Editorial policy

Who runs this site

Beach Cities Orthodontist is operated as a referral and information service for the Beach Cities and South Bay. We are not a dental or orthodontic practice and we do not provide clinical care. The site is run independently from any single partner practice — we describe partner credentials using criteria (board certification, Invisalign provider tier, years in the South Bay) rather than by promoting any one practice by name.

How we vet partners

Before listing a partner on this site, we verify the following — and we recheck at least annually:

• California Dental Board license: active status confirmed via the Dental Board of California licensee lookup.
• Board certification: orthodontist is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics (or equivalent).
• Invisalign provider tier: tier verified against the current Invisalign provider directory.
• Insurance participation: confirmation that the practice accepts the major South Bay dental insurance plans.
• Years serving the South Bay: verifiable practice history in the Beach Cities region.
• Patient-facing practices: free initial consultation offered; bilingual staff where claimed; clear written treatment plans.

We do not list a partner that fails any of the checks above. If a partner's status changes after listing, we remove or update their listing promptly.

Compensation and ranking

We may receive compensation from a partner when you complete a consultation through our matching service. This compensation does not affect which partners we list, how they are ranked, or what we write about them. Editorial content (cost guides, FAQ answers, treatment comparisons) is written independently of any compensation arrangement. We do not accept payment to elevate one partner above another, and we do not suppress information about a partner because of a commercial relationship.

Calls placed to the phone number on this site are routed through our call-tracking system so we can confirm the lead came from our site. This routing is the basis on which partners pay for matched leads — it is not used for ranking decisions on the site itself.

Editorial standards

• Sources: clinical and pricing information cites primary sources — American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), American Dental Association (ADA), Invisalign, California Dental Board, and current insurance plan documents. Source links are included where available.
• Range framing: orthodontic costs are presented as planning ranges based on current South Bay market data, not as fixed quotes. We use language like "typically $5,000–$8,500" rather than "costs $X."
• No guarantees: we do not guarantee clinical outcomes, treatment timelines, or insurance coverage. Every case is individual.
• Update frequency: pages are reviewed at least every 12 months and updated when underlying information changes (treatment guidelines, provider tier definitions, regulatory changes). Last-updated dates appear on each page.
• No medical advice: content on this site is informational. It is not a substitute for a clinical consultation with a licensed orthodontist.

What we do not do

• We do not post or republish fake reviews. We do not edit or rewrite partner-provided reviews.
• We do not sell patient or visitor data to third parties.
• We do not run sponsored content that looks like editorial.
• We do not display awards, badges, or "as seen in" placements we have not earned.
• We do not use stock photography to depict named real patients or staff.

Reporting an error

If you spot an inaccuracy on this site — a wrong price range, an outdated guideline, a misstated credential — please report it. We review corrections within 5 business days and update the page with a visible correction note when material.

Report an error / contact us