Private braces for under-18s
Not eligible for health service (NHS) braces? Our under-18s offer gives private braces or Smartee aligners for £2,900.
Going ahead with treatment? Your £155 assessment fee is deducted. When you choose private treatment after your private assessment, the £155 already paid is taken away from your overall treatment cost. If you use our payment plan, we take it off the £900 deposit, so your deposit is £745 and the monthly amounts do not change. Cross-border (HSE) patients are not included.
IOTN score too low?
The health service (NHS) only pays for braces when teeth show a higher need for treatment, which the orthodontist measures with a scoring system called IOTN (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need). There are five IOTN grades, from 1 (little or no need) to 5 (very great need), and generally only the higher grades qualify.
A lower score does not mean treatment would not help. Braces or aligners can still improve how the teeth line up and look, and even a mild problem can knock a teenager’s confidence. We will explain your score and why it did not qualify.
Private treatment is an option, and it has no waiting list.
Our offer
Private treatment normally costs £3,900. While the patient is younger than 18, we can give our maximum discount, bringing our under-18s offer price to £2,900 – for metal braces or Smartee clear aligners.
Private treatment normally takes between 2 and 24 months, depending on how complex your case is – and milder cases are often fairly simple to put right.
Spread the cost over 12 months
Pay a deposit of £900, then the rest in 12 monthly payments. A £150 plan fee is added to the remaining balance and divided across your 12 monthly payments, so you pay 12 payments of £179.17 (£3,050 altogether). Take a look at all our costs, or read the braces cost guide.
Good to know
- The best time to start is usually between 12 and 14 years old, once most adult teeth are through.
- Starting in the early teens makes it more likely that treatment will be finished before important school exams.
- After treatment, you will need to wear retainers each night (8 to 10 hours), for life.
- You will be seen at your appointments by members of our orthodontic team, including orthodontic therapists, our dentist with enhanced skills in orthodontics, Dr Méabh Maguire, and our specialist orthodontist.
- Brace treatment needs close monitoring, so if appointments are missed repeatedly, we may have to stop treatment early.
Treatment depends on a satisfactory assessment, and not everyone is suitable for orthodontic treatment. Read more about braces for children and teenagers and health service or private treatment.
How to get started
Private patients can refer themselves – no dentist referral is needed. Or ring reception on 028 3870 2623. Already a patient? Ask your clinician during your appointment.
Want to see what your result could look like?
If you have already been to an appointment with us, we can usually provide a simulation of the expected outcome of treatment. Simply contact us using the email address you were given at your appointment, or ring the practice on 028 3870 2623 for more information.
Frequently asked questions
My child was not eligible for health service braces. What are our options?
The health service (NHS) only funds braces when the IOTN score shows a higher need. If the score is too low, private treatment is available. While your child is under 18, private braces or Smartee clear aligners are £2,900 with our under-18s offer (usually £3,900).
What is IOTN?
IOTN (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need) is the scoring system that decides who qualifies for health service braces. There are five grades, from 1 (little or no need) to 5 (very great need).
If the IOTN score is low, does that mean braces will not help?
No. A low score simply means the health service will not pay. Treatment can still improve how the teeth line up and look.
What do private braces for teenagers cost in Portadown?
With our under-18s offer, metal braces or Smartee clear aligners are £2,900 while the patient is younger than 18. The normal price is £3,900.
Can we pay monthly?
Yes. You pay a £900 deposit, followed by 12 monthly payments of £179.17 – a £150 plan fee is added to the remaining balance and divided across your 12 monthly payments, making £3,050 in total.
Do we need a referral?
No. Private patients can refer themselves through our self-referral form, or call 028 3870 2623.
Questions about your treatment?
Our team in Portadown is always happy to help. Ring us on 028 3870 2623 or drop us an email.