Orthodontics in Kenya: braces and straighter teeth

Part of Dental services

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that moves teeth and corrects the way they bite together. People usually come in for the look of their smile, but straight teeth also tend to be easier to clean, and a corrected bite can make chewing more comfortable.

What can orthodontic treatment fix?

• Crowded or overlapping teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• An overbite, underbite, crossbite or open bite
• Teeth that have drifted, often after a tooth was lost

The clinical name for teeth and jaws that do not line up is malocclusion.

What are the options?

Arrow Dental offers traditional metal braces. They are the most cost-effective option and the most versatile, and can correct cases other appliances cannot. See how the types of braces compare.

How long does it take?

Most cases take 18 to 24 months. Simple crowding can be done in under a year, and complex bite corrections can run to three years.

What is the right age to start?

For children, we suggest an orthodontic screening at age 7. That is not to fit braces, but to check whether early intervention would help, because some jaw growth problems are far easier to correct at 8 than at 14. Most treatment starts between 11 and 14, once the permanent teeth are through.

Adults can have treatment too, because teeth move at any age. We regularly treat patients in their thirties, forties and beyond. It sometimes takes a little longer, and gum disease is treated first.

What does it cost?

Braces start from KES 90,000 per jaw or KES 160,000 for both jaws, with instalments available. SHA or insurance may help when treatment is medically necessary.

Start with braces at Arrow Dental, or book a consultation for a written plan and quote.