Orthodontics in the Highlands
Transform Your Smile. Elevate Your Health.
Book A ConsultationLearn MoreWelcome to
Dr. Desirea Scott, DDS, created Denver Orthodontics & Dental Lounge because she discovered something remarkable: when you align someone’s bite correctly, you can literally save their life. Located in downtown Denver’s vibrant heart, our spacious 3,000-square-foot practice feels nothing like a typical dental office. We’ve revolutionized orthodontics in the Highlands by treating sleep apnea alongside smile correction, addressing the silent killer that often leads to congestive heart failure. Here, straightening teeth becomes a pathway to better breathing, deeper sleep, and renewed vitality.
Our Mission
Making a difference—that’s what drives every decision at Denver Orthodontics & Dental Lounge. Dr. Desirea Scott, DDS, founded this practice with one powerful realization: orthodontics in the Highlands should heal, not just beautify. Too many patients suffer from undiagnosed sleep disorders, jaw pain, and breathing issues that traditional orthodontists overlook.
Our mission extends beyond creating Instagram-worthy smiles to actually improving how you sleep, breathe, and live. When Dr. Scott successfully treats someone’s obstructive sleep apnea through custom oral appliances, she’s not just moving teeth—she’s potentially preventing heart disease, stroke, and other life-threatening complications. Every treatment plan we design balances aesthetic goals with genuine health improvements, because looking good means nothing if you’re not sleeping well or breathing properly.
Why Choose Us
Our Services
At Denver Orthodontics & Dental Lounge, we offer a full range of orthodontic treatments designed to enhance both your smile and overall health. Whether you need teeth straightening, jaw alignment, or sleep apnea solutions, our personalized approach ensures the best care for your needs.
Traditional Braces
Traditional braces work by applying a steady force that shifts teeth into better positions week by week. Most people choose metal braces because they handle severe crowding, gaps, and bite issues that clear aligners simply can’t fix. You’ll notice real changes in how your teeth look and feel within the first few months of wearing them.
We begin with 3D scans that show exactly how your teeth need to move for optimal results. Our team places each bracket with precision, then uses specialized wires that we adjust every 4-6 weeks. Denver Orthodontics & Dental Lounge combines the proven durability of traditional systems with our advanced LightForce custom 3D-printed options for orthodontics in the Highlands.
Learn More
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners let you fix crooked teeth while keeping your appearance completely natural during social events and work meetings. These transparent trays snap on and off easily, so you can enjoy pizza nights and coffee dates without worrying about food restrictions. Most adults prefer this option because nobody realizes you’re actually wearing orthodontic treatment.
Denver Orthodontics & Dental Lounge creates each set of custom-made plastic aligners using 3D computer imaging technology that maps your specific treatment needs. These virtually invisible aligners gently move your teeth into proper alignment over time without any eating or cleaning restrictions. Our approach for orthodontics in the Highlands works perfectly for both teens and adults who want to enhance their smiles discreetly.
Learn More
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea disrupts your rest when soft tissues in your throat collapse and block your airway during sleep. Custom-fitted oral devices offer a compact, portable alternative to bulky CPAP machines for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. These silent appliances can dramatically improve your sleep quality and reduce serious health risks that come with untreated breathing interruptions.
These specialized dental appliances work by gently repositioning your jaw or tongue to keep your airway open throughout the night. Denver Orthodontics & Dental Lounge designs each device to fit your mouth perfectly, ensuring comfort while you sleep. Our orthodontics in the Highlands team helps patients discover how much better they feel when they finally get the restorative sleep their bodies need.
Learn More
Teeth Whitening
Daily habits like drinking coffee, tea, or red wine gradually create stubborn stains that accumulate on and below your tooth enamel surfaces. Denver Orthodontics & Dental Lounge uses higher-concentration formulations that deliver more dramatic and longer-lasting results than drugstore products. Our professional approach tackles pigment buildup from tobacco and strongly colored foods that home remedies simply cannot address effectively.
Specialized whitening agents penetrate deep into your enamel to break down years of accumulated discoloration at the source. We customize each teeth whitening treatment to match your specific dental needs without compromising your oral health. This personalized orthodontics in the Highlands ensures you get the brightest smile possible while protecting your teeth from damage.
Learn More
Functional Appliances
Bruxism causes serious damage when your teeth grind and clench against each other during sleep, leading to chips, fractures, and excessive wear. Custom-made oral appliances create a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth that prevents this destructive contact. These devices also distribute bite forces evenly across your mouth, reducing harmful pressure on individual teeth that can cause long-term damage.
Functional appliances serve as an essential component of TMD treatment by reducing muscle tension and allowing your jaw to rest naturally. We design each device to fit your mouth perfectly, providing superior comfort and protection compared to store-bought alternatives. Our approach for orthodontics in the Highlands ensures you get effective nighttime teeth protection while helping alleviate temporomandibular joint disorders.
Learn More
Meet the Doctor
Dr. Desirea Scott’s journey from Howard University College of Dentistry to founding Denver Orthodontics & Dental Lounge reflects her passion for transformative patient care. With both her dental degree and orthodontic specialty certification, plus active roles in the American Association of Orthodontists and as Board Member of the Rocky Mountain Society of Orthodontists, she brings cutting-edge expertise to every case of orthodontics in the Highlands. Her specialization in clear aligners and airway management has earned recognition throughout Denver’s medical community. Outside the office, Dr. Scott volunteers with the Junior League of Denver, explores different cultures through travel, and maintains an active lifestyle—you might even meet her friendly companion, Theo, during your visit.
Learn More
Airway-Focused Orthodontics
Breathe Better. Sleep Better. Live Better.
At Denver Orthodontics & Dental Lounge, we take a modern approach to orthodontic care by focusing on one of the most critical—and often overlooked—aspects of your health: your airway. As an airway-focused orthodontic practice, we don’t just straighten teeth—we evaluate how your bite, jaw position, and oral structures impact your ability to breathe properly and sleep soundly.
What Is Airway-Focused Orthodontics?
By improving the position of your teeth and jaws, we help open your airway and support better oxygen flow, especially during sleep.
Conditions We Help Address
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Snoring and mouth breathing
- Jaw misalignment and underdeveloped arches
- Daytime fatigue and poor sleep quality
- TMD and jaw pain related to airway restriction
Our Solutions Include
- Orthodontic Treatment Plans – Designed to improve both your smile and your respiratory function.
- Collaboration with Physicians – We work closely with sleep specialists, ENT doctors, and other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive, coordinated care.
Orthodontics in the Highlands Built Around Your Life!
Imagine waking up refreshed instead of exhausted, breathing freely instead of struggling, and smiling confidently instead of hiding behind closed lips—this is what orthodontics in the Highlands can accomplish when sleep medicine meets smile transformation.
Dr. Desirea Scott, DDS, personally evaluates every patient at Denver Orthodontics & Dental Lounge, treating you like the family member you’ll become rather than just another appointment. Your second home awaits at our downtown Denver location—call 303-590-3929 today and discover why patients actually look forward to their orthodontic visits with us.
FAQs
Why do you focus specifically on adult orthodontic patients?
Adult orthodontics in the Highlands requires different considerations than teenage care, including career obligations, social concerns, and complex medical histories that influence treatment decisions. Dr. Scott recognized that many practices treat adults as afterthoughts rather than developing expertise in their unique needs. Our adult-focused approach means we understand time constraints, aesthetic concerns, and health complications that come with maturity, allowing us to create realistic treatment plans that fit your actual lifestyle.
How does your airway-focused approach differ from traditional orthodontics?
Traditional orthodontics in the Highlands primarily focuses on straightening teeth for cosmetic improvement, while our airway-focused methodology examines how jaw position affects breathing, sleep quality, and overall health. Dr. Scott evaluates tongue posture, airway dimensions, and sleep patterns alongside tooth alignment to identify underlying health issues that conventional treatment might miss. This comprehensive approach often reveals connections between bite problems and symptoms like chronic fatigue, morning headaches, or relationship strain caused by snoring.
What technology do you use to make treatment more comfortable?
Our practice for orthodontics in the Highlands eliminates many traditional orthodontic discomforts through advanced technology that improves both accuracy and patient experiences. Digital iTero scanning replaces messy impression materials with comfortable 3D imaging that captures precise measurements in minutes. CBCT scanning reveals detailed jaw joint function without multiple X-rays, while virtual monitoring allows progress tracking between visits. This technology combination reduces appointment frequency, eliminates treatment surprises, and ensures more predictable results.
Can you really treat sleep apnea without CPAP machines?
Custom oral appliances represent a proven alternative to CPAP therapy for many obstructive sleep apnea patients who struggle with mask discomfort or compliance issues. Dr. Scott’s specialized training in dental sleep medicine and orthodontics in the Highlands allows her to create precisely fitted devices that gently advance your jaw during sleep, opening restricted airways naturally. This treatment works particularly well for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea who want effective therapy without the noise, discomfort, and travel complications associated with CPAP equipment.
What makes your office environment different from typical dental practices?
We intentionally designed our 3,000-square-foot downtown Denver space to feel more like a welcoming lounge than a clinical environment, complete with comfortable seating and warm lighting that puts patients at ease. Our boutique approach means smaller patient volumes and longer appointment times, eliminating the rushed feeling common in high-volume practices for orthodontics in the Highlands.
