Phoenix.
Why It Matters
Why does straightening teeth matter beyond looks?
A straighter smile is usually what brings people in, and it is a genuine benefit — it changes how confident people feel in a room. But alignment does real mechanical work too.
Teeth that meet correctly bite and chew efficiently and spread force evenly, instead of concentrating it on a handful of teeth that then wear down or crack. Straight teeth are also far easier to clean: crowded, overlapping teeth trap plaque in places floss cannot reach, which is why crowding so often shows up alongside decay and gum disease.
Orthodontics works by harnessing the body’s own remodelling process. Light, constant pressure reshapes the bone around the roots and lets teeth migrate into better positions — slowly, and on the body’s schedule rather than ours.
Types of Braces
What braces options do you offer?
Braces have not stood still. The metal-and-wire image most people carry around is now only one of several options.
Traditional Metal Braces
Small brackets bonded to the front of each tooth with an archwire running through them. They remain the most versatile and predictable option, they handle the hardest cases, and they are typically the most affordable. Modern brackets are considerably smaller than the ones adults remember.
Ceramic & Clear Braces
The same mechanics with brackets made of ceramic or clear material that blends with your enamel. Apart from the thin archwire they are hard to spot at conversational distance — a common choice for adults who need the reliability of fixed braces without the appearance.
Lingual Braces
Bonded to the tongue side of the teeth, so they are invisible from the front. They take longer to adapt to and are not right for every bite, but nobody sees them at all.
What We Correct
Which bite problems can orthodontics correct?
Most bite problems become visible around age 7, once enough permanent teeth have arrived to show how the jaws are relating to each other.
The Common Ones
Overbite — upper front teeth sit too far over the lower ones. Underbite — the lower teeth sit ahead of the uppers. Crossbite — upper and lower teeth close in the wrong relationship, often to one side. Open bite — a gap remains between top and bottom teeth even when the jaws are shut. Crowding and spacing — too little or too much room for the teeth present.
Why Correcting Them Is Worth It
Left alone, these place uneven load on particular teeth and on the jaw joint. Over years that shows up as worn enamel, cracked teeth, jaw discomfort, and gum recession — problems considerably more expensive to fix than the original misalignment.
Every Age
Is orthodontic treatment right for adults?
The right time to start depends far more on jaw development than on age alone.
Children
An evaluation around age 7 is not about putting a 7-year-old in braces — it is about spotting problems while the jaws are still growing and can be guided. A palatal expander, for instance, can widen a narrow upper jaw to create room for teeth that would otherwise come in crowded. Catching that early often shortens or simplifies later treatment.
Teens
The classic window. Most permanent teeth are in, growth is still underway, and teeth respond quickly.
Adults
You have not missed the boat — healthy teeth move at any age, and roughly one in five orthodontic patients today is an adult. Treatment can take a little longer once growth has finished, and we screen carefully for gum disease first, treating it before moving anything.
After Treatment
Do you have to wear a retainer after braces?
The day the braces come off is not the end of treatment. Teeth have a persistent tendency to drift back toward where they began, and the months right after removal are when they are most likely to.
Wearing your retainer exactly as directed holds everything still long enough for new bone and ligament to form around the roots and lock in the result. Skipping it is far and away the most common reason people find their teeth crowding again a few years later, after paying for treatment once already.
See our after-care instructions for the full routine.
How much do braces cost in Arizona?
Braces in Arizona cost $3,000 – $7,000 for traditional metal, $4,000 – $8,000 for clear ceramic, and $8,000 – $10,000 for lingual braces. Dental insurance commonly covers up to 50%, which puts metal braces at roughly $1,500 to $3,500 out of pocket.
| Type of braces | Average cost | Insurance coverage | Potential out-of-pocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal braces | $3,000 – $7,000 | Up to 50% | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Clear ceramic braces | $4,000 – $8,000 | Up to 50% | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Lingual braces | $8,000 – $10,000 | Up to 50% | $4,000 – $5,000 |
| Clear aligners | $4,000 – $7,400 | Up to 50% | $2,000 – $3,700 |
Consultations are free, and we verify your orthodontic benefit before treatment starts. See our full breakdown of braces costs in Arizona.
Braces or clear aligners: which suits your case?
| Metal braces | Ceramic braces | Clear aligners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost in Arizona | $3,000 – $7,000 | $4,000 – $8,000 | $4,000 – $7,400 |
| Appearance | Most visible | Tooth-coloured brackets | Nearly invisible |
| Removable | No — fixed until treatment ends | No — fixed until treatment ends | Yes — taken out to eat and clean |
| Typically suits | Any case, including complex bite correction | The same cases, more discreetly | Mild to moderate crowding and spacing |
| Insurance | Commonly up to 50% | Commonly up to 50% | Commonly up to 50% |
Clear aligners are the more discreet option, but they cannot do everything braces can — see what clear aligners can and cannot fix. We will tell you honestly which of these your case actually needs.
When should orthodontic treatment start?
| Age | What is usually happening | What we typically do |
|---|---|---|
| Around 7 | Enough permanent teeth have arrived to show how the jaws relate | A first evaluation. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends this age — it is about spotting the pattern and planning timing, not starting treatment |
| Roughly 11–14 | Most permanent teeth are in and the jaw is still growing | The most common window for braces or aligners, because growth can be worked with |
| Adult | Growth has finished, but teeth still move | Treatment works at any age. A large share of orthodontic patients are adults correcting something they have lived with for years |
Wondering whether your bite is even outside the normal range? See what a normal smile looks like.
Braces adjustments without the cross-town drive
Braces mean a short adjustment visit every few weeks for a year or more, and for families those trips add up fast. Our office is on 16th Street between Glendale and Northern Avenues, so appointments from Sunnyslope, Moon Valley or the North Mountain area fit either side of a school run rather than taking half a day. More on our North Phoenix dental office.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should my child see an orthodontist? +
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by around age 7. That doesn't mean treatment starts then — it lets us spot issues early and plan the best timing.
What orthodontic options do you offer? +
We provide traditional metal braces, tooth-colored (ceramic) braces, and clear aligners. The right choice depends on the complexity of your case, your age, and your lifestyle.
How long does orthodontic treatment take? +
Most cases take roughly 12 to 24 months, though simple corrections can be faster and complex ones longer. We give you an estimated timeline at your consultation.
Can adults get braces or clear aligners? +
Absolutely. About one in five orthodontic patients is an adult. Clear aligners and tooth-colored braces make treatment discreet, and healthy teeth can be moved at any age.
Do I need a referral for orthodontic treatment? +
No referral is needed — you can book an orthodontic consultation with us directly, and we'll examine your bite and recommend the best treatment options.
Related reading
Answers to the questions patients ask us most about this treatment.
Understanding the Cost of Braces in Arizona
In this guide, we'll break down the typical cost of braces in Arizona in an easy-to-understand way, so you'll know exactly what to budget for.
Read articleWhat Does a Normal Smile Look Like?
What a normal smile actually looks like, how much overbite is normal, and when an overbite is worth treating. A Phoenix orthodontic guide.
Read articleSmile Brighter in the Valley of the Sun: Your Ultimate Guide to Phoenix Orthodontists
Choose the top Orthodontist Phoenix trusts for stunning smiles. Visit us for expert orthodontic care and achieve the perfect smile you deserve.
Read articleOther services
More ways our Phoenix team can help.
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Troy Stansberry, D.D.S.
Dr. Troy Stansberry grew up in Phoenix, AZ and attended Creighton University for his bachelors, and Creighton School of Dentistry for his D.D.S. degree.
Meet Dr. StansberryBook Now
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Feel free to contact us at Northern Smiles Dentistry with any questions or concerns
Opening Hours
- Monday 07:30 AM - 4:00 PM
- Tuesday 08:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Wednesday 07:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Thursday 07:30 AM - 3:00 PM
- Friday 07:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Saturday - Sunday Closed
