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Orthodontics

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Orthodontics in Santa Monica for Children and Adults

Why Straight Teeth Are Healthier

Most people in the Santa Monica and West Los Angeles areas feel that a smile full of straight teeth is more attractive, but did you know that it is also better for your long-term oral health? Having misaligned teeth can lead to a number of conditions that put your smile at risk, including:

  • Uneven teeth wear over time
  • Teeth sensitivity
  • Gum disease
  • Difficulty in placing and maintaining restorations

Our board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Nicole Cheng, welcomes patients of all ages to bring their concerns and questions to our Santa Monica orthodontic practice. Her guidance and expertise helps patients achieve their goals for a long-lasting, healthy and beautiful smile.

Childhood and Adolescent Orthodontic Treatment

Children's mouths grow rapidly, and it is a great time to begin orthodontic treatment, when necessary. At Vision Dental, we take a comprehensive approach to pediatric dentistry that includes early childhood orthodontic evaluation.

Young Boy with Braces Smiling

Two-Phase Orthodontics – Each child should be evaluated by an orthodontist by the age of seven. In certain cases, early orthodontic intervention at this age can address dental issues more readily, while your child is actively growing. Phase I treatment may help your child achieve high-quality results and possibly even avoid unnecessary dental extractions. If indicated, Phase I will begin in early childhood, with a few years break period before beginning Phase II.

Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment in Adolescence – When most or all of the adult teeth have come into the mouth, which typically occurs between the ages of 10 to 12 years old, your child will be ready for Phase II, or comprehensive orthodontic treatment. For teen patients, we offer the option to straighten teeth using Invisalign Teen, a more discreet option for kids who may be self-conscious about their appearance.

Adult Braces in Santa Monica

Not all of us were lucky enough to have proactive dental care as children. Additionally, so much more is now known about growth and function than even a decade or two ago. It is never too late to improve the health and function of your smile by exploring your orthodontic options.

Cosmetic Orthodontic Solutions

A beautiful smile is a real asset in nearly every facet of life. Invisalign is popular among patients who wish to improve the appearance or function of their smiles more discretely. 

 

 

Another cosmetic option for patients of all ages is ceramic, or clear, braces. These brackets are made of a tooth-colored translucent material, making them virtually unnoticeable. We are proud to offer the highest quality ceramic bracket in the industry, ClarityTM Advanced

 

Contact Our Santa Monica Dental Office

If you are curious about whether orthodontics will solve your oral conditions and help you get closer to your dream smile, we invite you to contact our Santa Monica dental office for an evaluation.

Our dentists are gentle, experienced, and knowledgeable in general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and orthodontics and look forward to welcoming you and your family.

Wonderful Orthodontic Care

Friendliest staff and doctors that genuinely care. My daughter had braces done at Vision Dental with Dr. Cheng, and she now has the most beautiful smile. I can see a big difference in her self-esteem and confidence, and am so glad we came. The office is clean, and I was always impressed by their helpful staff. Highly recommend! -Bella S.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Proactive Approach to Your Child's Healthlittle girl running | Santa Monica CA Dentist

At Vision Dental, we like to take a proactive approach to all types of dentistry, orthodontic care included. We recommend that your child has his or her first orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven years. While this may seem early, it actually affords us the opportunity to intervene while your child is still growing, which may eliminate the need for teeth extractions or other additional work to straighten teeth. Your child’s jaws, bones, and teeth are more resilient before they completely develop.

A Treatment Plan for Every Child

Not every child will need early intervention orthodontics, but if your child could benefit from space maintainers, two-phase treatment, or any other type of treatment that can assist in their oral development, we will discuss the options with you so that you can make an informed choice regarding the health of your child’s smile. We are always happy to answer questions and go over your child’s treatment so you feel confident in your decision. Our dentists are supportive and knowledgeable about orthodontics at all life stages.

Contact Our 90403 Dental Clinic

We love treating children and have dedicated a significant portion of our practice to providing the type of care that allows them to have a healthy foundation for a lifelong beautiful smile. Contact us with questions or to schedule an appointment.

Retainers Are An Essential Part of Treatmentretainer | santa monica ca orthodontic

Whether you are considering orthodontics or just completed your treatment, it is important to know that wearing a retainer is an essential part of your treatment. We will recommend retainer use based on your personal orthodontic situation and go over how to best use your retainer toward the end of your treatment. We have a choice of retainers for you to choose from and feel confident that you will find one that works for you.

Protect Your Smile

Since you made an investment in your smile, protecting it is important. Failure to wear a retainer can result in orthodontic relapse. This means that after orthodontic treatment, your teeth begin to drift back out of alignment. If they drift too far, your retainer will no longer fit.

You might be surprised to discover how quickly your teeth begin to move. Even forgetting your retainer for a day or so can negatively impact your smile. That is why it is so important that you reach out to our Santa Monica dental office if you lose or break your retainer. We can arrange a replacement so that your beautiful new smile stays that way.

Contact Our 90403 Dental Clinic

Contact Vision Dental today with all of your questions regarding orthodontics and retainer use. We are always here to help.

Board Certified Orthodontist | Nicole Cheng | Santa Monica, CANo. An orthodontist can practice if they have a license.

Currently, only about one-third of all orthodontists (including Dr. Nicole Cheng) have undergone the additional rigors necessary to achieve board certification.

Being Certified

This means that achieving board certification with the American Board of Orthodontics represents a significant achievement beyond the usual two or three years required to specialize in orthodontics.

A board-certified orthodontist has demonstrated actual patient care accomplishments, providing detailed case reports on the treatment they have proposed and provided for a wide range of orthodontic issues.

The Credentials Received

Since board-certification is a voluntary achievement, most orthodontists do not choose to pursue it. The certification process includes a thorough interview and examination by a highly respected panel in which the applicant’s orthodontic knowledge, clinical skill, and judgment are tested.

Call Our Santa Monica Dental Clinic

Do you want to learn more about the orthodontics we offer at our Santa Monica dental clinic? Please contact Vision Dental Montana for more information. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Meet Our Doctors:

santa Monica dentist Dr. Nicole Cheng

Dr. Nicole Cheng DDS, MS
Orthodontist

College : UCLA Biochemistry
Dental School : USC School of Dentistry
Graduate School : UCLA Section of Oral Biology
Orthodontic Residency : UCLA School of Dentistry, Section of Orthodontics

Dr. Nicole ...

Top Pediatric Dentist in Santa Monica | Dentist for Kids in Santa Monica

Dr. Andrew Huynh DDS
Pediatric Dentist

College: UCSD Biochemistry and Psychology Dual Degree
Dental School: UCLA School of Dentistry
Pediatric Dental Residency: Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital

Dr. Andrew Huynh is a board-certified specialist ...

Santa Monica dentist Dr. will cheng

Dr. Will Cheng DDS, MS
General Dentist

College : UCLA Biology
Dental School : UCLA School of Dentistry
Graduate School : UCLA Section of Oral Biology

Dr. William J. Cheng is co-founder and president of Vision Dental. He ...

Top General Dentist in Santa Monica

Dr. Rogelio Garcia DDS
General Dentist

College: UCLA Biology
Dental School: UCLA School of Dentistry

Dr. Rogelio “Roger” Garcia is the co-founder of Vision Dental. Dr. Garcia stays active and current in dentistry through his professional memberships ...

Top Dentist in Santa Monica | Dr. Gonzales

Dr. John Gonzalez DDS
Dentist

College: UCSB
Dental School: UCLA School of Dentistry

John Gonzalez, D.D.S., grew up in Malibu. He went to the University of California, Santa Barbara and dental school at the University of ...

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