Braces · Tustin, CA
Braces for teens and adults in Southern, CA, fitted by board-certified orthodontist Dr. Edward Viloria, inside the family practice that cares for the rest of your smile.
Board-certified orthodontist · hundreds of five-star reviews · Teens & 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 Orange County, 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.
Who they're for
Braces remain the workhorse of orthodontics because they handle the full range of alignment problems:
The most common reason parents book a consultation.
Spaces that trap food or bother you in photos.
Overbite, underbite, and crossbite that can wear teeth unevenly and strain the jaw.
Tooth positions that may be difficult to correct predictably with aligners alone.
Treatment works around the clock with no trays to remember, remove, or lose.
Braces vs 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.
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.
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.
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.
The brackets come off, the teeth get polished, and a retainer preserves the result. Full-time wear briefly, then nights only.
Day to day
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.
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.
Fine with a mouthguard, and the office can make one that fits over braces.
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
Orthodontic treatment here is led by Dr. Edward Viloria, DDS. He earned his dental degree at UC San Francisco, completed a three-year orthodontics residency at UCLA, and holds board certification from the American Board of Orthodontics, a voluntary credential many orthodontists never complete.
Patients consistently describe him as thorough and easy to understand when he walks through what your teeth are doing.
Around him is the practice you may already know: Dr. Marta Rudat has cared for Tustin families for more than 15 years, and she remains your dentist through treatment and after it, for cleanings, checkups, and retainer years.
Alignment often pairs with her cosmetic dentistry when patients want whitening or bonding as the finishing touch.
Board-Certified
Edward Viloria, DDS
In their words
For over 15 years, Dr. Marta has been grateful to earn the trust of her patients, reflected in hundreds of five-star reviews.
My kids and I love our Dr. Marta! I switched my kids to Dr. Rudat’s office more than a year ago and absolutely happy I did that. I got braces for my son at Dr. Marta office. And later I also got braces for myself.
I can finally say that I have the smile of my dreams! After a long Invisalign journey, my dentist beautifully reconstructed the edges of my lower teeth and the final result is absolutely amazing.
We had an excellent experience at Marta Rudat Clinic. The level of professionalism and responsibility is outstanding. We came to have braces for our child and from the very first visit, we felt confident and well taken care of.
Cost
Traditional Metal Braces
$3,000 – $7,500
Typical Orange County range
Tooth-Colored Ceramic Braces
$4,000 – $8,000
Typical Orange County range
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 typically 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 of treatment up to a lifetime maximum.
Our front desk verifies your exact benefit before you commit, and monthly payment plans can spread the remainder. You get one itemized number at the consultation, and that number is the number.
Frequently Asked
Who does the braces treatment at Marta Rudat DDS?
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.
How much do braces cost with insurance?
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.
How long do braces take?
Most comprehensive braces treatment takes about 18 to 24 months, although simpler cases may finish sooner and more complex bite corrections can take longer. A systematic review found an average fixed-appliance treatment time of about 20 months; another large review reported about 25 months. Your actual timeline depends on the amount of movement and correction needed.
Do braces hurt?
Braces usually cause temporary soreness rather than continuous pain. Research shows discomfort tends to increase after braces are placed or adjusted, peaks around the first day, and then decreases steadily over the following week. Chewing may be more uncomfortable during those first few days.
Are braces harder to keep clean?
Yes. Brackets and wires create additional areas where plaque can accumulate, so brushing and cleaning between the teeth require more attention. Fixed appliances have been associated with changes in plaque and gingival health, and inadequate cleaning can contribute to white-spot lesions, an early form of enamel demineralization. Fluoride and consistent oral hygiene can help reduce that risk.
Am I too old for braces?
No. Adults can successfully undergo orthodontic treatment, and age alone does not appear to substantially lengthen treatment. A systematic review comparing adults with adolescents found no significant difference in overall fixed-braces treatment duration, although certain individual tooth movements may take longer in adults.
Can I eat normally with braces?
Mostly, yes. You can maintain a normal, balanced diet, but hard, sticky, and very chewy foods can damage brackets or wires and are best avoided or modified. Teeth may also feel tender when braces are first placed or adjusted, so softer foods can be more comfortable for the first few days. Research shows chewing discomfort is greatest early after appliance placement and declines during the first week.
Are braces better than clear aligners?
Neither is universally better. The right appliance depends on the movements your teeth require and your ability to wear removable aligners consistently. Current systematic-review evidence suggests fixed appliances may provide advantages for some movements, including certain rotational and torque corrections, while evidence for many other tooth movements remains mixed.
Will I need teeth removed before braces?
Not necessarily. Tooth extraction is a case-specific treatment decision, not a routine requirement for braces. It may be considered when there is significant crowding or when creating space is important to the bite and treatment plan. Research also shows that extraction cases can affect treatment duration, which is one reason the decision should be based on a complete orthodontic evaluation rather than a standard protocol.
Will I need to wear a retainer after braces?
Yes. Teeth can move after active orthodontic treatment, so retention is an important part of maintaining the result. Retainers may be removable, fixed behind the teeth, or a combination of both. Research supports retention after treatment, although the evidence does not establish one retainer design as ideal for every patient.
Continue reading
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.
