Costs in Altens at a Glance
| NHS orthodontic charges | Free under 26; then 80% of the fee, capped at £384 |
|---|---|
| Deprivation | More deprived than most of Scotland |
| Nearest practice listing private treatment | Cove Dental & Implant Centre | Private & Nhs Dentist Aberdeen, Aberdeen — 1.2 miles; 10 within 10 miles |
| Nearest practice listing payment plans | The Orthodontic Clinic, Aberdeen — 2 miles; 3 within 10 miles |
| Practices on our register | 52 within 5 miles, 61 within 10, 77 within 20 |
| Area type (ONS) | Large Urban Areas |
| Access within Aberdeen City | 34th closest to a practice of 60 places in the county; the county median is 0.8 miles |
Sources: Census 2021 (NOMIS), DfE Get Information About Schools, ONS geography, UK NHS dental charge schedules and our orthodontic practice register. Distances are straight-line.
Practices near Altens that list payment plans
On our practice register: 52 practices within 5 miles of Altens, 61 practices within 10 and 77 practices within 20. The closest is KINCORTH DENTAL PRACTICE in Aberdeen, 0.9 miles west. The nearest that mentions finance or monthly payments is The Orthodontic Clinic, 2.0 miles north-west.
| Practice | Distance | NHS | Private | Finance | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KINCORTH DENTAL PRACTICEAberdeen | 0.9 miles west | ✓ | – | – | – |
| MILLER RM & MILLER MJAberdeen | 1.2 miles north | ✓ | – | – | – |
| Cove Dental & Implant Centre | Private & Nhs Dentist AberdeenAberdeen | 1.2 miles south | – | ✓ | – | 4.1 (88 reviews) |
| COVE BAY DENTALCove | 1.2 miles south | ✓ | – | – | – |
| Holburn Dental and Implant CentreAberdeen | 1.6 miles west | ✓ | ✓ | – | 4.5 (219 reviews) |
| HOLBURN DENTAL CAREAberdeen | 1.6 miles west | ✓ | – | – | – |
✓ listed in the practice's own information; – not mentioned, which doesn't mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
Nearest places to Altens with practices listing payment plans
The closest town with practices listing payment plans is Aberdeen, 0.9 miles west; the next are Cove (1.2 miles south).
Counted from the practices on our register around this place, nearest first. Straight-line distances.
Best-reviewed practices within 20 miles of Altens
Of the practices within 20 miles with at least 10 Google reviews, the highest rated is Andrew Scott Dental Care in Aberdeen (4.9 from 240 reviews), 2.5 miles north-west.
| Practice | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Scott Dental CareAberdeen | 4.9 (240 reviews) | 2.5 miles north-west |
| Fergus & GloverAberdeen | 4.9 (129 reviews) | 2.0 miles north-west |
| Aberdeen OrthodonticsAberdeen | 4.8 (106 reviews) | 2.3 miles north |
| The Dental PracticeAberdeen | 4.8 (28 reviews) | 2.2 miles north-west |
Ratings are each practice's public Google review average and say nothing about clinical quality. Straight-line distances.
What a course costs from Altens, travel included
The fees are typical UK private prices. Travel is added for the journey to KINCORTH DENTAL PRACTICE, the nearest practice on our register (under a mile away, about 1.2 miles by road), at the 45p a mile HMRC rate for every visit there and back.
| Treatment | Typical fee | Visits | Travel | Total from here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal braces | £1,500 to £3,500 | 10 to 20 | £10 to £20 | £1,510 to £3,520 |
| Ceramic braces | £2,000 to £4,500 | 10 to 20 | £10 to £20 | £2,010 to £4,520 |
| Lingual braces | £4,000 to £8,000 | 10 to 20 | £10 to £20 | £4,010 to £8,020 |
| Clear aligners | £1,500 to £5,500 | 6 to 10 | £5 to £10 | £1,505 to £5,510 |
| Invisalign | £2,500 to £5,500 | 6 to 10 | £5 to £10 | £2,505 to £5,510 |
Estimates. Fees vary by practice and case, so ask what each quote includes (retainers, refinements, emergency visits). NHS treatment for eligible under-18s is free.
What affects cost near Altens
| Cost factor | Look for | Nearest listing it | Next nearest | Within 20 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free first appointment | a free consultation | Visage Orthodontics Aberdeen | Orthodontist in Aberdeen for Invisalign & Braces (2.1 miles) | Aberdeen Orthodontics (2.3 miles) | 2 |
| Monthly payments | payment plans | The Orthodontic Clinic, Aberdeen (2 miles) | Visage Orthodontics Aberdeen | Orthodontist in Aberdeen for Invisalign & Braces (2.1 miles); Aberdeen Orthodontics (2.3 miles) | 3 |
| NHS treatment | NHS orthodontics | KINCORTH DENTAL PRACTICE, Aberdeen (under a mile) | MILLER RM & MILLER MJ (1.2 miles); COVE BAY DENTAL (1.2 miles) | 26 |
| Private treatment | private fees | Cove Dental & Implant Centre | Private & Nhs Dentist Aberdeen (1.2 miles) | Holburn Dental and Implant Centre (1.6 miles); Bridge St Aesthetic and Dental Implant Clinic Aberdeen (1.9 miles) | 10 |
| Aligner prices to compare | aligners | Holburn Dental and Implant Centre, Aberdeen (1.6 miles) | Bridge St Aesthetic and Dental Implant Clinic Aberdeen (1.9 miles); The Orthodontic Clinic (2 miles) | 6 |
| Brace prices to compare | fixed braces | Holburn Dental and Implant Centre, Aberdeen (1.6 miles) | The Orthodontic Clinic (2 miles); Visage Orthodontics Aberdeen | Orthodontist in Aberdeen for Invisalign & Braces (2.1 miles) | 4 |
Built from what each practice's own published information mentions, so a missing entry means not mentioned, which does not mean not offered. Straight-line distances.
The cost of straightening teeth in Altens runs from free NHS treatment for eligible under-18s to over £7,000 for complex private cases. What's included in a quote matters as much as the headline figure when you compare providers. This guide sets out typical fees, what affects them, and how payment plans spread the cost.
Cost Context for Altens
Private full fixed brace treatment in Altens typically costs between £1,500 and £5,500, depending on case complexity. Whether aligners or fixed braces are recommended usually comes down to case complexity rather than personal preference alone.
Treatment range and appointment slots differ between the practices covering Altens — comparing a couple is worthwhile. Altens is classified as large Urban Areas, and NHS dental commissioning here falls under NHS Grampian. Altens has 52 orthodontic practices within five miles, more than 92% of towns in Scotland. Altens's deprivation ranking places it in a more deprived band than most of Scotland. The nearest university dental hospital to Altens is Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen, about 3 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. See local practice availability in Altens → Costs can vary significantly between providers — getting two or three quotes and comparing what's included (retainers, refinements, both arches) before committing is strongly recommended.
Orthodontic Payment Plans in Altens
Spreading the cost of orthodontic treatment over monthly payments makes even higher-cost options such as Invisalign or ceramic braces more manageable. Most practices in Altens offer payment plans — ask whether they are 0% interest, what deposit is required, and whether payments continue if treatment takes longer than planned.
NHS treatment is free for eligible under-18s. Adults aged 26 and over who qualify pay 80% of the NHS fee, capped at £384 for a course of treatment.
Why Quotes Vary So Much
Treatment type matters most. The gap between metal and lingual braces reflects real differences in materials, lab work and chair time.
Case complexity moves the price within any treatment type. A mild spacing case needs fewer appointments and less clinical time than a complex overbite correction with extractions.
Number of arches should be clarified in every quote, since one-arch and two-arch treatment are priced very differently.
Retainers are a recurring cost people forget; check whether the quote bundles them or adds them at the end.
Refinements are the additional aligners often needed after the first series; confirm they're covered rather than charged per set.
Practice location and overheads push city-centre fees above suburban ones. Altens usually has practices at several price points, so two or three quotes are worthwhile.
What affects clear aligner cost in Altens?
There is no single price for clear aligners in Altens — it depends on several factors. The main drivers are treatment complexity, the aligner brand, the provider's experience, and what the fee actually includes. What's included matters more than the sticker price when you compare providers.
Aligner Costs in Altens — Local Context
Appointment availability and the range of treatments on offer both vary practice to practice around Altens. Measured by orthodontic practices within five miles (52), Altens has more choice than 92% of towns in Scotland. ONS classifies Altens as large Urban Areas. Altens falls in a more deprived area than most of Scotland, which can be relevant to NHS orthodontic eligibility. Altens sits within NHS Grampian for NHS dental commissioning. The nearest university dental hospital to Altens is Aberdeen Dental School, Aberdeen, about 3 miles away, where hospital orthodontic referrals are seen. Mild-to-moderate crowding or spacing is often suitable for clear aligners, while more complex cases are more commonly recommended fixed braces. Private aligner treatment (full course including retainers) in Altens typically costs between £1,500 and £5,500, depending on case complexity. A photo-based assessment is a practical first step to establish case complexity before comparing quoted fees.
Finding value in clear aligner treatment in Altens
Affordable clear aligner options in Altens genuinely exist and can deliver good results. Understanding what a lower price actually buys is essential before committing. Below, we break down what drives the low end of the market and how to compare it safely.
How to Find Genuine Value in Altens
The most reliable route to good value in Altens is to establish case complexity first, then compare quotes on like-for-like terms. A photo assessment gives you a clinician's read on likely complexity before paid consultations, so you compare from an informed position.
Frequently Asked Questions — Costs in Altens
Where is the nearest orthodontist to Altens?
On our register, the nearest orthodontic practice to Altens is KINCORTH DENTAL PRACTICE in Aberdeen, about 0.9 miles to the west. The next closest are MILLER RM & MILLER MJ (1.2 miles) and Cove Dental & Implant Centre | Private & Nhs Dentist Aberdeen (1.2 miles).
How many orthodontic practices are near Altens?
Our register has 52 practices within 5 miles of Altens, 61 practices within 10 miles and 77 practices within 20 miles.
Which practices near Altens offer payment plans?
The nearest practice to Altens that mentions finance or monthly payment options is The Orthodontic Clinic in Aberdeen, about 2.0 miles to the north-west. Others nearby include Visage Orthodontics Aberdeen | Orthodontist in Aberdeen for Invisalign & Braces (2.1 miles) and Aberdeen Orthodontics (2.3 miles).
Which NHS body covers Altens for dental care?
NHS dental commissioning in Altens falls under NHS Grampian.
What kind of area is Altens?
By ONS classification, Altens falls under large Urban Areas.
How deprived is Altens compared with the rest of Scotland?
By the national deprivation index, Altens is more deprived than most of Scotland. It doesn't affect NHS orthodontic eligibility, which is decided on clinical need alone.
What towns are near Altens?
Tullos, Gilcomston, Ruthrieston are within easy reach of Altens.
How does case complexity affect cost?
More complex cases need more clinical time, more visits, and sometimes extra procedures like extractions — a mild spacing case costs a lot less than a complex overbite correction. Confirm the quote actually covers your full case, not just a simple scenario.
Last updated: October 2026, compiled by the Virtual Consultant Online editorial team from our practice register and public data. Information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice; it is not reviewed by a clinician. Sources: NHS, General Dental Council. How we compile our information.
Costs Across Aberdeen City
Explore costs information for other towns and cities in Aberdeen City — all with dedicated local pages and online assessment access: