Traditional braces remain one of the most reliable and versatile ways to straighten teeth and correct bite problems. At Philadelphia Orthodontics, Dr. Joshua Davis, DMD, MS, provides personalized traditional braces in Philadelphia for children, teens, and adults who want healthier alignment, improved function, and a confident smile.
Modern metal braces use brackets and archwires to apply carefully controlled forces that gradually move teeth toward their planned positions. Because braces remain fixed to the teeth throughout treatment, they can be particularly useful for complex tooth movements and for patients who do not want to manage removable aligners every day.
Philadelphia Orthodontics is conveniently located at 1420 Walnut Street, Suite 518, Philadelphia, PA 19102, in Center City Philadelphia.
Call (484) 603-6151 to schedule a traditional braces consultation with Philadelphia Orthodontics.
What Are Traditional Metal Braces?
Traditional braces are fixed orthodontic appliances used to gradually move teeth and improve alignment. Small brackets are attached to the teeth and connected by an orthodontic archwire. Together, these components allow the orthodontist to apply controlled forces that guide teeth toward planned positions over time.
Although the fundamental principles behind braces are well established, today's orthodontic treatment benefits from advances in bracket design, wires, bonding materials, digital records, and treatment planning.
Traditional braces can address relatively straightforward alignment concerns as well as more complicated orthodontic problems. They may be used to correct crowding, spacing, rotations, and certain bite relationships, depending on the individual diagnosis.
Patients interested in understanding all available treatment approaches can explore our orthodontic services in Philadelphia.
What Orthodontic Problems Can Traditional Braces Correct?
One reason traditional braces remain widely used is their versatility. Rather than addressing only whether teeth look straight from the front, comprehensive orthodontic treatment considers tooth position and bite relationships.
Crowded and Crooked Teeth
Crowding occurs when there is not enough room for teeth to occupy ideal positions within the dental arches. Teeth may overlap, rotate, erupt out of alignment, or appear uneven.
Braces can gradually reposition crowded teeth according to an individualized orthodontic plan.
Gaps and Spacing Between Teeth
Some patients have noticeable spaces between teeth. Depending on the cause and overall bite, braces can be used to move teeth and manage unwanted spacing.
Overbite and Deep Bite
The upper front teeth naturally overlap the lower front teeth to some degree. When the vertical overlap is excessive, orthodontic treatment may be recommended depending on the patient's complete bite relationship.
Underbite
An underbite occurs when the lower teeth or jaw relationship positions the lower teeth ahead of the upper teeth. Treatment depends on the cause, severity, age, growth, and skeletal relationships involved.
Crossbite
A crossbite occurs when certain upper teeth bite inside the corresponding lower teeth rather than outside them. Crossbites can involve individual teeth or larger sections of the dental arches.
Complex Tooth and Bite Problems
Traditional braces can also be useful when treatment requires substantial rotations, detailed tooth positioning, coordinated arch changes, or management of several orthodontic problems simultaneously.
Not every bite problem is treated with braces alone. Diagnosis determines whether additional orthodontic appliances or other treatment should be considered.
Benefits of Traditional Braces
Traditional metal braces offer several practical and clinical advantages.
Potential benefits include:
- Versatility: Braces can manage many simple and complex orthodontic problems.
- Continuous treatment: Because braces stay attached to the teeth, they continue working without requiring patients to remember to put them back in.
- Precise tooth movement: Brackets and wires give the orthodontist extensive control over planned tooth positions.
- Treatment for different ages: Traditional braces may be appropriate for children, teenagers, and adults.
- No removable aligner wear schedule: Patients do not have to remember to wear trays for a prescribed number of hours each day.
- Customizable appearance: Depending on the appliance system, patients may be able to personalize their braces with colored elastics.
- Established treatment approach: Fixed braces have a long history of successful orthodontic use.
The best orthodontic appliance is ultimately the one that appropriately addresses your diagnosis, goals, and lifestyle.
How Do Traditional Braces Work?
Teeth are not permanently fused to the jawbone. Each tooth is supported by surrounding tissues that can gradually remodel in response to carefully controlled orthodontic forces.
Brackets provide attachment points on individual teeth. An archwire connects those brackets and helps generate the forces needed to guide teeth toward their intended positions.
Orthodontic movement occurs gradually. As treatment progresses, Dr. Davis monitors tooth positions and bite relationships and makes adjustments according to the treatment plan.
This is why braces treatment requires more than simply attaching brackets and waiting. Regular monitoring allows the orthodontist to evaluate progress and guide the next stage of tooth movement.
The Traditional Braces Process at Philadelphia Orthodontics
Every orthodontic case is different, but treatment generally progresses through several important stages.
Step 1: Comprehensive Orthodontic Consultation
Your first step is an orthodontic evaluation. Dr. Davis considers your teeth, alignment, bite, treatment concerns, and goals before recommending an approach.
This appointment is also an opportunity to ask about braces, alternatives, anticipated treatment length, costs, and what daily life with braces may involve.
New patients can review what to expect at your first visit before coming to our Philadelphia office.
Step 2: Diagnostic Records and Treatment Planning
Successful orthodontics depends on understanding more than the visible position of the front teeth. Diagnostic information helps evaluate the relationships between the teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures.
Philadelphia Orthodontics has integrated 3D radiography, digital charting, and digital record keeping into the practice. Learn more about our orthodontic technology and diagnostics.
Dr. Davis uses the relevant diagnostic information to develop a treatment plan based on your individual orthodontic needs.
Step 3: Placing Your Braces
When treatment begins, brackets are bonded to the appropriate teeth and an archwire is placed. Additional components may be used according to the treatment plan.
Patients usually receive instructions for cleaning their braces, choosing foods carefully, protecting their appliances, and handling common issues.
Step 4: Regular Adjustments and Progress Checks
You will return periodically so Dr. Davis can evaluate progress and make treatment adjustments.
These visits are important. Missing appointments can interfere with monitoring and may affect treatment progress.
Step 5: Removing Your Braces
Once the planned tooth movements and treatment objectives have been achieved, the braces can be removed.
For many patients, seeing their smile without brackets and wires is one of the most rewarding moments of orthodontic treatment.
Step 6: Protecting Your Results With Retainers
Orthodontic treatment does not end the moment braces come off. Teeth can shift after active treatment, making retention an essential part of protecting your result.
Dr. Davis will provide retention instructions based on your needs. Learn more about retainers after orthodontic treatment.
How Long Do Traditional Braces Take?
There is no universal treatment length for traditional braces. Orthodontic timelines vary because the amount and complexity of tooth movement differ from patient to patient.
Factors that can affect treatment time include:
- Severity of crowding or spacing
- Type and complexity of the bite problem
- Number and type of tooth movements required
- Jaw growth in younger patients
- Individual biological response to orthodontic forces
- Whether additional appliances are required
- Attendance at scheduled appointments
- Following treatment instructions
- Avoiding repeated damage to brackets and wires
- Overall treatment goals
Minor alignment concerns and comprehensive bite correction should not be expected to have identical timelines.
After evaluating your orthodontic needs, Dr. Davis can provide a more individualized estimate. Even then, treatment time should be viewed as an estimate because teeth do not move at exactly the same rate in every person.
Do Traditional Braces Hurt?
Getting braces should not be confused with continuous pain. However, temporary tenderness or pressure can occur, particularly when braces are first placed or after certain adjustments.
During the first few days, teeth may feel tender when biting or chewing. The cheeks or lips can also require time to adapt to the presence of brackets and wires.
Discomfort generally reflects the fact that orthodontic forces are being applied and the mouth is adapting to the appliances.
If pain is severe, persistent, or associated with a damaged appliance, contact the office rather than assuming it is a routine part of treatment.
What Can You Eat With Traditional Braces?
You can continue enjoying a varied diet while wearing braces, but certain foods can damage brackets and wires. Changing how you prepare some foods can also make eating easier.
Foods to Avoid With Braces
Patients are generally advised to be careful with foods that are especially hard, sticky, or likely to pull on orthodontic appliances.
Examples can include:
- Hard or sticky candy
- Chewing gum when advised against it
- Ice
- Popcorn kernels
- Very hard nuts
- Hard pretzels
- Foods that require forceful biting directly with the front teeth
Rather than biting whole apples or similar firm foods with the front teeth, cutting them into smaller pieces can reduce stress on appliances.
Braces-Friendly Foods
Softer foods can be particularly helpful immediately after placement or adjustments when teeth feel tender. Examples include yogurt, eggs, pasta, soft vegetables, soups, smoothies, and other foods that require less forceful chewing.
Why Food Restrictions Matter
A broken bracket or distorted wire can interrupt treatment mechanics and require an additional appointment. Protecting your appliances helps treatment progress according to plan.
How Do You Brush and Floss With Braces?
Excellent oral hygiene becomes especially important during braces treatment because brackets and wires create additional areas where plaque and food debris can collect.
Patients should carefully clean:
- Along the gumline
- Above and below brackets
- Around bracket edges
- Between teeth
- Around orthodontic wires
Flossing may require a floss threader, orthodontic flossing product, or another technique recommended by your dental professionals.
Braces themselves do not cause cavities, but inadequate plaque removal around appliances can increase the risk of tooth decay, gum inflammation, and visible enamel changes.
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums throughout treatment helps ensure that when the braces come off, the result is not only straighter but healthy.
Traditional Braces for Children and Teens in Philadelphia
Traditional braces are a common treatment choice for growing children and teenagers because fixed appliances can address a broad range of orthodontic problems without requiring the patient to remember to wear removable aligners throughout the day.
Timing depends on dental development, growth, bite relationships, and the specific problem being treated. Not every child who needs orthodontic evaluation will immediately need braces.
For families seeking orthodontic care in Philadelphia, our children's orthodontics services provide additional information about treatment for younger patients.
Traditional braces can also fit well into a teen's routine. Because the appliances stay in place, treatment does not depend on remembering to replace aligners after meals, school activities, or social events.
Traditional Braces for Adults in Philadelphia
There is no rule that braces are only for teenagers. Adults may seek orthodontic treatment because they never received treatment when younger, experienced tooth movement after previous orthodontics, or have alignment and bite concerns they now want to address.
Adult orthodontic planning considers the current condition of the teeth and supporting tissues as well as the patient's cosmetic and functional goals.
Fixed braces may be particularly appealing to adults who value predictable, continuously active appliances or whose orthodontic needs are well suited to traditional treatment.
Learn more about orthodontic treatment for adults.
Traditional Metal Braces vs. Gold Braces
Patients who want fixed orthodontic treatment but prefer a different appearance may be interested in gold-colored braces.
Both traditional and gold braces are fixed orthodontic options. The most noticeable difference for many patients is aesthetic preference rather than the basic goal of moving teeth.
Explore gold braces in Philadelphia if you would like to compare fixed-appliance styles.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Traditional Braces?
Traditional braces can be considered for children, teens, and adults with a wide variety of orthodontic concerns.
Potential candidates may have:
- Crowded teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Rotated teeth
- Unwanted spacing
- Certain overbites
- Certain underbites
- Crossbites
- More complicated tooth-position problems
- A preference for fixed rather than removable orthodontic appliances
Candidacy is determined through diagnosis rather than age or appearance alone.
Who May Not Be Ready for Traditional Braces?
Some patients may need other concerns addressed before active orthodontic treatment begins.
For example, adequate oral health and hygiene are important because brackets and wires require consistent cleaning. Certain dental or periodontal problems may need to be managed before braces are appropriate.
Traditional braces also may not be the preferred appliance for every patient. Depending on the diagnosis and treatment goals, another orthodontic approach may be recommended.
A consultation allows Dr. Davis to explain which options are appropriate and why.
How Much Do Traditional Braces Cost in Philadelphia?
The cost of braces in Philadelphia varies because orthodontic treatment is customized to the individual patient.
Factors that may influence treatment costs include:
- Complexity of the orthodontic problem
- Expected treatment duration
- Treatment plan and appliance needs
- Additional orthodontic procedures or appliances
- Insurance benefits, when applicable
- Individual financial arrangements
Price should also be considered in the context of what treatment includes rather than comparing appliances based only on an advertised starting figure.
Philadelphia Orthodontics provides information about orthodontic insurance and financing for patients evaluating the financial side of treatment.
A consultation is the appropriate time to obtain information specific to your proposed treatment.
What Happens If a Bracket Breaks or a Wire Comes Loose?
Brackets and wires are designed for orthodontic treatment, but appliances can occasionally become damaged.
A bracket may loosen, a wire may shift or become irritating, or another appliance component may require attention.
Not every braces problem is a true emergency, but patients should contact the office when an appliance breaks or causes significant discomfort so the team can provide appropriate guidance.
Our orthodontic emergency guide explains more about common appliance issues and when to seek help.
Can You Play Sports With Traditional Braces?
Yes. Wearing braces does not mean giving up athletics.
However, protecting the teeth, lips, cheeks, and orthodontic appliances becomes particularly important during activities where the mouth could be struck.
An appropriate mouthguard can provide an additional layer of protection. Patients who participate in athletics can learn about sports guards for orthodontic patients.
Tell our team about the sports you play so we can discuss protection appropriate for your treatment.
When Might Other Orthodontic Treatments Be Used With Braces?
Traditional braces are powerful tools, but some orthodontic problems involve more than tooth alignment.
For selected growing patients, an orthodontic appliance may be used to address arch-width or developmental concerns. Palate expanders are one example of an appliance that may be recommended when appropriate.
More significant skeletal jaw discrepancies can require a different approach. In certain complex cases, orthodontics may be coordinated with orthognathic surgery to address jaw relationships that cannot be corrected through tooth movement alone.
These treatments are not routine additions to every braces case. They are recommended only when the diagnosis indicates a need.
Why Choose Philadelphia Orthodontics for Traditional Braces?
Orthodontic treatment can last many months, so choosing an orthodontic practice involves more than selecting an appliance.
Dr. Joshua Davis, DMD, MS, leads Philadelphia Orthodontics and provides individualized orthodontic treatment in a modern Center City practice. Philadelphia Orthodontics has integrated technologies such as 3D radiography, digital charting, and digital record keeping while offering multiple treatment approaches for patients with different orthodontic needs.
Our goal is to understand your concerns, carefully evaluate your orthodontic condition, explain appropriate treatment options, and develop a plan around your individual needs.
Patients who want to learn more about the orthodontist behind their care can meet Dr. Joshua Davis.
Traditional Braces in Center City Philadelphia
Philadelphia Orthodontics is located at 1420 Walnut Street, Suite 518, Philadelphia, PA 19102, providing a convenient Center City location for orthodontic patients.
We welcome children, teens, adults, families, students, and professionals from Center City and surrounding Philadelphia communities, including Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square West, Graduate Hospital, Fitler Square, Society Hill, Fairmount, and other neighborhoods throughout the city.
Having an orthodontic office convenient to your daily routine can matter because braces require periodic progress visits throughout treatment.
Whether you are a parent exploring braces for your child, a teenager considering orthodontic options, or an adult finally ready to address long-standing alignment concerns, our team can help you understand your options.
See Orthodontic Results From Philadelphia Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment is an investment in a smile you may enjoy for many years. Seeing examples of completed treatment can help patients understand what comprehensive orthodontic care is designed to accomplish.
Visit our patient Smile Gallery to explore results associated with Philadelphia Orthodontics.
Every patient's starting condition and treatment outcome are individual, so your expected result should be discussed during your consultation.
Schedule a Traditional Braces Consultation in Philadelphia
If you are considering braces for yourself, your teenager, or your child, the first step is determining what type of orthodontic treatment the smile actually needs.
Visit Philadelphia Orthodontics at 1420 Walnut Street, Suite 518, Philadelphia, PA 19102, or call (484) 603-6151.
You can also schedule an orthodontic consultation with our Center City Philadelphia team.
Frequently Asked Questions About Traditional Braces
How Much Do Traditional Braces Cost in Philadelphia?
The cost of traditional braces in Philadelphia depends on factors such as case complexity, expected treatment duration, appliance needs, and the patient's individualized treatment plan. Insurance benefits and financing arrangements can also affect out-of-pocket costs. An orthodontic consultation allows Philadelphia Orthodontics to evaluate your needs and provide treatment-specific financial information.
How Long Do Traditional Braces Take?
There is no single braces timeline that applies to every patient. Treatment length depends on the starting tooth positions, bite problem, complexity of required movement, biological response, and treatment goals. Keeping appointments, following instructions, and avoiding repeated appliance damage can also help treatment progress as efficiently as the individual case allows.
Do Traditional Braces Hurt?
Patients may experience temporary pressure or tenderness when braces are first placed and after certain adjustments. The lips and cheeks may also need time to adapt to brackets and wires. This discomfort is generally temporary. Severe or persistent pain should be reported to the orthodontic office so the cause can be evaluated.
What Age Is Best for Traditional Braces?
There is no universal best age for braces. Treatment timing depends on the orthodontic problem, dental development, jaw growth, and individual needs. Some patients benefit from treatment while growing, while others begin comprehensive braces later. Adults can also successfully undergo orthodontic treatment when their teeth and supporting tissues are suitable for tooth movement.
Can Adults Get Traditional Braces?
Yes. Traditional braces can be an effective option for adults with crowding, spacing, crooked teeth, or certain bite problems. Adults may also seek treatment because teeth shifted after earlier orthodontics. The appropriate appliance depends on the diagnosis, oral health, treatment goals, and lifestyle rather than age alone.
Are Traditional Braces Better Than Invisalign?
Neither treatment is automatically better. Traditional braces remain fixed to the teeth and do not depend on daily aligner wear, while Invisalign provides a more discreet, removable option. Treatment complexity, lifestyle, preferences, and orthodontic goals all influence which approach is more appropriate. A consultation provides an individualized comparison.
What Foods Should I Avoid With Braces?
Patients with braces should generally avoid or modify foods that are hard, sticky, or likely to damage brackets and wires. Examples can include hard candy, ice, sticky sweets, and hard foods bitten directly with the front teeth. Following your orthodontist's dietary instructions helps protect appliances and reduce avoidable treatment interruptions.
How Often Are Traditional Braces Adjusted?
Adjustment schedules vary according to the patient's treatment stage, appliance system, and individual plan. During progress appointments, the orthodontist evaluates tooth movement, bite relationships, appliance condition, and treatment progress before determining what adjustments are needed. Your specific appointment schedule will be explained during treatment rather than following one universal interval.
How Do I Brush and Floss With Braces?
Brushing and flossing require additional attention because plaque and food can collect around brackets and wires. Carefully clean around each bracket, along the gumline, and between teeth. Floss threaders or other orthodontic cleaning aids may make interdental cleaning easier. Consistent hygiene helps protect teeth and gums throughout orthodontic treatment.
Can I Play Sports While Wearing Traditional Braces?
Yes. Patients can remain active while wearing traditional braces. However, sports involving possible facial or mouth contact increase the importance of protecting the teeth, soft tissues, and appliances. An appropriate orthodontic mouthguard may be recommended. Tell Philadelphia Orthodontics about your activities so suitable protection can be discussed.
Start Your Braces Journey at Philadelphia Orthodontics
A straighter smile begins with understanding what your teeth and bite actually need.
At Philadelphia Orthodontics, Dr. Joshua Davis, DMD, MS, provides personalized orthodontic treatment for children, teens, and adults from Center City and communities throughout Philadelphia.
Call (484) 603-6151 to schedule your traditional braces consultation at Philadelphia Orthodontics.
