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Best Braces Dentists in Santa Barbara, CA (2026)

70 clinics offering braces, rankedUpdated 0 paid placementsHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Best overall for braces: Benjamin Laudig DDS, ranked #1 of 70 by service score; ranked on access and profile data; Google ratings not yet collected.

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

70 Santa Barbara clinics list braces and are ranked here by service score. 2 open Saturdays and 3 open after 6pm. None list an orthodontist on staff in our data yet. Google ratings are not yet collected for these clinics.

Top 10 braces dentists in Santa Barbara at a glance

Top 10 braces dentists in Santa Barbara at a glance
RankClinicService score
1Benjamin Laudig DDS73
2Dr. Robert A. Scott, DDS73
3Dr. Vu T. Le, DDS73
4Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital73
5J Michael Thompson DDS73
6Jon David Dunn, D.D.S.73
7Lyman George E DDS73
8Subject Steven a DDS73
9Alamar Dental Center67
10Center For Corrective Jaw Surgery67

The 70 best braces dentists in Santa Barbara, 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.

  4. #4 Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital

    351 S Patterson Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93111, United States

    73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #4 for braces in Santa Barbara 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 Goleta Valley Cottage HospitalFull profile(805) 967-3411
    In their words

    Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital provides advanced technology and greater comfort. This new state-of-the-art facility will serve the growing community of Goleta Valley. Today, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital admits more than 1,500 patients a year and sees more than 18,000 emergency visits. Vaccinations but appointment only.

    From Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital's own description. Not part of the ranking.

  6. #6 Jon David Dunn, D.D.S.

    73/10015% of factors measured

    Ranked #6 for braces in Santa Barbara 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 Jon David Dunn, D.D.S.Full profile
    In their words

    Conservative, precise dental treatment in a traditional, personal office. Dr. Jon Dunn is one of a handful of Santa Barbara dentists who are nationally accredited by both the California Dental Board and the Academy of General Dentistry as dental continuing education providers. Dr. Dunn instructs other dentists regarding the latest advances in dentistry and infection control procedures. We believe in establishing trust in the dentist/patient relationship and are pleased to…

    From Jon David Dunn, D.D.S.'s own description. Not part of the ranking.

  25. #25 SBNC: Eastside Family Dental Clinic

    923 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

    57/10030% of factors measured

    Ranked #25 for braces in Santa Barbara: evening hours and Saturday hours.

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

    Hours
    Mon–Fri 7:45 AM–6:30 PM · Sat 7:45 AM–12:30 PM · Sun closed

    General dentistryCleaningEmergency careRoot canalExtractionWisdom teethImplantsInvisalign+9 more

    Book appointment at SBNC: Eastside Family Dental ClinicFull profile(805) 884-1998

All 70 clinics

#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #70, in DR Score order; each links to its full profile.

RankClinicDR ScoreEvenings / weekends
26Eastside Neighborhood Clinic57Evenings · Sat
27Reed James DDS & Scott Harper, DDS43Evenings
28Mountain & Sea Dental and Associates40
29Zak Dental - Santa Barbara37
30Johnson Family Dental37
31Kendall, Rohde & Associates37
32Patterson Professional Plaza37
33Riviera Smiles - Santa Barbara Dentist - Dr. Ana Martinez37
34Santa Barbara Smiles Dentistry37
35See Me Smile Dental37
36Heath Montgomery, DMD37
37Thomas Blake, DDS37
38Dr Hurtado Dentistry, Invisalign, Implants, Orthodontist, Laser - Santa Barbara37
39Montecito Dental Group37
40Montecito Dental Uptown37
41UCSB Student Health37
42Mesa Dental37
43Dental Sedation and Implant Center37
44George R. Walseth, DDS37
45Silvia Erickson, D.D.S.37
46Wright Dental Co. Dental Office of Dr. Houston Wright37
47Martin Family Dentistry37
48Anna Szymkowiak DDS37
49Dr. Michael E Bruce37
50Santa Barbara Children's Dentistry37
51Santa Barbara Dental Care37
52Tagoni Dentistry: Tagoni A C DDS37
53King Dental Group37
54Star Dental Group37
55Lin Karen DDS37
56Michelle Stivers Dental Office: Stivers Michelle DDS37
57Santa Barbara Children's Dental- Annie Pham-Cheng, DMD, Inc37
58Dentistry in Paradise: Kevin Miller, DDS37
59Francie Naval DDS37
60Justina S Pham DDS | Pham Dental Corporation37
61Nina Madavi, D.D.S., A Professional Dental Corporation37
62Weiser & Grant Dentistry37
63Beachside Dental37
64Whole Health Dentistry37
65Central Coast Dental Anesthesia33
66Dr. Omid Barkhordar33
67Welsh Gregg Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery33
68Fred Hepp DDS33
69Dr. Brian D. Frederick, DDS33
70Denny Trevor DDS33

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Santa Barbara, 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.

None of Santa Barbara's 70 clinics offering braces list an orthodontist on staff in our data yet. See orthodontists in Santa Barbara

How much do braces cost in Santa Barbara?

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

How much do braces cost in Santa Barbara?
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 Santa Barbara

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 Santa Barbara braces dentists

We scored 70 Santa Barbara clinics offering braces on 6 factors: reputation 45%, review volume 15%, recency 10%, access 15%, services 10%, profile completeness 5%. 11 were excluded (11 duplicate listings). Google ratings are not yet collected, so each score is renormalised over the factors we measured. 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 Santa Barbara data
Reputation45%Bayesian-adjusted Google star ratingNot yet collected
Review volume15%log10(review count) against the city maximumNot yet collected
Recency10%Share of reviews in the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
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 Santa Barbara: frequently asked questions

Who is the best braces dentist in Santa Barbara?

Benjamin Laudig DDS ranks #1 of 70 Santa Barbara clinics offering braces by DentistsRanked service score. Dr. Robert A. Scott, 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 Santa Barbara, CA?

Braces in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara do braces?

Yes. None of the 70 Santa Barbara clinics offering braces list an orthodontist on staff in our data, so general dentists there typically provide it. 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 Santa Barbara braces dentists are open on Saturday?

2 of 70 Santa Barbara clinics offering braces list Saturday hours, including SBNC: Eastside Family Dental Clinic and Eastside Neighborhood Clinic. 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 Santa Barbara?

70 Santa Barbara clinics list braces in our data. 0 of them list an orthodontist on staff. 2 are open Saturdays. Google ratings are on file for none of them. Counts update when clinics change their profiles.

Update log for Santa Barbara

  1. : DR Scores recalculated for 74 clinics.
  2. : 11 duplicate listings merged.

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