01
Crowding and overlapping teeth
the most common reason parents book a consultation
Braces · Tustin, CA
Braces built around school,
sports, and real life.
Braces for teens and adults in Tustin, CA, fitted by board-certified orthodontist Dr. Edward Viloria, inside the family practice that cares for the rest of your smile.
Board-certified orthodontist · 495+ five-star reviews · Teens & adults
Specialist in-houseBoard-certified orthodontist
Google rating495+ five-star reviews
ForTeens & adults
Braces straighten teeth using small brackets and a wire that gradually guide each tooth into position, correcting crowding, gaps, and bite problems. At Marta Rudat DDS in Tustin, CA, braces for teens and adults are fitted by Dr. Edward Viloria, a board-certified orthodontist, with treatment typically running 12 to 24 months depending on the case.
Written by the Dr. Marta Rudat DDS team · Medically reviewed by Edward Viloria, DDS, board-certified orthodontist (American Board of Orthodontics). Last reviewed July 2026.
Who they're for
What braces fix
Braces remain the workhorse of orthodontics in Tustin, CA because they handle the full range of alignment problems:
For adults, braces are often the pragmatic choice when the case is too complex for aligners or when you'd rather not manage trays. Today's brackets are smaller and lower-profile than the ones you remember from your own school photos.
Braces vs Invisalign
Braces or Invisalign?
Braces are fixed to your teeth and work continuously, which makes them the stronger tool for complex movements and the safer bet for teens who might not wear removable trays 20+ hours a day. Invisalign is nearly invisible and removable, which makes eating and brushing easier, and it suits mild to moderate cases with disciplined wear.
Neither is "better." The right answer depends on your teeth, your habits, and your budget, and the consultation exists to give you that answer with X-rays on the screen instead of guesswork.
Because Dr. Viloria is a board-certified orthodontist, that answer comes from a specialist trained across every tool, and he'll tell you plainly when the cheaper or simpler option is the right one for your case.
What to expect
How treatment works
- 01
The consultation.
Dr. Viloria examines your teeth and bite, reviews digital X-rays, and gives you an honest read on whether braces or Invisalign fits your case. You leave with a timeline and an itemized cost.
- 02
Placement day.
Brackets are bonded and the first wire goes in. It takes about an hour or two, doesn't hurt during, and feels tight for a few days after; soft foods and over-the-counter pain relief carry you through.
- 03
Adjustments every 4 to 8 weeks.
Short visits where Dr. Viloria tunes the wire to keep teeth moving on schedule. And because your orthodontist and your dentist share one office, gum health and enamel stay watched throughout treatment; a forming cavity gets caught and handled down the hall instead of waiting for a referral letter.
- 04
Braces off, retainer on.
The brackets come off, the teeth get polished, and a retainer preserves the result. Full-time wear briefly, then nights only.
Day to day
Living with braces
Food.
Popcorn, hard candy, ice, and sticky things like caramel are the enemies; they snap wires and pop brackets. Nearly everything else is fine, cut smaller for the first days after an adjustment.
Cleaning.
Brushing takes longer with brackets on, and flossing needs a threader or water flosser. Worth the effort, because clean brackets mean no stain outlines when they come off.
Sports.
Fine with a mouthguard, and the office can make one that fits over braces.
Broken bracket or poking wire?
Call the office. Most fixes are quick, and covering the spot with orthodontic wax gets you comfortably to the visit. A painful break counts as an emergency visit and gets triaged like one.
Your orthodontist
A board-certified orthodontist, inside your family practice
Braces at this office are fitted and managed by Dr. Edward Viloria, DDS. He earned his dental degree at UC San Francisco, completed a three-year orthodontics residency at UCLA, and is board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, a voluntary credential many orthodontists never complete. Patients describe him as detailed, patient, and easy to understand when he explains what your teeth are doing and why.
The setup is the practical win. Your orthodontist and your family dentist, Dr. Marta Rudat, work under one roof on East First Street, so braces, checkups, and cleanings for the whole household happen at one office, with two doctors sharing one chart and one plan for your mouth.
Board-certified
Edward Viloria, DDS
- ·DDS — UC San Francisco
- ·Orthodontics residency — UCLA
- ·American Board of Orthodontics
Dr. Edward Viloria
In their words
See what our patients say.
More than 200 patients have left five-star reviews across Dr. Marta's 15+ years in Tustin.
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Cost
What do braces cost in Tustin?
In Orange County, traditional metal braces typically run $3,000 to $7,500, with local averages around $4,900 without insurance; tooth-colored ceramic braces run about $4,000 to $8,000. Where your case lands depends on complexity and treatment length.
Many PPO plans include an orthodontic benefit, most often for patients under 18 and sometimes for adults, typically covering a portion up to a lifetime maximum.
Our front desk verifies your exact benefit before you commit, and monthly payment plans spread the remainder. You get one itemized number at the consultation, and that number is the number.
Typical local ranges
- Metal braces$3,000–$7,500
- OC local average~$4,900
- Ceramic braces$4,000–$8,000
These are area ranges to orient you; you'll get your exact numbers after the consultation and before any treatment starts.
Local
Braces for Tustin and nearby Orange County
Marta Rudat DDS provides braces for teens and adults in Tustin, CA, fitted by board-certified orthodontist Dr. Edward Viloria and welcoming families from North Tustin, Irvine, Orange, and Santa Ana. The office is on East First Street near the 55, an easy after-school run from Tustin's middle and high schools.
Frequently asked
Braces questions, answered.
Dr. Edward Viloria, a board-certified orthodontist, handles braces and Invisalign at the practice. He earned his DDS at UC San Francisco, completed his orthodontics residency at UCLA, and is certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, so your treatment is specialist care inside a family dental office.
Plans with an orthodontic benefit typically cover a portion of treatment up to a lifetime maximum, often bringing Orange County families' out-of-pocket down by $1,500 to $3,000. The office verifies your specific benefit before treatment starts so the monthly figure is real.
Most kids who need braces start between 11 and 14, once most adult teeth are in. An earlier exam is still smart; Dr. Marta watches development at regular checkups, and Dr. Viloria, the practice's board-certified orthodontist, tells you when, or whether, treatment makes sense.
Getting them on doesn't hurt. Teeth feel sore and tight for a few days after placement and after some adjustments, managed well with soft foods and over-the-counter pain relief. The soreness fades as your mouth adapts.
Most cases run 12 to 24 months. Mild crowding can finish in about a year; significant bite correction takes closer to two. You get a case-specific estimate at the consultation and progress updates at every adjustment.
Yes, and more adults do every year. Healthy gums and bone matter far more than age. Adults sometimes need slightly longer treatment, and if appearance is the concern, ask about lower-profile options or Invisalign at the consultation.
Yes. Teeth drift back toward their old positions without one, and a retainer is what makes the result permanent. Expect full-time wear at first, then nights only, indefinitely.
Ready to see what treatment would look like?
Ready to see what treatment would look like?
One consultation gets you the full picture: whether braces or Invisalign fits your case, how long it takes, and exactly what it costs. Bring your questions, or your teenager's eye-roll. Both are welcome.
Dr. Marta Rudat DDS · 1076 E First Street, Suite D, Tustin, CA 92780
Request a consultation
Book a consultation for braces in Tustin.
Prefer to talk to a person? Call (714) 665-4200 during office hours.
Dr. Marta Rudat, DDS