Finding the Best Orthodontist Lincoln Families Trust
What Makes the Best Orthodontist in Lincoln?
The best orthodontist Lincoln families can choose is a board-certified specialist who finished two to three years of orthodontic residency after dental school, offers several treatment options, uses digital technology instead of messy putty trays, and explains pricing up front. Free consults, steady patient reviews, and flexible scheduling round out the picture.
Not everyone knows this: every orthodontist is a dentist, but only a small percentage of dentists are orthodontists. That extra residency focuses entirely on tooth movement, jaw growth, and bite correction.
Board certification goes further still. A board-certified orthodontist has voluntarily completed the American Board of Orthodontics examination process, submitting real treated cases for peer review. Dr. Richard Clabaugh is a board-certified orthodontist and a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).
A few other markers worth checking before you commit:
- Treatment variety. Metal braces, clear braces, and clear aligners should all be on the table, not just one product the office happens to push.
- Ask about digital scans. Modern offices capture your bite with a handheld scanner in minutes, no putty trays required.
- Clear pricing. You should leave your first visit knowing the total cost and monthly payment.
- Real reviews from real neighbors. Look for detailed, named feedback from local families, not vague one-liners.
Clabaugh Orthodontics serves kids, teens, & adults across Lincoln and the surrounding communities with braces and clear aligners, all under one roof at our South 70th Street office.
Why Lincoln Families Choose Clabaugh Orthodontics
Every smile is one-of-a-kind, and we want to give you and your family quality care that reflects that. That starts with options.
Some patients want the dependable strength of metal braces. Others want something nobody notices. You get to decide after Dr. Clabaugh walks you through what each option can do for your specific bite.
| Treatment Option | Best For | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| Metal braces | Complex bites, kids and teens, budget-conscious families | Visible brackets, fun color options |
| Clear braces | Teens and adults who want fixed treatment that blends in | Tooth-colored, low profile |
| Clear aligners | Adults and responsible teens who prefer removable trays | Nearly invisible |
Modern technology, easier visits
Digital scans replace putty trays, so your first visit stays quick and comfortable, and in-office 3D printing means faster turnaround on retainers and appliances. Clabaugh Orthodontics is an Invisalign, Spark, 3M Clarity, and uLab provider.
Budget-friendly from the start
Getting a healthy smile shouldn't break the bank, so we offer flexible financing to fit any budget and help coordinate your orthodontic insurance benefits.
Scheduling that respects your day
We build our schedule around school bells and work shifts, and we work hard to keep visits running on time.
An atmosphere kids actually like
Kids love us, parents trust us. Our team knows every patient by name, and appointments feel relaxed rather than clinical.
Stunning smiles come from specialist-level training applied to your individual bite. That's orthodontics, just for you.
Your Orthodontic Treatment Process, Step by Step
Treatment with a Lincoln orthodontist at Clabaugh Orthodontics follows five steps: a free consultation with an exam and digital scans, a custom treatment plan with costs reviewed up front, placement of braces or delivery of clear aligners, progress visits every six to ten weeks, and finally removal followed by retainers. Most cases run 6 to 30 months.
Step 1: Your Free Consultation
You'll meet Dr. Clabaugh, get digital photos and a low-radiation X-ray, and have your bite captured with digital scans. No putty, no gagging. This visit costs nothing and carries no obligation.
Step 2: Custom Treatment Plan
Dr. Clabaugh reviews what he sees, explains your options, and gives you a timeline plus the full cost and monthly payment figure. Questions are welcome. Bring a list.
Step 3: Getting Started
If you're ready, same-day starts are often available so you don't have to make a second trip across town. Braces are bonded to your teeth in one visit, or your first set of clear aligners is delivered with wear instructions.
Step 4: Progress Visits
You'll come in roughly every 6 to 10 weeks for adjustments, new aligner sets, and a progress check. Most of these visits are short.
Step 5: Finishing and Retainers
Braces come off, aligner treatment wraps up, and retainers take over. Retainers hold everything in place while the bone and tissue settle around the new tooth positions, so wearing them as directed protects everything you just accomplished.
Treatment length depends on your starting bite. Minor spacing corrections may finish in well under a year, while bite corrections involving jaw growth take longer.
Who Is a Candidate for Orthodontic Treatment?
Almost anyone with a healthy mouth is a candidate. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first check with an orthodontist in Lincoln by age 7, teens usually land in the ideal window as their permanent teeth settle in, and adults face no upper age limit at all. Healthy gums, sound teeth, and a bite worth improving matter far more than birthdays do.
| Age Group | What Treatment Usually Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Kids (7–10) | Monitoring through our smile squad, or Phase 1 treatment to guide jaw growth |
| Teens (11–17) | Full treatment with metal braces, clear braces, or clear aligners |
| Adults (18+) | Discreet clear aligners or clear braces, often finished faster than expected |
Smiles have no age limit. Plenty of our adult patients waited decades and only wish they'd started sooner.
Bite concerns Dr. Clabaugh treats every week
- Crowding and overlapping teeth
- Gaps and spacing
- Overbite and underbite
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Teeth that wear unevenly
Clear aligners handle a lot, but not everything. Candidacy depends on how complex your case is and how consistently you'll wear the trays, generally 20 to 22 hours a day. If your bite needs more force than trays can deliver, Dr. Clabaugh will say so honestly.
A free consult is the only way to know for sure which option fits your smile best.
Meet Dr. Clabaugh and the Lincoln Orthodontic Team
Dr. Richard Clabaugh was born and raised right here in Lincoln, and he's a board-certified orthodontist with ABO certification and AAO membership. He believes there is natural beauty in every smile.
Board certification isn't required to practice orthodontics. It's voluntary, it requires submitting treated cases for review by peers, and it signals a commitment to a standard beyond the minimum. If you'd like to confirm it yourself before you ever call us, his certification can be verified directly through the American Board of Orthodontics, which is exactly the kind of credential worth checking on any Lincoln orthodontist you're considering. Dr. Clabaugh also brings years of experience in dentistry and orthodontics, and he continues taking coursework on new techniques and appliances.
Our team has been part of Lincoln and the surrounding communities for years, and many of our patients arrive through referrals from general dentists across the city who trust where they're sending their patients.
What families tend to mention most: how clearly things get explained, and how comfortable their kids feel in the chair. Local families have left us a steady stream of 5-star reviews, and our Before & After gallery shows the kind of stunning smiles that come out of this office.
The office itself runs on digital scanning, digital imaging, and in-office 3D printing, which keeps visits shorter and appliances arriving sooner.
Changing lives, one smile at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthodontists in Lincoln
How much do braces cost in Lincoln, NE?
Cost depends on the type of appliance you choose and how long treatment takes. At your free consultation, Dr. Clabaugh reviews the full price and your monthly payment before you commit to anything. We offer flexible financing built around your budget, and we'll check your insurance benefits with you so there are no surprises later.
How do I choose the best orthodontist near me?
Start with credentials. Confirm the provider completed an accredited orthodontic residency and look for board certification through the American Board of Orthodontics. From there, compare treatment options offered, ask whether digital scanning is used, read detailed local reviews, and take advantage of free consults so you can compare in person.
Do I need a referral from my dentist to see an orthodontist?
No referral is needed. You can call Clabaugh Orthodontics directly and schedule a free consult for yourself or your child. Many Lincoln dentists do refer patients to us, and we're glad to coordinate with your dentist, but it's never a requirement.
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
Most cases fall somewhere between 6 and 30 months. Simple spacing or minor alignment corrections finish on the shorter end, while bite corrections and cases involving jaw growth take longer. Dr. Clabaugh gives you a realistic timeline at your first visit, and wearing your elastics or aligners as directed keeps you on schedule.
Are clear aligners as effective as braces?
For many cases, yes. Clear aligners correct crowding, spacing, and a range of bite issues when worn 20 to 22 hours a day. Complex bites sometimes respond better to braces because brackets and wires apply force in ways trays can't. Dr. Clabaugh will tell you honestly which option suits your teeth.
Does insurance cover orthodontic treatment?
Many dental plans include an orthodontic benefit, often as a lifetime maximum rather than an annual one. Coverage varies by plan and sometimes by patient age. Our team verifies your benefits before treatment starts and files claims on your behalf, so you know your actual out-of-pocket cost from day one.
Schedule Your Free Consultation in Lincoln Today
Curious what's possible for your smile? Your first visit at Clabaugh Orthodontics is free, no-obligation, and includes digital scans, photos, and time with Dr. Clabaugh to talk through your options.
No referral needed. Just reach out.
Call or text us at (402) 483-1009, or book online anytime at clabaughorthodontics.com/free-consult. We'll find a time that works around school and work schedules.
Our Lincoln office at 1530 South 70th Street, #201 welcomes kids, teens, & adults from across Lincoln and the surrounding communities. Flexible financing and insurance coordination are part of every plan we build.
Smiles for your whole family.
improving bites. unleashing smiles.®