Looking for an orthodontist Los Angeles?
Everybody wants to have a great smile – it plays a huge role in making a good first impression. Unfortunately, not everyone is born with a perfect set of teeth. But it also does not mean that there is nothing you can do about it.
If you find yourself desiring to have a better smile, a board-certified orthodontist can help you get there. Orthodontics can do wonders for those who want to have better-looking teeth.
But of course, it is a specialty so it costs money and the treatment process can last for months and in some cases, years. This is why you should not just go to any orthodontist. You have to pick one that is suitable for you and your needs.
And if you are living in Los Angeles, California, you may be overwhelmed by all the orthodontists around the area. It is not surprising if there is a lot – after all, Los Angeles is filled with people wanting to get into the show business and looking good matters to them. The best orthodontists are in the city!
So, how would you know where to go? In this article, we give you the top ten options you should check out first and we give you some more useful information that you should know before you choose an orthodontist and go on your initial consultation.
The top ten orthodontists in Los Angeles
Here is a list of the top 10 clinics in Los Angeles CA where you can find a good board-certified orthodontist, as rated on Yelp, a popular online review site.
Yelp is considered to be one of the most trusted local business review sites so if you do not know where you should start looking, the options in this list are great orthodontic practice recommendations that you should check out.
Cal Dental Group
Website: https://caldentalgroup.com/
Telephone: (323) 934-2804
Address: 936 Crenshaw Blvd #101, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Famous Hollywood Dental Care
Website: https://www.hollywooddentalcare.com/
Telephone: (323) 461-4676
Address: 6464 W Sunset Blvd Ste 1080, Hollywood, CA 90028
City of Angels Dentistry
Website: https://www.cofadentistry.com/
Telephone: (213) 908-2003
Address: 1127 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Shervin M. Louie, DDS
Website: https://www.smileinla.com/
Telephone: (323) 461-9353
Address: 321 N Larchmont Blvd #1010, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Oxy Dental of East Hollywood
Website: https://caldentalusa.com/
Telephone: (323) 522-3382
Address: 906 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029
Geller Dentistry
Website: https://www.gellerdentistry.com/
Telephone: (323) 621-3730
Address: 402 North Larchmont Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90004
Smile Recreation
Website: https://www.smilerecreation.com/
Telephone: (323) 413-2903
Address: 6221 Wilshire Blvd Ste 517 Los Angeles, CA 90048
Doil Kim Orthodontics
Website: http://www.doilkimorthodontics.com/
Telephone: (213) 383-2080
Address: 3663 W 6th St Ste 207 Los Angeles, CA 90020
One Dental Specialties
Website: https://onedentalspecialties.com/
Telephone: (213) 381-2828
Address: 621 S. Western Ave. #201 Los Angeles, CA 90005
Kwon Orthodontics
Website: https://kwonorthodontics.com/
Telephone: (213) 739-8678
Address: 3700 Wilshire Blvd Ste 400 Los Angeles, CA 90010
Who should see an orthodontist?
Everyone is expected to see an orthodontist at least once for an assessment. From there, only your orthodontist can determine if you will need orthodontic treatment or not.
The assessment will be made by evaluating your medical and dental history, a clinical exam, plaster models of your teeth, special x-rays and photographs, and other diagnostic tools.
But to give you a general idea, if you have any of the following conditions, then you should start seeing a board-certified orthodontist:
Crowding
Crowding happens when you have too many teeth for your dental bridge. The lack of space often results in crooked or misaligned teeth.
Spacing
If you have gaps or spaces between the teeth whether caused by a missing tooth or your teeth simply do not fill up the space, your orthodontist can fix that.
Overbite
This is more commonly known as buck teeth. You have overbite if your upper front teeth lie too far forward and over your lower front teeth.
Underbite
This is the opposite of an overbite wherein the lower front teeth are too far forward compared to the upper front teeth. This issue gives you a bulldog-like appearance.
Crossbite
This is when your upper teeth do not go down slightly in front of your lower teeth when you do a normal bite.
Open bite
You have an open bite if when your back teeth bite together, you notice a space between the biting surfaces of the front or side teeth.
Misplaced midline
This happens when the center of your upper front teeth does not line up with the center of your lower front teeth.
Benefits of orthodontics
Better chewing
Orthodontics improves the functions of your teeth. Having straighter teeth means you can chew better and you no longer have to worry about food getting stuck between your teeth. By straightening your teeth, you will be able to bite better too.
Clearer speech
With straight teeth, you can be able to pronounce words clearly. Misaligned teeth have a tendency to affect your speech.
Reduced risk of dental issues
Straight teeth would mean your teeth will be easier to clean and maintain. With good dental hygiene, you will be able to greatly reduce the risks of you developing dental issues in the future.
Self-esteem boost
Orthodontics has the added benefit of improving your appearance. With straighter teeth, you get a more beautiful smile. This makes you feel more confident to speak out, laugh, and eat in public. An amazing smile can do wonders for your self-esteem!
How to choose a board-certified orthodontist
It is important to find the right orthodontist – obviously, you would not want to entrust the state of your teeth to just about anyone! To find a good board-certified orthodontist that is right for you, you need to know what you are looking for first.
Do your research
Thanks to the Internet, you can search for anything online. Aside from the list of the top 10 orthodontists in Los Angeles that we have provided, you can also do your own research by putting “orthodontists in Los Angeles” in any search engine.
You should also ask relatives and friends who their orthodontist is. Chances are they will recommend a local orthodontist that they trust. Referrals can help narrow down your options.
Visit their website
Once you have a list of names, you would want to have more detailed information. Check out their websites and see what treatments they have to offer. The best orthodontists must have their own website.
Check out their credentials too – they are most likely on the website’s landing page. It is very important that you go to a licensed, board-certified orthodontist to get the best orthodontic care.
Aside from their credentials, check out the treatments available. Some clinics are so modern and advanced that they can do accelerated orthodontics. Of course, it would be more expensive but it may be something you should consider if you have a very severe dental issue.
When visiting the website, also take note of how professional looking it is. After all, the first impression means everything. The best orthodontists can afford to maintain a good-looking and active website.
Read reviews
Of course, you should not only depend on the orthodontist’s website for information. You should look them up and read any reviews and patient testimonials that you can find.
By reading reviews, you will have an idea of what patients liked and disliked about the treatments and services they received.
Get a consultation
After going through the steps above, your list should be narrowed down at this point. The next step is to take advantage of free consultations. Most orthodontists offer free consultations for first-time patients that are unsure yet of what treatment they need.
Call the office and ask if they offer a free consultation. If they do, make sure to take advantage of it. This will give you a chance to actually meet the orthodontist and his entire team and to take a good look at their clinic. See if you feel welcome, if the office is clean and well-kept.
While on the free consultation, observe if the orthodontist is someone you feel comfortable talking to. Is he approachable? Is he someone you would not hesitate to approach in case of emergencies? Listen to the treatment options he would push for you – is it patient-focused or profit focused? You can learn a lot by being observant during the free consultation.
Remember, the whole process of a treatment plan will take months. So, you will have to work with a great orthodontist and a great team so getting the perfect smile will be a wonderful experience for you because of the excellent service from the entire staff.
When should you see an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists (AOO) recommends that everyone should do their first appointment as young as 7 years old. By this age, the orthodontist will be able to spot any signs of dental issues that would need orthodontic treatment.
Some parents usually wait until all the permanent teeth have grown out but the truth is, this is not ideal. Even with baby teeth, an orthodontist can easily spot problems concerning emerging permanent teeth, bite problems, and jaw growth when the patient is 7 years old.
The earlier the problems are spotted, then they can be monitored and corrected right away. This prevents the issue to develop into something more serious and saves you from more expensive treatments later on.
What if you never went to the orthodontist as a kid? That is still okay! You can still do your first appointment as an adult. You are never too old for an orthodontic treatment anyway. Starting out early just happens to be ideal because it makes orthodontic treatments easier and faster.
Cost of braces in Los Angeles
Braces are one of the most common orthodontic treatments. Traditional metal braces have been around for decades and they are the go-to teeth straightening treatment for kids and teens.
The cost for braces is not a fixed one. This is because several factors affect the total cost. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the national average cost for adult traditional braces in California is $4,800 to $7,135.
But in Los Angeles, with all the celebrity presence and beachfront sceneries, the cost of living and taxes are more expensive. As a result, the cost of braces in Los Angeles is higher – $6,500 to $10,000.
Take note that the figures stated above do not include insurance coverage. So if you do have dental insurance that covers orthodontics, you will be paying less.
Factors affecting the total cost of braces
There is no denying that braces are expensive. But there is a possibility that you can be paying lower than the Los Angeles rate. As mentioned earlier, the total cost of braces is determined by several factors.
The severity of the condition
Of all the factors that have to be considered for your total bill, this is the most significant one. The more work your teeth needs, the more expensive braces will get. This is because the treatment time will be longer and you will need to do more office visits.
Type of braces
Thanks to advanced technology, you now have more options to choose from aside from the traditional metallic braces. There are now ceramic braces, self-ligating braces, lingual braces, and clear aligners.
The more discrete the braces are, the more expensive they are. So, lingual braces can cost higher than ceramic braces.
Orthodontist
Getting braces means you have to do multiple visits. Office visits mean paying office fees, professional fees, and any additional services like cleaning or adjustments and these will all factor in on the final cost.
Location
Where you are getting the service would matter to your total cost. The cost of living and taxes in the area would reflect on the total bill later on.
As mentioned earlier, urban areas like Los Angeles are likely to have higher costs compared to urban areas because of the cost of living there.
Insurance
As mentioned earlier, insurance can help lower the cost of braces significantly. Some dental plans can pay as much as half the cost while others have a specific amount for its lifetime limit. It is best to check in with your insurance company first before you start getting braces.
How much does Invisalign cost in Los Angeles CA?
Invisalign is the country’s go-to brand when it comes to clear aligners. It is a very popular orthodontic treatment for adults who want to fix their teeth without making them look obvious.
Just like braces, the cost of Invisalign treatment is not a fixed one. Prices will vary based on numerous factors as well. But on average, you can expect Invisalign to cost between $4,500 and $9,000 in California.
But since Los Angeles is a big city, the cost of living there is higher, and therefore, the price of Invisalign is higher in the area too. For Los Angeles, you can expect Invisalign to cost anywhere between $6,500 and $9,500.
The price range estimates mentioned above are figures that do not include the help of insurance. So, if you have dental insurance that covers orthodontics, you will most likely be paying less than that range.
Factors that affect the cost of Invisalign treatment
Invisalign is a pricey treatment no matter what. But it is a treatment that delivers and is true to its reputation so it is a worthy investment. Here are the various factors that would affect the total cost of Invisalign.
The severity of the condition
Among all the factors that would affect the overall cost of Invisalign, this is most likely the most important and most influential.
A minor issue would mean less time and fewer aligner trays in your treatment. Meanwhile, a severe condition would mean more treatment time, the use of more aligners, and more office visits.
So basically, the more work your teeth need, the more expensive Invisalign will be.
Location
Just like with braces, where you are getting Invisalign will matter. The cost of living and taxes in the area will influence your total cost.
Generally, orthodontic care would cost more on the coasts compared to the middle part of the country. And for a big city like Los Angeles, Invisalign would cost so much more compared to rural areas in California.
Local competition
In a place where image and beauty matter, Los Angeles has a lot of dentists and orthodontists in the area. This means the competition is very stiff and each clinic would have to find ways to attract new customers and get ahead of their competition.
Most of the time, this would mean special offers, discounts, and sales. Orthodontics will always have expensive treatment options so feel free to “shop around” and go through every option to see which best orthodontist office staff would give you a good deal.
Invisalign experience
Invisalign has a tiered level system for its providers with bronze for novices and platinum for the experts. An Invisalign provider with an impressive portfolio of experience and success with Invisalign is more likely to charge more compared to an Invisalign provider who just started offering the treatment.
Insurance coverage
To help lower your total cost, you should have insurance coverage. Not all insurance providers would accept Invisalign but some would take it under orthodontic coverage. So, it is best to make sure they cover Invisalign before you start your treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist?
Dentistry is a broad medical specialty meaning dentists have a broad range of services concerning the teeth, gums, and nerves like tooth decay, root canals, gum disease, bridges, crowns, veneers, teeth whitening, and professional cleaning.
Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that focuses on the straightness of teeth, correcting bites, occlusion, and other dental issues that would affect your face and jaw like misaligned teeth, crowded teeth, tooth gaps, crossbites, overbites, and underbites.
So, all orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. The orthodontic experienc0 involves a more specific treatment.
Is an orthodontist better than a dentist?
Yes. An orthodontist goes through additional schooling and training to master orthodontics as a specialty. Then, when they are done, they need to take a board exam to be a certified orthodontist.
A dentist is not licensed to give orthodontic treatments. Only an orthodontist can do them. And only an orthodontist can manage abnormal positioning of the teeth, jaws, and craniofacial biology.
Should I stop seeing my dentist if I am seeing an orthodontist?
No. Dentists can still handle other dental issues for you like getting your professional teeth cleaning done. Orthodontics is a specialty that concerns teeth straightening, bites, and jaw structure. Since they offer different services, you can see a dentist and orthodontist at the same time.
Conclusion
Although you are perfect just the way you are, getting perfect-looking teeth can do so much for you. Perfect smiles do not come naturally as you think. And this is where orthodontic treatment comes in.
Finding the right orthodontist is a big and important decision not only for your dental health but also for how you would be feeling throughout the entire treatment.
With the help of an orthodontist, you can get the right diagnosis and treatment that would perfect your smile.