Braces treatment in Singapore
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Orthodontist-led smile straightening
Dental braces is a type of orthodontic treatment that helps to align crooked, protruding, or uneven teeth, transforming your teeth into a healthy and beautiful smile. Gaps in the teeth can also be closed by having braces treatment. In addition to achieving your desired smile, having straight and aligned teeth prevent bits of food from getting stuck in between gaps caused by crooked teeth. Brushing and flossing will be much easier and effective, resulting in healthier teeth and gums for a long time.
After successful treatment with braces, you will achieve a good bite that makes it easier for you to bite, chew, and speak. Getting braces in Singapore is an easy process, you just need to understand the different types of braces available and make your choice!
What are dental braces?
Braces are wire-based devices that are used help to correct crowded or misaligned teeth and/ or jaws. Braces also help correct misaligned jaws to reduce overbite or underbite.
When your teeth and/ or jaws are straightened, your bite and facial profile can be improved.
Treatment usually takes between 2 to 3 years, the duration can be longer or shorter depending on the complexity.
What is involved in braces treatment in Singapore?
For most patients, the best time to start braces is after all their milk teeth have been replaced by permanent teeth. This is usually between the ages of 11 to 14 years old. Contrary to popular notion, adults can also reap the same benefits as teenagers from braces treatment.
During the initial consultation, our dental specialist/ dentist will find out the details of your medical and dental history, discuss concerns you have with your teeth and advise the best form of orthodontic treatment to align them. Clinical records such as X-rays, impressions and photos of the teeth will be taken to help in an accurate diagnosis and planning of the treatment and type of braces for you.
Subsequent appointments involve insertion and adjustment of the braces. Insertion may take between 1 to 3 visits to complete depending on the type of braces.
After the braces are in the mouth, you will be reviewed and your braces adjusted every 4 to 8 weeks. You should avoid biting on large hard pieces of food (e.g. biting into an apple) to prevent dislodgement of your braces.
Initially, there may be some discomfort and feeling of ‘tightness’. Your teeth feel sore because they are moving into alignment. After a few days, the discomfort should lessen.
Occasionally, the inner side of your cheeks or lips may get an ulcer from rubbing against the braces. This can be quickly and easily relieved with the application of dental wax.
Treatment with fixed braces usually takes between 2 to 3 years, although it may sometimes be adjusted shorter and longer depending on the complexity of the case. After your braces are removed, your dental specialist/ dentist will provide you with removable or fixed retainers. Retainers need to be used throughout your life. They are important as they hold your teeth in their corrected positions after the braces have been removed.
You should see your dental specialist/ dentist about 1-3 months after your retainers are fitted. Subsequently, you can arrange for your visit to coincide with your routine 6-monthly dental check-up.
What goes into braces fees in Singapore?
Wondering if braces treatment is Medisave Claimable?
Getting braces in Singapore is not claimable under Medisave. Medisave can only be used for various dental surgical procedures. For more details on Medisave coverage, please visit our Medisave Page.
Other fees
Depending on the individual, there may be other treatment fees involved, for instance, extraction. A more detailed estimate of the fees involved can be confirmed after the initial consultation.
| Consultation & Examination | $80 – 200 |
| 2 Digital x-rays (Orthopantomogram & Cephalometric x-rays) | $320 |
| Metal braces | $6,000 – 6,500 |
| Self-ligating steel braces | $6,200 – 6,800 |
| Ceramic (tooth coloured) braces | $6,800 |
| Lingual braces (placed behind the teeth) | $12,000 – 14,000^ |
*All fees are subject to prevailing Singapore Goods and Services Tax.
*All fees are subject to change without prior notice.
Upon confirmation that you will proceed with your braces treatment, a 50% payment is collected during bond up. The remaining 50% of the balance can be made at subsequent review visits in instalments of SGD$250 each time.
^For lingual braces, first payment of $3,000 is collected when bond up is done; second payment of $2,500 is collected during the second appointment; and $300 will be collected during each review visit until the remaining treatment fees have been fully paid.
The information provided above is of a general nature only as you would need to be examined by our dental specialists/ dentists in order to confirm the best treatment option for you.
Meet our orthodontist & dentist in Singapore
Our orthodontics team handles the full range of misaligned teeth (malocclusions), including growth modications. They work closely with the other dental specialists in the team to manage patients with jaw problems.
Frequently asked questions
What are the types of braces available in Singapore?
Fixed braces
- Metal braces
- Ceramic braces
- Self-ligating braces
- Lingual braces
Removable braces
Invisalign® is a popular and proven dental treatment using clear, removable aligners to give your desired smile
What are metal braces?
Traditional metal braces comprise of brackets that are affixed to teeth and wires that are threaded through slots in the brackets. Some patients may also have metal bands encircling back teeth. Wires are held to brackets by tiny rubber bands. Brackets are generally made of stainless steel and the wires are made of metal alloys to deliver a constant, gentle force to move teeth.
Although not the most aesthetic type of fixed braces treatment, metal braces are predictable, yield good results, and it is the least less costly option.
We also provide colourful braces where you can choose the colour of the elastic ties that bind wires to the brackets. You can even change the colour each time you visit the dentist.
We have patients who change the colours of their elastic ties according to the holiday season. For instance, opting for red and green ties during Christmas. Wearing metal braces can be fun!
What are ceramic braces?
Ceramic braces are tooth-coloured. While not completely invisible, they are more subtle and less noticeable, making them the more aesthetic option.
Did you know that Tom Cruise wore ceramic braces? If you were not aware of this, then it means that the ceramic braces did a good job of being unnoticeable on this much-photographed Hollywood personality.
Similar to metal braces, ceramic braces are affixed to teeth, and wires are threaded through slots in the brackets. Wires are held to brackets by tiny rubber bands. The brackets are made of ceramic and the wires are made of metal alloys to deliver a constant, gentle force to move teeth.
Ceramic braces blend in with your teeth and are less noticeable from a distance or in photographs.
On the other hand, the professional fees involved for ceramics braces are higher than traditional metal braces.
The clear/white elastics also stain easily if not cared for properly. The good news is that since your elastics are changed regularly at your monthly orthodontic visits, the stained effect only lasts until your next dental appointment.
What are self-ligating braces?
Instead of using wires or elastic bands, self-ligating braces are designed with a tiny gate to hold on to the archwires gently. This means that treatment is more comfortable than metal and ceramic braces. The entire treatment also takes a shorter timeframe, roughly an average reduction of 4 months, to complete. The number of appointments to the dental specialist/ dentist is reduced by an average of 4 visits as compared with conventional metal or ceramic braces.
In addition, oral hygiene is easier to achieve as self-ligating brackets do not accumulate plaque as much as rubber modules or wires. They do not easily stain since they do not contain rubber parts. They are also strong and rarely break.
Self-ligating braces are aesthetically better compared with conventional metal braces as they do not need any ligatures, elastic bands or wires to hold on to the archwires
What are lingual braces?
Lingual braces are placed on the back of your teeth (at the side of the tongue), hiding the appliance from your smile, and making it unnoticeable to others. This is the main advantage of lingual braces and one of the ways to straighten your teeth in an “invisible” manner.
In terms of materials involved and techniques required, it is largely similar to conventional metal braces.
In terms of comfort level, lingual braces generally require more time to get used to and wear.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign® uses 3-D computer imaging technology to plan and map your complete orthodontic treatment. Your teeth are gradually moved into place by a series of customized clear aligners.
The clear aligners are easy to insert and remove, making cleaning the aligners easier. Oral hygiene is also much easier as the clear aligners can be removed when brushing teeth. There is no need to deal with messy wires and brackets.
Invisalign is like a contact lens for your teeth. The aligners are not easily noticeable and cannot be seen in photographs or from afar, only subtly close up.
However, Invisalign requires discipline – the aligners have to be worn for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours a day.For more information, please refer to the Invisalign page here.
Is orthodontic treatment suitable for patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems or patients who are pregnant?
Patients with high diabetes, blood pressure and heart problems must inform their orthodontic specialist/dentist before commencing any dental surgery or orthodontic treatment.
Pregnant women can undergo orthodontic treatment safely but need to inform their dentist so that appropriate changes can be made to some of your dental care.
What causes crooked teeth?
There are various reasons for crooked teeth. They are namely genetics, premature loss of primary teeth and bad habits.
Genetics: some people are simply born with smaller jaws. In such cases, the teeth compete for space when erupting. Hence, they will rotate, move and overlap with other teeth in order to fully erupt into the oral cavity.
Early loss of primary teeth: The remaining teeth may shift in order to fill up the empty space left by the missing tooth. When the permanent tooth does replace the baby tooth, it may move from its normal position and erupt in a crooked manner.
What happens after the braces are removed/ after I complete my Invisalign treatment?
After orthodontic treatment is completed, you will need retainers to maintain your teeth in their corrected positions and prevent relapse (teeth moving back out of alignment).
Some retainers are removable and can be taken out of the mouth for eating, brushing and contact sports. There are also retainers that are fixed onto the back of your front teeth. Depending on the individual situation, our dental specialist/ dentists will prescribe the best option for you.
It is important that you wear your retainers faithfully. The removable retainers have to be worn full time daily for the first 6 months, followed by nighttime wear, gradually reducing this over time. Retainers can be easily maintained with simple brushing using a toothbrush and toothpaste and rinsed with tap water.
In addition, a 6-monthly ongoing dental follow-up helps to maintain optimal treatment results and overall dental health. Also, any issues (e.g. change of alignment) arising after completion of your braces treatment could be addressed promptly. Follow-ups can be done at the same time during your regular professional dental cleaning.
Are there any alternatives to wearing braces if I want to get my teeth straightened faster?
Orthodontic treatment typically requires 12 to 24 months to complete.
Alternatively, veneers may be considered if one is unable to attend regular sessions over 12 to 24 months at the dentist. The entire process takes only a few days to complete.
Do I need to have my teeth extracted if I wear braces/ Invisalign?
It depends. We try not to extract teeth unless we see a clear indication. Sometimes, teeth can be aligned without the need for extractions. On the other hand, in some situations, extraction is one of the means to get the space required to align crooked teeth properly and achieve a pleasant facial profile.
My sibling has crooked teeth. Does this mean that I will also have crooked teeth too?
It depends. Certain hereditary traits such as small or big teeth, missing teeth, jaw size and jaw growth problems have strong genetic links. However, there are also other factors involved such as thumb-sucking or pacifier sucking past a certain age, mouth breathing, early loss of primary (milk) teeth and trauma that lead to crowding and misalignment of teeth.
What should I take note of when having braces?
Braces need a series of appointments to complete. For predictable results, you have to make sure you keep to your scheduled appointments and brush your teeth well. Regular professional dental cleaning every 3 to 6 months is also essential for a good overall treatment outcome. Caring for your braces and preventing breakages helps to ensure that you complete your treatment within the expected duration.
