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Braces at Image Orthodontics

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What ARE BRACES?

At Image Orthodontics, we are experienced in working with many types of braces. Traditional metal braces are the most common and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires.

You have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) at each visit for a more unique and colorful smile. We also offer clear braces and lingual braces (placed on inside of the teeth).

invisalign® invisalign image orthodontics dentist with patient and two men in a car

How Braces Work:
Three Simple Steps

Schedule a free consultation with your Orthodontist

Set up your free consultation with our certified and experienced orthodontist, who can help you determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure

Get acquainted with the customized treatment plan

Your orthodontist will take your teeth impressions and show you the different stages of teeth positioning via 3D imaging.

Show-off your smile!

Once your treatment is complete, your dental braces will be removed with a simple and relatively painless process. A retainer will be made for your mouth and you will wear it for a period of time to ensure your results are maintained.

Our Patients Love Us!

Elina P.
Elina P.
San Francisco, CA
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Dr. Kalika is great. I am finishing up an Invisalign treatment and am very happy with the results. I think the price was fair and competitive. The new office on Sacramento street is really, really nice. I had an appointment during the ongoing lockdown and felt that they were very diligent about covid safety.
Oscar M.
Oscar M.
San Francisco, CA
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Dr. Kalika and the entire staff here are incredible, they really care about your progress and always go the extra mile. I am so grateful that I found them for my Invisalign treatment, I literally couldn't have asked for any better. My treatment was flawless and I'm so happy with the results. If you are looking for a dependable, affordable (they have tons of promotions, payment plans, etc), effective, and caring orthodontist, look no further!
Danaro4ka X.
Danaro4ka X.San Francisco, CA
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Even though I had my braces removed long time ago, I'd like to leave here my feedback for a doctor to whom I forever thankful for my smile:) Dr Kalika is the best orthodontist - highly experienced and knowledgeable. Always listens to you, discusses any concerns or issues before giving his professional advise or start any procedure. And his staff is also amazing - extremely friendly and super helpful!
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Before and After Photos

As low as $99/month
For more information call 1.877.600.5115
Prices may not include final retainers

Frequently asked questions

It’s important to know that your teeth are suspended inside your gum and bones. They are not fused into your bone. The teeth are surrounded by the periodontal ligament (PDL). This is what enables your teeth to be moved. Braces use gentle force in one direction. This force compresses the PDL on one side and stretches it on the other. On the side that is compressed, the bone reabsorbs. On the side that is being compressed, the bone grows. So actually, your teeth move as a product of simultaneous bone loss and creation.

You can eat any food that is soft. It’s also a good idea to cut your food up into small pieces so that you avoid damaging your braces by biting through big chunks of food.

More importantly, you need to know WHAT YOU CAN’T EAT WITH BRACES.

– Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
– Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice
– Sticky foods: caramels, gum
– Hard foods: nuts, hard pretzels
– Sugary food: candy
– Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

You’ll be able to enjoy all of your favorite foods once your braces are removed.

The cost can vary greatly depending on your individual treatment plan.

Braces can seem to be expensive. However, as long as you follow the Doctor’s care instructions, your new smile should last a lifetime.

This means that the investment you make is spread out over decades which can amount to just pennies a day.

While individual cases vary, most patients will have a straighter, healthier smile in just 6 months to 3 years with traditional braces.

Some factors affecting treatment time include how closely you follow your doctor’s instructions during treatment, the type and extent of maladjustment being treated, and adherence to regular checkups.

On average, most orthodontic patients wear their braces for 2 years, although some treatment can be as short as 12 months and some as long as 3+ years.

It’s important to remember that wearing your retainers is a part of your orthodontic treatment.

Retainers help stabilize your teeth after straightening and retain their new alignment.

It’s recommended that you wear your retainer full time for anywhere from 4-12 months following the removal of your braces. After that time, you will need to wear it at night indefinitely.

It’s extremely important that you have good dental hygiene at all times, but especially so while you’re wearing braces.

That being said, we’ve found that both electric and manual toothbrushes work well. Of course, the electric requires less work.

What really matters is that you make sure to brush all the surfaces of the teeth around the braces themselves – above and below the braces.

Additionally, we recommend that you consider using a water pick to clean between your teeth, since flossing with braces can be very difficult.

Braces hurt because they are actively moving your teeth.

They can also hurt if the brackets and wires themselves come into contact with your cheeks. Eventually after a few weeks most people grow less sensitive in their mouth’s inner tissues.

We recommend that our patients take any painkillers before their initial and adjustment appointments. It’s easier to prevent the adjustment pain, than stop it once it’s begun.

This is a very common question that depends on the structure of your mouth and teeth – and what your smile goals are. Therefore, we recommend that you schedule a complimentary consultation with either our dentist or orthodontist. Once they examine your mouth and have a conversation with you, they’ll be able to recommend if braces can help you achieve your smile goals.

The orthodontics association recommends that every child see an orthodontist for an evaluation at the age of 7 or 8. At that appointment, the orthodontist will recommend a personalized treatment plan and time for your child.

The short answer is yes. We treat both children and adults for braces.

Adults can explore either metal braces or Invisalign. Again, we offer a free initial consultation to help you plan your smile goals.

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