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Bear Braces in Waco, Texas, provides orthodontic care for children, teens, and adults.

About Bear Braces
Flat, interest-free pricing and payment plans make Bear Braces a draw for cost-conscious families across Waco, with Dr. Steven Machicek often praised for calmly walking through each treatment decision.
Reviews at this Waco orthodontic practice repeatedly highlight affordable, transparent pricing, including a flat one-set fee and interest-free financing that some families say is worth traveling for. Many households bring multiple children through braces or Invisalign here, and Dr. Steven Machicek is often described as calm and thorough in walking patients through their treatment plans. A smaller number of reviews mention scheduling backlogs and slow responses to urgent issues like broken brackets or wire injuries.
Summary of 200 patient reviews, December 2024–September 2026, updated September 2026
Bear Braces in Waco, Texas, provides orthodontic care for children, teens, and adults.
Dr. Steven Machicek offers traditional braces and Invisalign clear aligner treatment to address a range of alignment and bite concerns. The practice uses digital impression technology with iTero or equivalent intraoral scanners to capture precise imaging for treatment planning. This approach eliminates the need for traditional putty molds and supports more accurate appliance fabrication. Invisalign is available as an alternative to metal braces for patients seeking a less visible orthodontic option. Bear Braces offers complimentary initial consultations to review treatment needs and discuss case-specific recommendations. New patients can schedule appointments through the practice's online booking system. The office accepts most major dental insurance plans, though specific carrier details are not listed. Multiple payment options are available, including flexible payment plans and in-house financing arrangements to help manage treatment costs. The practice has received a 4.9 rating based on 693 Google reviews, reflecting patient feedback on clinical outcomes and service experience. Bear Braces serves patients throughout the Waco area. Treatment recommendations depend on individual clinical findings, age, and orthodontic goals, which are determined during the initial examination.
Treatments offered
Who They Treat
Bear Braces provides orthodontic treatment for the following age groups:
Technology & Equipment
Bear Braces uses modern orthodontic technology to deliver precise, comfortable treatment.
* Pricing shown is an estimate. Contact the practice for a personalized quote.
Orthodontists at this office
Dr. Steven Machicek, D.D.S.
NPI verified · no bio or photo on file
Insurance accepted
6 plans listedWhat patients say
Latest review 7 weeks ago
What patients praise
Things to know
Who it suits
Doctors patients mention
| Oct 2023 | 3 |
|---|---|
| Nov 2023 | 6 |
| Dec 2023 | 5 |
| Jan 2024 | 7 |
| Feb 2024 | 6 |
| Mar 2024 | 3 |
| Apr 2024 | 4 |
| May 2024 | 2 |
| Jun 2024 | 2 |
| Jul 2024 | 6 |
| Aug 2024 | 4 |
| Sep 2024 | 3 |
| Oct 2024 | 4 |
| Nov 2024 | 7 |
| Dec 2024 | 21 |
| Jan 2025 | 149 |
| Feb 2025 | 18 |
| Mar 2025 | 5 |
| Apr 2025 | 3 |
| May 2025 | 4 |
| Jun 2025 | 10 |
| Jul 2025 | 13 |
| Aug 2025 | 52 |
| Sep 2025 | 49 |
| Oct 2025 | 7 |
| Nov 2025 | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | 7 |
| Jan 2026 | 10 |
| Feb 2026 | 8 |
| Mar 2026 | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | 10 |
| May 2026 | 0 |
| Jun 2026 | 0 |
| Jul 2026 | 0 |
| Aug 2026 | 1 |
| Sep 2026 | 2 |
| Theme | Praise | Criticism |
|---|---|---|
| Friendly staff | 51 | 3 |
| Great with kids | 39 | 2 |
| The orthodontist | 25 | 3 |
| Scheduling & wait times | 22 | 4 |
| Gentle, comfortable care | 21 | 1 |
| Treatment results | 20 | 1 |
| Cost, insurance & financing | 19 | 3 |
| Clear explanations | 14 | 2 |
Recent reviews from Google
Teeth are not straight and when I brought it to the Dr’s. attention he dismissed me as a patient because he said “I walked out” when I told receptionist I had to leave. Just because they are affordable do not go here. Very unprofessional.
Initially when we started our journey with Bear Braces I would have given a 5 for sure. But now they dont have enough doctors to cover their patient load and we have to schedule appointments months in advance. For braces patients that can be a serious issue. We ended up having to either let our daughter have broken brackets/ detached wires or seek help from other orthodontist at another facility. Their pay over time program is amazing but scheduling is horrid....
Two satisfied patients - one adult with Invisalign and one teen with traditional braces! Dr. Machicek and the Bear Braces staff are professional, courteous, & quick. Highly recommend!
Everyone was friendly and helpful! I was in and out with a quote that is very reasonable
I had a great experience here at Bear Braces, will highly recommend 👍🏽
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