Orthodontist in Walnut Creek, CA
Mona Lisa Smile Dental provides comprehensive orthodontic care in Walnut Cree, metal braces, Invisalign clear aligners, and FastBraces, for patients of every age. Dr. Mohammad Khandaqji, DDS, has over 25 years of experience and holds Invisalign Preferred Provider status, so our team can deliver straighter smiles all under one roof. Give us a call today or request a Saturday appointment to schedule your orthodontic consultation.
- Orthodontic Consultations in Walnut Creek
An orthodontic consultation here isn’t a quick glance and a price tag. It’s a thorough diagnostic appointment. We capture orthodontic X-rays — panoramic and cephalometric radiographs — to evaluate root positions, bone levels, jaw relationships, and anything else that could affect treatment.
Dr. Khandaqji examines the teeth, gums, temporomandibular joints, and facial symmetry. He checks your occlusion (how the upper and lower teeth fit together) and looks for functional concerns — TMJ clicking, jaw deviation when you open, airway considerations. All of that feeds into a customized treatment plan built around both aesthetics and long-term oral health.
We walk through every viable treatment option, estimated timelines, financial details, and what to expect at each stage. No rushing. We want you to feel confident about your decision, so we take the time to answer every single question. And if weekdays don’t work for you? Saturday appointments are available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. by request.
- Invisalign – Preferred Provider Clear Aligners in Walnut Creek
Dr. Khandaqji is an Invisalign Preferred Provider. That’s not something they just hand out — it reflects a significant volume of completed cases and ongoing training with the Invisalign system. What that means for you is real clinical expertise, not someone figuring things out as they go.
So how does Invisalign work? It’s a series of custom-made, removable thermoplastic trays that shift your teeth little by little. You wear each set for about one to two weeks, then swap to the next tray. They’re nearly invisible, you take them out to eat and brush, and they tend to cause fewer emergency visits than traditional braces. Pretty convenient.
In our Walnut Creek office, we use 3D dental imaging and digital scanning to map out your entire treatment before a single aligner gets made. The cool part? You can actually see your projected final result on screen during the consultation. Patients love that — and it’s a genuinely useful diagnostic tool for our team too.
Invisalign handles mild to moderate crowding, spacing issues, and certain bite corrections beautifully. But we’re straight with people. If a case falls outside what aligners can biomechanically accomplish, we’ll recommend traditional braces or sometimes a hybrid approach instead.
- FASTBRACES®: High-Performance Orthodontics
FastBraces are a fundamentally different technology from conventional bracket systems. Here’s the key distinction: traditional braces move teeth in two phases — first the crown, then the root. FastBraces use a patented triangular bracket and a single super-elastic nickel-titanium wire to move both the crown and root from day one. That can compress the overall timeline significantly.
For the right cases — think mild to moderate crowding, spacing, or rotational issues — FastBraces can deliver results in roughly three to twelve months. Fewer office visits too, which is a real perk for busy professionals and students around Walnut Creek.
But let’s be clear. Not every case qualifies. Severe skeletal discrepancies, major bite corrections, cases needing substantial vertical tooth movement — those may still call for conventional braces or a combined approach. During your consultation, Dr. Khandaqji will evaluate whether FastBraces make sense for your specific situation and goals. He’s an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a FastBraces provider, bringing both technical precision and an eye for aesthetics to every case he takes on.
- Comprehensive Braces for Every Need
Metal braces still work. Really, really well. They’re the most reliable way to fix complex orthodontic problems, and the technology’s come a long way since those clunky brackets you might remember from middle school. At Mona Lisa Smile Dental, we use modern systems that are smaller, way more comfortable, and a lot more efficient than what most adults picture when they hear “braces.”
Here’s where traditional braces really shine — severe crowding, big bite discrepancies, and teeth that are rotated in ways other appliances just can’t handle well. The archwires and brackets give Dr. Khandaqji precise three-dimensional control over how each tooth moves. That matters a lot when we’re correcting deep overbites, crossbites, or open bites.
Our Walnut Creek patients who go with metal braces get predictable timelines and a proven track record. And honestly? The colored elastic ties are still a huge hit with our younger patients. They love picking new colors at every adjustment visit — it turns a dental appointment into something they actually look forward to.
- Teen Orthodontics in Walnut Creek
The teenage years? Ideal timing for orthodontics. Most permanent teeth are in by age 12 or 13, and there’s still enough jaw growth happening to help teeth move efficiently. That biological advantage often means shorter treatment compared to starting as an adult.
Look, we get it — teenagers care about how they look. A lot. That’s exactly why we offer several options: metal braces with fun color choices, clear ceramic brackets that blend in, and Invisalign Teen with built-in compliance indicators. Those little indicators help parents (and our team) confirm the aligners are actually being worn 20 to 22 hours a day. Because let’s be honest — teens don’t always follow instructions perfectly.
One thing we’re really proud of: our team speaks English, Spanish, Farsi, and Arabic. That makes orthodontic consultations genuinely accessible for the diverse families throughout Walnut Creek and nearby communities like Pleasant Hill, Concord, and Lafayette. Every teenager — and every parent — should fully understand the treatment plan, the expected timeline, and what they need to do at home.
- Adult Orthodontics in Walnut Creek
Here’s a number that surprises people. Roughly one in four orthodontic patients in the U.S. is over 18, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. Adults come in for all kinds of reasons — cosmetic concerns they’ve lived with for years, relapse from braces they had as a kid, or functional problems that have gotten worse as teeth shifted over time.
Adult cases do come with unique considerations, though. Bone density tends to be higher, which can slow things down at first. And periodontal health has to be solid before we start any orthodontic forces — inflamed or compromised gums won’t respond well to brackets or aligner pressure. At Mona Lisa Smile Dental, we integrate our comprehensive dental services so any underlying issues like gum disease or decay get resolved before orthodontic treatment kicks off.
Most of our adult patients in Walnut Creek lean toward Invisalign or ceramic braces because they’re discreet. Totally understandable. But some complex cases genuinely need metal braces for the best outcome, and we’ll always prioritize what’s going to work clinically — even if it’s not the most glamorous option.
- Early and Interceptive Orthodontics in Walnut Creek
The American Association of Orthodontists says kids should get their first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Sounds early, right? But at that stage, there’s a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth present, and certain developing problems — crossbites, severe crowding, jaw growth asymmetries — can be caught and addressed before they turn into something much harder to fix.
Interceptive orthodontics (sometimes called Phase I treatment) doesn’t mean slapping full braces on a seven-year-old. It might involve palatal expanders to widen a narrow upper jaw. Or space maintainers to hold room for permanent teeth that haven’t come in yet. Sometimes it’s partial braces on just a few teeth to guide how they erupt. These targeted steps can seriously reduce the complexity of treatment down the road.
Dr. Khandaqji evaluates each child individually. Not every seven-year-old needs early intervention — many kids just benefit from monitoring appointments where we track jaw growth and dental development every six to twelve months. We call it “watchful waiting,” and truth be told, it’s just as important as active treatment. Right care, right time.
- Retainers
Retainers might be the most underappreciated part of orthodontic treatment. Seriously. Without proper retainer wear, teeth have a well-documented habit of drifting right back toward where they started, it’s called orthodontic relapse, and it can begin within weeks of getting your braces off or finishing your last aligner.
We prescribe retainers based on each individual case. Hawley retainers (the classic wire-and-acrylic type) are durable and adjustable. Clear Essix-style retainers are nearly invisible — great if aesthetics matter to you. Then there are fixed lingual retainers, which are thin wires bonded behind your front teeth that provide passive, full-time retention without you having to remember anything.
Our standard recommendation? Full-time retainer wear for the first several months after active treatment, then nighttime-only wear indefinitely. Teeth keep shifting throughout your life — normal aging, periodontal ligament memory, chewing forces, clenching. Consistent retainer use is honestly the only reliable way to protect your investment.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Is the Right Age to See an Orthodontist in Walnut Creek?
The real factor isn’t your birthday, it’s timing relative to dental development and jaw growth. A child with an anterior crossbite that’s causing the lower jaw to shift should be treated sooner rather than later to prevent asymmetric growth. A teenager with mild crowding and a stable bite? Might be better off waiting until all the permanent teeth are in. Dr. Khandaqji’s 25-plus years of experience let him make these nuanced timing calls with confidence.
Not sure if your child — or you — should be evaluated? The answer is almost always yes. There’s zero risk to an evaluation, and it gives us valuable baseline information even if the recommendation is just “let’s keep an eye on things and check back in six months.”
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
It depends. Severity of the problem, type of appliance, patient compliance, how your body responds biologically — all of it plays a role. Most comprehensive cases take 12 to 24 months of active treatment. Minor alignment with Invisalign? Could wrap up in six months. Complex surgical-orthodontic cases might stretch past two years.
A few things can add time to the clock. Missed appointments. Broken brackets. Not wearing aligners consistently. On the flip side, great oral hygiene, wearing your elastics like we ask, and keeping your scheduled visits — that keeps everything moving. We set realistic expectations during the consultation so nobody’s caught off guard halfway through.
FastBraces — which we also offer at our Walnut Creek office — use a unique triangular bracket design and specialized wire sequence to move the crown and root of the tooth at the same time. For eligible cases, that can shrink treatment down to three to twelve months depending on complexity. Worth asking about
Does Mona Lisa Smile Dental Offer Orthodontic Treatment Near Downtown Walnut Creek?
Yep. We’re at 2079 Olympic Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 — easy to reach from downtown Walnut Creek, the Broadway Plaza area, and surrounding neighborhoods. Just minutes from the I-680 corridor, so the drive is straightforward whether you’re coming from Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Concord, Martinez, or Danville.
The big advantage of our practice? Orthodontic care, general dentistry, oral surgery, periodontics, and cosmetic services all under one roof. No bouncing between multiple offices across Contra Costa County. If someone in orthodontic treatment needs an extraction, bone grafting, or periodontal maintenance, we handle it right here — saves time and keeps everything coordinated.
Is There Parking Available at the Walnut Creek Orthodontic Office?
Absolutely. Our Olympic Blvd location has convenient parking. We know accessibility matters — especially for families juggling school pickups, work schedules, and multiple appointments in one day. Easy parking means less stress and showing up on time for adjustments and check-ins.
Prefer public transit? Walnut Creek BART is nearby, and several County Connection bus routes serve the area too. Just give us a call when you schedule and we’re happy to walk you through directions or transit options.
Can Adults Get Braces or Aligners in Walnut Creek?
One hundred percent. There’s no upper age limit for orthodontic treatment as long as your teeth and supporting structures are healthy. We’ve treated patients in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and well beyond. Some of our most rewarding cases? Adults who spent decades feeling self-conscious about their smile and finally decided to do something about it.
Adults often come with additional factors in the mix — existing dental work, missing teeth, periodontal concerns — that call for integrated treatment planning. Dr. Khandaqji’s training spans multiple dental specialties including prosthodontics and periodontics, so he can coordinate orthodontic movement with implant placement, crown fabrication, or gum therapy whenever that’s needed.
Invisalign, ceramic braces, metal braces, FastBraces — the specific tool matters less than the goal. And the goal is always the same: a functional, stable, and great-looking result that serves you for decades.
Do Walnut Creek Schools Require Any Orthodontic Clearance for Sports?
Generally, no. Walnut Creek schools and youth sports leagues don’t typically require formal orthodontic clearance. That said, student-athletes with braces are strongly encouraged — and in some contact sports, flat-out required — to wear a mouthguard during practices and games. Trust me on this one. A direct hit to the face with unprotected brackets can cause some nasty lacerations to lips and cheeks.
We recommend orthodontic-specific mouthguards designed to fit over brackets and wires, available in custom-fitted and over-the-counter versions. And for Invisalign patients — don’t assume the aligners protect you during sports. They don’t provide adequate impact protection, so a separate sports guard is still a must for contact activities.
If an orthodontic emergency happens during a game or practice — broken wire, displaced bracket, knocked-out tooth — our office provides emergency orthodontic care and emergency dental services to get things handled quickly.
Why Choose Mona Lisa Smile Dental for Orthodontics?
Our multi-specialty environment sets us apart as the preferred orthodontist in Walnut Creek. Because we are a full-service dental practice, our orthodontic team collaborates with our general dentists and periodontists. If you require a cleaning or a filling during your orthodontic treatment, you do not need to visit another office; we coordinate everything under one roof.
We also recognize that orthodontics are an investment. We provide flexible in-house financing and accept most major PPO insurance plans to make your dream smile a reality.
Contact Us
Whether you have a question about your insurance or need to schedule an urgent appointment, our team is here to help. We are conveniently located in the heart of the East Bay, making it easy for families from Saranap, Castle Hill, and beyond to receive top-tier dental care.
Visit us
Walnut Creek
2079 Olympic Blvd.
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
Antioch
3701 Lone Tree Way, Suite 3A
Antioch, CA 94509
Email Us
drk@monalisasmiledental.com
Call or Text Us
925-543-0000
- Early and Interceptive Orthodontics in Walnut Creek
