Welcome to La Jolla Village Orthodontics

Orthodontic care, close to home

La Jolla is more than where Dr. Paul Upatham practices. It’s the community he and his family call home, where they have raised their children and built lasting connections over the years. That makes caring for the smiles of La Jolla especially meaningful.

At La Jolla Village Orthodontics, Dr. Upatham and Dr. Katherine Wong have built their practice around a simple philosophy: exceptional orthodontic care should also feel personal. Patients can expect the expertise, precision, and attention to detail of highly specialized care, paired with an experience that feels warm, familiar, and genuinely individualized.

A shared approach to exceptional care

Dr. Upatham and Dr. Wong are both board-certified orthodontists who share a commitment to thoughtful, individualized treatment.

Dr. Upatham completed his advanced orthodontic training at the University of Southern California and later spent 12 years as a clinical instructor in the USC Orthodontic Department, helping educate and mentor future orthodontic professionals. Throughout his career, continuing education has remained a priority, allowing him to pair decades of clinical experience with evolving, evidence-based approaches to orthodontic care. Dr. Wong, a San Diego native, was drawn to orthodontics because of the way the specialty brings together science, medicine, and artistry. She also completed her orthodontic specialty training at USC and brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented perspective to every case.

Together, the doctors look beyond simply straightening teeth. They consider bite, function, facial balance, aesthetics, and long-term stability to create treatment plans and results that feel right for each individual patient.

A more personal orthodontic experience

One of the defining qualities of La Jolla Village Orthodontics is its intimate, boutique feel. Orthodontic treatment is a relationship. Over the course of months or years, the doctors and team get to know far more than a patient’s teeth. They hear about school, careers, families, milestones, vacations, and everything happening between appointments.

That same personal approach shapes the entire office experience. Visits are designed to feel organized and seamless without ever becoming impersonal. Familiar faces, thoughtful communication, and details like TVs at the treatment chairs all help create an environment that feels comfortable, considered, and easy to return to. Whether caring for a child from the neighborhood, a busy teenager, or an adult who has been considering orthodontic treatment for years, the goal is the same: make every patient feel that their care is truly their own.

Treatment designed around you

La Jolla Village Orthodontics provides personalized orthodontic care for children, teens, and adults, including Invisalign clear aligners, traditional and ceramic braces, and early interceptive orthodontics.

Digital tools such as iTero scanning allow the doctors to gather precise information and plan treatment in greater detail, but technology is only as valuable as the expertise guiding it. Every recommendation begins with the individual patient, taking into account clinical needs, personal goals, lifestyle, growth, and the ideal timing for treatment. For younger patients especially, a thoughtful recommendation may mean beginning treatment now, or simply monitoring growth until the timing is right. The doctors take a conservative, individualized approach rather than recommending treatment before it can provide meaningful benefit.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to a great smile, and treatment at La Jolla Village Orthodontics is designed accordingly.

Proud to care for the La Jolla community

There is something special about providing orthodontic care within a community that feels so connected. Dr. Upatham sees patients and their families throughout La Jolla, watches children grow up alongside his own family, and has built relationships that extend far beyond the walls of the practice.

Dr. Upatham, Dr. Wong, and the entire La Jolla Village Orthodontics team are proud to offer the community a more personal approach to orthodontics, one grounded in expertise, thoughtful planning, attention to detail, and genuine relationships.

Begin your smile journey with confidence

Whether you’re considering orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, a complimentary consultation is an opportunity to meet Dr. Upatham and Dr. Wong, discuss your goals, and receive a clear, personalized perspective on your options. There’s no pressure, just thoughtful guidance designed to help you understand what makes sense for your smile.

Call (858) 459-3353 to schedule your complimentary consultation with La Jolla Village Orthodontics.