Braces in Delaware from board-certified Stellar Orthodontics
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Braces in Delaware

Braces in Delaware: the trusted, modern way to straighten a smile.

Modern braces are dramatically smaller, gentler, and faster than the braces you may remember. At Stellar Orthodontics, we offer clear ceramic braces and traditional metal braces across four Delaware offices, so you can choose the right fit for your age, your lifestyle, and your goals.

Book My Free Braces ConsultCall (844) 727-2237
  • Board CertifiedDr. Can Nguyen, ABO
  • Clear or MetalTwo braces options
  • 4 Delaware OfficesWilmington to the beaches
  • Free ConsultsTransparent pricing, no obligation
What modern braces are

How braces actually work.

Braces use small brackets bonded to the front of each tooth, connected by a flexible archwire. The wire applies gentle, continuous pressure that moves the teeth into the position your orthodontist planned. Every six to eight weeks, you come in for an adjustment - a new wire or a small tension change - that nudges the next phase of the movement forward.

Modern brackets are about half the size of the brackets from twenty years ago. Wires use heat-activated nickel-titanium alloys that move teeth with less force and less soreness. The result: smaller appliances, fewer adjustments, less discomfort, and shorter overall treatment time for most cases.

  • Fixed in place - works 24 hours a day with no compliance worry
  • Strong, predictable control of even complex tooth movement
  • Tooth-colored ceramic or classic metal - your choice
  • Treatment timeline visible in 3D at your free consultation
Traditional metal braces treatment at Stellar Orthodontics in Delaware
Your Braces Options

Two braces options at Stellar - one consistent standard of care.

Both options deliver excellent results across a wide range of cases. The right choice usually comes down to aesthetics, budget, and the specific tooth movements your case requires.

Clear Ceramic Braces

Tooth-colored ceramic brackets that blend in with your natural smile. Most popular with adults and self-conscious teens who want the predictability of fixed braces without the metal look.

  • Discreet, tooth-colored brackets
  • Fixed appliances - no compliance worry
  • Strong control across most case types
  • Slightly higher cost than metal, lower than Invisalign
  • Standard treatment time, typically 18 to 30 months

Best for: adults, professional settings, teens worried about photos, anyone who wants fixed appliances with a softer look.

Ask about clear braces

Traditional Metal Braces

The most economical and most durable orthodontic option. Modern stainless-steel brackets are smaller and lighter than the braces of a decade ago. Kids and teens love the fun color elastics swapped at every visit.

  • Most economical braces option
  • Most durable - great for active kids and teens
  • Fun color elastics every adjustment visit
  • Equally effective for complex cases
  • Standard treatment time, typically 18 to 30 months

Best for: kids, active teens, complex bite cases, families balancing cost, and patients who want the most time-tested orthodontic option.

Ask about metal braces
Are You a Candidate?

Braces handle the widest range of orthodontic cases.

If Invisalign was on your shortlist, braces probably are too - and for many complex cases, braces remain the stronger clinical option. The check-list below covers most of what we treat.

Crowding (mild to severe)
Spacing between teeth
Overbite, underbite, crossbite
Open bite
Severe tooth rotations
Impacted canines or premolars
Phase 2 after early Phase 1 treatment
Adult cases where fixed control is critical

When Invisalign may be the better call

If your case is well within the candidacy range for clear aligners, the discretion and removability of Invisalign sometimes outweigh the fixed-control advantage of braces. Common reasons we recommend Invisalign over braces:

  • Mild to moderate adult cases focused on aesthetics
  • Patients with mature compliance habits who'll wear aligners 22 hours a day
  • Adults with professional or social settings where braces would feel awkward
  • Patients who don't want to track avoiding hard or sticky foods

If Invisalign is a fit, we'll be honest about it at your free consultation. See our Invisalign Delaware guide for the full comparison.

Get an honest candidacy review
Braces by Age Group

Different ages, same standard of care.

Kids & Phase 1 (ages 7–11)

Most kids are not ready for full braces yet. For younger patients with crowding, crossbite, or jaw-development concerns, Phase 1 treatment may use partial braces or specific appliances to guide growth. Phase 2 full braces come later.

Orthodontics for kids in Delaware

Teens (ages 11–17)

The most common braces age group. By this stage, most permanent teeth are in place. Many Stellar teen patients start in middle school and finish in time for senior portraits. Color elastics on metal braces are the visit highlight.

Teen orthodontics in Delaware

Adults (18+)

Adults often choose clear ceramic braces for the discretion of clear brackets combined with the predictability of fixed appliances. Many adult braces cases finish in 12 to 24 months, slightly shorter than teen averages because adult bone is more stable.

Adult orthodontics in Delaware
The Stellar Braces Process

What treatment looks like, start to finish.

Every Stellar braces patient follows the same well-defined process - from the first free consultation through the final retainer check.

1. Free consult

Complete orthodontic exam, smile-goal conversation, and 3D iTero scan. About 60 minutes. No obligation.

2. Treatment plan

You receive a printed treatment plan with realistic timeline, transparent pricing, and financing options before you commit.

3. Braces placement

A 60 to 90 minute appointment to bond the brackets and place the first wire. No injections, no drilling, no pain.

4. Adjustment visits

Every 6 to 8 weeks for a wire change or tension adjustment. About 30 minutes per visit. Same orthodontist every time.

5. Removal day

When your case is complete, brackets come off in a single appointment. Most patients are stunned by the reveal.

6. Retention

Custom retainers protect your new smile long-term. Wear schedule starts full-time and tapers over the first year.

Stay in touch

Loose bracket? Poking wire? Call (844) 727-2237. We never leave a braces patient hanging between visits.

Lifetime smile check

Periodic check-ins keep your retainers fitting well and your result stable for years to come.

Braces vs Invisalign

Which one is right for your smile?

Both deliver excellent results. The right choice depends on your case, your lifestyle, and how you feel about wearing fixed appliances versus committing to 22 hours of daily aligner wear.

Braces

  • Fixed brackets and wires (metal or tooth-colored ceramic)
  • Works 24 hours a day with no compliance worry
  • Strong control across the widest range of cases
  • Some foods to avoid (popcorn, hard candy, sticky sweets)
  • More routine office visits for adjustments
  • Generally lower price point than Invisalign
  • Great for kids and teens who want fun color elastics
Book a Braces Consult

Invisalign

  • Nearly invisible clear aligner trays
  • Removable for eating, drinking, and brushing
  • No food restrictions
  • Fewer in-office visits (every 6 to 10 weeks)
  • Treatment progress visible in 3D before you start
  • Success depends on wearing trays 20 to 22 hours a day
  • Best for mild to moderate and many complex cases
Compare Invisalign
Treatment Time

How long do braces take in Delaware?

Most patients want a single number, but the honest answer is "it depends on your case." Here are the realistic Stellar averages:

  • Simple adult cosmetic cases: 12 months. Minor crowding or relapse after childhood braces.
  • Typical teen cases: 18 to 24 months. Full-arch alignment plus bite correction. Often timed to finish before senior portraits.
  • Comprehensive adult cases: 18 to 30 months. Significant tooth movement plus bite work.
  • Complex cases: 24 to 36+ months. Severe crowding, jaw issues, impacted teeth, or Phase 2 after Phase 1.

Your treatment plan, presented at your free consultation, gives you a realistic personal timeline before you commit.

Cost & Financing

How much do braces cost in Delaware?

Braces pricing depends on case complexity, treatment length, and the type of appliance - and the only accurate number is the one based on your actual case. Stellar gives every patient a transparent printed estimate at the free consultation, with no obligation and no vague ranges that change later.

  • Free consultation, 3D scan, and printed estimate - no obligation
  • Most major Delaware dental insurance accepted, with benefits verified before treatment
  • Monthly payment plans built for Delaware families
  • HSA and FSA payments accepted
  • Sibling and multi-patient family discounts
  • No surprise fees during treatment
See financing options
Why Stellar for Braces

Three orthodontists, four Delaware offices, one consistent standard of care.

Braces results depend more on the orthodontist behind the plan than on the brackets themselves. At Stellar, your braces case is managed by one of three doctors - including a board-certified specialist - not a rotating staff of providers.

Board-certified expertise

Dr. Can Nguyen is among fewer than one in three U.S. orthodontists who have voluntarily achieved certification by the American Board of Orthodontics. For your braces plan, that means extra peer-reviewed clinical rigor.

Same doctor every visit

You see the same Stellar orthodontist at every adjustment. Continuity matters - especially over an 18 to 30 month braces case.

Modern brackets, modern care

Lower-profile brackets, lighter heat-activated wires, and digital iTero treatment planning combine for shorter, more comfortable braces treatment than even a decade ago.

Book My Free Braces ConsultMeet the doctors
Delaware Braces Locations

Find braces treatment at the Stellar office closest to you.

North Wilmington

2304 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE 19803

Serving Brandywine, Hockessin, Pike Creek, Greenville

North Wilmington braces

Middletown

818 Kohl Avenue
Middletown, DE 19709

Serving the MOT area, Odessa, Townsend, Glasgow

Middletown braces

West Dover

125-2 Greentree Drive
Dover, DE 19904

Serving Dover, Smyrna, Camden, Harrington

West Dover braces

Millsboro

26670 Centerview Drive, Suite 16
Millsboro, DE 19966

Serving Georgetown, Seaford, Rehoboth, Lewes

Millsboro braces
Braces FAQ

Honest answers to the questions Delaware braces patients ask most.

How much do braces cost in Delaware?

Braces pricing depends on case complexity, treatment length, and the type of appliance selected. The only accurate number is the one based on your actual case. Stellar gives every patient a transparent printed estimate at the free consultation - no obligation - along with monthly payment options and most major insurance accepted.

How long do braces take?

Most braces cases at Stellar finish in 18 to 30 months. Simple cosmetic adult cases can wrap in 12 months. Complex bite or jaw cases sometimes run longer. You receive a realistic personal timeline at your free consultation based on your iTero scan and treatment plan.

Do braces hurt?

Modern braces are dramatically gentler than the braces of even ten years ago. There is usually some soreness for two or three days after the initial placement and after each adjustment, similar to the feeling after a workout. Over-the-counter pain relief, soft foods, and orthodontic wax handle nearly all of it.

What foods can I not eat with braces?

Avoid hard foods that can break brackets (ice, hard candy, nuts, popcorn kernels, hard pretzels) and sticky foods that can pull brackets off (caramel, taffy, gum, jerky). Cut crunchy raw vegetables and apples into bite-size pieces. Most other foods are fine with normal chewing.

Are clear ceramic braces better than metal braces?

Clinically, both work. Metal braces are typically lower cost and slightly more durable, with fun color elastics that kids and teens often love. Clear ceramic braces use tooth-colored brackets that blend in with the smile, which most teens and adults prefer for everyday confidence. The right choice depends on your priorities.

Can I play sports with braces?

Yes. Most braces patients play sports without issue. We recommend an orthodontic mouthguard custom-fit to the braces, which protects both the teeth and the appliances. Stellar can fit one at any office. Wind instruments, dance, cheer, and theater are also all braces-compatible.

Can adults get braces?

Yes. More than one in four orthodontic patients today is an adult. Many adults choose braces over Invisalign for complex cases where fixed control delivers a more predictable result. Clear ceramic braces are popular with adults who want fixed appliances without the metal look.

What do I do if a bracket comes off or a wire pokes?

Call your Stellar office right away. A loose bracket is not a true emergency, but we want to see you within a few business days to rebond it. For a poking wire, you can cover the end with orthodontic wax (provided at placement) until you can come in. We never leave a braces patient hanging.

Your stellar braces smile starts with one free consultation.

We'll do a complete orthodontic exam, take a 3D iTero scan, walk you through a custom braces plan, and give you transparent pricing - no obligation.

Book My Free Braces Consult
Call (844) 727-2237