Braces for Kids in Banstead & Battersea
Straightening a child’s teeth works best when it starts at the right moment, not just as early as possible. Our dentists check how your child’s teeth, bite and jaw are developing, show you exactly what we can see on screen, and recommend braces only when there is a real benefit. Fixed metal, ceramic and clear aligner options, with costs agreed in writing and 0% finance available.
What Are Braces for Kids?
Children’s braces are appliances that apply light, steady pressure to move teeth into a better position and guide how the jaw grows. In children they are used for crowded or overlapping teeth, gaps, front teeth that stick out, and bite problems such as an overbite, underbite or crossbite. Because a child’s jaw is still developing, some of these problems respond faster and more predictably than the same problem would in an adult.
There is a health reason to sort it out as well as a cosmetic one. Overlapping teeth trap plaque and are harder for a child to brush properly, and front teeth that protrude are more likely to be chipped in a fall or during sport. Signs worth mentioning to us include teeth erupting out of line, a jaw that shifts to one side when closing, difficulty biting into food, or baby teeth that came out much earlier or later than expected. We assess all of this as part of your child’s routine children’s dentistry appointments, and if braces are not needed yet we will tell you and simply keep monitoring. You can also compare the full range of braces we provide for all ages, or read more about our orthodontic treatments.
Types of Braces for Kids
Which option suits your child depends on how much movement is needed, their age and how reliably they can look after an appliance. We will talk you both through it before anything is decided.
Traditional Metal Braces
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Traditional Metal Braces
View MoreFixed brackets and wires, and still the most dependable option when there is significant movement to achieve. They handle heavy crowding, rotated teeth and bite correction that removable appliances struggle with. Children pick a new colour for the elastic bands at each adjustment visit, which for a lot of them turns the appointment into something to look forward to. Because they are fixed in place there is nothing to remember to put in, which suits younger children and anyone likely to lose a removable appliance.
Ceramic Braces
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Ceramic Braces
View MoreThese work the same way as metal braces but use clear or tooth-coloured brackets, so they are much less noticeable in photos and at school. They tend to suit older children and teenagers who want the reliability of a fixed brace without the metal look. They need a little more care around staining foods and drinks such as curry, tomato sauce and blackcurrant squash, and we go through all of that with your child at the fitting appointment.
Clear Aligners
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Clear Aligners
View MoreCustom-made removable trays worn over the teeth and changed on a set schedule. Invisalign is the best known system, and Dr Shaimil Patel is a Diamond Apex Tier Invisalign provider with over 1,000 cases completed. Aligners come out for meals, brushing and sport, which makes cleaning far easier than with a fixed brace. The trade-off is that they only work while they are actually in the mouth, so they suit children organised enough to wear them 20 to 22 hours a day. We will confirm at the assessment whether they are a realistic option for your child’s case.
Benefits of Braces for Kids
Better Bite Alignment
An overbite, underbite or crossbite affects how your child chews and how evenly their teeth wear down. Correcting it while the jaw is still growing is usually quicker and more predictable than waiting.
Easier Cleaning at Home
Straighter teeth have fewer overlaps for plaque to hide in, which lowers the risk of decay and gum problems through the teenage years when brushing habits often slip.
More Confidence at School
Children notice their own teeth earlier than most parents expect. A smile they are happy with tends to show up in how they speak up, how they photograph and how they socialise.
Simpler Treatment Later On
Guiding growth at the right stage can reduce how much work is needed in adulthood, and in some cases means fewer extractions or less involved treatment later.
Why Choose Zen House Dental?
Experience With Young and Nervous Patients
Our clinicians see children and teenagers every week across both clinics, and the practice holds a 5-star Google rating from hundreds of patient reviews. Appointments for young patients are paced differently: we explain each step in language they understand, show them the instruments before we use them, and never rush a nervous child. You can meet the team who will be looking after them.
Digital Scanning, No Messy Impressions
We use digital scanning and imaging rather than putty impressions, so there is nothing unpleasant for your child to sit through and no gagging. It also means we can put their teeth up on screen, show you both what we are looking at, and track exactly how far things have moved at each visit.
Clear Written Plans and 0% Finance
Before anything is fitted you will have the recommended option, the alternatives, the expected timescale and the total cost in writing. We offer 0% finance over up to 12 months so treatment can be spread across the year rather than paid in one go. Full details are on our fees and finance.
Our Patient Smiles
Results from patients who have completed treatment with us at Banstead and Battersea.
Composite Bonding
Invisalign
Invisalign
Composite Bonding
See more before and after results in our smile gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
At What Age Should My Child Get Braces?
Most children start fixed braces between 10 and 14, once enough adult teeth have come through. We would suggest a first look at their bite from around age seven, because that is when spacing and jaw problems become visible while growth can still be guided. An early assessment does not mean early braces. In most cases we simply monitor and tell you when the timing is right.
Can My Child Get Braces on the NHS?
NHS orthodontic treatment is free for under-18s, but only where there is a clear clinical need. Eligibility is scored using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), and funding generally goes to grade 4 and 5 cases, so milder or mainly cosmetic cases are not covered. Waiting lists are often long. Zen House Dental provides private treatment, which means no referral is needed and no wait for an assessment.
How Much Do Braces for Kids Cost?
It depends on which appliance is used and how much movement is needed, so we quote after assessing your child rather than before. You will have the full cost in writing at that appointment, with no obligation to proceed, and 0% finance over up to 12 months is available to spread the payments. Current pricing is on our fees and finance.
Do Braces Hurt Children?
Having them fitted does not hurt. Teeth usually feel tender for two or three days afterwards, and again for about a day after each adjustment. Soft foods and age-appropriate over-the-counter pain relief are enough for most children. If a wire or bracket is rubbing or has come loose, phone us rather than waiting for the next appointment and we will get your child seen.
What Happens When the Braces Come Off?
Your child wears a retainer, and this part matters as much as the braces themselves. Teeth drift back towards their old position without one. Depending on the case we fit either a fixed retainer bonded discreetly behind the teeth or a removable one worn at night. We go through the wear schedule with you both and keep checking it at routine appointments.
Contact us
Braces for Kids in Banstead and Battersea
Both clinics treat children and teenagers, so you can choose whichever is easier to reach after school.
Zen House Dental Banstead
55 High Street, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 2NL
Telephone: 01737 350266
Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 1.30pm
On Banstead High Street, with nearby parking, and used by families across Banstead, Burgh Heath, Tadworth, Kingswood, Epsom, Cheam, Sutton and Reigate. See our Surrey practice information.
Zen House Dental Banstead
128 Northcote Road, London, SW11 6QZ
Telephone: 020 3932 2330
Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 1.30pm
On Northcote Road between Clapham Junction and Wandsworth Common, convenient for families in Battersea, Clapham, Wandsworth, Balham and Putney.
