SC Orthodontics · Fixed braces
Metal braces in Valencia & Santa Clarita
A treatment plan built around your teeth, your bite and your day. Explore metal braces with Dr. Haykani at our Valencia office, serving patients throughout Santa Clarita.
Before you begin
Metal braces: at a glance
Understand what braces can help with, what visits involve and how to care for your smile from your first appointment through retainers.
From your first visit
How metal braces work.
Metal braces use brackets attached to the teeth and an archwire that guides their movement. Treatment considers both alignment and the way your upper and lower teeth meet. Because the brackets stay in place, you do not need to remember to put trays back in—but daily cleaning and protecting the appliance still matter.
At your free consultation, Dr. Haykani assesses your teeth and bite, discusses your goals and explains suitable options. Necessary X-rays and digital scans are included.
Brackets, wires and different kinds of bands
The wire fits into the bracket slots. Small elastic ties or thin metal ligatures can hold it there; self-ligating brackets use a built-in mechanism instead. Removable rubber bands, when prescribed, have a separate job in bite correction. Follow the attachment pattern and wear instructions for your own plan, not someone else’s.
Assess and plan
Review your teeth, gums and bite, then discuss the recommended approach, alternatives, likely timing and written fee. Mention dental injuries, existing restorations and any diagnosed material allergy before choosing an appliance.
Fit and guide
Brackets are bonded to your teeth and connected with a wire. We show you how to clean difficult areas and protect the appliance at meals, and explain any elastics or extra steps your plan needs.
Review and adjust
At review visits, we check movement, the bite, appliance condition and oral health. The wire or other parts may change as the plan progresses. Ask what changed today and what to keep doing until your next visit.
Understand the details: wire changes and adjustments · prescribed rubber bands · your first consultation.
A plan for your bite
What can metal braces help with?
Metal braces can treat crowded or spaced teeth, rotations and a range of bite concerns, including some overbites, underbites and crossbites. Those labels are a starting point, not a diagnosis: the tooth positions, jaw relationship and oral health determine what treatment can realistically change.
Children, teens and adults
Timing for younger patients depends on dental development and growth; an assessment does not automatically mean starting full braces. Adults can also have braces. Gum health, existing crowns or implants and previous treatment all affect planning, and active dental problems may need care first.
Compare suitable options
Metal and ceramic braces are fixed appliances: ceramic changes the appearance of the brackets, not the need for cleaning or appointments. Invisalign and Spark aligners come out for meals and brushing but depend on consistent prescribed wear. Compare the options that suit your bite, along with their routines and full fees.
What braces alone may not change
Braces move teeth; they cannot resolve every difference in jaw position. Some cases need additional appliances or a coordinated surgical assessment. That is not a conclusion to draw from a mirror or a bite label. Our braces versus jaw surgery guide explains the distinction.
Compare braces and aligners · Questions about a nickel allergy
The everyday routine
Eating and cleaning
with braces.
A few practical habits help you look after your teeth and brackets while treatment progresses. We show you how to manage the routine and what to do when something needs attention.
Clean around the brackets
Brush with fluoride toothpaste around the gumline and each bracket, and clean between teeth and beneath the wire every day. Ask for a demonstration if you cannot reach an area. Plaque around brackets can contribute to cavities and white marks; orthodontic reviews do not replace regular dental checkups and cleanings.
Make meals brace-friendly
Avoid hard or sticky foods that can damage braces. Cut suitable firm foods into manageable pieces rather than biting directly into them, and choose softer foods when your teeth feel tender. Do not test a loose bracket with hard food or try to pull it off.
Keep appointments and follow instructions
Attend planned visits and wear elastics exactly as directed if they are part of your treatment; adding extra bands is not a safe shortcut. Report a loose bracket, poking wire or trouble cleaning promptly so we can advise you rather than letting the problem continue until the next adjustment.
Brushing with braces Foods to eat with braces · White spots and enamel care
Looking ahead
Treatment time
& retainers.
Finishing treatment includes assessing the agreed alignment and bite goals, then professionally removing brackets and adhesive. Straight-looking front teeth are not the only check. Your retainer plan begins as active treatment ends so you understand how to maintain the result.
Your treatment timeline
Treatment length varies with the movements needed, your response and how consistently you follow the care plan. Breakages, missed visits or interrupted elastic wear can affect progress. Dr. Haykani gives an individual estimate and explains changes rather than promising a finish date based only on the type of brackets.
A retainer plan for you
Teeth can shift after braces and with age. Follow your prescribed retainer schedule over the long term, keep the appliance clean and contact us if it is lost, damaged or no longer fits. Your initial retainers are included in your treatment plan; later replacements are quoted separately when needed.
Before you decide
Metal braces cost
& financing.
Our published metal-braces fees vary by case and are a starting point for planning—not a quote based on a photo or the number of crooked teeth. Your free consultation provides the exact written fee and what it includes. Ask whether any dental, extraction or surgical care outside the orthodontic plan has a separate cost.
In-house monthly payments
SC Orthodontics offers 0% in-house financing. The monthly payment depends on the treatment fee, down payment and plan length. Review the current examples, then compare the total cost and payment schedule for your own plan.
Insurance is checked separately
Your policy determines whether orthodontic benefits apply, how much remains and any limits. Review how insurance verification works and bring your card. The insurance estimate sits alongside the fee; a lifetime maximum is not a guaranteed payment.
A few more details
Questions about metal braces.
Comfort, appointments and the choices you may be weighing up.
Do metal braces hurt?
Tenderness can happen for a few days after braces are placed or adjusted. Soft foods may help while you settle in. Contact us if pain is severe, gets worse or does not improve, or if a wire or bracket is irritating your mouth.
How often will I need appointments?
You will have regular in-person visits to check progress and adjust the braces. The interval depends on your treatment stage. We explain your visit schedule when planning care and let you know if it changes.
Can I play sports with braces?
Ask us about a mouthguard designed to fit over braces for sports with a risk of contact or injury. Tell us which activities you play so we can discuss protection that works with your treatment.
What if a bracket comes loose or a wire pokes?
Call or text the office and describe what happened so we can advise you. Orthodontic wax can provide temporary relief from a rubbing bracket or wire. Avoid pulling at the appliance or trying to force it back into place.
Can I choose less visible braces?
Depending on your bite and treatment needs, ceramic braces or other orthodontic options may be appropriate. Dr. Haykani explains the differences and helps you compare the options that fit your case.
Do metal braces mean I need teeth removed?
No. Extraction is not a requirement simply because you choose metal brackets. The decision depends on the space needed, tooth positions, bite and dental health. If removal is proposed, ask why, which alternatives are suitable and how the spaces would be managed before arranging treatment.
Can I choose colored bands for metal braces?
If your appliance uses elastic ties around individual brackets, ask about the available colors when those ties are replaced. They are different from removable elastics prescribed for bite correction. Not every bracket system uses the same ties, and changing their color does not whiten your teeth.
How much do metal braces cost, and can insurance help?
Metal-braces fees are published by case on our fees page, and your exact quote is confirmed at the consultation. Orthodontic coverage depends on your policy, eligibility and remaining benefit. We show an insurance estimate with the fee and can discuss in-house payment options for the remaining balance.
What should I bring to my consultation?
Bring your questions, relevant dental history and insurance details. Tell us about previous orthodontic treatment, dental injuries or material allergies so they can be considered as we discuss your options.
Your next step
Your free braces
consultation.
Come in with your questions. Dr. Haykani will help you understand your options, expected timing and fee at a free consultation.
Visit SC Orthodontics in Valencia, serving patients across Santa Clarita.
- Visit
- 25385 Wayne Mills Pl
Valencia, CA 91355
Hours & directions - Call
- (661) 425-0559
- Hours
- Sunday–Friday, 8 AM–7 PM; Saturday closed
Metal braces near you
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