Traditional braces remain one of the most reliable, precise tools in orthodontics, and for some smiles they are still the right choice. At our Atherton office on El Camino Real, OrthoWorks offers braces for children, teens, and adults under the care of nine board-certified orthodontic specialists. Patients across Menlo Park, West Atherton, and Lindenwood trust us with their family’s smiles because we treat every bracket placement as the foundation for a 30-year result.
Braces for Atherton Patients
Braces work especially well for cases involving significant crowding, rotated teeth, complex bite correction, or younger patients still growing. Modern brackets are smaller, smoother, and less obvious than what most parents remember from their own teenage years. We treat students from Menlo-Atherton High School, Sacred Heart Schools, Castilleja, and Menlo School, plus elementary patients from Encinal and Hillview families who need Phase I interceptive treatment. Adults who want predictable, fixed-appliance results without the discipline of removable aligners also choose braces here.
For younger patients, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends an evaluation around age 7. That visit is complimentary at our Atherton office, and most kids walk out with reassurance rather than a treatment plan. When braces are needed, we can often time treatment to coincide with growth, which improves outcomes and shortens overall time in appliances.
What Sets OrthoWorks Apart
Dr. David Shen, DMD, leads OrthoWorks as founder and senior orthodontist. He earned his dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania, served on the faculty at UCSF, and chairs the Advisory Board at Penn’s School of Dental Medicine. The nine board-certified orthodontists on the OrthoWorks team have more than 100 years of combined orthodontic experience and have treated more than 60,000 patients across the Bay Area. We are the longest-standing privately owned orthodontic group in the region, which means the doctor who places your braces today will still be here when the case is complete, and so will the team checking your retainer five years from now.
Serving Patients Near El Camino Real and Downtown Menlo Park
Our Atherton office sits along El Camino Real, between the Caltrain corridor and the wide, tree-lined streets of central Atherton. Families from the Allied Arts district, Lloyden Park, and the area around Holbrook-Palmer Park drive in within minutes. Patients walking from downtown Menlo Park’s six-block commercial district find us in under five minutes. We see Menlo-Atherton High School athletes who need appointments around practice, Sacred Heart students who book over study halls, and parents who batch siblings’ visits into a single after-school window. The Menlo Park Caltrain station is close enough that older students can travel independently.
What to Expect
Your first visit is a no-cost orthodontic consultation. We review your bite, take photos and any necessary imaging, and walk you through every option in front of you, including whether braces, Invisalign, or a Phase I approach makes the most sense. Once braces are placed (about an hour), we see you every 6 to 8 weeks for short adjustments. Most full cases finish in 18 to 24 months, with some shorter and some longer depending on the bite. We finish every case with retainers and a long-term retention plan so the smile holds.
Bring your child or yourself in for a complimentary consultation at our Atherton office on El Camino Real. We will give you a clear plan and a clear timeline before you decide anything. Call (650) 589-4563 or book online to get started.