Frequently Asked Questions

What problem does this solve?

Crooked teeth aren't just a cosmetic issue. Misaligned bites cause uneven wear, jaw pain, and make cleaning harder — which leads to cavities and gum disease down the line. Orthodontic treatment realigns teeth and corrects the bite, ideally during the jaw growth window (ages 7-14) when results come faster, though adults can also be treated successfully.

At Smile Dental Visakhapatnam, Dr. Y. Rajesh Kumar (MDS, Orthodontics, with close to three decades in practice) sees three types of patients: teenagers whose parents want treatment started during school holidays, working professionals who want straightening without visible braces, and parents of 7-10 year olds asking whether it's too early to start.

How orthodontic treatment works

Treatment runs 12-24 months on average. Here's what a typical case looks like:

Consultation (₹500 + X-rays): Dr. Rajesh examines the bite, takes OPG and lateral cephalogram X-rays, and maps out your case. You leave with a written plan, treatment option comparison, and exact pricing.

Records & appliance selection: Digital scans replace traditional putty impressions. Based on your case complexity, age, and preference, you choose between conventional metal braces, self-ligating systems, or clear aligners.

Appliance fitting (1-2 visits): Braces or aligners are placed. For aligners, you receive your first few sets.

Adjustments (every 4-8 weeks): Wires are adjusted, or new aligner sets are issued. This is the longest phase.

Retention: Once teeth are straight, retainers hold them in position. Without retention, teeth drift back.

Cost of braces and aligners in Vizag (2026)

Cost varies widely by appliance type. Here are our actual prices:

Conventional metal braces:

• Metro / Esthetica (standard) — ₹50,000
• 3M / Prime brackets — ₹60,000
• Dentaurum with memory wires — ₹70,000

Self-ligating braces (faster, fewer visits):

• 3M / Selfy / AO — ₹75,000
• Damon Q1 — ₹1,00,000
• Damon Q2 — ₹1,25,000
• Damon Clear (ceramic, nearly invisible) — ₹1,50,000

Clear aligners:

• Dentcare / Illusion — ₹75,000 to ₹1,25,000 per jaw
• ClearCorrect / Spark (Ormco) — ₹1,00,000 to ₹2,00,000 per jaw
• Invisalign (USA) — ₹1,50,000 to ₹2,50,000 per jaw

Retainers (after treatment): Removable Hawley/Essix — ₹10,000. Fixed bonded lingual — ₹20,000.

Prices include all adjustment visits during active treatment. Retainers are billed at the end.

How long does treatment take?

Mild cases — 10-14 months. Moderate cases (most patients) — 14-20 months. Complex cases with extractions or jaw issues — 20-30 months. Self-ligating and aligner systems tend to be 15-20% faster than conventional braces because of friction-free wire movement or continuous progressive force.

Adjustment visits are usually 15-20 minutes every 4-8 weeks. You can schedule them around work or school easily.

Which option should you choose?

Three honest rules we follow with our Vizag patients:

For teenagers 12-16: Conventional or self-ligating braces usually give the best cost-to-result ratio. Aligner compliance is tough at this age because it needs 22 hours of daily wear.

For working professionals: Damon Clear or aligners — both are nearly invisible in meetings and photos. Aligners win on removability (easier to eat and clean), Damon Clear wins on no compliance risk.

For adults with complex cases: Braces handle severe rotations, impactions, and bite corrections better than aligners. Don't let aesthetics push you into the wrong treatment.

Why patients choose Smile Dental Visakhapatnam

Dr. Rajesh has been practising in Vizag since 1997. Nearly three decades of treatment planning means he's seen cases relapse, seen what holds up long-term, and knows which appliance suits which biology. We also give parents complete cost transparency up front — many families are budgeting across 2-3 years, and we make sure the plan fits the budget before anyone commits.

Frequently asked questions

Covered in the FAQ section below.