Who Treats You
Marty Greenberg
Trang Cao
The Brackets Used at Bold Bite in Jacksonville
Not every metal bracket is the same. Bracket precision, base bond strength, slot tolerance, and surface finish all affect how predictably teeth move and how comfortable the brackets feel against lips and cheeks. Dr. Marty selected GC Rhodium & Lucchesi sub-slot brackets (primary system) for Bold Bite Orthodontics deliberately.
Why the Practice Chose GC Rhodium Brackets
Dr. Marty personally evaluated every major bracket system at the 2022 AAO Miami meeting over two full days before selecting the bracket Bold Bite uses today. The GC and Lucchesi sub-slot systems won on Japanese manufacturing precision at a fair price point, without the premium markup of other bracket brands. The sub-slot design allows passive, friction-free movement during the initial leveling phase and tighter active control during finishing.
GC Rhodium Brackets
Generic Stainless Steel Brackets
How Metal Braces Work in Jacksonville
Metal braces move teeth by applying continuous, controlled force. A bracket bonded to each tooth grips the archwire. As the wire tries to return to its programmed shape, it pushes and pulls each tooth toward the target position. The wire is where most of the treatment happens.
Are Self-Ligating Metal Brackets Better?
Bold Bite uses self-ligating brackets for its ceramic option because color ties discolor over a twelve-to-eighteen-month treatment and patients choosing ceramic want maximum aesthetics. Self-ligation eliminates the visible elastic tie and keeps the ceramic bracket looking clean through the end of treatment. Outside that specific aesthetic reason, Dr. Marty does not take a strong position in the broader self-ligating-vs.-conventional mechanics debate — for most metal cases, the conventional color-tie system works equally well and gives younger patients the part they enjoy most.
Free Consultation
Braces Placement
Adjustments
Completion & Retainers
Treatment timeline: 12-18 months standard. 18-24 months complex. Phase 1: 6-12 months.
Pick Your Colors at Every Visit
Metal braces use elastic ties (ligatures) that hold the wire in the bracket. These come in dozens of colors, and you pick new ones at every adjustment. Self-ligating ceramic braces do not have elastic ties, so colors are a metal-braces-only feature.
Do Colored Bands Affect Treatment?
Colored elastic ties do not slow treatment, change tooth movement, or stain enamel. Their only job is to hold the archwire in the bracket slot. The Bold Bite team encourages patients to have fun with them. Color choice is shown to patients at the first bonding visit and again at every six-to-eight-week adjustment. Jacksonville Jaguars teal, black and gold combinations are the most requested locally, with holiday themes in December, orange and green during the county fair, and near-invisible clear or pearl ties for patients who would rather the bands disappear altogether. Dr. Marty treats the color-choosing conversation as one of the best parts of adolescent orthodontic visits — it keeps kids engaged in their own treatment.
Color Options
Popular Combinations in Jacksonville
Metal Braces vs Clear Braces vs Clear Aligners
Dr. Marty recommends braces more often in moderate-to-complex cases because they give stronger control over bite correction, tooth rotation, and vertical positioning. The deciding factor is which system gives the best control for your specific problem, not which looks nicer.
| Factor | Metal Braces | Clear Ceramic | Clear Aligners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | See current fees | See current fees | See current fees |
| Phase 1 (Kids) | See current fees | See current fees | – |
| Visibility | Visible | Tooth-colored | Nearly invisible |
| Bracket System | GC Rhodium & Lucchesi sub-slot brackets (primary system) | GC self-ligating with rhodium doors | Removable trays |
| Complex Cases | Strongest 3D control | Strong | Limited on severe |
| Colored Bands | Yes. Dozens | No | No |
| Treatment Time | 12-18 months | 12-18 months | 12-18 months (if compliant) |
| Compliance? | No. 24/7 | No. 24/7 | Yes. 20-22 hrs/day |
Metal Braces Cost in Jacksonville
Metal braces are the most affordable braces option at Bold Bite Orthodontics. Starting fees are published on our braces cost page so you know what treatment costs before your consultation; most orthodontic offices will not give you a number until you walk in. Dr. Marty gives you an exact fee at your free consultation.
Comprehensive
Phase 1 (Kids 7+)
Phase 1 Aligners
Monthly Payment
Community discounts: Military · Teacher · First Responder · Healthcare · Family · Student. One per patient. Amounts are on our braces cost page.
Insurance for Metal Braces
Bold Bite Orthodontics accepts all PPO dental plans, Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Guardian, MetLife, United Healthcare, Humana, Ameritas, Principal, Sun Life, and more. Typical orthodontic coverage reduces out-of-pocket cost depending on the plan’s lifetime orthodontic maximum.
HSA and FSA pre-tax dollars are accepted. The practice verifies insurance benefits before treatment starts, so every family knows the exact out-of-pocket cost before signing a contract.
Living with Metal Braces
What Foods to Avoid With Metal Braces
Bold Bite is not strict about food rules. New braces patients are advised to start with a softer diet — smoothies, pasta, eggs, soups, soft bread — for the first three to five days while the teeth settle. After that first week, patients figure out how to eat almost anything. The one consistent caution is against very hard and crunchy foods: chips, ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, and whole raw carrots are the top cause of broken brackets and stalled progress in the Bold Bite chair.
The general rule: hard foods that can snap a bracket off, ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, nuts, raw carrots (cut into small pieces instead), corn on the cob (cut it off the cob), and apples (slice them). Sticky foods that pull brackets loose, taffy, caramels, and gummy candy. Everything else is fine.
Pain and Discomfort
The first three to five days after placement are uncomfortable. Teeth feel sore and pressure-sensitive. Lips and cheeks take about a week to fully adjust. After that, adjustment visits cause mild soreness for a day or two.
For pain management, Dr. Marty recommends acetaminophen (Tylenol) only. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs interfere with the biological process that moves teeth and can slow treatment progression.
What to Do When a Bracket Breaks
Every Bold Bite braces patient is enrolled in Grin Scope remote monitoring at no extra cost. When a bracket comes loose, the first step is a quick smartphone scan through the Grin Scope app — the scan is reviewed by Dr. Marty or Dr. Cao, and in many cases the bracket does not need an immediate office visit at all. When a repair is needed, Bold Bite schedules broken-bracket visits before the school dismissal bell because the after-school slots fill quickly. And when the patient’s next routine adjustment is already scheduled within the next ten days and the loose bracket is not bothering the patient, the practice typically recommends simply waiting until that appointment and fixing it then.
Broken Bracket or Wire Poking
A broken bracket is not an emergency. If a bracket comes loose but the wire stays in place and nothing pokes you, cover it with orthodontic wax and call during office hours. A wire sticking out can be pushed down with a pencil eraser or clipped with sterilized nail clippers as a last resort. True emergencies, trauma, a bracket embedded in tissue, or severe pain, warrant an after-hours call.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Metal Braces?
Metal braces are the most versatile orthodontic appliance. They can correct almost any bite problem in any age group, from Phase 1 kids with crossbites to adult patients in their 70s correcting long-standing crowding. Dr. Marty typically recommends metal braces first when:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do metal braces cost in Jacksonville?
What brackets does Bold Bite Orthodontics use?
The sub-slot design allows passive, friction-free movement during early leveling and tighter active control during finishing.
