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Complete Orthodontics in St. Joseph

Straight Teeth Work Better.

Everybody wants a bright, straight smile, and Dr. Bratton is always standing by to help you get there with orthodontics in St. Joseph. But crooked teeth are more than just a smile issue. When teeth are crooked and your bite is misaligned, your teeth don’t do their jobs as well as they should. Chewing can be more difficult. The way certain teeth need to move can put undue stress on other teeth. Poor tooth position can also contribute to jaw pain issues. Bratton Dental Co. offers a full range of orthodontic options in St. Joseph, clear braces, traditional braces, and even orthodontics designed to catch problems early in children.


Aleviate Undue Stress

When teeth are crooked and your bite is misaligned, your teeth don’t do their jobs as well as they should. Chewing can be more difficult. The way certain teeth need to move can put undue stress on other teeth.
Poor tooth position can also contribute to jaw pain issues. Bratton Dental Co. offers a full range of orthodontic options in St. Joseph, clear braces, traditional braces, and even orthodontics designed to catch problems early in children.


Our Orthodontics Services

Learn More Below

SureSmile Clear Aligners

Probably the biggest reason a lot of people, especially adults, shy away from orthodontic treatment is the high-visibility of traditional metal braces. That’s why we offer SureSmile Clear Aligners as an option. Similar to Invisalign, SureSmile is Dr. Bratton’s choice for clear-aligner braces. They’re comfortable, virtually invisible, and they can be taken out for eating, brushing and flossing.

Traditional Braces

Traditional wire braces with metal brackets are the tried-and-true method for moving teeth into their proper positions. Slanted teeth, overlapping teeth, rotated teeth, whatever the situation, traditional braces offer a strong and effective way to give you the smile you want to have.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces work in the same way traditional braces do, but with brackets made of tooth-colored, dental-grade ceramic that don’t call as much attention to themselves as metal brackets. More comfortable than metal braces, many patients find them an excellent option between highly-visible metal braces and clear aligners, which require longer treatment times.

Self-Ligating Braces

Metal and ceramic braces traditionally use small rubber bands or metal ties to hold the archwire in place and maintain pressure. Self-ligating braces have a mechanism built in that accomplishes the same thing without bands or ties. Don’t worry if the options seem overwhelming. Dr. Bratton will discuss them all thoroughly with you to help you decide which is best for your needs.

Ortho for TMJ Treatment

Depending on the source of your TMJ (temporomandibular jaw syndrome) symptoms, orthodontics can be used to relieve pressure on the jaw that is being caused by misaligned teeth. Treatment may take the form of braces, or splints, or mouthguards that prevent clenching which can lead to jaw pain. Dr. Bratton will help you diagnose your TMJ and refer you to a specialist if she determines that you need more than orthodontics.

Interceptive Orthodontics (Children)

Instead of waiting until your child’s teeth come in and then dealing with straightening issues, interceptive orthodontics allow dentists to anticipate the way in which your child’s mouth is growing and help achieve the best possible shape for accommodating their eventual teeth, and healthy development of the jaw. Since the jaw is an active growth phase through most of childhood, interceptive orthodontics can do all of the above while also reducing the possibility of a badly misaligned bite. These treatments don’t guarantee your child won’t eventually need braces, but they can go a long way toward giving those braces a lot less work to do.

  • Early intervention treatment: This is the process of actively looking for potential issues with the growth of your child’s mouth and position of underlying teeth. By discovering such issues, such as crowded teeth, it’s possible to avoid intensive treatment and even extractions later on.
  • Palatal expanders: Palatal expanders are a very common treatment in interceptive orthodontics. Fitted into the roof of the mouth and connected to teeth on both sides of the mouth, a palatal expander uses outward pressure to slowly widen a narrow jaw, making way for teeth that are waiting to come in.

Meet Some of Our Patients

As a practice focused on serving the community, we feel it’s best that you learn about us from the community. Here’s what some of our patients have to say about trusting their teeth to Bratton Dental Co.

If you’re nervous about visiting a dentist, Dr. Bratton Is the person you need to see. She’s extremely talented but more importantly, makes you feel at ease in her office. Would highly recommend to anyone who’s searching for a new dental office in St. Joseph 10/10

- Tanner B.

Dr. Bratton is phenomenal! I first started seeing her as my dentist and we started to talk about my discomfort with my jaw. She advised on some first steps we could make to help with the pain and go from there. I feel like I’m getting my life back. She truly cares about her patients and works to find the best solutions tailored to you. I live in Kansas City but I will drive to St. Joe to continue to get her amazing care! Office and staff are fantastic too! Call and book today!

- Molly M.

I have had bad experiences at the dentist throughout my life and because of this I neglected my teeth for a long time. About a year ago I gave dr bratton a shot after someone recommended her. She has done root canals, fillings, extractions on me you name it. I no longer have a fear of the dentist. She makes sure you’re 100% comfortable. It is always a good experience going to that office and dealing with any of them.

- Jake M.