At our South Nashville orthodontic practice located in Brentwood, Tennessee, we proudly serve patients throughout TN, including Franklin and surrounding communities. We are passionate about one thing above all else: helping you achieve a healthy, confident smile that lasts a lifetime. As part of our commitment to excellence, we provide a full range of modern orthodontic solutions for tooth alignment in Nashville, utilizing both traditional and advanced techniques. Whether you are dealing with crowding, spacing, a misaligned bite, or simply want to feel better about the way your smile looks, we offer personalized orthodontic care designed around your goals and your life, led by an experienced orthodontist with a focus on orthodontics and the latest technology. Conveniently located for residents of Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Green Hills, and Brentwood, our practice makes it easier than ever to access expert orthodontic treatment close to home without the long drive into the city or the long wait for an appointment, with our orthodontist specializing in various braces options including traditional metal, clear ceramic, lingual braces, and modern clear aligners like Invisalign or Clarity.
Our orthodontic specialist, Dr. Craig Starling brings years of dedicated clinical experience to every patient who walks through our doors. From your very first visit, we take the time to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored specifically to your teeth, your bite, and your long-term oral health because no two smiles are exactly alike. Our goal is not simply to straighten teeth, but to create lasting results that protect the health of your entire mouth for years to come.
We offer four primary orthodontic treatment options to suit a wide range of needs, preferences, and budgets. Clear aligners are a popular choice for adults and teens seeking a discreet, removable solution, with most cases completing in 12 to 18 months. Traditional metal braces, now smaller, more comfortable, and available with colored bands, remain the gold standard for complex corrections and typically require 18 to 24 months of treatment. Ceramic braces offer a middle ground with the reliability of fixed brackets and a much less noticeable appearance, and follow a similar timeline to metal braces. For patients seeking the most discreet aesthetic, clear braces are available as an alternative that blends in with your natural teeth. The most aesthetic option, Lingual braces can be used in most situations and can handle complex orthodontic situations.
During your consultation, we will help you identify which option best fits your clinical needs and lifestyle. Early orthodontic intervention is often recommended by age 7 to monitor jaw growth and address severe crowding or bite issues.
Clear aligner treatment is an excellent option for patients with mild to moderate crowding, spacing issues, or bite concerns who prefer a nearly invisible treatment experience. The process begins with painless digital scans, ensuring a comfortable and accurate way to capture detailed images of your teeth. Most clear aligner cases are completed within 12 to 18 months, though minor corrections can sometimes be accomplished in as little as 6 months. Some cases may take longer depending on compliance and complexity. To achieve the best results, aligners should be worn consistently for 20 to 22 hours per day and removed only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing and flossing. Consistent wear is essential for effective treatment. For busy adults managing professional schedules and for teens involved in sports or performing arts, clear aligners offer the flexibility and discretion that traditional braces simply cannot match. Clear aligner treatment typically costs between $3,000 and $8,000, and many Nashville practices offer flexible payment plans to make treatment more affordable.
Traditional metal braces remain one of the most effective orthodontic tools available, particularly for patients with complex bite corrections, significant crowding, or jaw alignment issues that require precise, controlled movement. Metal braces are highly durable, time-tested, and typically the most cost-effective fixed appliance option. Patients with metal braces visit our office every six to eight weeks for routine adjustment appointments, during which we monitor progress, make necessary modifications, and ensure treatment is staying on track. For patients who need comprehensive correction, metal braces continue to deliver outstanding, reliable results.
Ceramic braces (also known as clear braces) offer the structural reliability of a fixed bracket system with a significantly more discreet appearance, making them a popular choice for older teens and adults who want effective treatment without drawing attention to their orthodontic appliances. The tooth-colored brackets blend naturally with the enamel, reducing the visual impact of braces in professional and social settings. Ceramic braces do require slightly more careful maintenance than metal — the ties on the braces can stain if exposed regularly to dark beverages like coffee, tea, or red wine — but with straightforward daily care, they perform beautifully. Ideal candidates are patients who need the precision of fixed braces but place a high value on aesthetics throughout their treatment.
For patients who want the precision of fixed orthodontic appliances with absolutely no visible hardware, lingual braces represent the ultimate discreet treatment option and it is a specialty our practice has developed deep expertise in over the years. Unlike traditional or ceramic braces, lingual braces are bonded to the inner surfaces of the teeth, making them completely invisible from the outside. This makes them an exceptional choice for professionals, performers, or anyone who simply prefers that their orthodontic treatment remain entirely private. Lingual braces are capable of treating the same range of complex cases as traditional metal braces, from significant crowding and spacing to challenging bite corrections, and in skilled hands they deliver outstanding, precise results. Placing and adjusting lingual braces requires a higher level of technical training and clinical experience than standard bracket systems, and Dr. Starling has invested extensively in advanced lingual technique coursework and hands-on training to ensure our patients receive care that meets the highest standard. If you have ever wondered whether you could straighten your teeth without anyone knowing, lingual braces may be exactly the solution you have been looking for. You can find out at your free consultation!
We believe that cost should never stand between you and the smile you deserve, which is why we are committed to transparent, straightforward pricing with no hidden fees. Our practice works with all major PPO dental insurance plans that include orthodontic benefits, and our team will work directly with your insurance provider to maximize your coverage. For the remaining balance, we offer flexible monthly payment plans designed to fit a wide range of budgets with low or no-interest options available. We also gladly accept Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds, which can be a smart way to use pre-tax dollars toward your orthodontic investment.
Your journey to a new smile begins with a completely free consultation at our South Nashville office. During this first visit, your exam is the first step in your smile journey and an opportunity to talk about your smile goals with our orthodontist, Dr. Craig Starling. We use the latest digital scanning technology and 3D digital X-rays to get a comprehensive, accurate picture of your teeth, bite, and jaw with no uncomfortable impressions required. You are invited to talk with us about your treatment options and begin treatment as soon as you're ready. For many patients, we are able to offer a same day start, meaning you can begin treatment and leave your very first appointment already in active treatment when it is clinically appropriate to do so. To help your visit go as smoothly as possible, please bring a valid photo ID, your dental insurance card, a list of any current medications, and any recent dental X-rays if you have them available.
Once your treatment is complete, you can enjoy your amazing new smile for years to come. The end of active treatment is the beginning of a lifetime of maintaining your results, and we take that responsibility seriously. We encourage every patient to browse our before and after gallery to see the real-world transformations we have achieved for patients just like you. After your braces or aligners come off, we will fit you with retainers, which is an essential part of completing the orthodontic process and maintaining your results. This can be either a removable clear retainer or a fixed bonded retainer, depending on your case, to ensure your teeth stay in their new positions. We schedule post-treatment checkup appointments to monitor retention and catch any early signs of shifting, keeping your smile looking and functioning its best for the long haul.
Our practice proudly serves patients from Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Brentwood, Green Hills, Franklin, TN, and the surrounding South Nashville communities. Our office is easily accessible from Old Hickory Boulevard and Granny White Pike, with ample free parking available on-site. We offer many appointment options to accommodate school schedules, work commitments, and busy family routines. Patients love our 7am appointment times before school. Our office is ADA accessible, and we strive to create a welcoming, comfortable environment for patients of all ages and backgrounds.
Scheduling your free consultation is quick and easy. You can request an appointment through our website at any time using our online scheduling request tool, or call our office during business hours and one of our friendly team members will be happy to assist you. You can also reach us by email for non-urgent questions or to request records. We are committed to making sure every patient and family feels informed, supported, and comfortable throughout the entire treatment process.
Nothing speaks louder than the experiences of real patients, and we are proud of the reviews and referrals our practice has earned from families across South Nashville. Our patients consistently highlight the warmth of our team, the clarity of our communication, and most importantly, the amazing results. From teens who gained confidence heading into high school to adults who finally achieved the smile they always wanted, our before and after stories showcase the amazing transformations possible throughout each patient's smile journey. We invite you to read our reviews online!
Ready to take the first step toward your perfect smile? We make it simple. Talk with our team about your smile goals and treatment options—request your free consultation online through our website, call our South Nashville office directly, or stop by during office hours. We would love to meet you! For patients ready to begin treatment, same-day starts are available when clinically appropriate, so there is no reason to wait. Start your journey to a new smile today—our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Please call (615) 507-1660 or click below to schedule your appointment online.
Please call (615) 507-1660 or click below to schedule your complimentary orthodontic consultation online.
