Braces in the UK: Types, Costs and How They Work

The main types of braces in the UK are metal (traditional stainless steel), ceramic (tooth-coloured brackets), lingual (fitted to the back of the teeth) and self-ligating braces, which use a built-in clip instead of elastic ties. Clear aligners are a removable alternative rather than a brace. The right choice depends on how complex your case is, how visible you are happy for the appliance to be, and your budget.

Private braces in the UK typically cost around £1,500 to £3,500 for metal braces, £2,000 to £4,500 for ceramic braces and £4,000 to £8,000 for lingual braces fitted behind the teeth. The final price depends on case complexity, treatment length, practice location and whether retainers are included. NHS treatment is free for eligible under-18s who meet the clinical threshold.

Yes. Adult orthodontic treatment is increasingly common in the UK, and braces can move teeth at any age as long as the gums and supporting bone are healthy. Treatment can take slightly longer in adults because jaw growth has finished, and many adults choose ceramic braces, lingual braces or clear aligners for a more discreet appearance. Adults usually pay privately because NHS orthodontics is mainly for under-18s.

Braces treatment typically takes 12 to 24 months depending on the complexity of your case. Mild crowding or spacing can sometimes be corrected in under a year, while significant bite problems or severe crowding often take longer. Attending adjustment appointments every six to eight weeks, avoiding breakages and wearing any elastics as instructed all help keep treatment on schedule.

NHS orthodontic treatment is available for children and young people under 18 who meet the clinical eligibility threshold, assessed using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Treatment for eligible patients is free, but waiting lists can be long in some areas. Adults are not routinely treated under the NHS for orthodontics unless there is an exceptional clinical need, so most adult braces are private.

Braces are not usually painful, but you may feel pressure and mild soreness for a few days after they are fitted and after each adjustment. The brackets can also rub the inside of the cheeks until your mouth adapts. Soft foods, over-the-counter pain relief and orthodontic wax over any rubbing bracket normally make this manageable, and the discomfort typically settles within a week.

Metal and ceramic braces work in exactly the same way, with brackets bonded to the teeth and joined by an archwire. Metal braces are the most robust and usually the most cost-effective option. Ceramic braces use tooth-coloured brackets that are far less visible, but they are slightly more fragile, the elastic ties can stain, and they typically cost a few hundred pounds more.

With braces you can eat most normal foods, but you should avoid hard, sticky or chewy foods such as boiled sweets, toffee, nuts and crusty bread, which can break brackets or bend wires. Cut firmer foods like apples and carrots into small pieces. Softer foods are most comfortable in the first few days after fitting or an adjustment, when teeth are more tender.

Yes. Retainers are essential after any orthodontic treatment because teeth naturally tend to drift back towards their original position. Your orthodontist will fit a removable retainer, a fixed wire bonded behind the front teeth, or both. Most UK orthodontists now recommend long-term retention, typically wearing removable retainers at night indefinitely, to protect the result you have paid for.

Yes. Fixed braces are well suited to correcting bite problems, including overbites, underbites, crossbites and open bites, and they give the orthodontist precise control over tooth movement. Elastics are often used alongside braces to adjust how the upper and lower teeth meet. Very severe skeletal bite problems in adults may need jaw surgery combined with braces, which an orthodontist can assess.

Lingual braces are fixed braces bonded to the back (tongue side) of the teeth, so they are completely hidden from the front. Each bracket is usually custom-made, which makes them the most expensive type of brace in the UK and means they need a clinician with specialist training. Speech often feels slightly different for the first two to four weeks while the tongue adapts.

Yes. An online photo assessment through Virtual Consultant Online lets a registered clinician review guided photos of your teeth and give you an early view of likely suitability, treatment complexity and cost before you book a clinic visit. It is a low-commitment first step. A final treatment plan and confirmed price still require an in-person examination and records.