Adult Braces in Finchley Central | Private Orthodontic Care

Many adults in Finchley Central pursue orthodontic care after thinking about it for years. You are a good candidate if you have crooked or crowded teeth that are hard to clean, or gaps that bother you. People also seek to correct overbites, underbites, or crossbites that cause jaw pain or uneven wear. For example, a 45 year old from Finchley Central treated crowded lower teeth that made flossing hard; after 18 months the smile and hygiene improved. If you wore braces as a teen but your teeth have shifted, adult braces can restore your previous alignment.

Your treatment starts with a 60 minute consultation. We take digital images and sometimes a 3D CBCT scan to fully assess your teeth and jaw. We discuss your goals and recommend the best type of brace for you. The next step is fitting, which typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. We bond the brackets to your teeth and place the archwire. After that, you will come in for adjustments every 6 to 8 weeks, each appointment around 20 to 30 minutes, to tighten the wires and monitor progress. Most adult cases finish between 12 and 24 months. When the braces come off, the final step is retention. You will get a custom retainer and you should wear it as instructed, usually every night for life, to keep your teeth in place.

After braces are fitted and after each adjustment, you may feel tenderness for 3 to 5 days. This is managed with normal pain relief like paracetamol or ibuprofen. You should stick to soft foods during this time, such as soup, yoghurt, and pasta. Your lips and cheeks can feel irritated at first, but we provide dental wax to cover brackets that rub. Good oral hygiene is essential. Brush carefully around brackets and wires after every meal and use interdental brushes or a water flosser to reach where a regular brush cannot. In the long term, wearing the retainer as prescribed preserves your new smile. If a wire breaks or a bracket loosens, call us during office hours (Mon/Wed/Fri 9-5, Tue/Thu 11-7) to arrange a repair.

For many adults, the main alternative to fixed braces is Invisalign. Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners to straighten teeth. Its main advantage is that it is nearly invisible and can be removed for eating and cleaning, offering more flexibility. Our Invisalign Full treatment costs £4,400. However fixed braces are often better for complex cases, such as severe bite issues or rotating canine teeth, and since they are not removable, they work around the clock without depending on patient discipline. Ceramic braces offer a good compromise, providing the power of fixed appliances with tooth coloured brackets that are less noticeable than metal. During your consultation, we give you an honest assessment of which option will deliver the best and most stable result for your needs.

As a private dental practice, we provide a detailed quote with no hidden fees after your initial consultation. The cost of adult braces in North London typically ranges from £3,000 to £5,000, depending on the type of brace chosen and the complexity of your case. For comparison, our Invisalign Full treatment is priced at £4,400. This fee includes all fitting and adjustment appointments, as well as your first set of retainers. We accept private dental insurance from major providers including Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna. Please bring your policy details to your consultation, and we can help you understand your coverage for orthodontic treatment. We do not offer NHS orthodontic treatment, as this is generally only available to patients under 18.

To compare options and make an informed choice about your orthodontic care in Finchley, ask about the best brace type for your teeth, the total treatment time from fitting to removal, whether the price covers all visits and retainers, whether extractions are needed, the specific risks for your case, how progress will be monitored, and the type and plan for long term retention.