Dr. Melanie Orthodontics
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics is a board-certified, founder-owned orthodontic practice operating two San Diego-area clinics that deliver custom metal braces, clear ceramic braces, and clear-aligner therapy (including in-house 3D-printed TLC Aligners) to children, teens, adults, and special-needs patients using digital scanning and remote monitoring.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Dr. Melanie Orthodontics does
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics is a single-specialty orthodontic practice operating two clinical locations in San Diego and Rancho Santa Fe, California. Founded in 2007 by Dr. Melanie Wang, a board-certified orthodontist (American Board of Orthodontics) and UCLA School of Dentistry graduate, the practice serves children, teens, adults, and special-needs patients across the San Diego North County corridor (4S Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Del Sur, Rancho Santa Fe). Treatment modalities include custom metal braces, clear/ceramic braces, and multiple clear-aligner options — most notably an in-house 3D-printed brand (TLC Aligners) alongside third-party systems from Solventum (Clarity) and uLab.
The clinical platform is anchored by an in-office digital workflow: iTero intraoral scanning captures high-definition 3D dental impressions, custom treatment plans are produced from those models, and appliances (aligners, retainers, indirect bonding trays) are 3D-printed on premises — capability the practice has operated since 2018. Post-2020, the practice layered Grin Remote Monitoring, a smartphone-based virtual check-in system that reduces in-person visit frequency while preserving clinical oversight. Patient engagement is converted at the top of funnel through a free consultation (including digital photos and X-rays), and monetized downstream via multi-year orthodontic treatment contracts (12–24 months on average) plus a $1,200, five-year recurring retainer program that produces post-treatment subscription-like revenue.
The practice is privately held and founder-owned (sole proprietorship under California jurisdiction, with Dr. Jimmy Wang — a general dentist and Dr. Melanie's husband — participating as a family partner). It carries no external equity, no debt disclosures, and no subsidiaries; growth to date has been organic except for the 2020 acquisition of the Rancho Santa Fe location (formerly Kupiec Orthodontics). Marketing is community-led: long-running sponsorships of local schools, youth sports, and arts programs, plus a content blog, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), Yelp and Google review funnels, and a structured patient referral program. Pricing is freemium at intake, with multi-year treatment contracts and flexible financing thereafter, plus California orthodontic insurance billing where applicable.
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dr. Melanie Orthodontics
- Legal name
- Dr. Melanie Orthodontics
- Website
- https://drmelanieorthodontics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Dr. Melanie Orthodontics is a board-certified, founder-owned orthodontic practice operating two San Diego-area clinics that deliver custom metal braces, clear ceramic braces, and clear-aligner therapy (including in-house 3D-printed TLC Aligners) to children, teens, adults, and special-needs patients using digital scanning and remote monitoring.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Orthodontic Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Dentists (6212)
- SIC
- Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Orthodontic Clinics (HLABABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Clear Aligner Orthodontics (HLABABAD), Pediatric Orthodontics (HLABABAB), Adult Orthodontics (HLABABAC), Orthodontic Appliances & Aligners Fabrication (HLABAJAD), Orthodontic Imaging & Treatment Planning Centers (HLABAIAI)
Keywords
Where Dr. Melanie Orthodontics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Orthodontic Treatment Services: The primary revenue stream comes from providing orthodontic treatment services including braces (metal and clear ceramic) and clear aligners. Treatment fees vary based on complexity and include regular adjustment visits throughout treatment.
- Clear Aligner Therapy: Revenue from clear aligner treatments including TLC Aligners, Clarity Aligners, Solventum Clarity Aligners, and uLab Aligners. Custom aligners are fabricated in-house or through partners.
- Retainer Program: 5-Year Retainer Program offered for $1,200, providing two sets of retainers each year (10 total over five years), creating recurring revenue from post-treatment retention care.
- Remote Monitoring Services: Grin remote monitoring services allow for virtual check-ins, reducing in-person visit frequency while maintaining continuous patient oversight.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time | Free Initial Consultation |
| Subscription | Annual | 5-Year Retainer Program |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Metal Braces Treatment |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Clear/Ceramic Braces Treatment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics is a private orthodontic practice that provides teeth alignment and bite correction services for children, teens, and adults. The practice offers custom metal braces, ceramic clear braces, and clear aligner systems (including its proprietary in-house TLC Aligners), supported by iTero digital scanning, in-office 3D printing, and the Grin remote monitoring platform. Free initial consultations, flexible financing, and a 5-year retainer program are also offered.
Product overview
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics is an orthodontic practice offering a unified treatment platform centered on teeth alignment and smile correction. The core offerings consist of three main treatment modalities: Custom Metal Braces, Clear Braces (ceramic), and Clear Aligners (including in-house TLC Aligners plus Solventum Clarity Aligners and uLab Aligners). Supporting services include Phase One early treatment for children, retainer programs (Hawley, Essix, Fixed, and a 5-Year Retainer Program), and virtual services such as Grin Remote Monitoring and Retainer Check. The practice utilizes in-office digital scanning (iTero) and 3D printing technology to fabricate custom appliances. Free consultations are offered as the entry point to the treatment journey.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TLC Aligners: In-house custom clear aligner brand printed in-office for quicker delivery and easy refinements. Made onsite for limited or full treatment cases.
- TLC Aligners
Products and services
- Custom Metal Braces Traditional metal braces treatment using high-grade stainless steel brackets and archwires, with custom bracket selection driven by 3D scans and bonded using 3D-printed trays for precise placement and fewer adjustments. Intended for children, teens, and adults seeking comprehensive teeth alignment.
- Clear (Ceramic) Braces Ceramic clear braces with translucent brackets that blend with natural tooth color. Lower-profile, durable, stain-resistant brackets providing a discreet alternative to metal braces while using the same bracket-and-wire mechanics. Intended for image-conscious teens and adults.
- Clear Aligners
Quantifiable outcome
- Most orthodontic cases complete in 12-24 months
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Dr. Melanie Orthodontics
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Dr. Eric WuminorCo-authored article on welcoming neurodivergent (ASD) patients in orthodontic practices, published in Orthotown magazine. Represents knowledge-sharing collaboration between two orthodontic practices.
- iTerocoreUses iTero Digital Impression System for capturing high-definition 3D images of patient teeth and gums for treatment planning and custom appliance fabrication.
- InvisaligncoreOffers Invisalign clear aligner treatment as part of comprehensive orthodontic services.
- Solventum (Clarity Aligners)coreProvides Clarity Aligners for clear orthodontic treatment as an alternative to traditional braces.
- uLab Systems (uLab Aligners)coreProvides uLab aligners as part of the practice's clear aligner options portfolio.
- Grin (Grin Remote Monitoring)coreUses Grin app platform for remote patient monitoring, allowing patients to submit tooth scans via smartphone camera for virtual check-ins.
- American Board of OrthodonticscoreDr. Melanie maintains board certification through the American Board of Orthodontics, the board responsible for certifying orthodontists in the United States.
- Dr. Jimmy WangminorDr. Melanie's husband, a general dentist, supports the practice through personal partnership.
- UCLA School of DentistryminorDr. Melanie is a graduate of UCLA School of Dentistry, one of the nation's most selective top-tier dental schools.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Smile Doctors: Largest orthodontic-focused DSO in the US, with hundreds of affiliated orthodontic offices offering braces and clear aligners; directly comparable as a multi-location orthodontic specialist competitor pursuing roll-up scale in similar suburban markets.
- Image Orthodontics: Multi-location orthodontic group practice serving California and other Western US markets with braces and clear aligners; directly comparable as a multi-office orthodontic specialty group competing for similar suburban family and adult patient segments.
Others
- uLab Systems: Clear aligner treatment planning and fabrication platform used by orthodontic practices; comparable as a supply-side technology partner whose aligners are offered alongside the practice's TLC Aligners.
- Solventum (3M Clarity Aligners): Manufacturer of Clarity clear aligner systems supplied to orthodontic practices; comparable as one of the practice's core aligner supply partners and a broader incumbent in orthodontic appliances.
Emerging players
- SmileDirectClub: Pioneer direct-to-consumer clear aligner brand targeting mild/moderate adult cases; comparable as a disruptive pricing and channel alternative competing for the practice's adult patient segment.
- Candid: Direct-to-consumer clear aligner brand with a hybrid in-office / remote monitoring model; comparable because it overlaps the practice's clear aligner offering and uses remote monitoring — the same Grin platform the practice deploys.
Broad incumbents
- Western Dental & Orthodontics: Large California-headquartered DSO offering general dentistry and orthodontics across hundreds of locations; comparable as a scaled, insurance-driven competitor with orthodontic services within a broader dental portfolio.
- Heartland Dental: One of the largest DSOs in the US supporting affiliated dental and orthodontic practices; comparable as an organized, capital-backed consolidator competing for orthodontic patients via affiliated offices.
- Pacific Dental Services: Large DSO providing business and clinical support to affiliated dental practices including orthodontics; comparable as an incumbent enabling organization that competes for the same patient pool through affiliated offices.
- Invisalign (Align Technology): Manufacturer of the leading clear-aligner system and dominant incumbent in the orthodontic appliance category; comparable because the practice is both a customer and competitor offering TLC Aligners as an in-house alternative.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics social profiles
Digital presenceDr. Melanie Orthodontics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dr. Melanie Orthodontics
What does Dr. Melanie Orthodontics do?
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics is a private orthodontic practice that provides teeth alignment and bite correction services for children, teens, and adults. The practice offers custom metal braces, ceramic clear braces, and clear aligner systems (including its proprietary in-house TLC Aligners), supported by iTero digital scanning, in-office 3D printing, and the Grin remote monitoring platform. Free initial consultations, flexible financing, and a 5-year retainer program are also offered.
Is Dr. Melanie Orthodontics a public or private company?
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Dr. Melanie Orthodontics founded?
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Dr. Melanie Orthodontics based?
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dr. Melanie Orthodontics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Orthodontic Treatment Services are the primary driver. The others are clear Aligner Therapy, retainer Program and remote Monitoring Services.
Who are Dr. Melanie Orthodontics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Smile Doctors and Image Orthodontics. Others are uLab Systems and Solventum (3M Clarity Aligners). Emerging players are SmileDirectClub and Candid. Broad incumbents are Western Dental & Orthodontics, Heartland Dental, Pacific Dental Services and Invisalign (Align Technology).
Does Dr. Melanie Orthodontics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dr. Melanie Orthodontics.
What industry is Dr. Melanie Orthodontics in?
Dr. Melanie Orthodontics's product category is Orthodontic Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLABABAA, Comprehensive Orthodontic Clinics, with a secondary code of HLABABAD, Clear Aligner Orthodontics. Its NAICS code is 6212 and its SIC code is 8011.