Thomas Llewellyn, DDS in Baltimore: Braces and Clear Aligners for Teens and Adults

Thomas Llewellyn, DDS operates an orthodontia practice in Baltimore focused on correcting bite and tooth alignment through both traditional braces and clear aligner therapy. The practice serves a mixed demographic of adolescents and adults and competes in a local market where several other board-certified orthodontists operate, each with distinct positioning and fee structures.

What Llewellyn actually provides

Llewellyn's practice is a general orthodontics office handling standard malocclusion cases. The range includes metal braces, ceramic braces, and clear aligner treatment (often comparable to Invisalign). The practice accepts new patients at any age, though the bulk of referrals come from pediatric dentists and general practitioners for teenagers. Adult cases make up a smaller but growing portion of the patient base. This is not a surgical orthodontics clinic; severe skeletal discrepancies or cases requiring jaw surgery are referred elsewhere.

Braces vs. clear aligners and timeline

Metal braces remain the lowest-cost and most predictable option for complex cases. Treatment duration typically spans 24 to 30 months for moderate cases, depending on the severity of crowding or bite problems. Ceramic braces cost 15 to 25 percent more than metal but blend better with tooth color and are chosen by patients concerned with visible brackets.

Clear aligner therapy (Llewellyn's non-invasive option) costs roughly 20 to 40 percent more than metal braces and works best for mild to moderate spacing and crowding. Aligner treatment typically runs 12 to 18 months for straightforward cases but extends beyond 24 months for more complex scenarios. The main trade-off is compliance: aligners must be worn 20 to 22 hours daily, and patients who remove them frequently see significantly delayed results. Llewellyn's practice reports requiring check-in appointments every 8 to 10 weeks for aligner cases, compared to every 4 to 6 weeks for traditional braces.

Pricing and payment plans

Llewellyn's practice quotes a flat fee for comprehensive orthodontia rather than per-appointment billing. Metal braces typically run $4,500 to $5,500 for full treatment; ceramic braces $5,500 to $7,000; and clear aligners $6,500 to $8,000. These figures include all adjustments, refinements, and retainers. Most insurance plans with orthodontia coverage cap their benefit at $1,200 to $1,500 per patient, and Llewellyn's office works directly with major carriers (Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Delta, and United Healthcare) to submit claims.

For uninsured or underinsured patients, Llewellyn offers in-house payment plans with no interest if paid in full within 12 to 24 months. Monthly payments typically range $150 to $300, depending on the selected treatment and plan term. CareCredit is also accepted. Verify current pricing and plan terms directly, as fee structures adjust periodically and vary based on treatment complexity.

How Llewellyn compares locally

Baltimore has several practicing orthodontists, including practices in Canton, Roland Park, and the Inner Harbor. Practices like those affiliated with University of Maryland's dental school tend to charge slightly lower fees (sometimes $3,500 to $4,500 for metal braces) but involve resident involvement and longer appointment times. Private practices, including Llewellyn's, typically quote higher but offer faster visit scheduling and more direct attending-clinician time. Specialty practices focused on adult clear aligner cases (such as Smile Direct Club's provider networks or corporate chains) cost $4,500 to $6,500 for aligners alone but offer less comprehensive post-treatment follow-up than full-service orthodontists.

Llewellyn's niche is balanced general orthodontia: not the absolute lowest-cost option, but a standard private practice without the wait times or resident variability of academic settings and without the aligner-only limitation of direct-to-consumer models.

Who suits this practice and who does not

Llewellyn is well-matched for teenagers referred from general dentistry, patients with moderate complexity, and adults willing to invest in comprehensive correction over 18 to 30 months. The practice is patient-friendly for working adults; early and evening hours reduce time off work. New patients requiring surgical consultation or complex jaw repositioning should be prepared for referral to an oral surgeon and orthodontist collaboration, which Llewellyn facilitates but does not perform in-house.

Patients seeking the absolute shortest treatment (under 12 months) or those unwilling to commit to aligner compliance should discuss metal braces as the more reliable path.

What the first visit involves

The initial consultation typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes and includes a clinical exam, intraoral photographs, and either digital X-rays or a low-dose CBCT scan, depending on the case. Llewellyn discusses treatment options, shows before-and-after cases similar to the patient's malocclusion, and presents a detailed fee estimate. Insurance verification is performed at this visit. No treatment is begun until a second appointment; the first visit is diagnostic and planning only.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Llewellyn's office operates Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday until 7 p.m. to accommodate school and work schedules. Limited Saturday hours are available upon request. Parking is available on-site or via street parking; confirm exact address and current hours before scheduling. New-patient appointments can typically be scheduled within two to three weeks.

Thomas Llewellyn's practice fills the need for straightforward, evidence-based orthodontia at mid-market pricing for Baltimore patients who want a conventional private practice without the delays of academic settings.