Las Vegas Orthodontics for Kids, Teens, and Adults

What Is Orthodontics? Straightening Smiles in Las Vegas

Orthodontics is the dental specialty that diagnoses and corrects misaligned teeth and bites. Las Vegas orthodontics care at Mountain West Dental Specialists includes braces and Invisalign for children, teens, and adults, moving teeth into healthier positions while guiding jaw growth so your bite works comfortably for life.

Crooked teeth are only part of the picture. Dr. Allison Tomlin, D.M.D., M.S., looks at how your upper and lower jaws meet, how you breathe, and how your teeth wear against each other over time.

Issues we treat every week include:

• Crowding, when teeth overlap because there isn't enough room in the arch
• Spacing and gaps between front teeth or after early tooth loss
• Overbite, when upper front teeth cover too much of the lower teeth
• Underbite, when the lower jaw sits ahead of the upper jaw
• Crossbite, which can shift the jaw sideways as a child grows
• Open bite, often linked to thumb-sucking or tongue posture

Your treatment options at our Las Vegas dental home include traditional metal braces, LightForce clear braces, and Invisalign clear aligners. Each one moves teeth toward the same goal using a different look and lifestyle fit.

Airway and jaw development matter, too. A narrow upper jaw can crowd teeth and affect how a child breathes at night, so early growth guidance sometimes does more for health than appearance alone.

Families come to Mountain West Dental Specialists from across the Las Vegas Valley, including east, west, and southwest Las Vegas, because kid's dentistry and orthodontics live under one roof here.

Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment

A straight smile is easier to keep healthy. That's the practical payoff behind every set of braces and every aligner tray we deliver.

Easier daily cleaning. Straight, evenly spaced teeth give your toothbrush and floss room to reach every surface, which lowers your risk of decay and gum disease.

Less wear and jaw strain. When your bite lines up, chewing forces spread evenly instead of grinding down a few teeth. Many adults notice less jaw soreness and fewer chipped edges after treatment.

Better function while kids grow. Correcting a crossbite or narrow arch early supports clearer speech and healthier airway function while your child's face is still developing.

Confidence you can see. Teens stop covering their mouths in photos. Adults stop editing their smile out of video calls.

Fewer complications later. Guiding growth at the right age can reduce the odds of needing extractions, impacted-tooth surgery, or longer treatment in the teen years.

Here's how those benefits add up:

Your Orthodontic Treatment Process, Step by Step

Orthodontic treatment at Mountain West Dental Specialists follows five steps: a free ortho consult with digital scans, a custom treatment plan with pricing, placement of braces or your first Invisalign aligners, adjustment visits every 4 to 8 weeks, and retainers to hold your results. Most treatment takes 6 to 30 months.

Step 1: Your free ortho consult

Come see us in our Las Vegas office or start with a virtual consult from your phone. We take photos, digital scans, and Cone Beam CT imaging when it helps, then Dr. Allison Tomlin reviews what's happening with your teeth, bite, and jaw growth. No cost, no obligation.

Step 2: A custom treatment plan

You'll see your options side by side: metal braces, LightForce clear braces, or Invisalign. We walk through the timeline, what each option asks of you, and the full price before anything begins. Our team verifies insurance benefits and explains zero-interest in-house financing at this visit.

Step 3: Getting started

Braces go on in a single visit, usually an hour or two, with no numbing needed. Invisalign families leave with their first trays and clear instructions on the 20 to 22 hours of daily wear that keeps treatment on schedule.

Step 4: Progress visits

You'll come in about every 4 to 8 weeks so we can adjust wires, change elastics, or hand off your next set of aligners. These visits are short, and we schedule around school and work whenever we can.

Step 5: Retention

Teeth remember where they came from. Once your braces come off or your final aligner is done, retainers hold everything in place while the bone settles. Wear them as directed and your results stay put.

Simple cases can wrap up in six months. Complex bites, two-phase care, or significant growth guidance often run closer to 24 to 30 months.

Who Is a Candidate? Orthodontics for Every Age

Almost anyone with healthy gums and cavity-free teeth is a candidate for orthodontics, from age 7 through adulthood. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check-up by age 7, when Dr. Allison Tomlin can spot crowding, crossbites, and jaw growth concerns early. Adults have no upper age limit.

Kids (ages 7 to 11)

An early evaluation doesn't automatically mean early braces. Often we simply watch and wait, checking in every six to twelve months as permanent teeth arrive and the jaws grow. When action helps, Phase 1 treatment can widen a narrow arch, correct a crossbite, or create room for permanent teeth before problems compound.

Early intervention can save time, money, and hassle down the road!

Teens (ages 11 to 17)

These are the peak growth years, and they're the reason so many families search for Las Vegas braces during middle school. Metal braces, LightForce clear braces, and Invisalign Teen all work well here. The right pick usually comes down to sports, wind instruments, and how much your teen wants their treatment to show.

Adults (18 and up)

You can get a healthy, aligned smile no matter your age. Adults often choose Invisalign or clear braces for discretion, and many are correcting shifting that happened years after childhood braces.

Good candidates share three things: healthy gums, teeth free of untreated cavities, and a willingness to follow wear instructions. If decay or gum inflammation shows up during your exam, we handle that first at your dental home so treatment starts on solid ground.

Not sure where you fall? A free ortho consult gives you a straight answer about timing and options.

Why Las Vegas Families Choose Mountain West Dental Specialists

Mountain West Dental Specialists is family-owned and operated by Dr. Keaton Tomlin, D.M.D., and Dr. Allison Tomlin, D.M.D., M.S., and that shapes how we treat every family who walks in.

• Two specialties, one roof. Dr. Keaton handles pediatric dentistry while Dr. Allison handles orthodontics, so your child's cleanings, sealants, and braces all happen in the same building on the same day when scheduling allows.
• Every option on the table. Metal braces, LightForce clear braces, Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, and two-phase care for growing kids.
• Free consults, in person or virtual. No obligation, no pressure, and a real treatment recommendation you can take home and think about.
• Money talk before treatment. Flexible monthly plans, zero-interest in-house financing, and insurance verification handled by our team ahead of time.
• Professional credentials you can check. Our specialists hold memberships with the ABPD, AAPD, AAO, ADA, and the Nevada Dental Association.
• Modern imaging and scanning. Cone Beam CT imaging and digital scans replace goopy impressions and let us plan with more precision.

We're also proud of our spacious dental home in southwest Las Vegas, designed around families rather than shuffling everyone between separate buildings across town. Exam areas, imaging, and orthodontic care sit under the same roof, so a cleaning with Dr. Keaton and an adjustment with Dr. Allison can happen back to back on one trip.

Families looking for braces in east Las Vegas, west Las Vegas, and the southwest all reach the same Cimarron Road location. Many of them start by searching for the best orthodontist in Las Vegas, or for affordable braces that don't ask them to settle on quality. Our answer to both questions is the same: specialist-level treatment from named doctors, with pricing and payment options explained before you commit.

That's family-focused care you can trust, from our family to yours.

Las Vegas Orthodontics FAQs

How much do braces cost in Las Vegas?

Cost depends on which option you choose, how complex your bite is, and how long treatment runs. Simple alignment costs less than full bite correction with two-phase care, and metal braces, LightForce clear braces, and Invisalign each carry their own fee. Rather than quote a range that may have nothing to do with your mouth, we price your case after we've actually seen it. At your free ortho consult, we give you the full number in writing along with monthly payment options and zero-interest in-house financing, so there are no surprises later. Insurance benefits are verified and applied before that figure is final, and you're welcome to take the written plan home to think it over.

How long does orthodontic treatment take?

Most treatment runs 6 to 30 months, with the average family landing somewhere between 12 and 24. Simple alignment can finish closer to six months, while complex bites, two-phase care, and significant growth guidance stretch toward the longer end. Your timeline depends on how far teeth need to move, whether jaw growth needs guidance, and how consistently you wear elastics or aligners. Skipping aligner wear is the most common reason treatment runs long.

Braces vs. Invisalign: which is better for me?

Both straighten teeth well. The better question is which fits your life.

At what age should my child see an orthodontist?

Age 7. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check-up around then, and Dr. Allison Tomlin agrees. Enough permanent teeth have come in by that age to reveal crowding, crossbites, and jaw growth patterns. Most 7-year-olds don't need treatment yet, but catching a problem early gives us options we lose later.

Does insurance or Medicaid cover braces?

Nevada Medicaid covers braces for children when treatment is judged medically necessary under plan rules, so the first step is a records review to see whether your child's case qualifies. Many private dental plans also include an orthodontic benefit, often written as a lifetime maximum rather than an annual one. Our team verifies your specific benefits before treatment starts and applies whatever coverage you have, then builds a monthly plan around the remaining balance.

Do braces hurt, and what foods should I avoid?

Getting braces on doesn't hurt. Teeth usually feel tender for two to four days after placement and after adjustment visits, and most people manage fine with soft foods and over-the-counter relief. Skip hard candy, ice, nuts, popcorn kernels, caramel, gum, and anything you'd need to bite hard into, like whole apples or corn on the cob. Cut crunchy foods into pieces instead.

Schedule Your Free Las Vegas Ortho Consult

Whether you're driving in from Summerlin, Henderson, or a few blocks up Cimarron Road, your free ortho consult includes a full evaluation, digital scans, and a custom treatment plan with real pricing. Come see us at our Las Vegas office or start virtually from home.

We'll verify your insurance and walk through financing before you commit to anything.

Call (702) 899-3600 or book online at our Cimarron Road location: 6970 S. Cimarron Rd., Ste. 100, Las Vegas, NV 89113. Evening and after-school visits fill quickly, so reach out early if you're coordinating around several kids.

We welcome families from across Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Summerlin.

Your family should be part of the mountain west family. We can't wait to care for your smile.