Braces

A crooked smile can have an impact on more than just your appearance. Misaligned teeth can also affect your overall health.

Braces are a trusted solution to straighten your teeth and improve your bite, giving you the smile of your dreams.

Learn more about why Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics is the preferred provider for so many Philadelphia, PA, patients.

Braces Are a Time-Tested Orthodontic Solution

Dr. Kellyn Hodges explains how the brackets and wires of braces work together to bring teeth into proper alignment. Our patients in the Greater Philadelphia area can generally expect to see their finished results in 24–30 months. If you have mild to severe crookedness, misalignment, or bite issues, braces may be an excellent choice for you.

Take a Look at How Braces Work

Traditional braces are composed of metal brackets strung with a wire designed to slowly guide your teeth into proper alignment.

Request a Consultation to Meet With Our Orthodontists

Many people are interested in orthodontic treatment because they desire straighter teeth. While braces can certainly enhance the aesthetics of your smile, they also improve your bite and protect your overall health. At Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics, serving Bala Cynwyd, Bensalem, and Montgomeryvilleour orthodontists provide braces so that you can make your smile more attractive and easier to maintain, reducing your risk of decay and gum disease.

Patients of all ages can benefit from conventional braces. In some instances, we may even recommend early orthodontics for children. Our orthodontists believe that by addressing issues while your child is still in the developmental stages, we can help them avoid more complex problems in the future.

The friendly staff at our Philadelphia, PA, area practice can help you achieve the beautiful smile you deserve. To meet with an orthodontist, request a consultation online or call us at:

(610) 617-0700

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"Wonderful experience." Why Greater Philadelphia Chooses Us

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Kelly Ward

Montgomeryville, PA

2024

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My daughter Natalie was cared for for almost 3 years. The entire staff was pleasant, receptive, kind, caring, and always available. They took excellent care of my daughter who was very nervous and worried. We just had her braces removed and her teeth are FABULOUS. The entire staff was helpful, kind, and professional. I would recommend this offce to ANYONE in need of care.

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Saliyma Dillard

Bensalem, PA

2024

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Wonderful experience; Dr.Kellyn Hodgens and all of her staff really made my experience with getting braces amazing. I truly appreciate how Dr.Hodgens did a thorough job with my teeth and I would recommend Kellyn Hodgens Orthodontics to anyone who wishes to enhance their smile.

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Real Patients Amazing Results

Straight Teeth Are Healthy Teeth

Braces are used in orthodontic dentistry to align and straighten crooked or crowded teeth, as well as correct a variety of bite problems and malocclusions. Orthodontics also improves your overall dental health. At Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics in Philadelphia, we offer several solutions to meet your dental needs. However, braces remain one of the most popular and economical options for patients throughout the Philadelphia area.

Orthodontic treatment can deliver a healthier, more attractive smile, giving you the confidence to take on the world.

Braces are required for patients who are in need of extensive realignment. During a personal consultation with one of our orthodontists, our team will tailor a proper course of orthodontic treatment based on your unique needs and goals. At our Philadelphia-area orthodontist's offices, we can determine if you qualify for Invisalign® or if braces are the best solution for you. If you are looking for the perfect smile, we can also incorporate your orthodontics into a complete smile makeover.

Contact Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics to Explore Your Orthodontic Options

Your oral health is important not just to the state of your smile, but to your overall well-being. We can help you develop a plan that works toward your dental goals while staying within your budget. From affordable braces to the Invisalign clear aligner system, our orthodontists can help you determine the right treatment plan so the smile of your dreams can become your reality.

If you're ready to learn more about how to achieve the beautiful smile you dream about, call our Philadelphia-area orthodontist's offices to book an appointment, or contact us online today. We serve patients in Bala Cynwyd, Bensalem, Montgomeryville, and Greater Philadelphia.

(610) 617-0700

Dr. Kellyn Hodges
Dr. Kellyn Hodges

“Professional, knowledgeable, and caring.”

“I highly recommend this office to everyone looking for a beautiful and healthy smile! Our family is very thankful for the amazing service we get here. The staff and doctors are very professional, knowledgeable and caring. They actually listen to your concerns!”

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Philadelphia Trusts Us With Their Care

Gentle Orthodontists

Our orthodontists are known for their gentle touch. Whether your child is nervous about treatment or you're an adult who's had poor dental experiences in the past, you can trust our team will treat you with the utmost care. We want to change how you feel about the dentist by providing positive experiences.

Multilingual Practice

We welcome patients from all walks of life and have multilingual staff members to prove it. We can communicate with patients in English, Egyptian Arabic, Spanish, Gujarati, or Nepali. Your care plan will be communicated to you in your native language so nothing gets lost in translation.

Accessible Offices

We have orthodontics offices in Bala Cynwyd, Bensalem, and Montgomeryville. No matter where you are in the Greater Philadelphia area, we're never far.

Treatment for All Ages

While you may typically think of teenagers as being the patients most likely to undergo orthodontics, we welcome patients of all ages. Our team offers early intervention orthodontics for children who may require a little extra care and treatment for adults who desire a more aligned smile.

What to Expect During Treatment With Braces

If our Philadelphia orthodontists determine braces are the best treatment option for you, you can begin the process. Your treatment will involve several steps:

“Dr. Kellyn Hodges is a board-certified orthodontist who began practicing in 1992.”
“Dr. Kellyn Hodges is a board-certified orthodontist who began practicing in 1992.”

Preparation

Your orthodontist will take molds of your teeth so your braces can be designed for the best possible fit. Your orthodontist will then apply an adhesive to each tooth that will receive brackets. The teeth are then banded, and brackets are bonded to the individual teeth. This process usually takes just a few seconds per tooth.

Spacers and Archwire

Your orthodontist may place spacers to make space for future molar banding. Then, the archwire will be threaded between the brackets and secured using ligature elastics. The brackets, elastics, and archwires are available in a variety of colors and materials, so your treatment can be tailored to your preferences.

Adjustments

You will attend follow-up appointments at our Philadelphia-area offices every four to eight weeks so our team can adjust and tighten your braces. Though it depends on the case, braces treatment generally takes about two and a half years to achieve complete and lasting results.

Reducing Discomfort During Braces Treatment

The friendly staff at our Philadelphia-area practice are well known for their gentle touch. At Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics, we make every effort to relieve discomfort throughout your treatment. Most patients in the Philadelphia, PA, area become fully accustomed to their new braces in about one month. If you experience uncomfortable symptoms, you can:

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Wait

You may experience slight soreness a few hours after your braces are initially placed and every time the braces are tightened. This discomfort is normal and should subside in a few days.

Pain medication

Take Pain Medication

To feel more comfortable, take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen as needed.

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Use Wax

If you notice irritation on the inside of the cheeks or sore spots on the tongue, you can apply orthodontic wax to your metal wires, brackets, and elastic bands.

Man placing compress on cheek

Apply a Compress

If you experience jaw pain, you can apply a cold compress to the external jaw as needed. This can reduce inflammation and soreness.

Young woman eating with braces

Be Mindful of Your Diet

Eat softer, cool foods like smoothies, frozen yogurt, and ice cream to help soothe any discomfort. You should also avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods, including popcorn, nuts, taffy, caramel, and hard candy that could get stuck in your brackets, pull brackets out of place, or damage your braces.

Retaining Your Results

After your braces treatment is complete, one of our orthodontists will take molds of your teeth to aid in the fabrication of a custom retainer. Wearing a retainer is important because it will keep your teeth in their newly aligned positions. Failure to wear the retainer as prescribed by your orthodontist can result in your teeth reverting back to their old misaligned positions.

Most patients will have to wear their retainer every night indefinitely, but your orthodontist will discuss specifics with you during your consultation.

Woman with retainer looking at mirror

“Thank you for my perfect smile!” We Give Philadelphia A Reason to Smile

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Shayne Perez

Bensalem, PA

2024

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What a lovely place to have your perfect smile developed. The time and precision Dr. Hodges takes to make your smile perfect should make her orthodontics your only choice for care. Thank you for my perfect smile!

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Ricyonna Walker

Bala Cynwyd, PA

2024

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I had my braces on with Dr Hodges for Two years, i will say my experience has been nothing but tasteful. Even though i was young i was always properly informed about my treatment and greeted with a smile. I felt comfortable after all my visits by Dr Hodges and all of her staff.

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Interested in More Discreet Treatment? Consider Invisalign

Teen and adult patients in the Philadelphia area may also wish to consider Invisalign, a discreet alternative to conventional braces. The Invisalign system straightens crooked teeth using a series of removable clear aligners rather than metal brackets and wires. Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics offers this state-of-the-art treatment to qualifying patients. 

Treatment involves a series of custom aligners. You will wear an aligner for 20–22 hours a day, only removing it to eat, brush, or floss. About every two weeks, you will begin wearing the next aligner in the series. Each aligner is slightly different, and will gradually guide your teeth closer to their proper positions.

Unfortunately, not every candidate seeking orthodontic treatment will qualify for Invisalign. If you have severe or complex alignment issues, you may be better suited to traditional braces.

smile divided in half with Invisalign® and braces

Let Us Find the Right Treatment for Your Lifestyle

During a consultation at one of our Philadelphia-area offices, our orthodontists can determine if Invisalign is an effective option for your smile, or if your case is better suited to traditional braces. Get in touch with us today to request your consultation.

"The staff is really nice and welcoming."

Isaac is a braces patient at Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics. He says he used to hate showing his smile before treatment, but he's much more comfortable sharing it now. Isaac says he would recommend our Greater Philadelphia practice to any of his friends who need braces, too.

FAQ About Braces

Our practice serving Bala Cynwyd, Bensalem, Montgomeryville, and Greater Philadelphia invites you to explore answers to some of the most common questions about braces:

How do I maintain proper oral hygiene while wearing braces?

To help keep your teeth and gums healthy and your braces clean, you will need to brush and floss when you wake up in the morning, after every meal, and before you go to sleep at night. You should brush at an angle at the top of the bands and brackets to reach any trapped food or bacteria. A water flosser (sometimes marketed under the name Waterpik®) can help achieve a thorough cleaning when you care for your teeth.

What is the best age to get braces?

Braces may be recommended for children as young as eight, depending on their needs. However, the best time to get braces depends entirely on your needs.

Am I too old for braces?

Absolutely not. Whether you needed braces as a child but didn't undergo treatment, developed misalignment after having worn braces, are just now developing alignment issues, or want to straighten your teeth for cosmetic reasons, braces can help you.

Which foods should I avoid with braces?

You will need to watch what you eat to avoid breaking or loosening your braces. Common foods that should be avoided when wearing braces include caramel, chewing gum, corn on the cob, hard candy, peanut brittle, popcorn, taffy, whole apples, and whole raw carrots.

“They went beyond my expectations.” Why We Are Philadelphia's First Choice

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J Rosa

Bensalem, PA

2024

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Everyone in this office was extremely polite,professional and will do anything to make sure your taking care of this people did the impossible in my mouth they went beyond my expectations amazing wow I will always be grateful God bless

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Brittany Tannehill

Bala Cynwyd, PA

2024

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Wow I loved my entire experience with Kelly Hodges. I got my braces done in March 2021… I really love it here. I got my braces off yesterday and I'm feeling bittersweet. I am going to visit often because the vibes were unmatched. Thank you Kelly Hodges for hiring the best employees. The environment is always pleasant, welcoming and safe ❤️❤️

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Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics staff

Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics

At Kellyn Hodges Orthodontics, serving patients in Bala Cynwyd, Bensalem, and throughout Philadelphia, we are committed to helping children and adults of all backgrounds achieve beautiful, healthy smiles. Our compassionate and widely respected doctors are members of prestigious dental organizations, including: 

  • American Association of Orthodontists
  • American Dental Association 
  • National Dental Association
  • National Board of Orthodontics, U. S. 

To reach our helpful, multilingual staff, call us at (610) 617-0700 or request a consultation online.

Contact Us Today

We love Kellyn Hodges! She listens to her patients and provides excellent care! Her staff is very friendly and helpful as well! Tara F.

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