Traditional Braces - Merrimack & New Boston, NH

Unlike aligners, braces work around the clock without any reminders. Dr. Hernandez and the team at River Orthodontics place both metal and ceramic braces for kids, teens, and adults at our Merrimack and New Boston, NH offices. Call (603) 424-1199 to set up a first visit at either location.

Metal braces handle just about anything, including bite corrections and tricky tooth movements that other options struggle with. Ceramic braces do the same work with tooth-colored brackets that blend into your smile. Which one makes sense depends on the case, the age, and the budget.

Quick Takeaways

• Metal and ceramic braces are both available at our Merrimack and New Boston offices, for kids, teens, and adults.
• Braces are fixed in place, so your child will not have to remember to put them in or worry about leaving them somewhere.
• Most full treatment plans run 18 to 24 months, with short check-in visits every few weeks.
• You'll see the cost, the timeline, and the bracket type that fits your case before anything goes on your teeth.
• Dr. Hernandez walks through all of it at your first consultation, before any decisions are made.

How Traditional Braces Actually Work

Small brackets get glued to the front of each tooth, and a thin wire connects them all. That wire wants to spring back to its original shape, and as it does, it gently guides the teeth along with it. When Dr. Hernandez swaps the wire at your adjustment visits, it shifts the direction of movement. The process is slow, steady, and very controllable, which is why braces remain the go-to choice in orthodontics.

From First Visit to Bonding Day

Before any of that movement starts, there are a few steps to get through. Here's how it goes.

1. The consultation

Your first visit is a conversation, not a contract. We look at the teeth, talk about what's bothering you or your child, and answer your questions. If braces aren't the right call, we'll say so.

2. Records and imaging

We use gunk-free iTero digital scanning instead of old impression trays, plus digital x-rays and 3D imaging where helpful. These records let us see the roots, the jaw relationship, and everything happening under the gumline.

3. Your treatment plan

Dr. Hernandez maps out the order of adjustments, the estimated length, and the bracket type he'd recommend. You see the full plan before anything gets started.

4. Bonding day

This is when the braces go on. Each bracket is attached right to the tooth surface during your appointment, and most patients are surprised by how comfortable the process actually is.

Why Families Keep Choosing Braces

• You don't have to rely on memory. Braces don't get pocketed at lunch or forgotten in a backpack. They work around the clock on their own.
• Braces give Dr. Hernandez precise control over tricky movements. Rotating a stubborn tooth, closing a gap, fixing a bite that doesn't line up right: braces handle all of that with hard-to-beat predictability.
• The timeline tends to have fewer surprises. There's no waiting on new trays or a mid-treatment correction. What's on the teeth is what's working.
• Straight teeth do more than look good. They wear more evenly, clean more easily, and put less strain on the jaw over time.
• There's nothing to lose or replace during treatment. Braces stay attached to the teeth the whole time, so there's no lost tray to report and no replacement to pay for.
• Kids can make them their own. For a nine-year-old, picking the elastic colors is half the fun.

Every set of braces we place is planned around the patient in the chair. Dr. Hernandez looks at how a young face is still growing, or how an adult smile has shifted over the years, and shapes the plan from there. Learn more about our team or find out what happens at a first visit to our New Boston or Merrimack office.

Metal or Ceramic: Which Fits Better?

Both attach to the teeth and move them the same way. The difference is how they look and how they hold up.

Metal braces

Metal brackets are small, made from stainless steel, and built to handle the wear of an active kid's life, soccer seasons included. They're also typically the lower-cost option, which makes them the straightforward pick for most children and younger teens.

Ceramic braces

Tooth-colored brackets that blend into the smile and look much less noticeable in photos and across a conference table. Older teens and adults tend to prefer them. Keep in mind that ceramic is a bit more brittle than steel and usually costs somewhat more. Some patients do a ceramic upper arch and metal lower, which gets the discreet look where it shows most.

Dr. Hernandez will go over both options with you at your consultation and help you figure out which one makes the most sense for your bite, your lifestyle, and your budget.

Who Braces Are Right For

More people qualify than you might think. Good candidates usually fall into one of these groups:

• Children around ages 7 to 10 with a mix of baby and permanent teeth, where an early visit has spotted crowding or a bite that needs attention
• Teens with all their permanent teeth in, the age range we see most often
• Adults coming back to alignment they put off years ago, or dealing with shifting after an old retainer stopped getting worn
• Anyone with crowding, spacing, or a bite issue that needs steady, consistent movement rather than a removable appliance

Braces are not the right fit for every situation. If the concern is minor and mostly cosmetic, and you know you'll wear trays consistently, Invisalign may be a better match. If you have gum disease or untreated cavities, your regular dentist will want to take care of those first. A quick exam is really the only way to know where you land.

Dr. Hernandez sees patients at both our New Boston and Merrimack offices and will give you honest answers without any pressure. Call (603) 424-1199 or request an appointment and we'll be in touch soon.

What the Timeline Looks Like

Most treatment plans run between 18 and 24 months. Simpler cases can wrap up sooner; more complex bites can take a little longer. Here's how it usually goes:

• Week one: your consultation, records, and a treatment plan you can take home and think over.
• Bonding appointment: the appointment takes about an hour. Your teeth will feel sore for three to five days, then it settles down.
• Every 4 to 8 weeks: short check-in visits to adjust the wire and keep things moving. We work around school, jobs, and sports, and two office locations mean more scheduling options for your family.
• Mid-treatment: rubber bands usually get added at some point, and you'll start noticing real changes in the mirror.
• Removal day: brackets come off, teeth get polished, and we scan for your retainers right then.
• After removal: retainers keep everything in place. Wearing them as directed is what makes the result last.

Braces and Invisalign move on slightly different schedules. Dr. Hernandez will walk you through both at your consultation so you know exactly what to expect before anything gets started.

Getting Ready and Caring for Braces

Before the day your braces go on, get a cleaning and checkup with your regular dentist so everything starts fresh. Stock up on soft foods for the first week: yogurt, pasta, eggs, smoothies. Grab orthodontic wax, a soft toothbrush, and floss threaders or a water flosser.

Once braces are on, your daily routine matters more than anything else we do in the chair:

• Brush after every meal, angling the bristles at the brackets and along the gum line where plaque likes to hide.
• Floss once a day using threaders. It feels a little awkward at first, but it becomes second nature quickly.
• Skip anything hard, sticky, or chewy: ice, caramel, popcorn kernels, hard candy, nuts. Cut apples and carrots into pieces instead of biting in.
• Wear a mouthguard for every sport, every season, without exception.
• Call us at (603) 424-1199 if a bracket comes loose or a wire starts poking. It's rarely an emergency, but we'd rather hear about it.
• Keep your regular dental cleanings on schedule throughout treatment.

After the braces come off, you'll wear a retainer to hold everything in place while the bone around your roots settles. Teeth naturally shift over time if nothing holds them, and wearing your retainer as directed is what keeps that from happening.

Cost and Payment For Traditional Braces

Your total cost depends on how complex the case is, how long it'll take, and whether you choose metal or ceramic brackets.

We go over the full fee at your consultation, before anything starts, so you're never left guessing.

Why Merrimack and New Boston Families Choose Us

Dr. Emilio R. Hernandez, DMD, MS, trained specifically in orthodontics, earning his dental degree at the University of Kentucky and a Clinical Achievement Award for Excellence in Restorative Dentistry. He spent four years in general practice in Hawaii, taught at NYU's dental residency program, and then went back to school for a dedicated three-year orthodontic specialty program at Nova Southeastern University. Because he focuses exclusively on orthodontics, you can trust that your child's smile is in practiced, specialized hands.

Most of our patients are between 9 and 15, right in the middle of figuring out who they are, and that age shapes how we run the place. We keep things judgment-free, skip the lectures, and make sure there is plenty of room for laughing, because a kid who feels comfortable in the chair is a kid who actually shows up for appointments.

Because the practice is fully digital, records and treatment planning happen in the same visit rather than across two or three. You see your scan on screen while you're still in the chair, and the plan gets reviewed before you leave. Brackets get placed right at that same appointment, so you're not making extra trips just to get started. For patients who want a less visible option, Invisalign is available as well.

With two offices, one in Merrimack and one in New Boston, most families can find a location that fits their schedule without too much rearranging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do braces hurt?

Putting them on doesn't hurt. Your teeth will feel sore for a few days after bonding, and again briefly after each adjustment. Soft foods and over-the-counter pain relief take care of it.

Can my child eat normally with braces?

Mostly, yes, with a short list of exceptions. Hard, sticky, and chewy foods can pop a bracket loose. Everything else is fine, just cut things into smaller pieces. The first week is soft food only.

Will ceramic braces stain?

The brackets themselves don't stain easily. The small elastic ties that hold the wire in place can pick up color from coffee, curry, or tomato sauce, but we swap those out at every adjustment, so any color fades fast.

How often will we have appointments?

Usually every four to eight weeks, depending on where you are in treatment. Most visits are pretty quick. We'll work around your schedule at our New Boston and Merrimack offices.

My teen plays sports. Is that a problem?

Not at all, as long as they wear an orthodontic mouthguard. Metal brackets are tough and hold up well to an active lifestyle, which is part of why we often suggest them for athletes.

Do I need a referral from my dentist?

You don't need a referral. Just reach out to our New Boston or Merrimack office and we'll get you set up. If your dentist has already flagged something, bring any recent x-rays and we'll take a look.

Your Stunning Smile Awaits

If you've decided braces are the right choice, the next step is simple: come meet us. You'll leave the consultation with a clear treatment plan, a clear timeline, and answers to every question you bring.

Call (603) 424-1199 to set up a first visit at either office:

Dr. Hernandez and the team would love to meet you and your family!