Orthodontist in Monterey, CA
Serving Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Seaside, Marina, and all of Monterey County. Free exam. No insurance needed to get started.
4.9 ★ | Free Consultation | $0 Down Options | Same-Day Start Available
335 El Dorado St, Suite 8, Monterey, CA 93940 | (831) 373-3765 | monterey@wowsmiles.com | Monday to Friday: 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM
Orthodontic Services at Our Monterey Office
Every orthodontic treatment your family needs, from a child's first check to Invisalign as an adult, all at 335 El Dorado Street.
Metal braces
Invisalign
Clear Braces
Teen orthodontics
Adult Orthodontics
Retainers
Same-Day Starts
Early Airway Treatment
The Orthodontists at WOW! Smiles Monterey
Both doctors at WOW! Smiles Monterey are qualified orthodontic specialists. Not general dentists offering braces alongside cleanings, but specialist orthodontists who completed dedicated residency training in this discipline.
Full doctor profiles
Dr. Eric Wu, DDS
University of Pennsylvania, Dental Training | University of Pittsburgh, Orthodontic Residency | UCLA, Advanced General Dentistry | Certified Pitts Masters Instructor | Founding Member, uLab | 20-plus Years of Bay Area Practice
Dr. Wu is an internationally recognized orthodontist, clear aligner innovator, and Pitts21 educator with more than 20 years of experience in the Bay Area. He has been manufacturing custom aligners in-office since 2014 and is a founding member of uLab, a pioneering clear aligner company.
As a certified Pitts21 Masters instructor, he teaches other orthodontic specialists how to apply the same system used at WOW! Smiles at its highest level.He has taught at Roseman University, University of the Pacific, and UNLV, and during his years in Palo Alto worked closely with the Stanford Airway Team.
He is passionate about early orthodontic airway treatment and its role in supporting healthy cognitive development in children.Outside the office, Dr. Wu enjoys time with his two children, Misa and PJ, and is excited to bring this level of care to patients across the Monterey Peninsula.
Dr. Rael Bernstein, DDS
Wits Dental School, South Africa (graduated top of class) | SUNY Buffalo Orthodontic Residency | Clinical Assistant Professor, University Faculty
Dr. Bernstein founded WOW! Smiles and has built it into a nine-location practice across California. He has lectured nationally to other orthodontists on self-ligation and early interception techniques.
The Pitts21 technology and clinical philosophy at the Monterey office reflect that expertise directly.His promise to every patient: the most effective and current orthodontic methods in a genuinely friendly, upbeat environment. A great result and a great experience are not mutually exclusive.Outside the office: go-kart racer, snowboarder, fitness enthusiast, and devoted to his wife Debbie and their two daughters.
WOW! Smiles Monterey: Specialist Orthodontic Care on the Peninsula
WOW! Smiles has been serving the Monterey Peninsula with specialist orthodontic care that covers the full range of patients: kids coming in for first checks, teens getting braces before high school, adults pursuing Invisalign, and military families based at the Presidio of Monterey or the Naval Postgraduate School who need high-quality care they can count on for the duration of their assignment here.
The Monterey office on El Dorado Street treats patients from across the Peninsula including Carmel, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Del Monte Forest, Carmel Valley, Del Rey Oaks, Seaside, Sand City, and Marina. Most major PPO insurance plans are accepted and claims are filed on your behalf. $0 down financing means the cost of treatment is never a reason to delay.
Dr. Wu's Pitts21 self-ligating metal braces move teeth faster with fewer appointments than conventional brackets. Invisalign for Monterey teens and adults is planned with the precision of someone who has manufactured aligners in-office since 2014 and helped found a clear aligner company. The WOW! Growth Guidance Program monitors your child's smile development at no cost, with early airway assessment available through Dr. Wu's specialized expertise.
Browse real outcomes in the before and after gallery. Get answers before you visit in the orthodontic info center.
Three Reasons Monterey Families Choose WOW! Smiles
What Monterey Peninsula Patients Are Saying
Families and adults from Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, and Seaside share their WOW! Smiles experience.
It is really nice to not be insecure when I smile. It boosts my confidence every day. WOW! Smiles changed how I feel about myself.
Isic | WOW! Smiles Patient
We have been coming to WOW! Smiles Monterey for both of our kids and the experience has been fantastic both times. Dr. Wu explained the treatment plan clearly at the first visit and my daughter actually looks forward to her appointments. That says everything.
Monterey Parent | Google
I am an adult who finally decided to do something about my teeth and I am so glad I came to WOW! Smiles. No judgment, clear options, flexible payment plan, and great results so far. The team is warm and professional and the office is easy to get to from Pacific Grove.
Pacific Grove Patient | Google
The same-day start was a game changer for me. I came in for a consultation expecting to schedule a second appointment and walked out with braces. The whole process from exam to braces on took a few hours. The team is excellent.
Seaside Patient | Google
Early Airway Treatment: A Specialized Service at WOW! Smiles Monterey
One of the services that sets WOW! Smiles Monterey apart from other orthodontic practices on the Peninsula is Dr. Wu's specialized expertise in early orthodontic airway treatment, developed through his work with the Stanford Airway Team during his years practicing in Palo Alto.
Early airway assessment is included as part of the WOW! Growth Guidance Program evaluation for children. The early treatment page has more information on what early orthodontic evaluation involves at WOW! Smiles Monterey.
Dr. Wu on early airway treatment: "The impact of early orthodontic airway treatment on a child's quality of life can be profound. Proper airway development supports healthy sleep, healthy cognitive function, and healthy facial growth. It is one of the areas where intervening at the right time makes a difference that lasts a lifetime."
Orthodontic Care for Every Corner of the Monterey Peninsula
The Monterey Peninsula is home to a uniquely diverse mix of families and individuals: long-term residents, military families on assignment, students, hospitality and service workers, retirees, and visitors who decide to start treatment while spending extended time here. WOW! Smiles Monterey serves all of them with the same high standard of specialist care.
| Community | Drive to El Dorado St | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Grove | Approx. 5 min via Lighthouse Ave | Very close, easy regular appointments |
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | Approx. 10 min via CA-1 North | Scenic drive, straightforward route |
| Pebble Beach | Approx. 12 min via 17-Mile Dr or CA-68 | Short trip from Del Monte Forest |
| Seaside | Approx. 8 min via Del Monte Ave | Easy access from central Seaside |
| Marina | Approx. 15 min via CA-1 South | Direct route from Fort Ord and Marina |
| Carmel Valley | Approx. 20 min via Carmel Valley Rd | Carmel Valley Road is the direct route |
Military families: WOW! Smiles Monterey welcomes patients from the Presidio of Monterey, Defense Language Institute, and Naval Postgraduate School communities. Same-day starts mean treatment can begin immediately, and flexible payment options work around military pay schedules. Most TRICARE-supplemental PPO plans are accepted.
Orthodontic Treatment for Every Age on the Monterey Peninsula
Affordable Orthodontic Care in Monterey, CA
WOW! Smiles was built on the belief that everyone deserves a confident smile regardless of budget. Most standard braces treatment is around $6,000. Here is how we make it work.
| Option | What It Means |
|---|---|
| $0 down financing | Start treatment today with no large upfront payment |
| 0% interest plans | Fixed monthly amounts that fit your real budget |
| Most PPO plans accepted | We file insurance claims on your behalf throughout treatment |
| All major credit cards | Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover |
| Referral Program | Refer a friend who starts treatment and skip a payment |
| $700 off plus $300 same-day discount | New patients who start braces at their free exam |
Questions? Call (831) 373-3765 or visit the insurance and finances page.
What to Expect at Your First Visit to WOW! Smiles Monterey
First visits are free, thorough, and pressure-free. Here is what happens from the moment you walk in on El Dorado Street.
- Welcomed by name: the team greets you and makes the whole family comfortable before anything clinical starts
- Full clinical exam: Dr. Wu or Dr. Bernstein evaluates teeth, bite, and jaw development with X-rays taken as needed at no charge
- Clear treatment options: your choices explained in plain language, no jargon, so you know exactly what is recommended and why
- Personalized plan: a treatment plan designed around your specific situation, not a standard template
- Full financial review: cost, insurance benefits, and every payment option covered before any decision is made
- Same-day start available: if you are ready, braces can be placed the same day. One visit and treatment begins
See real patient results in the before and after gallery before you book.
Getting to WOW! Smiles Monterey
The Monterey office is at 335 El Dorado Street, Suite 8, in central Monterey, easy to reach from all directions on the Peninsula.
| Coming from | How to get here |
|---|---|
| North via Seaside, Marina, Salinas | Take CA-1 South into Monterey, exit at Munras Ave or Del Monte Ave and follow to El Dorado St |
| South via Carmel, Big Sur | Take CA-1 North into Monterey, continue to El Dorado St in central Monterey |
| West via Pacific Grove | Head east on Lighthouse Ave or Forest Ave toward downtown Monterey, turn south to El Dorado St |
| East via Carmel Valley, Salinas | Take CA-68 West into Monterey toward El Dorado St |
| Pebble Beach | Exit via 17-Mile Drive north gate onto Lighthouse Ave, follow east toward El Dorado St |
Address: 335 El Dorado St, Suite 8, Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 373-3765
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions About WOW! Smiles Monterey
Other WOW! Smiles Locations Near Monterey
WOW! Smiles has nine locations across California. These are the closest to Monterey.
- Salinas, CA (831) 443-3814
- Watsonville, CA (831) 750-3969
- Soledad, CA (831) 296-1130
- Napa, CA (707) 203-2174
- Vallejo, CA (707) 552-4940
- Santa Rosa, CA (707) 576-1240
- Pittsburg, CA (925) 297-6607
- Ukiah, CA (707) 583-8969
Orthodontist in Monterey CA
Free for new patients
Your WOW! Smile Starts on El Dorado Street
A free exam, same-day start, flexible financing, and two of the most credentialed specialist orthodontists in the region are ready for you at 335 El Dorado Street. No insurance required. No referral needed. Named Family Favorite 2026.
No insurance required · Same-day appointments available
Bilingual team · Free X-rays included