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Best Braces Dentists in National City, CA (2026)

53 clinics offering braces, rankedUpdated 2 orthodontists0 paid placementsHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Best overall for braces: Urgent Dental Care Service, ranked #1 of 53 by service score; emergency visits and evening hours.

  2. 32

    Best specialist (orthodontist): Western Dental Orthodontics, an orthodontist on staff, 3.4★ from 22 Google reviews, 1 of 20 collected reviews mentions braces.

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

53 National City clinics list braces and are ranked here by service score. 2 list an orthodontist, 1 offers same-day or emergency visits and 15 open Saturdays. Google ratings are on file for 2 of them.

Top 10 braces dentists in National City at a glance

Top 10 braces dentists in National City at a glance
RankClinicService scoreSame-day
1Urgent Dental Care Service73Yes
2Balgowlah Dental clinic73—
3Family Dentistry by Dr Eleanor Madrid Lumahan73—
4Hirota Misako, DMD73—
5NexGen Dentistry - Dr Yavari73—
6Smile Dental National City73—
7Dental Care67—
8California Family Care Medical67—
9Crisostomo Aurea DDS67—
10De La Fuente Riza Dental Clinic67—

The 53 best braces dentists in National City, 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.

  1. Ranked #1 for braces in National City

    #1 Urgent Dental Care Service

    2344 E 8th St, National City, CA 91950

    73/10030% of factors measured

    Ranked #1 for braces in National City: emergency visits and evening hours.

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

    • Emergency care
    Hours
    Mon–Sun 12 AM–12 AM

    General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more

    Book appointment at Urgent Dental Care ServiceFull profile(619) 625-3177

  4. #4 Hirota Misako, DMD

    73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #4 for braces in National City 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 Hirota Misako, DMDFull profile
    In their words

    Established in 2010. At our office, we offer a wide range of dental services for both children and adults. Dr. Hirota, our RDA, Don and Donna, our front office staff work together to provide the finest care for our patients. We strive to provide a complete dental picture for our patients as to what procedures are necessary and the importance of returning every 6 months (or as needed) for dental maintenance. We service the communities of San Diego, National City, Chula Vista,…

    From Hirota Misako, DMD's own description. Not part of the ranking.

  5. #5 NexGen Dentistry - Dr Yavari

    73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #5 for braces in National City 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 NexGen Dentistry - Dr YavariFull profile
    In their words

    Our mission is to provide high quality, personalized, and, yes FUN!, dental care in an atmosphere designed by families, for families and children. We’re wholeheartedly committed to excellence and strive to provide a dental experience driven by inclusivity, compassion, and honesty. Using the state-of-art equipment and modern treatment methods, Dr. Yavari and the team aim to ease dental fears and offer the most gentle and comfortable appointments possible.

    From NexGen Dentistry - Dr Yavari's own description. Not part of the ranking.

  6. #6 Smile Dental National City

    73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #6 for braces in National City 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 Smile Dental National CityFull profile
    In their words

    Our friendly team at Smile Dental National City is dedicated to providing you with a pleasant dental experience from the moment you walk through our doors. Our team of highly-trained dentists are here to ensure that you receive the best comprehensive dental care possible.

    From Smile Dental National City's own description. Not part of the ranking.

All 53 clinics

#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #53, in DR Score order; each links to its full profile.

RankClinicDR ScoreRating (reviews)Evenings / weekends
26Palm Plaza Dental67
27Paradise Dental Care67
28Pascual Albert DDS67
29Tamoria Miriam DDS67
30Town & Country Dental Office: Sanford James E DDS67
31Tuazon Ferdinand A DDS67
32Western Dental Orthodontics663.4★ (22)Sat
33Tijuana Affordable Dental Implants625.0★ (1)Sat · Sun
34New Image Dentistry: Rossana Alfonso DDS57Evenings · Sat
35Putrus Waiel DDS53Sat · Sun
36Bernardita N. Lizan, DMD47Sat
37Sunny Smile47Sat
38Myrna E Lazaga, DMD47Sat
39Graphite Dental47Sat
40Dr. Mansoureh Yavari, DDS43Sat
41Dr. Barbara P. Guzman-Marasigan, DDS43Sat
42Dr. Maritessa I. Masangya DDS, INC.43Sat
43Highland Dental43Sat
44Reyes Renato D DDS43Sat
45Sevilla Dental Care37
46Smart Dental37
47Town & Country Dental Office37
48Bayview Dental37
49Dr. Thomas Toma, DMD33
50La Maestra Community Health Centers33
51South Coast Dental33
52Hernandez and Nagal DDS33
53Beautiful Smiles Dental: Zaihly Azar Santana, DDS33

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National City, 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.

2 of National City's 53 clinics offering braces have an orthodontist on staff. See orthodontists in National City

How much do braces cost in National City?

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

How much do braces cost in National City?
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 National City

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 National City braces dentists

We scored 53 National City clinics offering braces on 6 factors: reputation 45%, review volume 15%, recency 10%, access 15%, services 10%, profile completeness 5%. 1 was excluded (1 duplicate listing). 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 National City 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 National City: frequently asked questions

Who is the best braces dentist in National City?

Urgent Dental Care Service ranks #1 of 53 National City clinics offering braces by DentistsRanked service score. It has emergency visits and evening hours. Balgowlah Dental clinic 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 National City, CA?

Braces in National City 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 National City do braces?

Yes. 51 of the 53 National City clinics offering braces do not list an orthodontist, so general dentists there typically provide it. 2 list 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 National City braces dentists are open on Saturday?

15 of 53 National City clinics offering braces list Saturday hours, including Urgent Dental Care Service, Dental Care and Western Dental Orthodontics. 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 National City?

53 National City clinics list braces in our data. 2 of them list an orthodontist on staff. They include Western Dental Orthodontics and Tijuana Affordable Dental Implants. 15 are open Saturdays. Google ratings are on file for 2 of them. Counts update when clinics change their profiles.

Update log for National City

  1. : DR Scores recalculated for 83 clinics.
  2. : 1 duplicate listing merged.

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