Monterey Bay Orthodontics does not have an office in Watsonville, but two of our offices are a short drive south. Our Marina office is about 19 miles away down Highway 1, and our Salinas office is about 21 miles away through Prunedale. Both offer braces, clear aligners and early orthodontic care for children, teens and adults. This page lays out the routes, the treatment choices and what to expect, so a Watsonville or Pajaro Valley family can decide whether the trip makes sense. The first visit is a free consultation, and no dentist referral is needed.
Which of our offices is closest to Watsonville?
It depends on where your day takes you. For most addresses in town, the Marina office is the quickest drive: south on Highway 1 past Moss Landing and Castroville, then into Marina. If you work or shop in Salinas, the Salinas office on South Main Street may fit better. That route runs down San Miguel Canyon Road through Prunedale and joins US-101 into Salinas.
| Office | Drive from central Watsonville |
|---|---|
| Marina 140 10th Street, Suite 10, Marina, CA 93933 (831) 275-9790 |
About 19 miles, roughly 25 minutes via Highway 1 south |
| Salinas 1270 S. Main St., Salinas, CA 93901 (831) 603-3048 |
About 21 miles, roughly 31 minutes via San Miguel Canyon Rd and US-101 |
| Hollister 889 Sunset Dr., Ste. B, Hollister, CA 95023 (831) 534-3576 |
About 26 miles, roughly 40 minutes |
| Monterey 81 Via Robles, Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 250-9617 |
About 28 miles, roughly 34 minutes via Highway 1 south |
Distances are calculated with OpenStreetMap routing from central Watsonville. Highway 1 traffic near the coast can add time at commute hours, so plan a buffer for a first appointment.
Why see an orthodontist to straighten teeth?
Your Watsonville dentist remains the right person for cleanings, fillings and checkups. An orthodontist has two to three more years of training after dental school devoted only to tooth movement, bite correction and jaw growth. That training shows in case selection and planning: knowing when an aligner case is simple, when it needs attachments or elastics, and when a bite problem needs a different appliance altogether.
Orthodontists also look beyond the front teeth. A crossbite, a deep overbite or an open bite affects chewing, wear on the teeth and, in growing children, how the jaws develop. Our guide to common orthodontic problems explains what each one looks like.
What should Pajaro Valley parents know about timing?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a child’s first orthodontic visit by age 7. When nothing is needed yet, that visit gives a baseline for watching growth. When a problem is better handled early, early (Phase One) treatment can guide jaw growth, make space for permanent teeth and correct habits that push teeth out of place.
The teen years bring different concerns. A student at Watsonville High or Pajaro Valley High may care most about how braces look in photos or how they work with a sport or an instrument. Clear ceramic braces, champagne braces and clear aligners all give teens a choice in appearance. Our braces page covers life with braces as a teen.
Braces or clear aligners: how do they compare?
| Braces | Clear aligners | |
|---|---|---|
| Types | Metal, ceramic, champagne, KLOwen | Clear aligners, including uLab |
| Method | Brackets and wires apply steady, gentle pressure | A series of custom trays, each shifting the teeth slightly |
| Daily care | Fixed in place; careful brushing and food choices | Worn 20 to 22 hours a day; removed to eat, drink, brush and floss |
| Look | Metal, tooth-colored or champagne finish | Clear and hard to notice |
| Trays changed | Not applicable | About every one to two weeks, as directed |
| Best fit | Any age; good when daily compliance is a worry | Teens and adults who will wear trays consistently |
KLOwen brackets deserve a note for families with a longer drive. They are custom-made brackets and wires designed with 3D treatment-planning software and 3D printing, built for accurate tooth movement with fewer office visits. Read about every option on our clear aligners page and braces page, or ask at the consultation which fits your case.
How do we keep visits manageable from Watsonville?
Digital tools keep visits shorter and, in many cases, fewer:
- iTero digital scanning replaces messy putty impressions and builds a 3D model of the teeth in minutes.
- Dental Monitoring lets patients send scans from a smartphone app so our team can track progress and adjust the plan between visits.
- Digital X-rays use lower radiation than traditional film and give clear images for planning.
Small problems such as a poking wire or a loose bracket can usually wait for a planned visit after a quick fix with orthodontic wax. Our emergency care guide walks through each one, and the technology page covers the scanning and monitoring tools.
Reviews on our site describe the scheduling team fitting patients in quickly when something breaks. One reviewer wrote that after calling orthodontists in Aptos, Capitola, Scotts Valley, Watsonville and Salinas, ours was the office that got the appointment made to remove a broken permanent retainer.
Who will be treating you?
Our team includes three orthodontists, each with a DDS and a master’s degree:
- Dr. Garrett Criswell trained at UCSF, where he was Chief Resident of the orthodontic program and earned a Master’s in Orofacial Sciences.
- Dr. Jady Chiakowsky trained at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, owned a practice in Eugene, Oregon, before joining the practice, and sees patients in the Monterey and Salinas offices.
- Dr. Aaron Schubel is a Board-Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, with clinical interests in airway, growth modification and treatment with braces and clear aligners.
Read their full backgrounds on Meet Our Doctors.
How do cost and insurance work?
Average fees range from $3,000 to $6,900 depending on case complexity, and average treatment time is 12 to 24 months. The final fee and payment terms are confirmed before you start. Our payment calculator gives a quick estimate of monthly payments.
Monterey Bay Orthodontics offers in-house, interest-free financing, is in-network with Delta Dental and accepts most out-of-network insurance plans. Our office team will help file claims.
Watsonville orthodontic FAQs
Can I text the office instead of calling?
Yes. The Marina number, (831) 275-9790, and the Salinas number, (831) 603-3048, both take calls and texts.
Which foods should a teen avoid with braces?
Chewy foods such as bagels and licorice, crunchy foods such as popcorn, chips and ice, sticky foods such as caramel and gum, and hard foods such as nuts and hard candy. Cutting firmer foods into small pieces helps.
Is the first visit really free?
Yes. The consultation includes an exam, any records needed to diagnose your case, your treatment options and a cost breakdown.
Do you treat jaw pain or breathing concerns?
Yes. We provide TMJ/TMD treatment and airway orthodontics, and for jaw-joint problems we can bring in other specialists when a case calls for it.
Can you take over treatment that started elsewhere?
We welcome military transfer cases and handle the documentation and plan adjustments a move requires. Call us to discuss any other transfer.
Book a free consultation near Watsonville
Request your free consultation and choose the office that suits your schedule, or call Marina at (831) 275-9790 or Salinas at (831) 603-3048.