Braces for kids and teens in London

Removable braces are clear plastic plates that clip into place behind your child’s teeth. They are held in place by a thin metal wire. Removable braces can be used to treat crossbites, overbites and crowding.

Early treatment with removable braces may prevent future orthodontic problems, or ease future treatment with fixed braces if necessary.

Functional appliances are removable appliances that are worn on both the upper and lower teeth. They are effective when used just before the teenage growth spurt, which is usually between the ages of 8-12 in boys and 8-11 in girls.

The twin block is the most common functional appliance we use. It positions the lower jaw further forward over time to slowly improve the lower jaw position. Treatment usually lasts between 6 to 12 months.

The Carriere^® Motion 3D appliance is a small, discreet appliance that fits onto the side of your teeth. This minimally invasive and comfortable appliance provides an alternative way to correct misaligned back teeth before treatment with braces or Invisalign^® aligners.

The Carriere^® Motion 3D appliance delivers a light backward force and controlled rotation of the molars to move the whole canine-to-molar segment as a unit. Treatment time takes approximately four to six months to complete (with good compliance).

Traditional metal braces are the original orthodontic option. We can use them to treat even complex orthodontic issues. Modern metal brackets are smaller and more comfortable than braces of the past, and are even more effective at straightening your smile.

Braces work using a series of brackets (attached to each tooth), a metal archwire (going through the brackets) and small elastics to hold it all together. Children enjoy that they can change the colour of their elastics to suit their mood or celebrate certain holidays.

To progress through treatment, your child will come in for regular adjustment appointments where we will place targeted pressure on their teeth through small bends in their archwires. This pressure will slowly guide your child’s smile into alignment.

Clear ceramic braces work in the same way as traditional metal braces, except the brackets are made from clear or tooth-coloured ceramic material. Ceramic brackets can blend in naturally with your smile, and paired with a white archwire, they make a very discreet treatment option.

Invisalign^® First is an Invisalign^® treatment for kids. It uses custom clear aligners to guide the growth of your child’s smile. These aligners are removable, so your child doesn’t need to adjust their diet or brushing and flossing habits during treatment.

Your child may need a space maintainer to hold space for their future adult teeth if they lose any of their baby teeth earlier than expected. We have both fixed and removable space maintainers available.

Fixed space maintainers are more common and are usually recommended in most cases. They use a band that is cemented onto a tooth (normally a molar tooth). The space maintainer will remain there until the permanent tooth has started to grow in.

Removable space maintainers look a bit like retainers and should be worn for most of the day. Some of these can have a false tooth added for aesthetic reasons if needed. These space maintainers can be removed for eating and cleaning.

Contact sports and physical activities may pose a risk to your child’s teeth, so we recommend protecting their teeth, gums and appliance using a custom mouthguard.

Mouthguards for patients with braces can be designed so that both upper and lower teeth are protected and have enough space to accommodate their braces. A generic mouthguard won’t offer the same protection and can still result in injury to your child’s mouth or appliance.

Not only do we provide custom orthodontic treatments for children, we also offer gentle paediatric dental services. This includes the use of inhalation sedation as needed for nervous children. We can help your child with:

• Fissure sealants
• Fluoride varnish
• Fillings
• Dental crowns
• Root canal treatment
• Dental extractions
• And more!

To qualify for NHS orthodontic treatment, children up to the age of 18 need to be clinically assessed by a dentist or orthodontist; there is currently a waiting list of 1–2 years at NHS orthodontic practices for this assessment. An Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) score of 4 or 5, indicating a significant or great need, is required. Orthosmile's clinics in West London provide a free IOTN assessment for children up to 16.

Yes — NHS braces are free in the UK for children under 18 who meet the NHS criteria of an IOTN score of 4 or 5. For children below the threshold, or who require certain brace types such as clear aligners, Orthosmile's clinics in West London offer affordable 0% interest-free payment options at convenient after-school appointment times.

You need to register with an NHS dentist first, and they will usually refer your child to an NHS orthodontist once they identify a problem. The usual age for referral is between 10 and 14, when all the adult teeth have erupted. If, upon referral, you are told there is a waiting list for your first consultation, remember that our Orthosmile clinics in West London offer free consultations for children under 16 and can advise you of your child's eligibility for NHS braces.

NHS orthodontic waiting lists vary across practices, but anything between 12 and 24 months from referral to the start of treatment is common. At our Orthosmile West London clinics we can see under-16s for a free consultation and start private treatment within two weeks.

Ideally every child should have an orthodontic assessment at the age of 8–9. There are some treatments that can start at this age to modify the jaw growth pattern, help develop the dental arches to create more space for crowded teeth, and correct cross-bites. This can help avoid extractions or possible jaw surgery in future once growth is complete. Under the NHS, most dentists make the initial referral from 10–14, once all the adult teeth have erupted — by which time some corrections that would have been possible at an earlier age are no longer possible, or are far more difficult.

Private braces for children at Orthosmile cost from £1,990 to £5,500 depending on the complexity of the case and the type of brace. Fixed dual-arch metal braces are usually between £3,000 and £4,000, Invisalign® First for under-10s is between £2,500 and £3,500, and Invisalign® Comprehensive is from £3,800 to £5,500. At Orthosmile we provide free fixed retainers and 2 free sets of removable retainers post-treatment, worth £900, on all our teenage treatments. Children under the age of 10 suitable for Invisalign® First treatment will also receive their removable retainers post-treatment free of charge, and we will continue to see them for further six-monthly reviews free of charge until all the permanent teeth have erupted.

NHS orthodontic treatment is usually carried out with fixed metal braces. However, as a private patient a wider choice of appliances is available, such as arch expanders including an RME (Rapid Maxillary Expander), Invisalign® First, Carriere Motion and various functional growth-modification appliances, ceramic and lingual braces, and Invisalign® Teen. The choice depends on the patient's age, compliance and the complexity of the case.

If your child has been refused NHS orthodontic treatment because of a low IOTN score, we at Orthosmile are more than happy to see your child for a second IOTN assessment free of charge and to discuss the various treatment options and costs with no obligation. Orthodontic treatment at an early age helps children grow with confidence and self-esteem, and they are likely to become more successful in their education and career.

The majority of NHS orthodontic treatment in the UK is for children under 18, except for certain cases where adults need a combination of metal braces and jaw surgery, usually carried out at NHS hospitals. At Orthosmile we provide affordable treatment for adults with 0% interest-free payment plans.

The usual treatment time for children is between 14 and 18 months, but it can vary from 12 to 24 months depending on complexity and compliance. Once the braces are removed, retainers are worn to keep the teeth in their new position.

Use the NHS 'Find a Dentist' tool at nhs.uk to find a dentist near you and register with them. They usually refer you to your local NHS orthodontic practice, which will often have a waiting list for your first appointment. At our Orthosmile West London clinics we offer a free consultation for children under 16 to assess your child's IOTN score and give you a free, no-obligation treatment plan discussing your options and costs.

After the braces are removed, retainers are fitted to prevent the teeth relapsing. At Orthosmile we provide both a fixed retainer (a thin wire glued to the back of the six front teeth) and two sets of clear removable retainers to be worn at night only. The cost of these retainers is £900, and they are provided free of charge to all patients who have treatment with us.