Braces in Encinitas, CA
Braces haven’t just kept up — they’ve gotten better.
Most people picture the braces they had as a teenager. Today's version is different. The brackets are smaller and more efficient. The wires deliver lighter, more precise forces. And at Encinitas Orthodontics, Dr. Skyler Liatti designs your bracket placement digitally, on a 3D model of your teeth, before anything touches your mouth — accuracy you can't get by hand.
Metal, clear, or gold — your call.
Metal Braces
The most common type of braces and still the most versatile. Today's metal brackets are significantly smaller than previous generations — lower profile, smoother edges, and designed to work with lighter archwires that move teeth more efficiently. Metal braces handle complex cases, significant bite corrections, and multi-dimensional tooth movements with precision that other options can't always match. They're the workhorse of orthodontics for a reason.
Clear (Ceramic) Braces
Clear braces use ceramic brackets made from translucent or tooth-colored material that blends with the tooth surface — same mechanics as metal, just less visible. At Encinitas Orthodontics, clear and metal braces are the same fee. There's no upcharge for choosing the less visible option. For patients who want the mechanical advantages of braces without the look of metal, clear ceramic brackets are a strong option. They work well for most situations, although Dr. Liatti may recommend metal for specific cases.
Gold (Champagne) Braces
Gold-toned brackets offer a warm, champagne-colored alternative to silver metal. They're the same bracket system with a different aesthetic — a subtle, polished look that some patients prefer. Like all bracket options at Encinitas Orthodontics, gold braces deliver the same mechanical precision as traditional metal.
Self-Ligating Braces
Self-ligating brackets use a built-in door that holds the archwire instead of the small elastic ties (the colored rubber bands) found on traditional brackets. The door reduces friction between the bracket and wire, allowing lighter, more continuous force. Adjustments tend to be faster — no ties to remove and replace. Oral hygiene is easier without elastic ties collecting plaque. Dr. Liatti uses Damon and Pitts self-ligating systems, matching the bracket to the case rather than defaulting every patient to one system.
No upcharge for clear or gold — see which is right for you at your free consultation.
Book Your Free ConsultationBraces for Kids, Teens, and Adults
Braces work for every age — from children whose jaws are still growing to adults correcting long-standing alignment. The approach changes with the patient; the precision stays the same.
Braces for Kids
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation by age seven. Most first evaluations at that age end in monitoring — the visit is mainly a screening. But some problems are best caught then, and when a problem is best addressed while a child is still growing, Dr. Liatti will recommend starting then rather than waiting. For everyone else, the ideal time to begin is usually between ages 10 and 14, once most of the permanent teeth have come in. In growing patients, braces can work alongside the jaw’s natural development to produce results that aren’t possible once growth is complete. Dr. Liatti monitors jaw growth, airway health, and dental development at every stage.
Braces for Teens
Teens are the most common braces patients — and for good reason. The combination of remaining growth potential and a full set of permanent teeth makes this the ideal treatment window for most cases. Today’s brackets are smaller, more comfortable, and more efficient than what most parents remember. Treatment typically takes 9 to 24 months depending on the case.
Braces for Adults
It’s more common for adults to get braces than you might realize. Adult braces address crowding, spacing, bite problems, and alignment that may have shifted over the years or was never fully corrected the first time. Some adults prefer braces because they fit better into a busy lifestyle, always in place and always working. And for more complex movements, braces are often the most effective tool for the job. If Invisalign is a better fit for your case, Dr. Liatti will tell you — the goal is always the option that gets you the best result.
How Our Digital Braces Process Works
Digital Scan & 3D Model
Dr. Liatti scans your teeth with an iTero scanner to build an exact 3D model. No molds, no putty, just a precise digital starting point.
Virtual Bracket Placement & Design
On the 3D model, Dr. Liatti positions every bracket and designs exactly how your teeth will move into their final alignment, all before anything touches your mouth.
Custom Transfer Tray
That digital plan is 3D printed into a custom transfer tray that holds every bracket in its exact planned position.
Bonding to Your Teeth
The tray seats all the brackets onto your teeth at once in a single visit, transferring the digital plan with precision. This is called indirect bonding. From there, regular adjustments keep treatment on track.
Find out how digital braces design can help you achieve your smile goals.
Book Your Free ConsultationWhat to Expect During Treatment
Dr. Liatti starts from your finished smile on a 3D model, then positions each bracket to get you there: precise from day one, efficient the whole way through.
Day one: braces go on
The bonding appointment — when brackets are placed — takes about 60 to 90 minutes, with brackets going on in the positions designed on your 3D model.
The first week
Some soreness is normal for the first 3 to 5 days as your teeth begin to adjust. After that, most patients settle into their routine quickly.
Every 6 to 10 weeks
Regular adjustment appointments typically take about 30 minutes. Dr. Liatti checks progress, adjusts wires, and makes any changes to keep treatment on track.
Living with braces
You'll want to avoid hard, sticky, and very crunchy foods that can damage brackets — hard candy, caramel, popcorn kernels, and biting directly into hard apples or corn on the cob. Most other foods are fine, and cutting harder foods into smaller pieces makes them manageable. Brushing after meals, flossing with a threader or water flosser, and keeping regular dental cleanings are all part of the routine — Dr. Liatti's team provides a complete care guide at your bonding appointment.
The day your braces come off
When your braces come off, your teeth are exactly where they were designed to be — straight, aligned, and worth protecting. That’s where retainers come in: your first set is included, and they keep your new smile right where it belongs.
Overbite, Underbite, and Bite Correction with Braces
Braces are one of the most effective tools for correcting bite problems — including overbite (overjet), underbite, crossbite, and open bite. The mechanics of brackets and wires give Dr. Liatti precise three-dimensional control over tooth position, which is often what bite correction requires.
For overbite cases, braces with elastics are the most common approach for mild to moderate overjet. More severe jaw discrepancies in growing patients may call for functional appliances alongside braces. The key is diagnosing whether the issue is dental or skeletal — which is why every case starts with a CBCT 3D scan.
Dr. Liatti evaluates the jaw relationship, growth potential, and airway before recommending any bite correction plan. Some bite problems are best addressed with braces, some with a combination of braces and palatal expansion, and some may benefit from surgical orthodontics. The evaluation will make clear which approach matches your anatomy.
Braces vs. Invisalign — Which Is Right for You?
Invisalign is an excellent tool — and for many cases, it's the right one. The real advantage is having both and knowing when each one shines: Dr. Liatti matches the approach to your case, not your case to a tool.
Braces
Invisalign
Dr. Liatti recommends the tool that will produce the best result for your case. If Invisalign is the better option, he'll tell you.
How Much Do Braces Cost in Encinitas?
$3,000 – $8,000
$1,000 – $2,500
Metal, clear, or gold — the same fee, with retainers and follow-up included. Most plans with orthodontic benefits cover a portion, so your out-of-pocket cost is lower than the full fee.
Braces at Encinitas Orthodontics usually cost between $3,000 and $8,000 depending on the complexity of the case and length of treatment. That fee covers metal, clear, or gold brackets — there’s no upcharge for choosing a less visible option. The cost includes all adjustment appointments, retainers, and follow-up visits through the retention phase. You won’t be surprised by an extra charge when braces come off — retainers are part of the fee.
Insurance and financing
Most dental insurance plans with orthodontic benefits cover a portion of treatment, typically $1,000 to $2,500. Encinitas Orthodontics accepts most PPO dental plans and handles the claims process for you. If you have an HSA or FSA, orthodontic treatment is an eligible expense — pre-tax dollars can make a real difference over the course of treatment. For details about your specific coverage, see the insurance and payment page or call the office.
Our treatment coordinator will sit down with you to go over your investment, what insurance covers, and work together to find a monthly payment plan that fits your budget.
A free comprehensive evaluation — including CBCT 3D imaging — lets Dr. Liatti assess your case and provide an accurate treatment recommendation.
What our patients say.
We have been to several other orthodontists in the north county area for braces for my other two kids, but I switched to Dr. Liatti at Encinitas Orthodontics for my third child’s braces and he is unquestionably the best in the business!
We love Dr. Liatti and his amazing staff! Our older son was treated for airway restriction/sleep apnea, and our younger son for a crossbite that would have permanently damaged his adult teeth.
I love that there was no push to do braces early and then having to have a phase 2 later. My son had his braces on less than 2 years total. I’m kind of suspicious of orthos who drag it out. Great experience here.
I just finished my journey with braces through Encinitas Orthodontics/Dr. Liatti. He and his team are friendly and very knowledgeable.
Dr Liatti and his team are truly excellent and they did an amazing job helping to fix my son’s bite and straighten his teeth.
I experienced fantastic care at Encinitas Orthodontics! As an adult with braces, they ensured I felt comfortable throughout the entire process. Dr. Liatti communicated all of my options and came up with a creative and effective care plan.
Serving North County San Diego & beyond.
Encinitas Orthodontics is located at 317 N El Camino Real, Suite 203, in Encinitas, CA — serving families from across North County San Diego and the greater San Diego area who are looking for orthodontic care including metal and ceramic braces.
Patients visit from Encinitas, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, and Oceanside.