Braces in Glendale
Braces are orthodontic appliances that use brackets, archwires, and elastics to move teeth into alignment over time. The braces Glendale families choose at Teeters Orthodontics come in two styles: traditional metal braces and clear ceramic braces. Both correct crowding, gaps, and bite issues with steady, predictable tooth movement.
Dr. Chris Teeters bonds each bracket to the front of the tooth, then connects them with a thin archwire. That wire holds gentle, continuous pressure. Small elastics and adjustments guide teeth (and sometimes the bite itself) into better position appointment by appointment.
What Are Braces?
Braces are fixed orthodontic appliances made of brackets bonded to your teeth, an archwire that connects them, and elastics that direct movement. Over roughly 12 to 24 months, that system shifts teeth into alignment and corrects how your bite fits together. Teeters Orthodontics offers two versions: metal braces and clear braces.
Metal braces are made of high-grade stainless steel and handle nearly every type of correction. Clear braces use ceramic brackets that blend with your enamel, a favorite among adults and older teens who'd rather keep treatment low-key. Both are built to last, designed to move.
Braces can correct:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps and uneven spacing
- Rotated or tipped teeth
- Overbite and underbite
- Crossbite and open bite
Most cases finish in about 12 to 24 months, though your timeline depends on how much movement your teeth and bite need. Dr. Teeters offers orthodontics for all ages, so children, teens, and adults across Glendale and Peoria are all welcome here. Get ready to love your smile.
Benefits of Braces for Glendale Patients
Braces stay put and keep working, which is exactly why they remain the most dependable tool in orthodontics. Here's what that means for you.
Predictable results for tougher cases
Complex rotations, significant bite correction, and severe crowding often respond better to fixed braces than to removable trays. Dr. Teeters will tell you honestly which approach fits your case.
Braces do the remembering for you
Braces work around the clock. Nothing to remember, nothing to lose in a lunchbox. For busy kids and teens juggling school and sports, that's a big deal.
Healthier teeth and gums
Straight teeth are simply easier to brush and floss, and they trap less plaque, which lowers your risk of decay and gum disease over the long haul.
Your bite starts working better
A corrected bite improves chewing, can ease jaw soreness, and sometimes sharpens speech. Your teeth were designed to work as a team.
A discreet option for adults
Clear ceramic brackets look far less noticeable in conversation and photos, so professional life doesn't skip a beat.
Confidence that sticks around
Patients tell us they smile more freely in photos, at work, and at school. That change tends to outlast the treatment itself.
The Braces Process: What to Expect Step by Step
Getting braces at Teeters Orthodontics takes five steps: a free consult with digital records, a custom treatment plan with pricing, a bonding appointment to place your brackets, adjustment visits every six to eight weeks, and removal followed by a retainer. Many patients start the same day they visit.
Step 1: Your Free Consult
You'll meet Dr. Teeters and the Teeters Orthodontics team you'll see at every visit at our Peoria office, a short drive for most Glendale families. We take digital X-rays, digital photos, and 3D digital scans. No trays of putty, no gagging.
Step 2: Your Custom Plan
Dr. Teeters reviews your records with you and explains what needs to move and why. You'll see your estimated timeline, your treatment options, and your exact cost before you commit to anything. Questions are welcome. Surprises are not.
Step 3: Bonding Day
Placing braces usually takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Your teeth are cleaned and prepped, each bracket is bonded into position, and the archwire is threaded and secured. There are no shots and no drilling, so most patients are surprised by how easy it feels.
Before you leave, we'll walk you through brushing, flossing, and what to eat for the first few days.
Step 4: Adjustment Visits
You'll see us roughly every six to eight weeks. We change wires, add or swap elastics, and check that everything is tracking on plan. These visits are short, and yes, our office pups Ginger and Coco are usually around.
Step 5: Removal and Retainer
When your teeth reach their final position, we remove the brackets, polish your enamel, and take a new digital scan for your retainer. Wearing that retainer as directed is what protects your Teeters Orthodontics transformation for life. It's the last, easiest step in a treatment you've already put real work into, and it takes only minutes a day.
Are Braces Right for You?
Most people are candidates for braces. If you have crowding, spacing, rotated teeth, or a bite that needs correcting, and your teeth and gums are healthy, braces will likely work well for you. Dr. Teeters treats children starting at age 7, teens during active jaw growth, and adults with no upper age limit at all.
Braces are a good fit if you have crowding, spacing, rotated teeth, or a bite that needs meaningful correction. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7, when Dr. Teeters can spot developing concerns early. Teens and adults with healthy gums and bone are strong candidates too.
Children (age 7 and up)
An early evaluation doesn't mean early braces. Often it means joining our 7 & up kids club and staying on an observation schedule while we watch growth. When Phase 1 treatment helps, we'll say so. Big changes start with small steps.
Teens
Active jaw growth makes the teen years an efficient window for bite correction, and most teens finish before graduation.
Adults
There's no age limit on straightening teeth. Adults with stable gum health do beautifully in either clear braces or Invisalign clear aligners.
Braces vs. Invisalign Clear Aligners
| Factor | Metal / Clear Braces | Invisalign Clear Aligners |
|---|---|---|
| Case complexity | Handles mild through severe cases | Best for mild to moderate cases |
| Compliance needed | None; they work 24/7 | 20-22 hours of wear per day |
| Appearance | Visible metal, or blended ceramic | Nearly invisible |
| Food restrictions | Avoid hard, sticky, chewy foods | None; trays come out to eat |
| Cleaning | Brushing and flossing take more care | Brush and floss normally |
| Best for | Kids, teens, complex bites | Adults and disciplined teens |
Your free consult settles the question. Dr. Teeters reviews your scans, listens to your goals, and recommends the approach that gets you there with the least hassle.
Why Glendale Families Choose Teeters Orthodontics
Teeters Orthodontics has cared for Glendale and Peoria families since 1978, a legacy of excellence built on steady, personal care. Families across the northwest Valley come to us for the braces Glendale parents want for their own kids, and many come back years later with the next generation.
- Board certified expertise. Dr. Christopher Teeters is board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, and a certified Invisalign Provider.
- Orthodontics is all we do. No fillings, no cleanings. Braces, Invisalign clear aligners, and bite correction get 100% of our attention.
- Care for every stage. Phase 1 treatment, teen braces, adult treatment, Invisalign clear aligners, retainers, and same-week emergency visits.
- In-house 0% financing. Flexible options, most insurance plans accepted, and our team handles the insurance coordination for you.
- Easy access from Glendale. Our Peoria office sits just off West Deer Valley Road, minutes from north Glendale, with a virtual consult option when your schedule is tight.
- Clear pricing. You'll know your full investment before treatment starts. No surprise fees later.
We take your smile seriously. The little things, the emotional support, the follow-up calls after bonding day, that's where expertise meets atmosphere.
Braces FAQs
How much do braces cost in Glendale?
Cost depends on case complexity, treatment length, and the type of braces you choose. Dr. Teeters reviews your exact investment at your free consult, before you commit to anything. We accept most insurance plans and offer in-house 0% financing so the monthly number works for your household.
How long do braces take?
Most patients wear braces for 12 to 24 months. Mild crowding can finish faster, while significant bite correction may take longer. You'll get a personal estimate after Dr. Teeters reviews your digital scans and X-rays, and staying on schedule with your adjustment visits keeps treatment moving.
Do braces hurt?
Getting braces placed doesn't hurt. There are no needles or drilling on bonding day. Your teeth may feel tender for two to four days afterward and briefly after adjustments, and soft foods plus over-the-counter relief handle it easily. Most patients forget the braces are even there within a couple of weeks.
What foods should I avoid with braces?
Skip anything hard, sticky, or chewy. That means ice, hard candy, nuts, popcorn, caramel, taffy, gum, and beef jerky. Cut apples, carrots, and corn on the cob into bite-sized pieces instead of biting straight in. Protecting your brackets keeps treatment on schedule and saves you repair visits.
Are clear braces as effective as metal braces?
Yes. Clear ceramic braces move teeth using the same brackets-and-archwire mechanics as metal braces, so the results are comparable. Ceramic brackets are slightly larger and need a little more care to stay stain-free, so we recommend easing up on coffee, red wine, and dark sauces. Dr. Teeters will tell you if your case is better suited to metal.
What if a bracket breaks?
Call our Peoria office at (623) 572-8855 and we'll get you in quickly. A loose bracket or poking wire is rarely urgent, but it should be fixed so your teeth keep tracking on plan. In the meantime, orthodontic wax over the spot keeps things comfortable, and Dr. Teeters has short videos walking you through common at-home fixes.
Book Your Free Braces Consultation in Glendale
Ready to start? Your consult at Teeters Orthodontics is free, with no obligation and no pressure. You'll get digital scans, a straight answer about your options, and a full cost breakdown in one visit. Many patients even start the same day.
Short on time? Ask about our virtual consult and send photos from home.
Call (623) 572-8855 or book online at teetersorthodontics.com/free-consult. Our Peoria office at 7505 West Deer Valley Road, Suite 120, welcomes Glendale and Peoria families of every age, with in-house 0% financing to keep it comfortable.
Start your smile story with Teeters. LET'S DO THIS.