15 of 33 listed practices hold American Board of Orthodontics certification, including Berkeley Orthodontics, Tinloy and Chin Orthodontics, Dr. Jeffrey Tinloy, DDS. Board certification is voluntary and requires examination after specialty training.

51 carriers appear across Oakland listings. The most widely accepted are Renaissance Dental (19), Delta Dental PPO (19), Aetna (18), Humana (16). 4 practices accept Medicaid for medically necessary care. Confirm coverage with the office before a first visit.

Yes. 16 of 33 listed practices offer a no-cost initial consultation. What is included varies by office.

Every listing is checked against a current license record in the CMS NPPES registry before it appears. That confirms the practice or provider is in the federal record as an orthodontic specialty. It is not a ranking, a board-certification mark, or a paid badge.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation by age 7, when enough permanent teeth have erupted to spot bite and spacing problems. 11 Oakland-area practices are AAO members.