Orthodontist for Children, Teens and Adults in Pomona, CA
Free orthodontic consultation with a 3D scan and smile simulation. Flexible 0% in-house payment plans available.
Dr. Lyndon Tran, a board-certified orthodontist, sees patients from age 7 through adulthood at Kids Dental Castle and Orthodontics. The first visit is free and includes X-rays, a 3D scan and a written plan with the price, so you know what is being recommended and why before anything starts.
Who Treats Your Child Here
Orthodontics at this office is handled by one orthodontist, not rotated among general dentists. Dr. Tran completed his orthodontic residency at New York University and holds board certification from the American Board of Orthodontics, which is voluntary and requires presenting finished cases for review by other orthodontists, beyond the specialty training itself. He plans every case, places the braces or aligners and sees the patient at each adjustment visit.
He works in the same building as Dr. Nima Javan, a general and children’s dentist, and the two share one chart for each patient. That matters more than it sounds: a cavity found during braces, a baby tooth that needs to come out to make room, or a cleaning that is overdue can be handled down the hall instead of through a referral to another office.
Read more about Dr. Tran and our dental team.
What an Orthodontist Looks For at Each Age
Age 7 is the recommended age for a first orthodontic look, and the reason is practical. By then the first permanent molars and front teeth are in, which is enough to see how the jaws are growing and whether the remaining teeth will have room. Most children at this visit need nothing except a recheck in six to twelve months.
Between 7 and 10, a small number of children benefit from early treatment while the jaw is still growing. The usual reasons are a crossbite, a lack of space that will only get worse, front teeth that stick out far enough to be at risk of injury, or a habit that is reshaping the bite. This is Phase One, and the details are on the early orthodontics page.
Between 11 and 14, once most permanent teeth are in, full treatment with braces or Invisalign addresses alignment and the bite together. This is when most patients start, and it is also when treatment is most efficient, because the teeth are still settling and the jaw has growth left to work with.
Teens between 15 and 18 can still be treated well; the main difference is that jaw growth is nearly finished, so some bite problems take longer or need a different approach. Adults are treated too, and that is covered below.
Signs You Can See at Home
Parents usually notice crooked front teeth first, but the problems an orthodontist cares most about are often the ones that are easy to miss. A crossbite shows up when the child bites down and some upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth instead of outside them; the lower jaw may shift to one side to make the teeth fit. An open bite leaves a gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together, which can come from a thumb habit or a tongue-thrust pattern. A deep bite hides most of the lower front teeth behind the upper ones when the child bites. Protruding front teeth, often called an overbite by parents, are more exposed to being chipped in a fall.
Crowding is obvious when teeth overlap, but it can also show up as a permanent tooth coming in behind a baby tooth that has not fallen out, or a tooth erupting far out of line because there was nowhere else for it to go. Wide spacing between the front teeth is normal at 7 and usually closes, but spacing that persists after the permanent canines are in may not. Baby teeth lost very early or very late, mouth breathing, snoring, and a jaw that clicks or shifts are all worth mentioning at the evaluation, even when the teeth look straight.
None of these means treatment is urgent. It means an orthodontist should look, decide whether to monitor or treat, and tell you which.
The Free Consultation, Step by Step
Plan on about an hour. The visit starts with records: a panoramic X-ray, a cephalometric X-ray of the skull from the side, and an iTero digital scan of the teeth, which replaces impressions. Dr. Tran examines the teeth, jaws and bite, then goes over what he found on the scan, which can also show a simulation of how the teeth would look after treatment. You leave with a recommendation, a price and a payment schedule in writing, or with a recommendation to wait and a date to come back. There is no charge for any of it, and no charge if the answer is that your child does not need treatment.
If your child has Medi-Cal Dental, the same records are used for the orthodontic authorization request, so nothing has to be repeated.
What Treatment Costs
Prices here are for the whole course of treatment, not per year, and they include records, every scheduled visit, the first set of retainers and, for Invisalign, any refinement aligners needed at the end. Comprehensive braces are about $3,500, comprehensive Invisalign about $4,000, Phase One about $3,000 and Invisalign First about $3,500. Each of those pages shows the 0% in-house payment plan for that treatment, starting at $300 down for braces and $500 down for Invisalign, and the 5% discount for paying in full. Major PPO plans are accepted and the orthodontic benefit is checked before you decide; HMO dental plans are not accepted.
Medi-Cal Dental and Braces
Medi-Cal Dental pays for braces for members under 21 when the bite is severe enough to qualify, and it pays for braces only, not Invisalign. Qualifying is not a judgment call made at the office. The program scores the bite on a standardized index; cases that score 26 or higher, or that have a condition the program treats as automatically qualifying, such as a cleft palate or a deep bite in which the lower teeth cut into the roof of the mouth, are approved. Crowding or crooked front teeth on their own usually do not reach the threshold.
At the free consultation the records are taken and Dr. Tran fills in the same scoring form the program uses, so you get a realistic idea that day of whether the case is likely to qualify before anything is submitted. If it is approved, treatment is the same braces, the same orthodontist and the same visit schedule as for any other patient. If it is not, you are told the self-pay price and the payment plan and can decide from there. Families with an IEHP card are in this program too: IEHP covers medical care, and the dental benefit, including orthodontics, runs through Medi-Cal Dental. The insurance and payment plans article explains the process in more detail.
A Dentist and an Orthodontist in One Office
Braces make teeth harder to clean, so children in treatment are seen for cleanings every six months, sometimes more often, and sealants on the back molars are placed before the brackets go on when they are due. Cavities found during the orthodontic evaluation are treated before braces start. When a baby tooth is holding up a permanent one, or a permanent tooth has to be removed to create space, Dr. Javan or the office’s oral surgeon, Dr. Sean Moghadam, does it in the same building, and the orthodontic schedule is adjusted around it rather than waiting on an outside office. A broken bracket or a poking wire is an included visit; call the same day and the front desk fits it in.
For families, the practical difference is one phone number, one set of records and one front desk that knows both schedules. For children with special healthcare needs, it also means the dentist who already knows how the child does in the chair is part of the orthodontic plan.
Orthodontics for Adults
A large share of orthodontic patients are adults, and the reasons are the same ones you would expect: teeth that shifted after braces decades ago, a bite that is wearing teeth down, or treatment that was never done. The consultation is the same free visit, and adults choose between braces and Invisalign at the same prices listed above. Parents often start during a child’s treatment, since the visits can be scheduled together. The one difference is coverage: Medi-Cal Dental does not pay for adult orthodontics, so adult treatment is self-pay or PPO.
Families We See From Nearby Cities
Most orthodontic patients here live in Pomona or within about fifteen minutes of the office on the 10, the 57 or the 71. Each city has its own page with directions, drive times and the questions families from that area ask most: Chino Hills, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, San Dimas, Montclair, Diamond Bar, La Verne, Chino, Claremont, Upland and Walnut. The office is open Monday through Friday 9 to 6 and Saturday 8 to 2, and Spanish is spoken throughout.
Early Orthodontic Evaluation
Identify developing problems with jaw growth, crowding, spacing, and bite alignment.
Braces for Kids & Teens
Traditional and clear braces can correct crowded teeth, spacing, and many common bite problems.
Invisalign® for Kids & Teens
For appropriate children and teens, Invisalign® clear aligners offer a removable, less noticeable alternative to traditional braces. Our orthodontic team can determine whether Invisalign or braces is the better option for your child.
Ready to Start Your Child’s Orthodontic Journey?
Schedule an orthodontic consultation at Kids Dental Castle & Orthodontics in Pomona. We offer personalized orthodontic care for children and teens, including early orthodontic evaluations, braces, and Invisalign® clear aligners.
What is the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist who offers braces?
An orthodontist is a dentist who completed two to three additional years of residency training in moving teeth and guiding jaw growth, and who treats only orthodontic cases. A general dentist can legally offer braces or aligners after short courses. Dr. Tran is a board-certified orthodontist; the general dentist in this office does not do orthodontics, and the orthodontist does not do fillings. Each does the work they trained for.
What happens at a child's first orthodontist appointment?
Records first: a panoramic X-ray, a side-view X-ray of the skull and a digital scan of the teeth, each of which takes only a few minutes. Dr. Tran then examines the teeth and bite and explains what he sees on the scan. You leave with one of three answers: no treatment needed and a date to recheck, early treatment recommended with a written price, or full treatment recommended with a written price. Nothing is charged.
Can my child see the orthodontist and the dentist on the same day?
Often, yes. The dental and orthodontic schedules are not identical, so ask the front desk when you book and they will find a day both are available. Cleanings, sealants and fillings are commonly scheduled alongside an orthodontic visit so a family makes one trip.
How does Medi-Cal decide whether braces are medically necessary?
With a scoring index applied to the records, not an opinion. The orthodontist measures features of the bite such as overjet, open bite, crossbite and the degree of crowding and assigns points. A score of 26 or higher qualifies, as do a few specific conditions on their own. Dr. Tran fills in that form at the consultation, so you hear a realistic estimate before it is submitted.
Can adults get braces through Medi-Cal?
No. Medi-Cal Dental's orthodontic benefit is for members under 21. Adults pay the self-pay price or use a PPO plan with orthodontic coverage. Braces are about $3,500 and Invisalign about $4,000, with 0% in-house payment plans.
Can an overbite correct itself as a child grows?
Rarely. Front teeth that stick out usually stay out, and mild cases sometimes improve a little with jaw growth, but a true overjet does not close on its own. Because protruding teeth are more likely to be chipped in a fall, an orthodontist may recommend treating them early even when the rest of the mouth can wait.
What is a crossbite, and why is it treated early?
A crossbite is when one or more upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth instead of outside. In the back teeth it usually means the upper jaw is too narrow, and the child often shifts the lower jaw to one side to chew, which over time can make the face and jaw grow unevenly. Before about age 10 the upper jaw can be widened with an expander in a few months because the growth seam in the palate has not fused. After it fuses, the same correction is slower and sometimes needs surgery.
Does thumb sucking mean my child will need braces?
Not if it stops by around age 4, before the permanent front teeth come in. A habit that continues past that point can push the upper front teeth forward and hold them apart, creating an open bite that does not close by itself. If a child is still sucking a thumb at 5 or 6, the evaluation is worth doing early, because stopping the habit before the permanent teeth are in often prevents treatment later.
Can you get braces on only the top teeth?
Occasionally, when the problem is limited to the upper teeth and the bite between the two arches already fits. In most cases the upper and lower teeth have to be moved together so they meet properly at the end, and treating one arch alone would leave the bite worse. Dr. Tran will tell you at the consultation whether a single-arch plan is realistic for your case.
What should I do if a wire is poking my child's cheek?
Press a small piece of orthodontic wax over the end of the wire; the office gives you wax when braces go on, and pharmacies sell it. If the wire has slid out of the back bracket, the eraser end of a pencil can gently push it back. Then call the office. Wire and bracket repairs during treatment are included in the price, and they are usually seen the same day.
Do you provide orthodontic treatment for children with special needs?
Yes, case by case. Dr. Tran and Dr. Javan see the child together at the consultation to decide whether treatment is realistic and which approach fits, since braces need daily cleaning and aligners need to be worn about 22 hours a day. Because the child's dentist is in the same office, the plan takes into account how the child already does in the chair.
What is an open bite, and can braces fix it?
An open bite is a gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are closed, so the front teeth cannot cut food. In children it most often comes from a thumb or tongue habit and is treated by stopping the habit, sometimes with a small appliance, before the teeth are moved. In teens and adults, braces or aligners can close it; the harder part is keeping it closed, which is why retainer wear afterward matters more for open bites than for most other corrections.
