Best Orthodontist in Irving, TX
What Makes the Best Orthodontist in Irving?
The best orthodontist in Irving is a board-certified specialist who completed two to three years of residency after dental school, offers a full menu of treatment options, quotes pricing in writing, and makes visits easy for your family. At Ward Orthodontics, Dr. Nick Ward checks every box, starting with a free consult.
Here's what actually separates a great Irving orthodontist from an average one:
- Specialty training beyond dental school. Orthodontists finish two to three additional years of residency focused only on tooth movement, jaw growth, and bite correction. Dr. Nick Ward is a board-certified orthodontist through the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), plus a member of the AAO, ADA, TAO, and TDA. Board certification isn't required to practice, so it says something when a doctor pursues it anyway.
- A full treatment menu. Metal braces, clear braces, clear aligners, and TMJ/TMD care all live under one roof, so your custom plan gets built around your bite instead of the one appliance the office happens to stock.
- Straight answers on cost. You should leave your first visit knowing the timeline, the total, and your monthly number. In-house payment plans keep it fair-priced.
- A location that works. Our friendly neighborhood office sits at 3200 N. O'Connor Rd., minutes from Las Colinas, Valley Ranch, and North Irving.
Great smiles grow here, and they start with a conversation that costs you nothing.
Why Irving Families Choose Ward Orthodontics
Families searching for the best orthodontist in Irving pick Ward Orthodontics for four reasons: one board-certified specialist treats every age in the household, treatment options range from metal braces to clear aligners, digital scanning replaces messy impressions, and free consults come with written pricing and in-house payment plans. Your treatment should fit your life, not the other way around.
Care for everyone in your household
Kids, teens, adults, and even seniors get treated in the same Irving office. Parents love scheduling siblings back to back.
Options that match your budget and your day
Some folks want the fastest, most reliable path. Others want something barely noticeable for work or senior photos. Dr. Ward walks you through both.
Digital scanning, not goopy impressions
A quick scan builds a 3D model of your teeth in minutes. It's more comfortable and more accurate, and it lets you see a simulation of your future smile.
Jaw care from a specialist
Clicking, popping, morning soreness, and tension headaches often trace back to how your bite fits together. Dr. Ward evaluates TMJ/TMD concerns as part of your exam.
Virtual consult available
Snap a few photos, send them in, and get real feedback before you drive over. HIPAA disclosures are provided up front.
The same doctor every visit
You'll see Dr. Nick Ward, not a rotating lineup. We're not just orthodontists; we're your neighbors.
| What matters to you | How we handle it |
|---|---|
| Busy work or school schedule | Extended flexible hours plus virtual consult option |
| Cost concerns | Free consult, written estimate, in-house payment plans |
| Appearance during treatment | Clear braces or clear aligners with a barely-there appearance |
| Comfort | Digital scans, modern low-profile brackets, gentle adjustments |
| Trust and continuity | Doctor-led care at every visit, board-certified specialist |
Your Orthodontic Treatment: What to Expect Step by Step
Orthodontic treatment at Ward Orthodontics follows five steps: a free consult with digital records, a written custom plan, appliance placement, progress visits every four to eight weeks, and retainers to hold your results. Most treatment runs 6 to 30 months, depending on how much your bite needs to change.
Step 1: Your free consult
Dr. Nick Ward examines your teeth, bite, and jaw, then takes digital records including a 3D scan and low-radiation imaging. You'll review what he sees and which options make sense. No cost, no obligation.
Step 2: Your custom plan, in writing
You get the appliance recommendation, the expected timeline, the total investment, insurance estimate, and monthly payment on paper before you commit. Questions are welcome. Surprises aren't.
Step 3: Getting started
Braces get bonded in a single visit, usually about an hour to an hour and a half. Aligner cases start when your trays arrive, and we'll teach you the wear schedule, cleaning routine, and what to expect the first week.
Step 4: Progress visits
Plan on stopping by every four to eight weeks for wire changes, adjustments, or your next set of aligners. Most of these visits are short. Braces visits are usually a quick adjustment; aligner visits are a progress check and new trays.
Step 5: Retention
Teeth like to drift back. A retainer holds your new alignment, and your personalized treatment plan spells out exactly how many hours a day Dr. Ward wants you wearing yours. Keeping it up protects everything you just accomplished, and we'll check the fit at your periodic visits so a warped or lost retainer never costs you the results you worked for.
| Stage | Typical time commitment |
|---|---|
| Free consult | About 45 minutes to an hour |
| Appliance placement | One visit, roughly 45 to 90 minutes |
| Progress visits | Every 4 to 8 weeks |
| Active treatment | 6 to 30 months |
| Retention | Ongoing, with periodic checks |
That's confidence from day one to done.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Orthodontic Treatment?
Almost anyone with crowding, gaps, or a bite that doesn't line up is a candidate. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a child's first orthodontic evaluation at the first sign of a concern, or no later than age 7. Teens and adults can start any time, as long as their gums and teeth are healthy.
Children (around age 7)
An early look lets Dr. Ward track jaw growth and catch crossbites, severe crowding, or habits like thumb-sucking. Early evaluation doesn't always mean early treatment, and it may simplify or shorten later care. Building healthy smiles from the start pays off.
Teens
Once most permanent teeth have come in, the timing is ideal. Growth is still on your side, which makes some corrections easier.
Adults
Crowding that's gotten worse over the years, spacing, shifting after braces you had as a kid, or a bite that's wearing your enamel unevenly. Adults make up a growing share of orthodontic patients, and clear aligners are a popular choice.
Signs it's time for a look:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps you'd rather not have
- Overbite, underbite, or crossbite
- Teeth that don't meet when you chew
- Jaw clicking, popping, or morning tightness
- Speech or breathing concerns in a child
Existing crowns, bridges, or implants usually don't disqualify you. Dr. Ward simply plans around them. Active gum disease or untreated cavities do need attention from your general dentist first, and then we'll get started.
Experience, Credentials, and Community Trust
Ward Orthodontics runs on a legacy of excellence and convenience, and that shows up in practical ways: one board-certified specialist sees you at every visit, records are taken with digital scanners instead of impression trays, and pricing goes on paper before anything gets bonded. Dr. Patrick Ohlenforst founded the family-first practice and built it into an Irving institution. He earned his Master's from UT Houston and trained at Baylor, and Dr. Nick Ward continues that standard today.
What backs up your care:
- Board-certified specialist. Dr. Nick Ward holds certification from the American Board of Orthodontics and belongs to the AAO, ADA, Texas Association of Orthodontists, and Texas Dental Association.
- Hometown roots. Dr. Ward was born and raised in Irving. Treating the families he grew up around isn't a marketing angle for him.
- Modern tools. Digital intraoral scanners, low-radiation imaging, treatment simulations, and 3D-printed appliances, including the 3D-printed rapid palatal expander.
- Angel Aligner provider. Dr. Ward uses Angel Aligners for teens and adults who want a removable option.
- Reviews you can read yourself. Our published reviews and Before & Afters gallery are available on the site, so you can judge the work and the experience on your own terms rather than taking our word for it.
- Fair-priced from the start. We'll review your insurance benefits with you and offer in-house payment plans.
Dr. Ohlenforst set the bar here decades ago, and we still measure ourselves against it every day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthodontics in Irving
How much do braces cost in Irving, TX?
Cost depends on which appliance you choose and how much correction your bite needs, so there's no single number. At your free consult, Dr. Nick Ward gives you a written estimate covering your total, your insurance benefit, and your monthly payment through our in-house payment plans. You'll never guess at the price.
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
Most treatment runs between 6 and 30 months. Minor crowding or a small relapse case may wrap up in under a year, while bite correction and complex crowding take longer. Wearing your elastics or aligners as directed is the single biggest factor in finishing on schedule.
Are clear aligners as effective as braces?
For many cases, yes. Clear aligners handle crowding, spacing, and a lot of bite issues well when you wear them the recommended hours each day. Some corrections still respond better to braces, since brackets and wires stay put and work continuously. Dr. Ward will tell you honestly which option suits your bite.
Does insurance cover braces or aligners?
Many dental plans include an orthodontic benefit, often as a lifetime maximum rather than an annual one. Our team reviews your coverage before you start and files on your behalf. Whatever insurance doesn't cover, in-house payment plans help spread out the rest.
At what age should my child see an orthodontist?
By age 7, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. Enough permanent teeth have arrived by then for Dr. Ward to spot crossbites, crowding, and jaw growth patterns early. Most kids who come in at 7 just get monitored, which is exactly the point.
Can an orthodontist help with TMJ or jaw soreness?
Often, yes. Clicking, popping, jaw tightness, and tension headaches sometimes stem from a bite that doesn't fit together properly. Dr. Ward evaluates jaw function during your exam and, when alignment is the culprit, orthodontic treatment can relieve the strain. If something else is driving it, he'll point you in the right direction.
Do I need a referral to be seen?
No referral needed. Call us or request a visit online, and we'll get you scheduled.
Book Your Free Consultation with Ward Orthodontics in Irving
Skip the stress. Your first visit at Ward Orthodontics is free, with no obligation and no pressure, and you'll leave with a personalized treatment plan and a written cost estimate.
Pick whatever's easier: come see us in person, or start with a virtual consult from your phone. Same-week visits are often available, and we offer extended flexible hours for working parents and busy teens. Our Irving office serves families throughout Las Colinas, Valley Ranch, North Irving, and the surrounding metroplex. Se habla español.
Call 972-257-3200 or request your free consult online at irvingorthodontist.com/free-consult/.
Ward Orthodontics, 3200 N. O'Connor Rd., Irving, TX 75062. Modern care with a family feel, where your smile feels at home.