Orthodontic questions, answered plainly

The cost depends on how complex the bite is, which appliance fits it and how long treatment runs, so we quote a written fee only after the first visit at our Broomfield office. That visit includes the exam and a plain explanation of what you would be paying for. The consultation itself is complimentary. We offer monthly payment plans, with as low as $0 down, and we accept HSA and FSA funds.

Many dental plans include an orthodontic benefit, usually a lifetime maximum that pays part of the fee rather than all of it. We accept most major insurance plans. Bring your insurance card to the consultation and we will check your benefit, explain what it covers and show you the remaining balance before anything starts.

Neither is better in general. Braces and Invisalign both move teeth well, and the right choice depends on the bite, on your age or your child’s age, and on how reliably aligners will be worn. Dr. Sharp treats with both, so the recommendation follows the case rather than a preference, and we explain the reasoning either way.

By age seven, or as soon as you notice something that concerns you. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first check-up no later than seven, because the adult molars and front teeth are in and growth is still easy to guide. An evaluation at seven does not mean treatment at seven. Most children simply get monitored.

Most children do not need early treatment, and waiting is often the right answer. Early treatment makes sense only when there is a specific problem that is easier to correct while growth is happening, such as a crossbite, a developing jaw discrepancy or a tooth that cannot erupt. Otherwise we watch, and we tell you what we are watching.

Comprehensive treatment usually takes more than a year, and a limited correction can be shorter. The length depends on how far the teeth and bite need to move, how the body responds and how consistently appliances are worn or elastics used. We give you an estimated range at the consultation and update it as treatment progresses.

Look for a board-certified orthodontist, which means specialty training after dental school plus a voluntary board examination, and for someone who explains what they see before recommending anything. Dr. Irina Sharp is a board-certified orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, practicing in Broomfield. The first visit is the easiest way to judge the fit for yourself.

Invisalign can correct many bite problems, not only crooked front teeth. With attachments, elastics and careful planning, aligners can correct a crossbite, reduce an overbite or improve how the back teeth meet. Some bites still call for braces or a combined approach, which is why Dr. Sharp decides after examining the case rather than beforehand.

Dr. Sharp examines the teeth, the bite, the jaws and how they are growing, takes the images the case needs and then explains the findings in plain language, using your own pictures. For a child that visit is the Sharp Smiles Age 7 Growth Check, and you leave with a plain green, yellow or action result. Either way you leave knowing whether treatment is recommended, whether waiting is wiser, and what the next step would be. The consultation itself is complimentary.

Sometimes, as part of a wider picture. A narrow upper jaw can be widened with an expander, and in selected cases that changes how a child breathes, but orthodontics alone is not a treatment for snoring or sleep apnea. We screen for breathing and sleep history at every evaluation and coordinate with pediatricians, ENTs and sleep physicians when a finding warrants it.