FAQ
General FAQ’s
- Where are you located?
- What are your opening hours?
- Will I need to come in for a consultation?
- Is there a waiting list to be seen?
- I work during business hours, am I able to have after-hours appointments?
- What will happen on my first visit?
- How much should I expect to pay for orthodontic treatment?
- I’d like to book a consultation appointment, how do I do this?
- I am unhappy with the service or my treatment how do I complain?
- Where are you located?
The Brace is located in the City of London just a 2 minute walk from Liverpool Street Station 15 Artillery Passage, London, E1 7LJ
Visit our Contact Us page for more information on how to find us. - What are your opening hours?
Monday 9:00 – 17:00 Tuesday 9:00 – 17:00 Wednesday 9:00 – 17:00 Thursday 9:00 – 19:15 Friday 8:30 – 16:00 - Will I need to come in for a consultation?
Yes, you will need to come in for a full clinical consultation with one of our Orthodontists. They will be able to determine which type of braces will be suitable, and devise a treatment plan for you.
- Is there a waiting list to be seen?
Private Patients will be seen quickly. Usually we are able to see a patient for their first consultation within a few weeks. NHS patients must go on a waiting list to be seen for their initial assessment, and then will have a short wait to begin their treatment, should they meet NHS IOTN criteria. Please note that NHS patients must be under the age of 18 at the time of fitting their braces.
- I work during business hours, am I able to have after-hours appointments?
Yes, we offer late appointments every Thursday until 7pm.
- What will happen on my first visit?
Whether you are a Private, Low-Cost, or NHS patient, your first appointment will be a clinical consultation. For Private and Low-Cost patients, the consultation appointment will be where you first meet the Orthodontist. The Orthodontist will have a look at your teeth, take some measurements, and then photos and x-rays will be taken. The Orthodontist will advise you as to which types of braces will be most suitable in your particular circumstance, and we will then discuss payment options and book your next appointment. For NHS patients, the consultation will be an assessment to determine whether or not you qualify for NHS-funded Orthodontic treatment. If you do qualify, then the next step will be a records appointment, during which further measurements, photos, and x-rays will be taken. If you do not qualify, you will be given the choice of commencing Orthodontic treatment as a Private or Low-Cost patient.
- How much should I expect to pay for orthodontic treatment?
A complete course of treatment ranges from £2,600 to £8,800, depending on the type of braces you choose to have. We offer a range of payment plans that we can tailor to suit your needs, for more detailed information on fees and payment plans take a look at our fees page. Low –Cost fees are available to patients under the age of 18 on a limited selection of brace types.
- I’d like to book a consultation appointment, how do I do this?
To book your consultation please call us on 020 7247 5768 and speak to our lovely Reception Team. Our Receptionists will be happy to assist you in making your initial consultation appointment. To secure your appointment, we ask that the consultation fee of £95 is paid at the time of booking. The consultation fee will be deducted from the cost of your treatment.
- I am unhappy with the service or my treatment how do I complain?
We hope that you will never need to complain about our service or the treatment you receive at The Brace. However, if you are ever unhappy please let us know either in person or in writing to Dr Murtuza Hasnaini, The Brace Orthodontic Practice, 15 Artillery Passage, London E1 7LJ and also read our Complaints Policy.
Private Patient FAQ’s
- Am I too old to have braces?
- Will braces affect my speech?
- I have crowns/bridges, can I still have orthodontic treatment?
- Why should I choose to have orthodontic treatment?
- I'd like to learn a little more about my possible options- can I come and speak to someone before having a clinical consultation?
- How long does treatment take?
- How often will I need to see the Orthodontist?
- Do I need a referral from my General Dentist?
- I am particularly concerned about wearing visible braces, are invisible braces available?
- Will I experience pain?
- Will I need to wear retainers?
- Do you offer tooth whitening treatments?
- Am I too old to have braces?
The good news is that no-one is too old to have their teeth straightened! We have treated patients in their 60’s. Innovative technology means that virtually invisible braces are now available, which are extremely popular with our adult patients.
- Will braces affect my speech?
The braces that are fitted to the front surface of the teeth do not affect how you talk or the sound of your voice. However, braces that are fitted to the backs of the teeth (lingual braces) may affect your speech for a short time. Most people are able to talk normally within 2-7 days.
- I have crowns/bridges, can I still have orthodontic treatment?
Yes, braces can be fitted to crowns and bridges in a similar way to those fitted to natural teeth. However, we would advise you to delay having any new crowns or bridgework until after the completion of your orthodontic treatment.
- Why should I choose to have orthodontic treatment?
There are many benefits of having orthodontic treatment, a beautiful smile can dramatically improve your confidence and straight teeth are also easier to keep clean and healthy.
- I'd like to learn a little more about my possible options, can I come and speak to someone before having a clinical consultation?
You are welcome to come in for a free meeting with one of our Treatment Co-Ordinators, who will be able to show you the range of braces available, talk through any concerns you may have and give you an estimate of treatment costs. Contact us to arrange an appointment.
- How long does treatment take?
Treatment time is dependent on the individual patient and their treatment plan. On average, most adult patients with fixed braces can expect to wear them for between 18-24 months.
- How often will I need to see the Orthodontist?
Generally, you will need to come in for appointments every 6-8 weeks, although this depends on the type of braces that you choose to wear.
- Do I need a referral from my General Dentist?
No, you do not need a referral to come and see us. You can book your consultation or appointments online or just call us.
- I am particularly concerned about wearing visible braces, are invisible braces available?
Yes, we offer a range of invisible, virtually invisible and discreet braces to suit everyone. For more information on the different types of braces we offer, take a look at the Invisible Orthodontics page.
- Will I experience pain?
Generally, braces are not associated with pain. You may experience some short-term discomfort after the braces are fitted and after each adjustment. This can easily be remedied with a painkiller.
- Will I need to wear retainers?
Retainers are essential as they limit the movement of your teeth after the braces have been removed. Without retainers, teeth have a tendency to drift back to their original positions. As a Private Patient, you will be given both fixed retainers (a thin wire glued to the back of your teeth) and removable retainers (clear plastic trays that fit snugly over your teeth and are virtually invisible) to ensure your teeth stay straight. These are included in the cost of your treatment.
- Do you offer tooth whitening treatments?
Yes we do, and if you recommend a friend to us you are both entitled to free whitening! We currently offer a variety of home whitening systems.
NHS Patient FAQ’s
- Do I need braces?
- How does Orthodontics work?
- Do braces hurt?
- Can I choose the colours on my braces?
- Can I choose which sort of brace I have?
- Am I able to have after-school appointments?
- Can I eat any foods?
- Will I have to have teeth removed?
- Do you accept NHS patients?
- What is IOTN?
- What if I don’t qualify for NHS treatment?
- Is there a difference between NHS and Private treatment?
- Can I have white brackets under the NHS?
- How much does Private or Low-Cost treatment cost?
- Can I still play sport?
- How important is it to keep my teeth clean when I’m wearing braces?
- What are elastics?
- What happens if my braces break?
- What are retainers?
- Do I need braces?
Braces can improve your smile! A great smile can make a big difference to your confidence. Straight teeth are also easier to keep clean and healthy.
- How does Orthodontics work?
As you are growing, your jaw is growing too. Your teeth can move through the bone in your jaw so the orthodontist can shuffle your teeth around, using a brace and making them nice and straight.
- Do braces hurt?
The good news is that Orthodontics is rarely painful. You will probably experience some discomfort for about 24 hours after having the braces fitted, and after each adjustment. This discomfort is a little bit like a headache and can usually be fixed by simply taking a painkiller.
- Can I choose the colours on my braces?
Yes! You are able to choose the colours of the ‘modules’ which you might have seen on your friends’ braces. There is a wide range of colours to choose from.
- Can I choose which sort of brace I have?
It depends on whether you are a Private Patient, a Low-Cost Private Patient, or an NHS Patient. As a Private patient, you are able to choose from a range of different types of braces. Our Low-Cost Patients have a choice of two types of braces. Under the NHS however, you are only able to have fixed metal braces.
- Am I able to have after-school appointments?
Yes, if you are a Private Patient, you can choose appointments at any time of the day. Our Low-Cost Patients and NHS Patients are able to have appointments between 9am and 3pm.
- Can I eat any foods?
When wearing fixed braces, some foods that we eat are harmful to your brace and are likely to cause breakages. Toffees, boiled sweets, mints and hard crusty bread etc. will force the brace away from the teeth or damage/distort the wires. They will also stick around the brace and teeth and cause decay leaving permanent marks or cavities. Hard fruits or vegetables such as apples or raw carrots can be eaten but must be cut into bite sized pieces first.
- Will I have to have teeth removed?
If you have overcrowding, you may need to have some small teeth removed in order to create enough space for the rest of your teeth to be moved into a perfect arch. However, the Orthodontist will always recommend removing teeth as a last resort. At the end of your treatment, you will be left with a lovely smile and no-one will ever know that you had teeth out!
- Do you accept NHS patients?
We do accept NHS patients. To qualify for NHS treatment you must be under the age of 18 at the start of the treatment and meet NHS IOTN criteria.
- What is IOTN?
IOTN stands for Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need. It is a ranking assigned to each patient to determine the necessity for Orthodontic treatment and is used to assess eligibility for NHS treatment.
- What if I don’t qualify for NHS treatment?
If you do not meet the NHS IOTN criteria, it is still possible to have orthodontic treatment. At The Brace we offer low-cost fees for under 18’s on fixed metal or ceramic braces. Or alternatively you can receive treatment as a private patient and choose from our range of discreet and virtually invisible braces, for more information please visit the Invisible Orthodontics page.
- Is there a difference between NHS and Private treatment?
Yes, there are several differences between NHS and private treatment. Under the NHS, the choices of brace type and appointment times are very limited. With Private treatment, there is a wide range of brace type available, appointment times are flexible and include after-school appointments.
- Can I have white brackets under the NHS?
Metal braces are the only braces available under the NHS. Tooth-coloured braces are available on our Private and Low-Cost schemes.
- How much does Private or Low-Cost treatment cost?
Low-Cost treatment starts at £1800. Private treatment starts at £2600. We offer interest-free payment plans and are happy to tailor them to your needs.
- Can I still play sport?
You can still play sport and do all of the things that you enjoy doing now! However, we recommend the use of gum shields, and that you do not participate in direct contact sports, such as kickboxing etc.
- How important is it to keep my teeth clean when I’m wearing braces?
It is essential to maintain excellent oral hygiene when you are wearing braces. You may find that it is a little more difficult to brush and floss, but we will give you instructions on how to brush with your braces. Starter kits containing special brushes to help get in and around your braces are available to buy.
- What are elastics?
Elastics are small elastic bands that some patients need to wear to correct the position of the jaw. Not everyone needs elastics, but they are easy to wear.
- What happens if my braces break?
It is unlikely that your braces will break if you are following the instructions of the Orthodontist. However, if something does break, we will book you in to have it fixed. Although sometimes it is fine to wait until your next fixed adjustment appointment to have it repaired.
- What are retainers?
Retainers are essential as they help to keep your teeth straight when your braces are taken off. Teeth move all through life, and wearing retainers can limit the movement, keeping your teeth straight. Retainers can be fixed (a thin wire glued to the back of your teeth where they are invisible) or removable (clear plastic trays that fit snugly over your teeth and are almost invisible).
