Maybe your dentist mentioned crowding at your child’s last cleaning. Maybe your teen has started smiling with their mouth closed in every picture.
Or maybe you’ve wanted straighter teeth for years and kept putting it off.
Sturgill Orthodontics puts braces on kids, teens and adults at our Bristol office, 350 Blountville Hwy, Suite 206, on the Tennessee side of town. Families come to us from both sides of State Street.
Your first visit is a free consultation. You don’t need a referral, and most families are seen the same week they call.
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- Board-certified orthodontists
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- Payments from $99/mo
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What to Know About Braces in Bristol
Bristol, TN 37620
What Can Braces Fix?
At Sturgill Orthodontics in Bristol, braces fix crowded teeth, gaps, overbites, underbites, crossbites and open bites. They move teeth into place with small brackets and a wire that your orthodontist adjusts over time, and they can correct almost any bite problem, including the complicated ones.
Bristol families most often come to us for:
- Crowded teeth that overlap or twist
- Gaps between teeth
- Overbites, where the top teeth cover too much of the bottom teeth (here’s how braces fix overbites)
- Underbites, where the bottom teeth sit in front of the top teeth (see underbite treatment in Bristol)
- Crossbites and open bites
- Teeth that don’t meet the way they should when you chew
Lining up your teeth can do more than change your smile. In many cases, it also helps the health of your gums.
Types of Braces at Our Bristol Office
Our Bristol office offers four types of braces: metal, gold, clear ceramic and lingual. Your orthodontist will help you pick the one that fits your bite and how much you want your braces to show.
Metal Braces
Metal braces are the most common type of orthodontic treatment in Bristol, and they handle everything from mild crowding to complex bites.
The elastics around the brackets come in a wide range of colors. If you’d rather keep it low-key, we also have silver, gray, white, black and tooth-colored elastics.
Gold Braces
Gold braces have gold-colored brackets that are as tough as metal braces and about as subtle as clear ceramic braces. Ask about them at your consultation.
Clear Ceramic Braces
Clear ceramic braces work the same way as metal braces, but the brackets are made of a translucent material that blends in with your teeth. We offer them at the same cost as metal.
We usually recommend clear braces for older teens and adults rather than younger kids.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces attach to the backs of your teeth, so they’re hidden when you smile. They’re a good fit for many older teens and adults.
Braces or Invisalign?
Some patients are good candidates for both. Braces stay on all the time, so they keep working whether or not anyone remembers to wear anything. That’s why a lot of parents choose them for younger teens.
Invisalign is removable and hard to see, and it works well for many teens and adults. At your free consult, we’ll tell you which one fits your bite. You can also read about Invisalign in Bristol.
Braces for Kids in Bristol
Most kids who get braces at our Bristol office start between ages 9 and 14. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a child’s first orthodontic checkup by age 7. Most kids don’t need treatment right away. At that age, we’re mostly watching how the jaw grows and how the adult teeth come in.
Some kids benefit from Phase 1 treatment, which usually begins between ages 7 and 10 and can make a second phase of treatment shorter and more predictable.
Braces for Teens in Bristol
The teen years, between about 12 and 16, are the most common time for braces. By 12, most or all of the permanent teeth are usually in.
Our Bristol office is an easy trip for students at Tennessee High, Virginia High and West Ridge. Thursday hours start at 7:30 in the morning, which helps families who want to fit a checkup in before school.
Your teen can play any sport with braces, as long as they wear an orthodontic mouthguard. The generic ones from a sporting goods store don’t fit correctly over brackets.
Many teens can get same-day braces in Bristol, with the consultation and braces placement in one visit.
Braces for Adults in Bristol
You’re never too old for braces. Teeth can move at any age as long as your gums and the bone around your teeth are healthy.
About 30% of our patients are adults, and more than half of those adults are over 50. Many choose clear or gold braces so their braces are less noticeable at work. Learn more about orthodontics for adults.
How Getting Braces Works at Our Bristol Office
Getting braces at Sturgill Orthodontics in Bristol takes five steps, and the first one is a free consultation.
- Free consultation. We take photos, X-rays and a 3D scan, look at your bite and tell you what we see. You’ll leave knowing whether you need braces, about how long treatment will take, and what it costs.
- Your treatment plan. One of our board-certified orthodontists maps out how your teeth will move. Only about 40% of practicing orthodontists are board-certified.
- Braces go on. There are no needles or shots. In many cases, this can happen the same day as your consult.
- Checkups every 6 to 8 weeks. These are quick adjustment visits at our Bristol office.
- Braces come off. You’ll get a retainer to wear at night from day one, so your teeth stay where we put them.
How Much Do Braces Cost in Bristol?
Metal and clear braces at Sturgill Orthodontics in Bristol usually cost $3,000 to $7,000. Where your case falls comes down to how much your teeth need to move, how long treatment takes and which type of braces you choose.
You don’t have to pay it all at once. Our in-house payment plans are 0% interest, and most patients pay between $99 and $250 a month. We offer low and no down payment options, and our down payments are the lowest in the Tri-Cities.
Insurance with orthodontic coverage typically pays $1,500 to $3,000 toward braces. We’re a preferred provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and Delta Dental. We also accept Aetna, Cigna, Guardian, Humana, MetLife, Tricare, UnitedHealthcare, United Concordia and many other plans.
A few more ways families make braces work:
- HSA and FSA dollars can go toward orthodontic treatment.
- We offer family discounts when more than one family member is in treatment.
- We accept CareCredit and all major credit cards.
- TennCare may cover braces for children under 21 when treatment is medically necessary.
See our financing and insurance page for more.
One Practice for Both Sides of Bristol
Sturgill Orthodontics’ Bristol office is in Tennessee, at 350 Blountville Hwy, Suite 206, Bristol, TN 37620. It treats braces patients from both Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia.
Bristol sits on both sides of State Street, and so do our patients. Many of our braces patients drive over from the Virginia side.
L. Sean Mullins, DDS, moved to Bristol in 1995 after finishing his orthodontic residency in Richmond, and he’s still part of our team. Many local families still know this office as Mullins Orthodontics.
Dr. Sturgill went to King University here in Bristol on an academic scholarship before dental school.
We see braces patients from:
- Tennessee: Bristol, Blountville, Bluff City, Walnut Hill, Piney Flats, Holston and Hilton
- Virginia: Bristol, Abingdon, Glade Spring, Damascus, Colonial Heights, Hawkins Mill and Bolton
Directions, hours and our team are on our Bristol orthodontist office page.
Braces FAQs for Bristol Families
How long do braces take?
Most patients wear braces for 18 to 36 months. Milder cases can finish in 18 to 24 months, and moderate to severe cases usually take 24 to 36 months. Keeping your checkup appointments helps you stay on schedule.
Do braces hurt?
Getting braces on doesn’t hurt, and there are no needles or shots. Your teeth may feel sore for three to five days afterward.
Tylenol or Advil, soft foods and a warm salt water rinse (one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water) help.
Do I need a referral from my dentist?
No. You can book a free consultation yourself.
Do you see braces patients from Bristol, Virginia?
Yes. Our Bristol office is on the Tennessee side, and families from Bristol, Abingdon, Glade Spring, Damascus and other Virginia towns come to us for braces.
Can I get braces the same day as my consultation?
In many cases, yes. We offer same-day braces for teens, adults and college students. Our orthodontists will check whether same-day braces make sense for you at your consult.
What can I eat with braces?
Most foods are fine. Stay away from hard and sticky foods, since they can damage your braces. That includes ice, nuts, hard taco shells, popcorn, Jolly Ranchers, caramels, taffy and Tootsie Rolls.
Cut raw apples and carrots into small pieces, and take corn off the cob.
What do I do if a bracket comes loose or a wire pokes?
If a bracket is loose but still attached to the wire, put a little orthodontic wax on it and leave it in place. If it comes off completely, put it in a zip-top bag.
For a wire that pokes, gently push it away from your cheek with a cotton swab or a pencil eraser, or cover the end with wax. Then call or text our Bristol office at (423) 764-4174 so we can set up a visit. There’s more on handling orthodontic emergencies on our site.
Am I too old for braces?
No. Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, and more than half of our adult patients are over 50.
Will I need a retainer after braces?
Yes. Most patients wear their retainer every night from the day their braces come off, and we recommend keeping up nightly wear for good.
Does insurance cover braces?
Plans with orthodontic coverage typically pay $1,500 to $3,000 toward braces. Our team can help you figure out what your plan covers.
Start With a Free Braces Consult in Bristol
You’ll leave your first visit knowing whether you need braces, which type fits, how long it should take and what it costs each month.
There’s no referral and no cost for the visit, and most families are seen the same week they call.
Families have left more than 1,700 Google reviews across our three offices.
Straight teeth start with a free visit
Kids, teens and adults from Bristol, TN, Bristol, VA, and across the Tri-Cities come to our Blountville Highway office for a free braces consultation.
Prefer to talk first? Call or text our Bristol office at (423) 764-4174