Metal Braces

At Sturgill Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer the latest braces technology to our patients of all ages in Johnson City, TN and Norton, VA!

Metal braces have had a reputation for being awkward and obvious. But, because of modern orthodontics, you’ll benefit from versions that are smaller, less conspicuous, and more comfortable than ever before.

Sleeker brackets and lighter wires improve the appearance and feel of these braces. This means you’ll have less irritation in your mouth.

Traditional metal braces at Sturgill Orthodontics also come with a fun new twist without any extra cost - you can customize them with pops of color. The elastics that fit around your brackets come in a wide variety of colors that let you showcase your personality whenever you want.

Pick your favorite color combination, the colors of your favorite sports team, even your school colors! We also offer silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored elastics for patients seeking a more subtle look.

Braces are great at fixing complex tooth issues. They can work faster at closing gaps and aligning teeth than other treatments might. This can potentially shorten your treatment time.

Metal braces are cost-effective because they don’t require some of the more complex technology or expensive equipment that newer treatments do. The strength, durability, and affordability of traditional metal braces keep them the top treatment for orthodontic patients in Johnson City, TN and Norton, VA year after year!

This is what everyone wants to know, but there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every mouth is different and every patient responds to treatment in their own way. Treatment time with metal braces at Sturgill Orthodontics will be different every time.

With metal braces from Sturgill Orthodontics, you’ll see signs of improvement in just a short time, and that gives you confidence during the treatment process.

We have some Sturgill Orthodontics patients in braces for as little as six months. But for complex issues, it can take over three years to complete the process.

Your overall treatment time will depend on your specific orthodontic problem(s). In general, treatment duration ranges from 12 to 30 months. The “average” time a patient wears braces is approximately 22 months but could be shorter or longer, depending on the individual and the treatment plan designed by Dr. Sturgill or Dr. Williams.

We’ll explain this in detail at your initial consultation so you’ll feel comfortable about the braces procedure. Most patients are extremely relieved to hear there are no needles and the process is painless.

Getting your braces put on takes about 45 minutes to an hour. First, we polish your teeth and then brush on a solution to prime them for the adhesive. Then, we apply the adhesive and attach the brackets to each tooth.

Lastly, we thread the archwire through and secure it in place with elastics. After we give you instructions for caring for your braces, you’ll be on your merry way!

The braces removal process is also pain-free and straightforward. We use special tools to remove the brackets and wires and then we polish and clean your pearly whites so they sparkle. We’ll give you a high five for making it through treatment and let you check out your beautiful new smile.

Never! We’ve been seeing more and more adults at our practice over the years. In fact, 25% percent of all orthodontic patients are adults. Braces are a great choice for anyone looking to align their bite and straighten their teeth.

We even have esthetic options including clear braces and Invisalign that tend to work well for grown-ups. Health and happiness are vitally important to adults and orthodontic treatment can increase your self-esteem at any age!

The cost of your braces treatment at Sturgill Orthodontics will depend on a number of factors including the complexity of your case, how long you’ll need to wear them, how well you follow our instructions and take care of your braces and the type of braces you choose.

We’ll go over the price at your consultation and work with you to find an option that suits your budget and needs.

Your appointments at Sturgill Orthodontics will be scheduled according to your specific needs.

Most patients wearing braces are seen every five to ten weeks. If a specific situation requires more frequent monitoring, we’ll adjust the schedule to ensure the best results.

Braces don’t generally “hurt” and you should never feel severe pain. After certain appointments, your teeth may be sensitive for a few days. In these instances, over-the-counter pain medications, like Advil or Tylenol, will ease the discomfort.

However, after most visits, Sturgill Orthodontics patients aren’t sore at all. We often remind our patients, “It doesn’t have to hurt to work!”

Yes, you can play on! We recommend that patients wear mouthguards while playing sports around Johnson City, Norton and the Tri-Cities area.

Musicians may experience a brief adjustment period until they’re totally comfortable playing with braces.

Yup. Regular check-ups with your general dentist are important while you’re wearing braces.

Your dentist will determine the intervals between cleaning appointments throughout your orthodontic treatment.

Patients at Sturgill Orthodontics should brush their teeth at least four times each day – after each meal and before going to bed.

We’ll show you how to properly brush and floss with braces and we may prescribe a special fluoride treatment, if necessary.

Yes. Once you kick off treatment, we’ll give you complete instructions and a comprehensive list of foods to avoid.

Basically, you’ll just want to stay away from really hard or sticky foods (e.g., taffy, caramel, nuts) and eat sugary treats and beverages in moderation.