Cost of Acquiring Dental Braces in Nigeria (November, 2024)

In this post we provide the cost of getting dental braces fixed in Nigeria this 2024. We also provide the various types of braces available and why you need such dental device for your teeth.

Dental Braces

The Truth About Braces That You Don’t Know

Braces are dental devices worn to align poorly grown teeth. Wearing braces applies force and pressure on the teeth and as a result, move it to the desired position. The four basic components that are used in making braces are the brackets, bonding material, arch wire, and ligature elastic. The teeth normally moves when the arch wire pressurizes the brackets and teeth. At times, the use of springs or rubber bands to put more force in a specific direction.

Braces are predominantly worn by kids with dentition problems such as crowded or protruding teeth. Nowadays, the demand for braces is on the increase due to the fact that adults are always conscious of their dentition. Although our main focus on how much it would cost one to acquire dental braces will be explained, lets look at why these braces are needed in the fiirst place.

Why Do We Need Dental Braces?

There are many benefits derived in wearing braces among which are:

Dental braces can straighen crooked teeth, close gaps that develop between the teeth and help better teeth spacing. Bracing reduce cavities and periodontal diseases. They also make the teeth easier to floss, improve the chewing of food and of course self confidence by giving one a nice dentition and overall oral health.

Would You Encounter Any Problems Wearing Braces?

Yes! Wearing braces is not really as easy as it seems. Braces may be quite discomforting and painful. There could be problems adjusting to life on braces. They can equally cause wear and tear on the toothbrush. The dental discomfort obtained with the wearing of braces determines in most cases some degree of root resorption.

On rare occassions, the side effects are large enough to be considered real clinical damage to the tooth. The teeth may also fall out or have to be extracted due to root resorption. The individual wearing the braces would need to talk to his/her specialist especially at the early stage to be informed on how to adjust because most people would find it difficult to leave their normal lives.

How Much Can It Cost To Acquire Braces In Nigeria?

In situations where there is no health insurance schemes, acquiring braces can take a toll on one’s finance. Dental braces prices can be quite expensive, but that should not scare anybody that wants it. The treatment options could be dependent on some factors. A lot factors go into orthodontic treatment besides the cost of braces themselves.

The cost of braces could be dependent on:

Type Of Dental Issue

Serious dental cases can affect the length of treatment and cost of treatment. The state of your teeth and gum can determine how long you can wear it and also increase the cost of medical check ups.

The Facility Handling The Treatment

In most government hospitals in Nigeria, the prices for acquiring braces could cost N300k to N800k including the consumption fee. Whereas in private clinics dental cost could be expensive although their services are quite faster. Most of the private clinics do not reveal their price. A few may charge up to N2 million.

The Quality & Types Of Braces

Braces come in different forms and their quality differs. The various types of braces include:

• The Metal Braces

These are the most common type of braces and mostly worn by children. They come in the form of stainless steel and titanium and gold. There is usually a metal bracket with an elastic wire holding it. This is obviously conspicuous. Titanium braces look like stainless steel braces but weigh lighter and are just as strong.

People who are allergic to the nickel in steel often choose titanium braces, but they are more expensive than stainless steel brace. Gold-plated braces are also used for patients that are allergic to nickel (a basic and important component of stainless steel), but may also be chosen because some people simply prefer the gold look over the traditional silver-colored braces. Metal dental braces can cost between N500,000 to N1.5 million.

• Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are usually less painful on the gums and cheeks because the ceramic is not an abrasive. Ceramic braces are durable and can last throughout the treatment. These braces use clear or tooth-colored brackets rather than gray or metallic silver brackets and wires. Ceramic braces are most likely to be worn by adults because of the translucent materials used in making it.

The wire is made up of transparent plastic strands which makes it difficult to be noticed and the braces take the colour of the teeth making it less embarrassing. They don’t interfere with imaging tests like the metal braces which disrupt signals in imaging tests. Due to it’s nature, it is more expensive than the metal braces because of their quality and falls within the price range of N800,000 to N1.2 million.

• Invisible Braces

These are popular among older people with dental problem. It is more comfortable to wear since it is not obvious to the public. They are the most expensive form of braces found in two main categories: lingual braces and clear aligners.

• Lingual Brace

This is a type of invisible brace. They can be worn by both young and old because they are more discrete in correcting the teeth. They involve placing the brackets on the inner sides of the teeth not in the front making it not obvious to the public. Lingual braces are quite comfortable to wear. However, one may encounter difficulty in speech. Just like the metallic and ceramic braces it may cause sores on the tongue which the patient would adjust to with time.

• Clear aligners

These braces are braces made of transparent plastic used to adjust teeth. For clear aligners braces to be effective, the dentist take a mold of the patient’s teeth, which is used to create a digital tooth scan. The computerized model would aid in suggesting the various stages between the current and desired teeth positions. Aligners are therefore created for each stage. Each aligner is usually worn for about 20 hours a day for two weeks. These move the teeth slowly into the rightful position agreed between the orthodontist and the patient. The average treatment time is 13.5 months. The invisible braces ranges from N1.2 million to N2 million.