I completely agree with the reviews posted here on May 26 and May 27, 2026. I've lived in Irvine for over 15 years, and this is the first--and by far the worst--review I've ever written for an orthodontic office. The staff were consistently rude. I simply couldn't believe the attitude and level of professionalism they displayed. Afterward, I checked the clinic's website and social media pages and noticed that most of the staff members who used to work there are no longer with the clinic. Perhaps that's one of the reasons for the decline in the overall patient experience. My experience during treatment was also extremely disappointing. 1. Constant overbooking. Appointments were frequently triple-booked, resulting in very long wait times. 2. Poor communication and coordination. The assistants, front desk staff, and doctor often gave completely inconsistent information. For example, one assistant told me to come back for attachments at my next appointment. When I arrived, the doctor said they weren't needed at all. That trip turned out to be a complete waste of time. 3. Rushed and sloppy care. Because the clinic sees such a high volume of patients, everything felt rushed. Some assistants lacked attention to detail, and the front desk staff provided poor customer service. After six months of treatment, I was told that my treatment was complete. However, I don't see that my primary concern has been addressed, and I have not received any explanation. As a patient, what I care about is: Whether the doctor genuinely listened to my concerns. Whether there was a clear and measurable treatment plan. Whether each stage of treatment was actually carried out according to that plan. Whether the treatment plan was adjusted appropriately based on my progress. Whether the final result achieved the agreed-upon goals; and, if not, why. I haven't seen those qualities demonstrated. read more

Horrible office. They are super nice to you the first visit to get you to sign the contract. After they get your business, wait times are long and they are rude. I didn't believe the other bad reviews until i experienced it. The prices are a little bit cheaper than other orthodontists in the area, but you will be missing a lot of work with the wait times. I wouldn't go here. There's another orthodontist on the same street that has way better service and runs on time. Pretty much any other orthodontist in Irvine is better than this place. read more

I don't know why this orthodontist has such a good reputation and high reviews. Everything was great until we signed the contract. I even did my research and got consultations from more than three other orthodontists before choosing this place. Once the contract was signed, however, the waiting times became incredibly long. Every single time, we end up waiting 30 to 50 minutes, which completely disrupts my plans for the rest of the day. Furthermore, when we signed up, the front desk staff promised me that my chilld would be able to use clear aligners. I had text confirmation from her. However, It turns out that wasn't true, and my child had to get classic metal braces instead, even though his dental issue is very minor and he is a perfect fit for clear aligners. I am very disappointed with the service. read more

I can't rave enough about Dr. Tai and his team. Our experience at the office has been wonderful. The staff is always welcoming and accommodating, and scheduling appointments is very easy. Dr. Tai is extremely patient and great with kids, which makes every visit a positive experience. read more

My sister and I have been seeing Dr Tai since we were little kids. Dr Tai is kind and knowledgeable. He takes his time to get to know his patients' needs, is flexible with appointments when needed, and offers better deals than other orthodontists in the area. He helped me out a lot years and years later when my teeth had moved and needed realignment. The other staff members that work here are wonderful too. They are quick and efficient. Definitely recommend this place! 5 stars read more

I first met Dr. Tai back in 2017 during high school for crocked front teeth correction (see the pre-treatment picture below). Dr. Tai delivered personal treatment plan where he was able to predict a definite timeline (around 1.5 years plan with no delay; and it was also shorter than timeline proposed by other orthodontists). When I visited other clinics, it was mentioned to me that I need to do some teeth extractions (around 2-3 if I remember correctly). However, with Dr. Tai, I didn't have to do any. The pain was minimal, and we were able to achieve amazing result! Once straightened teeth was accomplished through braces, Dr. Tai gave me Invisalign sets as my retainer. He ensured the outcome consistency as he would always closely check that none of the teeth got shifted post treatment. He is super kind, genuine, patient, highly knowledgable, and will put a smile on your face. Over all, definitely the best care experience I have ever received. Dr. Tai is a great orthodontist. He is very encouraging and will work with you to get that perfect smile : D. I highly highly recommend him! His office is also super clean, and the staff members are very approachable and organized! read more

Mario E Tai, DMD DMSc - Orthodontists Near Me - Irvine, California

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Dr Tai is incredible. The technology he uses with his expertise made my smile worth so much!! I am forever grateful for his work and staff with my successful smile transformation. The office is incredible clean and i will say very well designed. Strongly recommend Tai Orthodontics for all your smile needs. read more

Mario E Tai, DMD DMSc - The best Orthodontist in Irvine! - Orthodontists Near Me - Irvine, California

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I would highly recommend Dr. Tai for anyone trying to get their teeth corrected. I opted in for clear aligners to straighten my lower set of teeth and treatment was done after 11 months. I do still have to wear clear aligners at night to keep the teeth from moving back but I am very happy with the results. Some pros: 1. They have developed a software to map the inside of your mouth and can show you literally a week by week about how your teeth will move over the course of the treatment. Very impressive. 2. They 3D print the clear aligners in house and you receive a set of usually 5-6 at a time that you usually wear 1-2 weeks at a time one after another. This reduces the amount of time you need to visit the office to pick up the aligners. 3. Professionalism is very good. Some general advice for others considering aligners: 1. Aligners probably aren't good for kids... you have to be on top of wearing the aligners everyday for the prescribed amount of time, something like 18-20 hours a day otherwise you won't get the results in a timely manner. 2. You will need to take off the aligners when you eat (obviously) and you need to keep them clean so you need to be on top of that. 3. The aligners can be pretty "tight" on your teeth for the first couple days for each new set that you wear so sometimes it sucks to get them off if you're not doing it the right way. As you wear them throughout the week it get easier and isn't so bad. read more

Mario E Tai, DMD DMSc - After aligners - Orthodontists Near Me - Irvine, California

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This is just an updated review on a recent service after my Invisalign 6 yrs ago. So my retainer cracked and I didn't want my teeth to shift. I called to see if Dr Tai can get me another set of retainers before I head out to my vacation next week. His front staff Gordon was very helpful and got me an appt to come in for a new set of retainers. Since my last retainer was a few yrs old, they quickly scanned me to make a new set of retainers. Dr Tai uses updated innovative equipment and he was able to make me the clear retainer in-house. Since I live an hour away, i asked if I can get my retainers the same day so I don't have to come back again. They were so accommodating on my request. I was able to go grocery shopping and grabbed lunch and my retainers were ready when I came back. His pricing is really reasonable compared to some of the orthodontists I called in my area. I wanted to see if nearby orthodontists can get me new sets of retainers without having to drive an hour. His pricing includes 2 sets of retainers and other orthodontists I called only include 1 set and the price is a bit higher. Even though Dr Tai's office is an hour away, their service and pricing is worth the one-hour drive. read more

Dr. Tai is really talented and caring for his patients. The office is very clean and the staffs are friendly. I have been seeing Dr. Tai since late 2017 for Invisalign. I finally graduated..Lol...Due to my teeth and jaws cracking noise every time I open, Dr. Tai taking really good care of my case. He don't want to do any harm to my jaws. I am very pleased with the outcomes! I highly recommend Dr. Tai if you are looking for better smile. FYI, there are parents bringing their kids for braces as well. read more

Mario E Tai, DMD DMSc - Before - Orthodontists Near Me - Irvine, California

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I had a permanent metal wire retainer for almost a decade and one day, it just broke. As a natural analyzer, I took time to call and understand the personality of a few local orthodontists before choosing one. After my call with Dr Tai, I threw put everyone else's info. He is honest, no bullshit and genuinely looks out in the best interest of his patients. He wants each patient to get on the path of success. While some may find this controversial (I do not), he is not afraid to tell you if your dentist did a poor job beforehand -- it's not all talk, there is proof in how teeth hygiene could have been cared for better. I appreciate this insight and honesty so i can choose the best provider for the best long term care. His pricing is fair. His team is responsive and they keep the office managed well. I highly recommend Dr Tai for all your orthodontist needs! read more

Dr. Tai really takes pride in the work he does. I have been seeing him for several years and finally done ! Overall, all his staffs are very friendly and efficient. I would highly recommend Dr. Tai, he is kind and genuine and spends the time with you. read more

Dr. Mario Tai and Dr. Betty Chen are amazing Orthodontists in Irvine. With their amazing professional team, my family experienced the utmost care and now we can proudly wear that perfect smile! My two teen daughters and I went thru the entire treatment without hassle. I am just amazed on how having perfect teeth brings a lot of confidence specially to my kids! Thank you Dr. Tai and Dr. Chen for your love and care for my family. You made us feel comfortable when we first met and made us feel I will always recommend your orthodontist clinic to all my friends and co-workers. read more

Dr. Tai is a master at his craft. Not only is he skilled, but a genuinely caring person. My smile is one of my best facial features, thanks to him. read more

Dr. Tai has always been great and I've always had a pleasant time in his office from him and his staff. My teeth are incredibly stubborn and moves very slowly but Dr. Tai has been very patient with me. Would definitely come back for any ortho needs in the future. read more

I recently found myself needing braces again in my 30s, thanks to my younger self not wearing a retainer. After shopping around all the local orthodontists in Irvine, I found Dr. Tai, who exceeded all my expectations. Dr Tai is Harvard-educated, incredibly passionate about his work, and provided me with the best deal I could find. Dont waste your time looking around just go see Dr Tai. The level of care and attention to detail was outstanding. If I was having a bad day, I always felt better after seeing Dr Tai. He is so friendly and you can tell he really loves his work. I highly recommend this practice to anyone in need of orthodontic care. My smile has never looked better read more

If you need an orthodontic work done, then look no further than Dr. Tai! Not only is his office very clean with the latest tech (hello dental x rays where you don't have to shove a bunch of things into your mouth but just stand there while it does it thing which is such an awesome invention for people with bad gag reflexes like me!), and his staff all very friendly, but Dr. Tai himself is also one of the most personable orthodontist I've had and is very happy to explain all procedures in an easy to understand way and is very attentive to your needs and questions. I went to him a couple years back to get Invisalign but for his version instead - Dr Smile I believe it's called? - and I love it! I had done express Invisalign in the past due to lack of funds as a college student but wasn't super happy with the results and his one feels and looks just like Invisalign but without the hefty price tag and the long wait time. Since it is done in office, he can easily make tweaks on the spot to ensure it is customized to your progress. I just went back in today for a check up after 2 years since his staff reached out to me to check in (fantastic follow up service here!) and am pleased to have a replacement set of retainers for my old ones that were getting quite beat up from daily use. And I am pleased that everything is still as great as I remember, if not better. Highly recommend!!! read more

Dr. Tai is an exceptional orthodontist. I can tell from my appointments with him that he doesn't just read and recite textbooks. He makes sure to understand each patient's unique situation and tailors advice and treatments especially for them. Whereas other dentists pushed surgery as the only option for my misaligned jaw, Dr. Tai offered to design special retainers that would match my current jaw alignment. The way he explained my options and addressed my concerns really showed his deep knowledge of and passion for his field. He also made sure to schedule several follow ups to make sure that my retainers were working well and comfortable to wear. His office had a nice ambiance, and I really appreciated the modern technology they had. The digital scanner they used to scan my teeth for my retainers was a much more comfortable experience than the dental impressions I had to take back then. I was also surprised to hear that my retainers would be 3D printed in-house and that I could pick it up the next day. Overall a great experience. I'm glad I found Tai Orthodontics. read more

Dr. Tai is absolutely amazing!! I had really crooked teeth as you can see from my before picture, and I shopped around for multiple orthodontists and many of them said I had to have teeth extracted in order to do braces, and that invisialign isn't even an option for me. Then I came across Dr. Tai who reassured me that I can do invisialign without extracting any tooth. The price seemed extremely reasonable and fair as well. Throughout the process Dr. Tai really goes above and beyond to do check ups and make sure my progress is on track. He was able to have me finish the invisialign process within less than 1.5 years when other doctors told me I had to do atleast 2 years. I am more than pleased with the results and very very thankful that Dr. Tai has made this a very easy and stress free process, not to say he is so friendly and willing to answer all my questions as well. Also, I have to say he has the best staff members as well. Everyone is really nice in the office and makes you feel welcomed and comfortable in every visit. I am so happy with my smile today and would highly recommend anyone, child or adult to have Dr. Tai has your orthodontist! read more

Mario E Tai, DMD DMSc - Before - Orthodontists Near Me - Irvine, California

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fantastic professional dental office. Easy to find first floor office with state of the art technology. Dr. Tai is very knowledgeable and caring with his patients. his staff is very welcoming. read more

Doctor Tai is really nice and super good at his practice. After 1 year of Invisalign, my teeth are in great shape now. Facility is clean and technology is modern. Thank you doc and front desk receptionists Nicole and Gordon! read more

After learning that my wife's enamel on her teeth was eroding from teeth hitting each other in the front due to crowding, it was suggested by our regular dentist to have Invisalign correction. Our dentist also stated that "Extractions were the outdated method to correct crowded teeth and or overbite. We didn't believe this and through research we sought another opinion from an Orthodontist, Dr Mario Tai. Dr. Tai examined her teeth and jaw along with a radial x-ray taken at no charge along with a complete consultation. Dr. Tai simply explained to her that she had too many cars (teeth) in the garage and not enough parking spaces due to her jaw being genetically smaller, (not uncommon). He also explained that with his self designed computer imaging program, he could simulate the movements of her teeth after two required extractions, one upper and one lower, as they progressed in the Invisalign trays over the course of 12-14 months. Dr. Tai was far less expensive than our regular dentist who clearly was up selling us on products that were beyond his scope of study and professional knowledge. Another FLAG was our regular dentist required payment in full up front stating his high cost to service my wife and provide the Invisalign trays. Dr. Tai had several no interest payment plans which are easier and affordable for our situation. It was clear from her very first visit that Dr. Tai is fully committed to his patients care. Dr. Tai has specialists in the office which make the sets of Invisalign trays on premises. Every 4-6 weeks my wife has a scheduled appointment to pick up four or six new trays. If the trays need adjustment, the office staff has been extremely accommodating on two different occasions, seeing her next day! On that next appointment they either adjusted the tray or manufactured a new one as needed. Nicole, the Office Receptionist and Treatment Coordinator, is incredibly efficient and accommodating. The very first couple of days my wife had some questions and concerns from slight discomfort and called the office. She assured me that what she was feeling was normal and gave her great advice. Espi is a Registered Dental Assistant who takes great care and patience to explain what she is doing when she may apply brackets to her teeth or help with any adjustments that may be needed. Justin, the Back Office Assistant, has always made us feel important and answered her questions either when we've called in or been to the office in person. I cannot say enough about our entire experience with the team in this office led by Dr. Mario Tai. read more

Great service and very accommodative staff. My kids had teeth clean today in other dental office somewhere else, so they needed to take out braces before the clean, and then put back after. Dr. Tai's staff were very accommodative in the process. Even we were running 1 hour late than scheduled time in the afternoon, they were still there waiting for us to put back braces for my kids, although today is the last day before Thanksgiving holiday and everyone wants to go home earlier. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Tai for many years now and he's super nice and explains everything thoroughly to make sure you understand how to take care of your teeth (:! The staff is super nice as well, and I've never been treated poorly. The place is very kid friendly as well because almost every patient room plays a kid friendly show. read more

Dr. Tai is good! Very thoughtful and considerate. However, the front lady is horrible. Always poses an attitude whether in person or through phone call. She needs to be replaced. read more

My experience here at Tai Orthodontics has been AMAZING!! I've had traditional braces over a decade ago, but over the years (and lack of wearing my retainers) my teeth had shifted. So I wanted the most painless and least noticeable way to straighten my teeth again. Dr. Tai used an innovative custom precise software program which allowed him to straighten my teeth and align my bite in 10 WEEKS of wearing the aligners. I am so IMPRESSED and HAPPY with my results!! I never had any discomfort at all, and hardly anyone noticed my aligners while I was wearing them. Dr. Tai is very patient and thorough and takes his time in explaining the 3D scan and treatment process. Everyone in the office always seems very happy and friendly and the office is very bright and clean, my experience has always been very relaxing when I visit for my check-ups! I strongly recommend Dr. Tai for all your orthodontics needs!! read more

Dr. Tai is an excellent doctor, very caring and extremely patient. I was almost 60 years old and very hesitant whether I should do it or not. I went in for a consultation and he was very patient with me, explained the whole process and answered all my questions. Finally I went ahead and did it. It took a while but the end result is well worth it. It's the BEST gift I have given to myself. Dr. Tai is well trained and very professional. Highly recommend his service, his staff are just as wonderful!!! They are the BEST!!! Love you guys!!! read more

Doctor Tai took great care of my son and daughter's orthodontics needs. We highly recommend Dr. Tai. He's got a great team of staffs too! Thank you, Dr. Tai for your expertise, professionalism, and care! read more

My teeth are straighter than ever, and they feel a lot better. Always a good time whenever you go because of how nice everyone is.

Will highly recommend Dr. Tai to anyone who need aligner. He is very patient and professional.

I thought I had Doctor Mario Tai review posted already last year but somehow is not yet. I am very pleased to recommend to you Dr. Mario Tai who had been so patient with my case. I had him took care of my Invisalign before my wedding and until now with 2 kids. Mine was a challenging case. He is not just a doctor who is perfectionist but also care about his patients. His office is impeccable and state of the art office. The receptionist are excellent and flexible and understanding. Check it out for yourself. I appreciate his kindness towards his patients. Thank you Dr Mario! read more

Hands down the best experience! The front office staff was kind, attentive, and informative. Thank you to Nicole for making it such an easy experience. Dr. Tai is professional, thorough, and kind! The office is immaculate!! I work in the healthcare industry and I can not rave about Dr Tai and his office staff enough. read more

I am happy that my husband have Dr. Mario Tai for his invisalign. We have read some of the previous reviews from other patients and I have to say it could be some misunderstanding about the receptionists in the front desk on the negative side. We noticed the office staff especially Nicole is very accommodating whenever we made changes in the appointments due to our kids schedule. We also like Epsi who is very patient in making sure that my husband has liner taken care professionally. The reception area have beverages for patients and we find the office very comfortable and welcoming. Last but not the least is Dr. Tai who is an awesome dentist! It is hard to find a dentist who really cares about his patients nowdays. Thank you Dr. Tai and his staffs for making us feel relax whenever we are at your office. read more

Ever since covid, the wait has been horribly long. Waited for 1 hour for my last several appointments. The dr. also messed up a procedures he performed on me. So now had to go back again to get it corrected, which is going to be another 1 hour long wait. Not happy with their recent performance. read more

I've been coming to Dr Tai for 3 years now, and my experience with his staff and Dr. Tai himself have been nothing but pleasant. The ladies at the front desk are very welcoming and the nurses that help me before seeing doctor Tai are very accommodating and make sure I'm feeling okay whenever I had to replace braces rewiring. Overall, I look forward to going to the office! read more

Very friendly environment-great staff!! Dr Mario Tai is a great Orthodontist and straightened my teeth out in record time. Very happy with my results! read more

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dr. Tai!!! After about 3.5 years, I finally got my braces off about 1.5 months ago and just recently went in for my retainer follow-up. My sister referred me to Dr. Tai because she was currently having her braces done by Dr. Tai at that time. She saved me all the trouble of looking around for a good orthodontist. =] To start off with, there was a lot going on with my case. I had crowding, an overbite, a tooth that grew towards the inside of my mouth (weird, I know), snaggle tooth (?), and this impacted canine that never came out! The point is, my case was tough/challenging. Despite all that mess, Dr. Tai thoroughly explained to me the different options I can choose to have done to my teeth and even said I didn't have to do anything to them if I didn't want to. Whenever I had an issue, I would call the office to let them know, and they tried to schedule me in as soon as possible. Since Dr. Tai's Irvine office is usually open Friday-Sunday, sometimes my schedule made it difficult for them to see me asap in order to address my issues. Luckily, sometimes Dr. Tai would have me come in really early in the weekday morning or after typical working hours in order to address my concerns Even when I had my surgery to remove the impacted canine, Dr. Tai had called me to follow up on how I was doing. It's comforting to know that your orthodontist worries about your health and condition! I knew that my teeth was in good hands when I came to Dr. Tai. I've heard many horror stories about orthodontists not caring about your teeth after you have finished paying for your braces, but Dr. Tai was not like that at all! I finished paying for my braces after about a year and a half and he has cared and treated me the same way from start to finish. He made sure my teeth was amazing and perfect before considering letting me take out my braces! I've received many compliments on my new straight, teeth and it's all thanks to Dr. Tai! And also his wife, Betty Chen, who is just as amazing and awesome as Dr. Tai! Dr. Tai is professional, friendly, a perfectionist, but most importantly, caring! If all my doctors were like Dr. Tai, my life would be in great hands! I would recommend Dr. Tai to anyone and everyone! He's the best you'll find! read more

Dr. Tai is an excellent Orthodontist! He is professional, competent, trustworthy and an all around easy-going person. His credentials are more than what you can ask for... a degree from Harvard. Like an artist, he can take a look at your teeth and know 20 steps ahead what exactly to do. He not only is in the business of making your teeth straight, but he will also correct your bite... thus changing the appearance of your face (in a positive way). He is very busy man, but he will make time for you. He has trained his staff competently to perform with excellence. Not only do you want an excellent Orthodontist, you also want an excellent staff. Believe it or not, his staff makes him ever better! The team work efficiently, fast and thorough. If you have a problem with one of your bands or brackets, they will try to squeeze you into their busy schedule and fix you up in no time. I've had a few instances where my brackets have fallen off and they fixed me up with no charge. I hear other places charging $50 each broken bracket. Forget that! They are that good. Dr. Tai's prices are fair as well, which makes this place even better. I recommend Dr. Tai and have referred two of my coworkers already. ***UPDATE 2-5-16 Well, it's been over 2 years at Dr. Tai's office. Since my review back in 2014, I've taken off my braces and let me tell you, I am very happy with how Dr. Tai straightened my teeth and fixed my bite. My smile has never been bigger. I want to show everyone my teeth when I talk to them, because I am happy with how it turned out. People in turn are happier when they are around me. They tend to even smile more. Dr. Tai's work is worth every penny because your smile says so much about you and how your smile can positively make others feel. I wish I would have done this earlier! Towards the end of my treatment (around 22 months), Dr Tai was also able to look out for some minor details that I mentioned to him. He listened to me and did not dismiss it as "extra work" and explained carefully if my requests were possible and/or beneficial to my teeth/smile. I wanted an honest opinion and Dr. Tai gave me his honest answer. What more can you ask for in a doctor, right? The staff, after two years is still amazing. They are 1) competent, 2) fast, 3) professional, 4) orderly and 5) pleasing to talk to. What more can you ask for in a staff? If you're on the fence whether you should check out Dr. Tai or not, I would say to simply schedule a free consultation. It doesn't hurt to get an opinion from a trustworthy doctor who looks at his customers as more than just teeth, but people who have wonderful plans in their lives, wanting their smile to carry them along in their journey. So it's not just teeth. read more

Dr. Tai is THE BEST!!! I've worn the braces for about 3 years, and I finally took them off last month. It is so exciting because now my teeth look perfect! I like it! During the past 3 years, Dr. Tai is really patient every time with me. Many of my friends do orthodontics with him. read more

Dr. Tai was referred to me by my orthodontist from LA as my underwire retainer broke. He not only saw me the same day but did an amazing job fixing it. Dr. Tai and staff even allowed my kids to be in room with me during procedure.!! The attention to customer service and experience was exceptional and will be referring to friends and family! Tina at the front desk is super friendly and got me in on a weekend! She rocks! Best Orthodontist in OC!! Come and see him!! He's so down to earth and super patient read more