Metal braces
Fixed braces from fitting day to braces off – what to expect.
What are metal braces?
Metal braces are a type of fixed brace: small metal brackets are stuck to your teeth and linked by a thin wire. The wire is adjusted at each appointment to guide your teeth gently into a better position.
Because they stay in place, metal braces are working all day and night. They can correct many problems, such as crowding, gaps and teeth that stick out.
You will be looked after by our orthodontic team, which includes orthodontic therapists, our dentist with enhanced skills in orthodontics, Dr Méabh Maguire, and our specialist orthodontist, Dr William Maguire.
At a glance
- Appointments usually every 8 to 10 weeks.
- Treatment usually takes around 18 to 24 months, but this varies.
- Private fee: from £2,900, priced the same as aligners according to complexity. If you qualify, health service (NHS) treatment is available.
- Retainers for life when your braces come off.
Your treatment step by step
Records
We take some photographs and a 3D digital scan of your teeth, then contact you within 12 weeks with your options.
Extractions (if needed)
Some patients need teeth taken out to create space. Your own dentist does this before the brace is fitted.
Fitting day
A bracket is stuck to each tooth and the wire is fitted. It is not painful, but your teeth will feel tender afterwards.
Adjustments
Roughly every 8 to 10 weeks, we see you to adjust your brace and check your progress.
Some patients also need small elastic bands that hook onto the brace to correct the bite. If you are given elastics, wear them exactly as we show you – forgetting them can make treatment take longer, or you may not get the best result.
The first few weeks
Comfort
- Your teeth will probably ache for 3 to 5 days, and may do again after each adjustment. Simple painkillers (always check with a parent and follow the instructions on the packet) can help.
- If the brace is rubbing, press a small piece of orthodontic wax over it.
- For sore spots or ulcers, rinse with warm salt water.
- While they are moving, teeth can feel a little loose. This is normal.
Eating and cleaning
- Start with soft foods and cut food into small pieces.
- Steer clear of hard, sticky and chewy foods like toffees, chewing gum, nuts and crusty bread.
- Avoid sugary and fizzy drinks, diet drinks included.
- Brush after every meal and before bed, using interdental brushes around the brackets.
If a bracket comes loose or a wire is poking, cover it with wax and get in touch. See brace care and problems for more help, and sport and braces if you play sport.
Braces off
Once your teeth are in the right place, the brace comes off. We call this your debond appointment. We then give you retainers to keep your teeth in their new position.
Spare retainers for £60 each (£120 for an upper and lower): just order and pay on the day your braces are removed. You save £45 per retainer compared with a standard replacement (£90 per set). The lab makes your spare alongside your main retainers, using the same scan, so it costs them less – and we pass the saving straight on to you.
Wear your retainers each night while you sleep (8 to 10 hours), for life. Stop wearing them and your teeth are likely to move.
Cost and health service treatment
From £2,900
Priced the same as clear aligners: £2,900, £3,900 or £4,900 according to complexity. Alternatively, pay a £900 deposit followed by 12 monthly payments for the rest (a £150 plan fee is added to the remaining balance and divided across your 12 monthly payments). You can refer yourself. Already paid the £155 private assessment? Your deposit is then £745, with no change to the monthly amounts. Cross-border (HSE) patients are excluded.
If you qualify
For patients whose teeth are significantly out of position (IOTN). You will need a referral from your dentist. Expect around 6 to 12 months for an assessment, then 3 to 6 months before treatment begins, depending on the case.
Download
- PDFFixed brace advice2-page advice sheet
- PDFWearing Class II elastics1-page advice sheet
- PDFWearing Class III elastics1-page advice sheet
Questions and answers
How long do metal braces take?
Fixed brace treatment normally takes around 18 to 24 months, although this varies between patients.
Do braces hurt?
Having a brace fitted is not painful. Expect your teeth to ache for 3 to 5 days afterwards, and perhaps again after each adjustment. Simple painkillers (always check with a parent and follow the instructions on the packet) can help.
How much are metal braces in Portadown?
At Portadown Orthodontics, private metal braces and clear aligners are the same price: from £2,900, from £3,900 or from £4,900, according to how complex your case is. For those who qualify, health service (NHS) treatment is available.
Will teeth need to come out before my braces?
Sometimes, to make enough room to straighten the teeth. We will explain whether extractions are needed. Your own dentist does them, and they are not part of our private fee.
Is a spare set of retainers available?
Yes. Order and pay on the day your braces are removed and a spare is £60 per retainer (£120 for an upper and lower). The lab makes it alongside your main retainers from the same scan, so it costs them less – and we pass the saving straight on to you. At any other time, replacement retainers are £105 each (£210 for upper and lower).
Questions about your treatment?
Our team in Portadown is always happy to help. Ring us on 028 3870 2623 or drop us an email.