Monterey Bay Orthodontics

This is a fantastic place to get braces and ortho work! Dr. Garrett used special methods to close gaps when I had two molars removed. From start to finish the doctors and staff have been helpful, friendly, and responsive. Highly recommended

I had the most amazing experience with Dr. Crisswell; he is great and super knowledgable at what he does! The entire staff is very friendly and welcoming; some of the nicest people you will meet :) I have been pleased at every visit and treated amazing. I have referred so many of my family members and friends, who have also been satisfied with his work. The offices are very clean and nice, and the consultation was great! I highly recommend this professional office/​Dr. :)

We recently moved from Southern California and needed to have my daughter’s retainer adjusted. I called to make an appointment and was impressed by the ease to schedule the appointment. They were willing to do the adjustment even though my daughter had never been seen there before. The appointment itself was very quick and easy. They did the adjustment at no charge since it was such a minor thing. Everyone was very professional and friendly. I will most definitely be back if we need any additional orthodontic care.

The team at Monterey bay orthodontics is incredibly professional, friendly, and just flat-​out-​awesome! I got my braces off today after 2 years of having them on and I always looked forward to the visits! Dr. Criswell knows his stuff and so does his team! I had no doubt in my mind that they were going to create a perfect smile for me. 5 stars through and through! Thank you for the great times!

If you have nothing nice to say…

It’s been since 2011 since Gary set my lines and with my permanent retainer on just a few teeth, my bite is the most comfortable its ever been. My teeth just keep settling deeper and deeper into my best bite. World class drs staff locations

Dr. Criswell is amazing! We were visiting some friends in Carmel and my daughter had an accident with another child that lodged her lip into the brackets of her braces. It was really fish-​hooked in there. Dr. Criswell saw her right away and stayed open late to accommodate us. We ran into traffic getting there and he welcomed us with open arms way past the time we were expected. He was so gentle and patience that I was just so blown away. My daughter was in a lot of pain and very scared and he worked with her to make sure she was comfortable every step of the way. Stopping along the way making are she was ok with what he was doing and making sure she was always comfortable. I can’t say enough about him and his expertise and his professionalism. He really went above and beyond and I’m so grateful. We are so glad we found him and if we didn’t live 90 minutes away from his office we would for sure use him regularly.

My daughter has been going through the braces process since last October. At the consultation, Dr. Criswell, walked us through the normal process of treatment. When we came back to speak with Dr. Palma after getting x-​rays and bite wing photos, Dr. Palma explained to us the planned treatment and what everything meant and how long to expect wearing braces etc. He was funny, friendly and made me feel really comfortable. Dr. Palma spoke mainly to my daughter, since she is the one undergoing treatment, and he spoke to her in a manner that was easy for her to understand and he used great analogies and softball/​baseball references since he found out she is a softball player. Cindy came in with the payment plan and went above and beyond to get everything cleared and taken care of with my insurance. We got scheduled with Connor up front for out first appointment and the appointments work out well with my daughters’ school schedule. We typically get the 7:30 appointments and even that early in the morning the staff is funny, upbeat and still very professional. I feel like I have known them for years and we all share a nice friendly banter and converse about TV shows and baseball games all while they handle the task of tightening my daughter’s braces. JoAnn is very outgoing and sweet. She knows her job and explains the process very well. Julietta is another sweetheart and she is always fun and bubbly. She works fast and is very efficient. She knows her job… I can go on and on about each individual staffer at the office but the bottom line is they are all wonderful! They are always ready to accommodate and do whatever necessary to keep your as comfortable as possible. they remember my daughter’s name and certain things about her so it feels as though we have been friends for years. the front desk is a joy! Connor always remembers my name and even when I call he makes me feel like he is happy to hear from me. DeAnna is a sweetheart as well. She is efficient and quick. Cindy, in billing has the «hardest» job but she is a delight. She is the one who fights with your insurance company on your behalf and I love her for that. She doesn’t make me feel bad when I miss a payment, she just tells me it’s okay and then we work it out and she is so understanding.
Now on to Dr. Criswell. Dr. Criswell is so knowledgeable and you can tell that he loves what he does. He loves his patients and he has a special bond with each one of them. He has a gentle spirit and being a family man himself, he understands how important family time and your time is. He doesn’t waste a lot of time but he is always there greeting each patient with a smile and he tells my daughter how good she is doing with her braces and he encourages her every visit. I LOVE this office and staff and I would recommend them to anyone, any time and any place!

My daughter managed to loose all of her rubber Bands on our vacation. She is a month away from getting them off but only if she is wearing her rubber bands. My wife called and we went in with the empty bag we had of what she lost. Immediately the receptionist went in the bag and gave my daughter new bands without charging. Thank you Monterey Bay Orthodontics you really helped us out of a tight situation.

Dr Criswell and his staff are excellent. I just had to write a review simply because of the quality of my experience there. I was interested in getting braces done and was wondering about all of the things associated with them, such as price and length of treatment, and they reassured me that I would be in good hands and worked on at a very reasonable price… Must I say, they were right! They have blown my mind with professionalism and courtesy. Not only did they make my smile gorgeous, they made me feel vey good and comfortable the whole time. And the price was very fair! I am very satisfied with my results and my time spent there. I highly recommend Monterey bay orthodontics!

Dr. Criswell is the best! Are you looking for an Orthodontist where you will feel at home? Not only is Dr. Criswell super nice, but he is GREAT at what he does! Dr. Criswell does an amazing job at making you feel comfortable. He walks you through every step and is very gentle. He will make you feel like he has known you for the longest time. We absolutely LOVE Dr. Criswell and refer our friends and family.
Although the trek from my house to Dr. Criswell’s office is a bit far, it is truly worth it! The attention to detail, perfectionism, and professional service provided is in a class of its own. My daughter was born with cleft lip & palate and he has been instrumental with the care for her needs. My youngest son now has a full set of braces.
The staff are extremely nice, professional and caring with kids. Look no further and schedule your appointment today. You will not be disappointed with the experience. Your friends and family are sure to be impressed with your NEW SMILE!!!
The hours are flexible and accommodating with offices in Carmel, Monerey and Salinas.
Thank you to Dr. Criswell and his AMAZING staff!!! We love all of you & couldn’t be happier.

I can’t imagine going anywhere else for braces other than Monterey Bay Orthodontics.
Having braces requires a number of follow up appointments such as wire and band changes and each time I’m seen, both Dr.‘s Palma and Criswell as well as the entire staff are always professional, friendly, fun and kind.
As an adult I was very anxious to get braces but during my consultation I was immediately put at ease by Dr. Palma’s knowledge of orthodontics and his years of experience but it was his exuberant personality that sealed the deal!
Having had the privilege of both Dr.‘s Palma and Criswell work on my bite it has been a very comfortable experience, even for a scaredy cat like me.
I can’t say enough about the fantastic staff and these terrific Dr.‘s. You cannot go wrong with this wonderful team!
Suzanne S.

This is a very popular and busy office! Deanna at the front always cheerfully finds a spot that works best for us, whether scheduling my daughter after school, or to her great joy, occasionally during school! Deanna always makes her feel as if she were the most important person in the world.
Recently, an adjustment of my own retainer at the beginning of the summer caused some changes in my bite, and as I grind and clench at night, one of my teeth became sensitive to hot and cold drinks and started to ache.
I felt that during the night, the retainer moved my teeth slightly and I was biting down on that little tooth – but by the time I got to the dentist the teeth had moved – mystifying my regular dentist, (who finding nothing wrong with the tooth visually and in X-​rays, referred me to a root canal specialist).
Shortly after, while visiting Dr. Chriswell with my daughter, I mentioned my theory to JoAnn who suggested that I come in first thing in the morning still wearing my retainer, and she’d check the bite then, before it got a chance to move. BINGO, it was hitting just a little and JoAnn spent time adjusting my bite to her satisfaction, and since then NO pain! I am so grateful to find a practice where the staff has experience and listens to the patient.
Dr. Palma is the BEST! Dr. Chiswell is the BEST! My daughter is never nervous going to visit either of them, and this is a girl who doesn’t like doctors much.

I got my braces off 25 years ago and I still go there for adjustments on my retainers. Joann usually helps me and she is incredible. Her attention to detail is amazing. I have a beautiful smile, thanks her and this office. Additionally, both of my kids had their braces done by Dr. Palma and we think he’s the best. They are now 21 and 27, They both also have beautiful smiles. I couldn’t be happier. I always recommend him and I love the staff.

Love Love Dr. Palma & Dr. Criswell. I came to them after many, many years of having braces and a very bad experience with my previous orthodontist. I started to get frustated and was seeing no end to my treatment. Which was very discouraging, especially when you’re paying thousands of dollars to see some kind of results. My co-​worker recommended Dr. Palma and I am so THANKFUL for that. Both Dr. Palma & Dr. Criswell are a miracle. Within the first six months I started seeing results, I was so excited. I would definetly recommend their office. Their staff is AMAZING they all get along extremely well. As the previous Unilocaler noted this office does have a family feel to it, which I LOVE. :)

I would give Dr. Criswell’s office 10 stars if I could!
I went to three orthodontists before being referred to Dr. Criswell. I had braces years ago and my teeth had shifted and I wanted to get them back to perfection. Every other ortho wanted to give me Invisalign or braces — which I did not want. I was told that a retainer could not do the job. Well… JoAn is a retainer GURU and she brought my teeth right back to where they should be in a short period of time, with minimal discomfort and great results! I am grateful!
This is an office with a wonderful, kind, knowledgable staff. From Dr. Criswell to Deanna at the front desk — and everyone in between — you couldn’t ask for a nicer more caring group. I can’t say enough about JoAn — she is amazing at what she does!
Thanks to Dr. Criswell and staff!

You know you’re getting exceptional care and results when you’re glad to see your orthodontist! I decided at 53 to get rid of my cross-​bite and other alignment issues before they got worse. My lovely dentist highly recommended Dr. Garrett Criswell based on her conversations with him and the results she’d seen. I heartily agree. I was so glad to find a team that has top tier skills, tools, and knowledge, delivered with sweet warmth and care. Everyone on the staff is a gem, most of whom have been there for years and consider each other family; they treat you like family too — it’s a fun place to be even for the adult clients. Now I have healthy alignment and the smile I wanted, and I got here in less than 2 years. What a great feeling! You’ll love this office.

We love Dr. Palma! When I realized my teenage daughter was going to need braces, I think she and I were both a little anxious about it. I had asked a friend for a referral for a local orthodontist — since all 5 of her kids had braces, who better to ask! She told me to go see Dr. Palma, and we were very happy that we did. We were never kept waiting for our appointments, and the staff was always very courteous and efficient. Most of all, Dr. Palma was always very warm and cheerful — plus he always took time to listen to and address any questions or concerns. My daughter is almost 24 now, and her beautiful smile is one of her best features!

Amazing staff! I have had the best experience coming here. Absolutely love how they always take care of you, and go out of their way to make sure you always feel satisfied. I’m very sad I will soon be moving and trying to find an office that is this great will be hard! I recommend anyone to give this office a try, you won’t regret it!