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Best Braces Dentists in Merced, CA (2026)

49 clinics offering braces, rankedUpdated 1 orthodontist0 paid placementsHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Best overall for braces: Merced Kids Dentist and Orthodontics, ranked #1 of 49 by service score; an orthodontist on staff, 4.9★ from 871 Google reviews, Saturday hours.

Rankings can't be bought. Booking through us earns you a $60 gift card and doesn’t affect order. How we rank

49 Merced clinics list braces and are ranked here by service score. 1 lists an orthodontist and 4 open Saturdays. Google ratings are on file for 1 of them.

Top 10 braces dentists in Merced at a glance

Top 10 braces dentists in Merced at a glance
RankClinicService scoreSpecialist on staffRating (reviews)
1Merced Kids Dentist and Orthodontics79Yes (orthodontist)4.9★ (871)
2Ajay R. Patel, DDS73——
3Castle Family Dental: Bachour M G DDS73——
4Dr. Chen-Tsung Chang Family Dentistry73——
5Mishra DDS Inc73——
6Spencer Rowan DDS, Creed Rowan DMD73——
7Apple Dental: Megally Ahmed R DDS67——
8Chang Joao F DDS67——
9Dentist67——
10Dr. David L. Gresham, DDS67——

The 49 best braces dentists in Merced, ranked

Ordered by service score: the DR Score plus bonuses for a specialist on staff, reviews that mention the service and same-day care where it applies.

  5. #5 Mishra DDS Inc

    73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #5 for braces in Merced on access and profile data; Google ratings are not yet collected.

    Based on services and profile completeness; Google ratings not yet collected.

    General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more

    Book appointment at Mishra DDS IncFull profile
    In their words

    We provide advanced care Dental services which include cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry and all kind of dental prosthesis including dentures, fixed dentures, partials, crowns, bridges, veneers, etc. Dr. Mishra is a specialist in advanced dentistry and truly believes in our motto of ‘Beautiful Smiles through Exceptional Dentistry’

    From Mishra DDS Inc's own description. Not part of the ranking.

All 49 clinics

#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #49, in DR Score order; each links to its full profile.

RankClinicDR ScoreEvenings / weekends
26El Portal Dental Group47Sat
27El Portal Dental Group: Khang C. Nguyen, DDS47Sat
28Children's Dentistry of Merced37
29Merced Family Dental Care37
30Merced Pediatric Dentistry37
31Thomas E. Lequia, DDS & Robert L. Hill, DDS37
32Precision Family Dentistry of Merced - Nathan Miller DDS, Jeremy Skinner DDS37
33Precision Family Dentistry of North Merced - Andrew Johnson DDS37
34Yosemite Dental Jun Ho Lee DDS37
35APPLE DENTAL37
36Dudley M Pang, DDS, Inc.37
37Olive Dental Care37
38The Dental Spa at Propes - Merced Dentist37
39Mahasucon Thida DDS37
40Solomon Her, DDS, Inc.37
41Dr. Abdulghani Amro33
42Golden Valley Health Centers Merced Dental33
43Yosemite Dental Society33
44Bear Creek Family Dental33
45Merced Family Dental Care: Lee Hyun Y DDS33
46Children's Choice Dental Care33
47Edward Yoo DDS33
48VON GOODIN, DDS, INC.33
49Merced Dental Group33

Find the right dentist in Merced

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Merced, CA

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What are braces?

Braces straighten teeth and correct bite problems using brackets bonded to the teeth and a wire that applies steady pressure. Options include metal, ceramic (tooth-coloured) and lingual braces placed behind the teeth. Treatment usually lasts 18–36 months.

Braces: specialist or general dentist?

Orthodontists provide most braces treatment and have 2–3 extra years of training in tooth and jaw alignment. Some general dentists offer braces for simpler cases. Complex bites and jaw growth problems are usually best handled by an orthodontist.

1 of Merced's 49 clinics offering braces has an orthodontist on staff. See orthodontists in Merced

How much do braces cost in Merced?

Typical ranges in USD for Merced, CA. Your price depends on the tooth, the case and the clinic.

How much do braces cost in Merced?
TypeTypical range (USD)BasisAs of
Metal braces$4,200–$9,800DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California—
Ceramic braces$5,600–$11,200DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California—
Self-ligating braces$4,900–$11,200DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California—
Lingual braces$11,200–$16,800DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California—

Estimates, not quotes. Ask the clinic for a written estimate. Full braces cost guide for Merced

What to expect from braces

Typical ranges for most patients. Your dentist's plan may differ.

Braces: visits, chair time and recovery
FactTypically
Typical visitsA consultation, a fitting visit, then adjustments every 4–8 weeks
Chair timeAbout 1–2 hours to fit; adjustments take 15–30 minutes
RecoverySoreness for a few days after fitting and after adjustments
When to see a specialistMost braces cases, and always for jaw growth issues, severe crowding or bite problems

How we ranked Merced braces dentists

We scored 49 Merced clinics offering braces on 6 factors: reputation 45%, review volume 15%, recency 10%, access 15%, services 10%, profile completeness 5%. 2 were excluded (2 duplicate listings). Data from Google listings and clinic websites, refreshed October 21, 2026.

Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Featured clinics are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

DR Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn Merced data
Reputation45%Bayesian-adjusted Google star ratingMeasured
Review volume15%log10(review count) against the city maximumMeasured
Recency10%Share of reviews in the last 12 monthsMeasured
Access15%Evenings, Saturday, Sunday, same-day/emergency, accepting new patientsMeasured
Services10%Services offered out of 17Measured
Profile completeness5%Named dentists, years open, languages, insurance, photosMeasured

Braces in Merced: frequently asked questions

Who is the best braces dentist in Merced?

Merced Kids Dentist and Orthodontics ranks #1 of 49 Merced clinics offering braces by DentistsRanked service score. It has an orthodontist on staff and 4.9★ from 871 Google reviews. Ajay R. Patel, DDS ranks #2. The score weighs reputation, access, services and profile data, plus a bonus for an orthodontist on staff.

How much do braces cost in Merced, CA?

Braces in Merced typically costs $4,200–$9,800 USD. By type: metal braces $4,200–$9,800; ceramic braces $5,600–$11,200; self-ligating braces $4,900–$11,200. These are estimates, not quotes. Basis: DentistsRanked estimate from typical fees, adjusted for California. Ask the clinic for a written estimate.

Do general dentists in Merced do braces?

Yes. 48 of the 49 Merced clinics offering braces do not list an orthodontist, so general dentists there typically provide it. 1 lists an orthodontist on staff. Typical reasons to see an orthodontist: most braces cases, and always for jaw growth issues, severe crowding or bite problems.

Are braces covered by insurance or Medicaid in California?

Dental plans with orthodontic benefits often cover part of braces for children, commonly up to a lifetime maximum. Adult coverage is less common. Medicaid covers braces for children only when medically necessary. Check your plan.

Do braces hurt?

Getting braces fitted is usually not painful. Most patients feel soreness for a few days afterward and after each adjustment, which over-the-counter pain relief often manages. Brackets can rub the cheeks at first, and orthodontic wax helps.

Which Merced braces dentists are open on Saturday?

4 of 49 Merced clinics offering braces list Saturday hours, including Merced Kids Dentist and Orthodontics, Evershine Dental Group, Swetha Nadipally DDS and El Portal Dental Group. Hours come from each clinic's listing; check with the clinic before you go, since holiday and summer hours can change.

How many dentists offer braces in Merced?

49 Merced clinics list braces in our data. 1 of them lists an orthodontist on staff. They include Merced Kids Dentist and Orthodontics. 4 are open Saturdays. Google ratings are on file for 1 of them. Counts update when clinics change their profiles.

Update log for Merced

  1. : DR Scores recalculated for 59 clinics.
  2. : 2 duplicate listings merged.

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