Patient Information & Fees
Treatment information
Fees
Adult Orthodontics
Orthodontic Emergencies
Treatment Cost
We are conveniently located at Crouch End (N8 8AG) serving North London, including Crouch End, Highgate, Haringey, Finchley, Totteridge, Whetstone, Barnet, and Muswell Hill. All orthodontic treatments offered here is undertaken on a private basis only. Visit us on Instagram!
The fees vary according to the type and complexity of treatment involved, but as a general guide, the following examples are listed below:
Estimated Treatment Fees
| Initial Consultation | £60 |
| Records, Radiograph (OPG) and detailed written treatment plan | from £100 |
| Fixed metal braces (single arch) | from £1,800 |
| Fixed metal braces (both arches) | from £2,800 |
| Patients under 18s who do not qualify for NHS orthodontics/adults with mild problems* | £2000 |
| Aesthetic ceramic brackets | from £3,500 |
| Cosmetic laser gum contouring or laser exposure of impacted teeth | from £500 |
| Aligner therapy or Invisalign (full) | from £3,500 |
| Removable Retainers (clear) | each £150 |
| Fixed Retainers | each £250 |
| Retention review visits (15 mins) | £60 |
| Transfer Cases (charged per appointment) | from £200 |
DIY ORTHODONTICS and £2000 ORTHO
We know some companies offer DIY orthodontic treatment without orthodontist supervision. Cost savings is the primary reasons you may choose DIY orthodontic treatment over a traditional orthodontic treatment, such as Invisalign. It is natural to try to save money, but is it worth risking your health?
DIY orthodontics involves clear aligners that patients buy after going through an online questionnaire without visiting a dental practice. Patients get a ‘do-it-yourself‘ kit which will have them make impressions (mould) of their teeth at home, or alternatively, be asked to go to a shop to have their teeth scanned digitally. We consider this method very risky as during unsupervised orthodontic treatment your teeth may move/push outside the bone surrounding them leading to ‘irreparable’ gum recession or losing your teeth. Every patient needs a detailed assessment of teeth and jaw bones prior to orthodontic treatment, making sure there is no pathology, short roots, or compromised teeth. Ignoring these can lead to losing your teeth.
Read this interesting paper on the risks of DIY Orthodontics (DIY orthodontics – safe, cheaper option or dangerous gamble?)
Therefore, if you are tempted to have DIY Orthodontics, we offer a specialist orthodontist supervised orthodontic treatment (about £2000) if you meet the following criteria
Your bite presents with mild crowding in the upper/lower dental arches
You don’t need the removal of teeth as a part of the treatment
You don’t present with open bite, or narrow dental arches that need expansion
You don’t have sticky (protruded) upper front teeth (overjet) or sticky lower teeth (reverse bite)
You don’t need jaw surgery as a part of your treatment
You don’t have gum disease or gum recession
Overall, in adults, there are some treatment considerations, including
Orthodontic Considerations for Adult Patients
There is no age limit for Orthodontic Treatment
This is my very motivated patient, Alison, with excellent oral hygiene; pay attention to healthy gums, it was a pleasure treating her, we used conventional fixed metal braces to treat her Class III malocclusion.
At the time of brace removal she was 68 years old and very happy with her smile.
Gum disease (Periodontitis)
Healthy Gums DO Matter
Adults are more likely to have gingival (gum) recession or bone loss due to natural causes or periodontal (gum) disease. Gum disease is a “quiet” disease and needs to be resolved prior to embarking on orthodontic treatment. We usually assess the gum heath prior to starting treatment, this is done by taking radiographs and clinical examination (probing). Any gingival recession or gum disease may worsen during orthodontic treatment, we will warn you on this if we identify teeth with these issues.
Please let us know if you have bleeding gums, drifting teeth or mobile teeth.
Tooth wear, restored teeth
Traumatised teeth
Root canal treated (RCTed), crowned, or missing teeth
Over time adults can develop carious tooth lesions, receiving various restorative/cosmetic treatments, or show worn down dentition. Teeth adjacent/opposite to missing teeth may over-erupt or shift into different positions that would require orthodontic treatment prior to provision of restoration for the edentulous site.
As a general role, cavities should be restored and any RCT should be done prior to orthodontic treatment.
The position of restorations/crowns and their margins can change during orthodontic treatment and may even require replacement/revision after finishing orthodontic treatment. Teeth with large filings may also develop problems (Pain, abscess) during orthodontic treatment and may need revision/replacement or additional RCT.
If you have RCTed teeth we usually examine them and may take extra radiographs as these teeth may flare up with pain and infection, if the root canal treatment is not sound.
Adults may have missing/extracted teeth and closure of the old extraction site may be difficult and take longer to finish.
Please let us know if your front teeth received trauma as these teeth may go no-vital (dead tooth), requiring RCT or restorative work.
Previous incomplete orthodontic treatment or a relapsed case
Many adults received some orthodontic treatment as a child, but never completed their treatment or missed wearing their retainers and developed crowding and malalignment of the teeth.
This may already affected your teeth, some may have some root resorption (root shortening), again we check this prior to starting your orthodontic treatment.
Handling Orthodontic Emergencies
Tooth pain for several days after the braces have been fitted or adjusted is very normal and can make eating a bit difficult. You can always use non-prescription pain killer such as Paracetamol and have soft food.
No! Although many patients are referred by their own dentist, many take the initiative to book a consultation themselves.
At your first appointment, you will meet with the orthodontist to determine your orthodontic needs and treatment options. This appointment can be arranged by referral from your own dentist, or you may directly request an appointment yourself. Your concern will have carefully listened, and your teeth, bite and jaw position will be examined.
If treatment is agreed, records will be taken at the initial visit or an appointment can be set up to take the records at the patient’s convenience. Complete diagnostic records typically include a medical/dental history, clinical examination, plaster study models of the teeth, digital photos of the patient’s face and teeth, and dental radiographs, which are also helpful in tracking the progress of treatment. After reviewing the records, a detailed custom treatment plan for each patient will be drawn up and sent out to them with the quotation of treatment fees involved, before the appointment made for braces to be fitted.
It is normal for you to feel some aching and discomfort for two to three days when you first receive braces and following any adjustments to your appliance. However, it can make eating uncomfortable. It would be helpful to eat soft foods and sometimes use painkillers. We will advise you on the right painkiller that you may need.
Braces are not just for kids and nearly one in five patients in orthodontic treatment is an adult. Adults may seek orthodontic treatment to improve their oral health, personal appearance, and self-confidence or to prepare the right size implant site with orthodontic treatment. Many adults receive orthodontic treatment before major life event, such as the wedding, or have careers in which having a perfect smile is a great asset, affecting their social and interpersonal interactions positively. We can straighten your teeth at any age provided your teeth, gums and bone structure are healthy.
Properly aligned teeth may be less prone to gum disease. Extra spaces resulting from missing teeth that are not replaced often cause progressive tipping, over eruption, and drifting of other teeth. This worsens the bite, increases the potential for periodontal (gum) problems, and compromises the restorative treatment in adults. Damaged or broken teeth may not look good or function well, and in those cases, auxiliary orthodontic treatment helps the patient’s dentist to carefully restore them.
Treatment time depends on the complexity of your orthodontic needs. Treatment time lasts from 6 months (minor malalignment of front teeth only “social six”) to about 24 months for complex cases. On average, comprehensive treatment for most cases takes about 12-18 month to finish.
Once we started your orthodontic treatment you will be expected to attend every 6-8 weeks to get your appliance adjusted. Appointments tend to be 15-30 minutes in duration.
Yes, you can eat normally; however, you need to adjust your diet and have a relatively soft diet. Loose brackets or appliances can lengthen treatment time, therefore, we suggest that you avoid biting down on anything HARD (Hard Candy, Nuts, Ice, Pizza crust, Raw apples and carrots [unless cut into small pieces]) as well as nail biting or pencil/pen chewing. Sticky foods like chewing gum, caramels, toffees can get caught between brackets and wires and cause loose brackets and dislodged wires. You should minimize the consumption of foods high in sugar (Cookies, Ice cream, Soda, Fizzy drinks) as it causes tooth decay. When we fit the braces for you, we will review this with you.
- You should remove your removable retainer for eating, chewing, brushing and flossing
- Always keep retainer(s) in a case when they are not worn
- Don’t use hot water to clean them
- Keep retainers away from pets, as they like to chew on them.
- Gently scrub the retainer with a toothbrush and a little bit of toothpaste or mild liquid soap to remove the plaque buildup on retainers. You can also use cleaning solutions such as “Retainer Brite” or denture cleaning solution (Steradent).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You can ask you clinician if they had 3 year Specilaist Orthodontist traning or check this by going to the GDC website and look for the name and credentials; the names of all specialist orthodontists in the UK will appear on the Specialist list in Orthodontics. After all, orthodontic treatment is a big investment and you should research the qualifications (MSc, MOrth RCS) of your doctor before starting any type of orthodontic treatment to make sure you receive the outcome you deserve.
Braces do not usually cause sore mouth, but existing sores may be exacerbated by irritation from braces. Ulcerations of the cheeks, lips, or tongue may appear. This is not an emergency, but prompt relief may be achieved by applying a small amount of topical anaesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel) directly to the ulcerated surface using a cotton swab. The gel should be re-applied as needed.
Sometimes new braces can be irritating to the mouth, especially when the patient is eating. Every patient is given a package of clear relief wax during the initial bracket placement appointment. Simply pinch off a small piece, roll it into a ball the size of a small pea, then flatten the ball and push it onto the area of the braces causing irritation. The patient may then eat more comfortably. If the wax is accidentally ingested, it is not a problem, the wax is harmless.
When your teeth shift, the wires may become too short or too long, causing the wire to poke your cheeks. Use a blunt instrument, like the end of a pencil with an eraser, to bend the wire toward your teeth. If this step does not work, take a clean nail clipper or a small cutter and cut the wire flush to the closest bracket; Use a folded tissue of gauze around the area to reduce the possibility of swallowing the snipped piece of wire; we usually recommend against this and it is better you see us in the office or use some WAX.
Often patients find it easiest to place a small piece of orthodontic wax over the poking wire until they can get into the office.
This seldom occurs when the bond between the tooth and the braces breaks, often from excessive force. Wearing a protective mouth guard, while playing sports, will help protect your braces, as well as avoiding hard, crunchy foods.
When a bracket or band has broken off the tooth, it is usually still attached to the main archwire. You will know that the bracket is loose by seeing it moving. If the loose bracket is not bothering you, simply call us to make an appointment to repair the loose bracket as soon as possible. If the loose bracket is poking you, then place a piece of orthodontic wax over the broken bracket until your next appointment. Do not attempt to attach a rubber band to a loose bracket or band.
This can happen after chewing something hard or sticky. Try putting the wire back in place using a clean tweezer. If unable to do that, try putting some wax over the wire where it is irritating you or alternatively call us and we will arrange to see you in the office.
