Metal braces
from$3,900
- Small steel brackets joined by a thin wire
- Colored bands for children who want them
- Handles the widest range of bites
- Adjustment visits every 6 to 8 weeks
Braces and aligners, explained before anything is fitted
Straightline is an orthodontic practice for children, teenagers and adults. Every treatment starts with a consultation: an examination, photos and a plain talk about the options, how long they take and what they cost.
45 minfor the first consultation
3 optionsmetal, ceramic or aligners
1 planin writing, every fee included
- Metal and ceramic braces
- Clear aligners
- Children, teens and adults
- Wednesday evenings and Saturdays
Three ways to straighten teeth
The right option depends on your teeth, your bite and the way you live, and the orthodontist explains the tradeoffs at your consultation. Prices are for a typical full treatment.
Ceramic braces
from$4,600
- Tooth colored brackets that are harder to spot
- Moves teeth the same way as metal braces
- Clear bands can pick up stains from some foods
- Adjustment visits every 6 to 8 weeks
Clear aligners
from$4,300
- A series of clear, removable trays
- Worn for about 22 hours a day
- Taken out to eat and to brush
- Check ins every 8 to 10 weeks
Each fee covers the braces or aligners, every adjustment visit and your first set of retainers. The exact fee and length depend on your teeth and are written into your plan before you decide.
What happens at the consultation
The first visit takes about 45 minutes. The orthodontist looks at your teeth, bite and jaw, takes photos and a digital scan, and talks you through what they see on the screen. X rays are taken only when they are needed to plan treatment.
You leave knowing whether treatment is recommended now, later or not at all. Within a week a written plan follows with the options, the likely length of treatment and every fee, and nobody expects a decision on the day.
- Consultation $95, taken off the treatment fee if you go ahead
- Children come with a parent or carer
- Second opinions are welcome
- Your dentist kept informed, with your permission
From first visit to final retainer
Five stages, each with a date in your diary, so you always know what comes next.
Consultation
An examination, photos and a scan, then a plain talk about the options.
Your plan
A written plan within a week, with the length of treatment and every fee.
Fitting day
Braces take about an hour to fit. Aligners are handed over with a short lesson on wearing them.
Regular check ins
Short visits every 6 to 10 weeks to adjust the wire or move to the next aligners.
Retainers
Once the teeth are in place, retainers help keep them there, and we explain how long to wear them.
Fees at a glance
Guide prices for the most common visits and treatments. Your plan states the exact fee before anything starts.
| Visit or treatment | Typical length | From |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | 45 minutes | $95 |
| Early check for children aged 7 to 10 | 30 minutes | $60 |
| Metal braces, full treatment | 18 to 24 months | $3,900 |
| Ceramic braces, full treatment | 18 to 24 months | $4,600 |
| Clear aligners, full treatment | 12 to 18 months | $4,300 |
| Replacement retainer | One visit | $180 |
Payment plans spread the treatment fee over its length, and the practice adds no interest. Insurance cover for orthodontics varies widely between countries and plans, so check what yours includes.
Living with braces and aligners
At the fitting we show you how to look after your braces or aligners. These are the topics that come up most in the first few weeks.
Cleaning around brackets
You take home a small kit and a demonstration of how to brush and clean between brackets, so teeth come out of braces as healthy as they went in.
Food and drink
Hard, sticky and chewy foods can loosen brackets, and you get a short list at the fitting. Aligner wearers take their trays out for everything except water.
Sport and music
A mouthguard shaped to fit over braces protects teeth during contact sports. Players of wind and brass instruments often need a little time to adjust, and we can talk it through.
If something breaks
A loose bracket or a wire that rubs is rarely urgent. Call during practice hours and we fit you in for a short repair visit.
Around the practice
Bright treatment bays, a digital scanner in place of messy impressions, and a waiting area with room for the whole family.
Patients and parents on their treatment (example reviews)
Our son asked a hundred questions at the consultation and every one got a straight answer. The written plan made the decision easy.
Aligners at 38 felt like a big step. Check ins were quick, the team worked around a busy job, and nobody at the office noticed the trays.
Ceramic braces through the last two years of school. A bracket came loose the week before exams and it was fixed that same afternoon.
Questions about braces and aligners
When should a child first see an orthodontist?
Many orthodontists suggest a first check at around age 7, when the adult teeth begin to arrive, although most children who need braces start later. An early check is short, and often the advice is simply to wait and look again in a year.
Do we need a referral from a dentist?
No. You can book a consultation directly. With your permission we keep your dentist informed, and you keep seeing them for check ups and cleaning throughout treatment.
Is an orthodontist different from a dentist?
An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed further specialist training in moving teeth and correcting bites. Titles and registration rules vary by country, and ours are registered as specialists where we practice.
Braces or aligners, which is better?
Neither is better for everyone. Aligners suit many teens and adults with mild to moderate crowding, while braces can manage a wider range of bites. The orthodontist sets out the options at the consultation, and the choice is yours.
Will it hurt?
Most people feel pressure and some tenderness for a few days after a fitting or an adjustment, and cheeks can take a week or two to get used to brackets. The orthodontist explains what to expect at the fitting.
What if an aligner is lost or a bracket breaks?
Call during practice hours. A lost aligner is usually replaced, or you move on to the next set, and a broken bracket is repaired at a short visit. Replacement fees are listed in your plan.
Book a consultation
Pick the treatment you are curious about, or choose not sure. Our coordinator writes back within one working day, holding the time you asked for or the nearest opening in the diary.
The consultation costs $95 and is taken off the treatment fee if you go ahead.
- 45 minutes with the orthodontist
- A written plan within a week
- Payment arranged directly with the practice
Visiting Straightline
The practice is on the second floor with an elevator. Slots after school and on Wednesday evenings fill first, so ask for those early.
Phone and email
Second floor of a medical building near the central library, with an elevator, bike racks and parking behind the building
Practice hours
| Monday and Tuesday | 08:00 to 17:30 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 to 20:00 |
| Thursday and Friday | 08:00 to 17:30 |
| Saturday | 09:00 to 13:00 |
Broken bracket or lost aligner?
Call during practice hours and we fit in a short repair visit, usually within two working days. For an injury to the mouth or severe pain, contact a dentist or your local emergency number.