Essentially, braces are orthodontic devices used to correct a wide variety of problems with your teeth including crooked teeth, overcrowding, crossbites, overbites, underbites, protrusion and many others. While many of these problems are bearable for a while, they can lead to more severe conditions if not dealt with immediately.
Most common types of braces
Here are some of the most common types of braces available in the market today.
Traditional metal braces
When you hear the word ‘braces’, the first image that probably comes to mind are the conventional braces that we always see in dental clinics. These metal braces are probably the most common ones in the market. They are made from high-grade stainless steel and have elastics on the metal brackets, which are then attached to each tooth using a specific type of orthodontic cement to hold it down.
Each bracket is linked to one another with a thin archwire, which puts pressure on the teeth and causes them to move to the desired position. For traditional metal braces, patients would be required to return to their orthodontist for an adjustment at least once every month for the duration of their treatment.
Self-ligating braces
On the surface, self-ligating braces look identical to traditional metal braces since they both use stainless steel. However, unlike traditional braces that use elastic bands, self-ligating braces use clips instead to hold the wire in place. The low-profile brackets and the design of the archwire is far more complex and high-tech, which allows for increased comfort and faster tooth movement. With that, those with self-ligating brackets often have shorter treatment periods.
While they may be similar to metal braces, they cost slightly more due to the technology involved in the creation and application process.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces function in the same way as traditional metal braces, but the only distinct difference is the material used. This option was once very popular among adults since the brackets are made of a transparent material, making the appearance of braces less visible.
For adults who needed orthodontic treatment, this was the go-to choice mostly due to cosmetic reasons. While the functions of ceramic and metal braces are the same, ceramic ones require far more maintenance as the material is more fragile. Furthermore, they are also slightly larger in size and get stained easily due to their clear colour.
Clear aligners
Out of all the types of braces, clear aligners are the most advanced option in the market for teeth alignment. These aligners are invisible trays made of a thermoplastic material that resembles mouth guards and are custom made for clients. Unlike traditional braces, clear aligners can be removed when eating and cleaning and must be changed every two weeks to a month.
Similar to how you’d have to go for monthly adjustments for metal braces, you will get a new aligner each month as well which will take your teeth one step closer to your desired adjustment. However, since these devices are removable, they require a great deal of maintenance and discipline on the user’s end.
Things to know beforehand
It may feel uncomfortable
The process of getting braces normally involves attaching small metal or ceramic brackets onto the surface of your teeth with a small amount of bonding adhesive tape to keep them in place. Next, a thin piece of wire will be placed across the brackets and will be tightened every month, which allows the teeth to move to their desired alignment.
From the application process to the monthly adjustments, you will definitely feel a significant amount of discomfort. However, the pain is rather bearable and not as excruciating as most people make it seem.
You might have to make changes to your diet or lifestyle
When you have braces, there might be certain lifestyle changes that you have to make. The most apparent one is food restrictions. Certain foods that are too hard, crunchy or sticky could potentially damage your braces and impact the overall progression of your treatment. Avoid eating foods such as hard candy, whole apples, bread with hard crusts, and corn on the cob.
Several contact sports like boxing and basketball should be avoided as they may lead to several oral injuries. This includes broken wires and brackets, chipped or broken teeth, and root fractures. For those who want to protect their braces while playing sports, opt for an orthodontic mouthguard.
It takes a lot of discipline
Depending on the type of braces you have been prescribed and the severity of your teeth alignment, you may have your braces on for an extended period of time. On average, most people have their braces on for about 24 months until their orthodontic treatment is completed.
With that, a great deal of discipline is required for anyone wearing braces. Negligence may result in a delay in your treatment and even cause potential problems such as trapped food particles, cavities, and plaque. Once you commit to having braces, make sure that you are prepared to be disciplined throughout your treatment. Always practice proper oral hygiene, don’t miss any of your doctor’s appointments, and avoid foods that may damage your braces. Remember no pain, no gain!
What makes one a good candidate for braces?
There are several indicators and symptoms that can immediately tell you that you might need braces. If you don’t have any underlying conditions such as gum disease and your teeth is in good general health, you may choose to opt for braces.
However, if there are no immediate concerns or signs, the best option would be to leave it alone and own your smile!
Dental Clinic | My Braces Clinic |
| Speciality |
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| Website | https://www.mybracesclinic.com/ |
| Address | 43 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-80 Chip Bee Gardens Holland Village |
| Telephone | 6737 9797 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Friday: 9:15am – 6:15pm Saturday: 8:30am – 1:30pm |
Dental Clinic | G Dental Center |
| Speciality |
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| Website | https://gdental.com.sg/ |
| Address | 25 Ghim Moh Link / Camden Medical Centre |
| Telephone | 6262 1580 |
| Operating Hours | Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00am – 6:00pm Tuesday, Thursday: 10:00am – 8:30pm Saturday – Sunday: 9:00am – 3:00pm |
Dental Clinic | Symmetry Dentofacial Aesthetics |
| Speciality |
|
| Website | http://www.symmdentaesthetics.com/ |
| Address | 1 Farrer Park Station Road, #15-15 Connexion, Farrer Park Medical Centre |
| Telephone | 6636 3998 |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday – Friday: 9:30am – 7:30pm Saturday: 8:00am – 2:30pm |
Dental Clinic | The Orthodontic Clinic |
| Speciality |
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| Website | https://orthodontic-clinic.sg/ |
| Address | 9 Scotts Road, Scotts Medical Center (above Pacific Plaza), #08-02 |
| Telephone | 6737 3850 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 6:00pm Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00pm |
Dental Clinic | T32 Dental Clinics |
| Speciality |
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| Website | https://www.t32dental.com/ |
| Address | Multiple clinics nationwide including Bedok, Clementi and Holland Drive |
| Telephone | Varies depending on the location |
| Operating Hours | Varies depending on the location |
Dental Clinic | AllSmiles Dental Care |
| Speciality |
|
| Website | https://www.allsmilesdental.sg/ |
| Address | Various locations nationwide including Punggol and Jurong West |
| Telephone | Varies depending on the location |
| Operating Hours | Varies depending on the location |
Dental Clinic | The Braces Practice |
| Speciality |
|
| Website | https://www.thebracespractice.com/ |
| Address | 12A Lorong Mambong, Holland Village |
| Telephone | 6463 2306 |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday – Friday: 11:00am – 9:00pm Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm Sunday: 9:00am – 1:00pm |
Dental Clinic | Koh Dental Surgery |
| Speciality |
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| Website | https://www.kohdentalsurgery.com/ |
| Address | West Coast Drive / Jurong East |
| Telephone | 6777 0181 (West Coast Drive) / 6560 0033 (Jurong East) |
| Operating Hours | Varies depending on the location |
Dental Clinic | Mount Elizabeth Orthodontic Clinic |
| Speciality |
|
| Website | https://www.braces.com.sg/ |
| Address | 3 Mount Elizabeth #10-03 Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre |
| Telephone | 6327 2237 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 6:00pm Saturday: 8:30am – 2:00pm |
Dental Clinic | Align Braces Clinic |
| Speciality |
|
| Website | https://www.alignbracesclinic.com/ |
| Address | 68 Orchard Road, Plaza Singapura #04-33 |
| Telephone | 6513 0686 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Friday: 11:00am – 8:00pm Saturday – Sunday: 10:00am – 5:30pm |
Dental Clinic | Luminous Dental Group |
| Speciality |
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| Website | https://www.luminousdentalgroup.com/en/ |
| Address | Various locations nationwide including Tampines, Bedok, and Hougang |
| Telephone | Varies depending on the location |
| Operating Hours | Varies depending on the location |
Dental Clinic | Greenlife Dental Clinic |
| Speciality |
|
| Website | https://www.greenlifedental.com.sg/ |
| Address | Various locations nationwide including Ang Mo Kio, Clementi, and Toa Payoh |
| Telephone | Varies depending on the location |
| Operating Hours | Varies depending on the location |
Dental Clinic | White Dental Group |
| Speciality |
|
| Website | http://whitedental.com.sg/ |
| Address | 271 Bukit Timah Road, #B1-03 Balmoral Plaza |
| Telephone | 6733 0268 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 6:00pm Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00pm |
Dental Clinic | Parkway Dental Practice |
| Speciality |
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| Website | https://www.parkwaydental.com.sg/ |
| Address | 9 Scotts Road #12-02 Pacific Plaza |
| Telephone | 6836 9808 |
| Operating Hours | Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 6:00pm Saturday: 9:00am – 4:00pm |
Dental Clinic | Smileworks Dental Services |
| Speciality |
|
| Website | https://smileworks.com.sg/ |
| Address | Various locations nationwide including Orchard and Choa Chu Kang |
| Telephone | Varies depending on the location |
| Operating Hours | Varies depending on the location |
Dental Clinic | Coast Dental |
| Speciality |
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| Website | https://www.coastdental.com.sg/ |
| Address | 479/481 Joo Chiat Road |
| Telephone | 6440 4605 |
| Operating Hours | Monday and Thursday: 11:00am – 8:00pm Tuesday: 9:00am – 8:00pm Wednesday and Friday: 9:00am – 6:00pm Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm |
Dental Clinic | Nuffield Dental |
| Speciality |
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| Website | https://www.nuffielddental.com.sg/simpang-bedok-dentists/ |
| Address | Various locations nationwide including Harbourfront, Novena, and Orchard |
| Telephone | Varies depending on the location |
| Operating Hours | Varies depending on the location |
Cost Estimates for Dental Brace Treatments in Singapore:
| Form of Braces | Definition | Dental Visit Requirements | Median Costs |
| Metal Braces | The most common type of ‘normal’ metal braces which most people know of. | Once every 4 weeks for wire adjustments | S$3,500-S$5,000 |
| Ceramic Braces | Like metal braces except brackets are made of tooth-coloured ceramic instead of metal. This provides patients with a more subtle appearance. | Once every 4 weeks for wire adjustments | S$4,500-S$6,500 |
| Self-Ligating Braces (2nd Generation Braces) | The second generation of braces does not require ligatures to adjust teeth. Most patients know them as Damon braces. | Once every 5-6 weeks for wire adjustments | S$5,500- S$7,500 |
| Lingual Braces | Braces that are bonded behind teeth. Providing patients with an Invisible solution to adjusting their smile. | Once every 4 weeks for wire adjustments | S$5,000 to S$13,000 |
| Invisalign | A series of clear plastic aligners gradually shift teeth after every set of aligners. | Once every 6 – 8 weeks. Can be longer if patients are using the Dental Monitoring system. | S$4,500 – S$9,500 |
*the rates are above are correct as of the date of publishing; please check current prevailing rates from the source
| Traditional Braces | |
| Single arch treatment (upper or lower teeth) | From $2782.00 |
| Double arch treatment (both upper and lower teeth) | From $4,228.00 |
| Damon self-ligating braces | |
| Single arch treatment | From $3,338.00 |
| Double arch treatment | From $5,340.00 |
| Retainers | From $200.00 per arch |
*the rates are above are correct as of the date of publishing; please check current prevailing rates from the source
| Type | Costs | Pros | Cons | |
| Metal Braces | S$3,500-S$4,200 | Cheapest Quickest | Poor Aesthetics | |
| Ceramic Braces | S$5,000-S$6,000 | Looks better than Metal | Expensive Fragile | |
| Lingual Braces | S$10,000 | Internal braces Not visible | Expensive Uncomfortable | |
| Invisalign | S$4,200-S$9,000 | Invisible Comfortable Removable Less frequent visits to the doctor Not Possible for Severe Misalignment | Expensive | |
*the rates are above are correct as of the date of publishing; please check current prevailing rates from the source
Non-Subsidised Fee for Braces:
Public InstitutionsS$3,221 – S$6,500Private InstitutionsS$4,500 – S$6,500
| Types of braces | Cost |
| Invisalign | $5500 to $10000 |
| Metal braces | $3500 to $7000 |
| Ceramic Braces | $4200 to $ 8000 |
| Self-ligating braces | $4500 to $ 8000 |
| Lingual braces | $7000 to $15000 |
*the rates are above are correct as of the date of publishing; please check current prevailing rates from the source
| METAL BRACES | |
| Students/NSF | $3500++ |
| Adults | $4300++ |
| CERAMIC BRACES | |
| Students/NSF | $4300++ |
| Adults | $4800++ |
*the rates are above are correct as of the date of publishing; please check current prevailing rates from the source
| Metal Braces | |
| Commonly known as traditional braces, these use metal brackets and elastics for quicker movement and shorter treatment. | |
| from$4,000(below 18 years old) | |
| from$4,815(below 18 years old) | |
| Ceramic Braces | |
| Ceramic braces are transparent, making them appear virtually invisible. This is suitable for those who are concerned about image. | |
| from$5,000(below 18 years old) | |
| from$5,350(below 18 years old) | |
| Damon Braces | |
| Damon braces utilize passive self-ligating braces and memory wires for gentle movement without any elastic or metal ties. | |
| from$5,000(below 18 years old) | |
| from$5,350(below 18 years old) |
*the rates are above are correct as of the date of publishing; please check current prevailing rates from the source
| Public Hospitals and Institutions | Average Cost of Orthodontics (Braces) – Two Jaws | |
| CGH (Changi General Hospital) | $4,600 – $5,000 | |
| KTPH (Khoo Teck Puat Hospital) | $3,600 – $4,200 | |
| NDCS (National Dental Centre Singapore) | $3,221 – $4,462 | |
| NTFGH (Ng Teng Fong General Hospital) | $4,500 – $6,500 | |
| NUCOHS (National University Centre for Oral Health Singapore) | $4,500 – $4,800 | |
| TTSH (Tan Tock Seng Hospital) | $4,200 – $4,800 | |
| Private Hospitals and Clinics (Or Start-ups) | Average Cost of Orthodontics (Braces) – Two Jaws | Average Cost Of Clear Aligners |
| Amoy Street Dental | $4,815 – $6,420 | NA |
| Embrace Dental Surgery | $3,950 – $9,600 | $6,600 |
| Q&M Dental | $3,852 (Student / NSF promotion) | $3,288 |
| Parkway Dental Centre | From $2,600 | From $2,300 |
| Smile Direct Club | NA | $2,500 |
| Zen-yum | NA | $2,400 |
| Source: MOH and private clinics and service providers | ||
*the rates are above are correct as of the date of publishing; please check current prevailing rates from the source
| Aurora E | |||
| SGD200monthly | |||
| Straighten upper & lower front teeth (simple case) | |||
| FREE no-obligation dentist consultation | |||
| Inclusive of initial scans | |||
| PROMO: FREE 1 set of retainers | |||
| 0% interest 12-month instalments* | |||
| Total price: SGD 2400 (U.P. SGD 2900) | |||
| Aurora M | |||
| SGD325monthly | |||
| Straighten all teeth (moderate case) | |||
| FREE no-obligation dentist consultation | |||
| Inclusive of initial scans | |||
| Supervised by Singapore-registered dentist at the clinic | |||
| 0% interest 12-month instalments* | |||
| Total price: SGD 3900 (U.P. SGD 5900) | |||
| Aurora X | |||
| SGD40850monthly | |||
| Straighten all teeth (moderate to more complex cases) | |||
| FREE no-obligation dentist consultation | |||
| Inclusive of initial scans | |||
| Supervised by Singapore-registered dentist at the clinic | |||
| 0% interest 12-month instalments* | |||
| Total price: SGD 4900 (U.P. SGD 6900) |
*the rates are above are correct as of the date of publishing; please check current prevailing rates from the source
Editor’s Note:
While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccurate. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.
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