Braces and Invisalign Near Montclair, CA — Starting With the Medi-Cal Question

A lot of Montclair families who ask us about braces are on Medi-Cal, and the first thing they've heard is some version of "Medi-Cal doesn't do braces." That's not quite right, and the difference matters. So this page starts there — how the coverage decision actually works — and then covers what to do if your child doesn't qualify, what everything costs out of pocket, and how the payment plans work.

Every case is planned and treated by Dr. Lyndon Tran, a board-certified orthodontist. Our office is just over Montclair's western border in Pomona, a few minutes up Holt. Se habla español — la consulta es gratis, y podemos explicar la cobertura de Medi-Cal en español.

How Medi-Cal Decides Whether Braces Are Covered

Medi-Cal Dental covers orthodontic treatment when it's medically necessary — meaning the bite or alignment problem is severe enough to meet the state's scoring criteria, not just cosmetic. In practice, that's things like a significant overjet or underbite, impacted teeth, severe crowding that affects function, or certain craniofacial conditions.

The process:

1. Free consultation here. Dr. Tran examines your child and takes the records Medi-Cal requires (photos, X-rays, models or a scan).

2. We submit for authorization. Our office prepares and sends the case to Medi-Cal Dental. This is on us, not you.

3. Medi-Cal scores it. If it meets the threshold, braces are covered. If it doesn't, you'll get a clear answer rather than a vague one.

Two things to know: Medi-Cal covers braces, not Invisalign, in these cases. And the scoring is about severity, not about how the teeth look — a case that bothers a parent a lot may still not qualify, and a case that doesn't look dramatic sometimes does.

We Accept Medi-Cal Orthodontics. Most Montclair Offices Don't.

This is worth saying plainly, because families tell us they've been turned away: several orthodontic and dental offices in Montclair state on their own websites that they do not accept Medi-Cal, Denti-Cal, or HMO plans for braces, or that they take PPO only. We accept Medi-Cal Dental and IEHP for orthodontics, we submit the authorization ourselves, and Medi-Cal patients get the same orthodontist, the same brackets, and the same treatment plan as self-pay patients. If you were told "no Medi-Cal" somewhere on Central or Moreno, that wasn't the last word.

If Your Child Doesn't Qualify

This is where most offices go quiet. Here's the actual fallback:

• Comprehensive braces: about $3,500, at $300 down and about $133/month for 24 months, 0% interest, through our in-house plan. No lender, no credit check for the in-house plan.

• Phase One (younger kids): about $3,000, at $300 down and about $150/month for 18 months.

• CareCredit is accepted too, and paying in full in cash earns 5% off.

At $133 a month, a lot of Montclair families who assumed braces were out of reach find they aren't. That's the point of publishing the number.

IEHP and PPO

IEHP members: we accept IEHP; orthodontic coverage through IEHP follows the same medical-necessity path as Medi-Cal Dental, and we handle the authorization.

PPO plans usually include an orthodontic benefit — often a lifetime maximum that covers part of the cost. We verify your specific benefit before your visit, so the number you're planning around is real.

Invisalign: When It Fits and What It Costs

For families paying out of pocket, Invisalign is an option for teens and adults — about $4,000 for comprehensive treatment ($500 down, about $146/month for 24 months), or about $3,500 for Invisalign First in younger kids. Dr. Tran will tell you honestly whether aligners fit the case or braces would do the job better; the answer isn't always Invisalign.

When to Bring Your Child In

Around age 7 for a first look, the same guidance the American Association of Orthodontists gives everyone. For Ontario-Montclair District kids, that visit is free here and usually ends with "nothing yet, we'll check again next year." When early treatment does make sense — a crossbite, a jaw-growth pattern that's easier to guide now — you'll hear why, with a price.

Teens and adults can come in anytime. Adults are welcome; healthy gums are the only requirement.

Meet Dr. Lyndon Tran

Dr. Tran is board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. He attended dental school at New York University, where he was recognized as a top student in the orthodontic honors program, and completed his orthodontic residency at NYU. Medi-Cal and self-pay cases get the same orthodontist and the same treatment plan.

Orthodontist vs. General Dentist for Braces

Some Montclair dental offices offer braces through a general dentist or a visiting orthodontist who's in once a week. A general dentist covers all of dentistry; an orthodontist adds two to three years of residency in tooth movement and jaw growth, and a board-certified one has passed the American Board of Orthodontics' examination. For a growing child, that's the whole point — and Dr. Tran is here every treatment day, not on a rotation.

Montclair High Athletes, Broken Brackets, and Retainers

Braces and contact sports work with an orthodontic mouthguard. A broken bracket is a short repair visit within a day or two, wax over it meanwhile, no charge added. Retainers are part of the treatment plan — full-time for a period, then nights — not a separate fee at the end. If your child later loses a retainer, a replacement comes from a quick scan.

One Building for the Whole Family

Our pediatric dentistry team is in the same office and also accepts Medi-Cal Dental, so a Montclair family with one child in braces and younger ones due for cleanings can handle it in one place, with one set of insurance paperwork.

Where We Are

Kids Dental Castle & Orthodontics

1532 San Bernardino Ave #A1

Pomona, CA 91767

909-741-7052

From Montclair: Holt Avenue west into Pomona, or the 10 west to Towne. We also see orthodontic patients from Pomona, Ontario, Chino, and Upland.