Orthodontist for Teens in Bountiful, UT:
Braces and Invisalign
Free consultations in Bountiful and Farmington. Same-day starts available. All treatment options priced the same.
The Orthodontist Davis County Teens Have Trusted for Over 50 Years
If your teenager needs braces or Invisalign, Bailey-Welling Orthodontics offers free consultations at our Bountiful and Farmington offices for families throughout Davis County. We treat teens from Bountiful, Farmington, Centerville, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse, and across the county every day.
Bailey-Welling has been the orthodontist for Davis County teens since 1971. That's over 50 years of watching kids come in as 7th graders with crowded teeth and leave as high school seniors with the kind of smile that gets noticed. Dr. Andrew Welling grew up right here in Bountiful and got his own braces at this practice when he was a kid. Now he's the one putting braces on the next generation of Davis County teenagers. That's not a marketing line. It's just what happens when a practice has been part of a community long enough.
He and Dr. Rett Cortez see teens at both our Bountiful and Farmington offices, and all treatment options are priced identically.
When Is the Best Time for Teen Orthodontic Treatment?
The timing isn't arbitrary. By early adolescence, most of the permanent teeth have come in. The jaw is still growing, which means teeth respond to orthodontic movement more predictably than they do after growth is complete. Whether your family is considering braces for teens or Invisalign Teen, the middle school and early high school years are usually the most efficient window to begin treatment.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7, not because most 7-year-olds need braces, but because catching certain issues early makes a real difference. For most kids, comprehensive treatment begins somewhere between 6th and 9th grade.
If your teen hasn't had an evaluation yet, that's fine. It's still a great time to come in. We'll tell you honestly whether treatment is needed now, whether it makes sense to wait a few months, or whether things look fine as they are.
Signs Your Teen May Need Braces or Invisalign
Many parents in Bountiful, Farmington, and across Davis County schedule a consultation when they notice one or two of these signs. You don't need to see all of them to make an appointment worth your time.
- Crowded or overlapping teethWhen there isn't enough room for permanent teeth to come in straight, they rotate or stack. This doesn't improve on its own and makes cleaning harder, raising the risk of cavities over time.
- Gaps between teethSpacing that sticks around after all the permanent teeth are in is worth an orthodontist's opinion, particularly if the gaps are uneven.
- Bite that doesn't line upIf your teen's upper and lower teeth shift to one side when they close, or the front teeth don't touch when the back teeth are together, that's something we'd want to look at.
- Jaw clicking, popping, or sorenessThese get written off as growing pains, but they can point to a bite issue. If your teen mentions jaw discomfort or you notice it when they eat, bring it up.
- Trouble chewing certain foodsIf they consistently avoid hard or chewy foods or favor one side, there may be a functional bite issue rather than just preference.
- Mouth breathingChronic mouth breathing can sometimes connect to jaw and airway development concerns. Our about orthodontics page covers this in more detail.
Braces and Invisalign Options for Teens in Davis County
At Bailey-Welling Orthodontics, teens in Davis County typically choose between braces and Invisalign based on their bite, goals, and daily habits. Here's what we offer and how each option fits different situations.
P21 Self-Ligating Braces
Our most common braces option for teens. P21 brackets use a slide mechanism to hold the archwire, reducing pressure and allowing teeth to move more freely and comfortably. No wire-tightening appointments. Color elastic options available.
Learn about P21 brackets →Invisalign Teen
Clear, removable aligners that come out for eating, sports, and photos. Bailey-Welling is Davis County's Diamond+ Invisalign Provider — we treat all complexity levels, including cases other offices say require braces.
Learn about Invisalign Teen →Iconix Esthetic Braces
Champagne-colored brackets that blend with the natural color of teeth. They work exactly like traditional braces but stand out far less in photos and in person. A strong choice for older teens who want something discreet.
Learn about Iconix →All three options are priced the same at Bailey-Welling. Shorter cases begin around $2,800. You'll get a complete cost and insurance breakdown at your free consultation with no pressure and no surprises.
Which Is Better for Your Teen in Davis County?
Parents ask about this at almost every consultation. Here's the honest version. Braces are fixed to the teeth and work around the clock without relying on your teen to remember anything. They handle the full range of cases. Invisalign Teen is nearly invisible, removable, and doesn't restrict food — but it only works when worn 20 to 22 hours a day. Our doctors give you a straight answer on which fits your teen's case and habits. There's no upsell.
What happens if a teen doesn't wear their Invisalign consistently? Treatment stalls. Each set of trays is designed to move teeth a specific amount before advancing to the next. When not worn enough, the trays stop fitting correctly. We monitor fit at every visit and catch problems early.
A Grade-by-Grade Guide for Davis County Families
Parents don't think in ages. They think in school years. Here's how to think about timing.
6th – 8th Grade
The best window for most teens. Starting in 7th grade often means finishing before high school, with senior photos, tryouts, and yearbook pictures all happening with a finished smile. Aim for a consultation no later than early 7th grade if you want treatment done before 9th grade.
9th Grade
Still a strong time to start. Most cases begun in 9th grade finish by 11th grade, leaving senior year clear. If your teen is heading into 9th grade without an evaluation, schedule one now.
10th Grade
A 10th grader starting in the fall has roughly two years before senior portraits and graduation. For straightforward cases, that's enough. We'll give you a realistic timeline at the consultation.
11th Grade & Beyond
Treatment is effective at any age with healthy teeth and gums. If finishing before a specific milestone matters, tell us at the consultation. Where it's clinically workable, we factor those goals into the plan.
What to Expect at Your Teen's Free Consultation in Bountiful or Farmington
At either our Bountiful or Farmington office, your teen's free orthodontic consultation starts with a full evaluation. One of our doctors examines your teen's teeth, bite, and jaw. We use the iTero digital impression system — a precise 3D scan with no goopy impressions. You leave knowing exactly what you're working with.
Full orthodontic evaluation
The doctor examines teeth, bite, and jaw — your teen included in the conversation, not just the parents.
iTero 3D digital scan
No goopy impressions. Fast, precise imaging that shows exactly what treatment will look like.
Clear treatment recommendation
What approach makes sense, how long it should take, and what alternatives exist for your teen's case.
Complete financial breakdown
Insurance benefits applied, payment options explained, total cost with no surprises. No pressure to decide that day.
Not ready to come in yet? Your teen can start with a virtual orthodontic exam from home.
Can Teens Play Sports or Instruments with Braces or Invisalign?
A lot of Davis County teens are active year-round. Soccer, lacrosse, basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, swimming, cheer, and skiing all fit comfortably alongside orthodontic treatment.
For contact sports, the answer is simple: an orthodontic-specific mouthguard. Standard boil-and-bite mouthguards from sporting goods stores don't fit properly over brackets and can cause more harm than they prevent. Braces-fit mouthguards from brands like Shock Doctor are designed for exactly this and are easy to find at most sporting goods stores. For Invisalign Teen patients, the aligners come out during contact sports and go back in after.
For teens in band or orchestra, both braces and Invisalign Teen work. There's usually a short adjustment period with wind or brass instruments, and most students adapt completely within a few weeks.
What Happens After Braces Come Off
This part doesn't get talked about enough, and it matters. When treatment ends, your teen gets a retainer. For most patients, that means wearing it full-time at first, then transitioning to nights only. Teeth are held in position by periodontal ligament, and without a retainer, they will shift over time. That's not a maybe.
The most common reason we see young adults seeking retreatment in their 20s isn't that their braces failed. It's that retainers weren't worn consistently after treatment ended. We cover retention throughout treatment, reinforce it at the final visits, and go over it in detail the day braces come off. If a retainer gets lost or broken, call us quickly. A short gap is usually recoverable. A long one often isn't.
Our retainer program makes long-term retention easy to stay on top of.
Tips That Make a Real Difference During Treatment
Hygiene matters more with braces on
Braces create extra spots for plaque to collect. Brushing after meals and flossing daily with a floss threader or water flosser protects against white spot lesions. Our life with braces page has the full rundown.
Food adjustments are temporary
Sticky, hard, and crunchy foods can break brackets or bend wires, which adds unplanned visits and weeks to the timeline. The adjustment is smaller than most teens expect once they get used to it.
Rubber bands need to be worn consistently
Not every teen needs them, but when they're part of the plan, they correct bite relationships. Skipping them is one of the most common reasons treatment runs longer than expected.
Give your teen some say
Teens who feel some ownership over the process — choosing band colors, picking appointment times, weighing in on treatment options — tend to take better care of their braces and move through treatment faster.
Helping Your Teen Feel Good About Getting Braces
The most common concern parents bring up at consultations isn't cost or logistics. It's that their teen is embarrassed or anxious about getting braces.
That's completely normal. And it's worth saying directly: the self-consciousness teens feel before braces is almost always bigger than anything they feel once treatment is underway. Most find that friends are either also in braces, curious about the options, or completely unbothered by it within a week of starting.
For teens who are particularly self-conscious, Iconix esthetic braces or Invisalign Teen are both strong options. They're far less visible than metal brackets and fully effective for the right cases. If your teen is nervous about how braces or Invisalign will affect their day-to-day life, that's exactly what we talk through during the consultation.
Our doctors and team have been working with teenagers in Davis County for a long time. They know how to talk to teens as people, not just patients. That matters when you're asking a 14-year-old to commit to 18 months of appointments.
Teen Braces and Invisalign FAQ
Schedule a Free Teen Orthodontic Consultation in Bountiful or Farmington
Ready to find out what treatment looks like for your teen? Both of our Davis County offices offer free consultations with no obligation. Most families leave knowing exactly what they're working with and what it will cost.
Bailey-Welling Orthodontics — Bountiful
59 W Pages Ln #100, Bountiful, UT 84010
(801) 292-1222
Mon: 8:45–4:00 | Tue: 8:45–4:30
Wed: 8:30–4:30 | Thu: 8:45–4:00
Fri: 9:00–12:00 (Reception Only)
Bailey-Welling Orthodontics — Farmington
122 E State St, Farmington, UT 84025
(801) 451-6664
Mon: 8:45–4:15 | Tue: 8:45–4:45
Wed: 8:30–4:45 | Thu: 8:45–4:15