How much do braces cost? What makes up the price of orthodontic treatment and what the NFZ funds

How much do braces cost, and why is there no single price?

Braces cost the sum of the stages of treatment, not just the price of the brackets or aligners: the total is made up of diagnosis, the appliance, check-up visits and retention. Two people with the same type of braces may therefore pay different amounts, because they differ in their bite problem, the number of arches treated and the length of treatment.

The British Orthodontic Society (BOS) advises asking directly, before treatment starts, what the total cost will be and whether it covers breakages and retainers. It is a good question in any practice, because these are precisely the two items most easily overlooked in a first conversation about price.

This article is about costs. The differences between aligners and fixed braces are covered in a separate article, and when to start treatment in a child in the article on orthodontics for children.

What makes up the cost of orthodontic treatment?

The cost of orthodontic treatment can be broken down into a few standard parts that apply whatever the type of appliance. The table shows what each of them covers and what its level depends on.

How long does treatment with braces take, and what do the check-ups alone cost?

According to the BOS, treatment with fixed braces usually lasts 18 to 24 months, with check-up visits every 4 to 10 weeks, which is why the length of treatment is one of the main components of the cost. A BOS patient leaflet gives a wider range, from 6 to 30 months, and very complex problems may need even longer.

A meta-analysis of 22 studies (Tsichlaki et al., 2016) calculated an average of 19.9 months of treatment with fixed braces and 17.8 visits. These were, however, studies carried out in university centres, so in everyday practice treatment can take longer.

An illustrative calculation, not a quotation: 18 check-up visits with metal braces on both arches, at 350 zł each according to the clinic’s price list, come to 6 300 zł, and with one arch, at 270 zł each, to 4 860 zł. On top of that come diagnosis, the appliance itself and retention, and every additional month of treatment means more visits.

Metal, ceramic or aligners: how does the type of appliance change the price?

The type of appliance changes the price of treatment: according to the BOS, braces with ceramic brackets cost noticeably more than metal ones, and lingual braces, bonded on the tongue side of the teeth, more still, because they need extra laboratory work and longer appointments. Ceramic brackets are also more prone to breaking, and treatment with them may take longer.

With clear aligners, the cost depends mainly on the number of trays in the plan, which in turn follows from the bite problem and the number of stages of tooth movement. Aligners and fixed braces are not interchangeable for every problem: a 2025 review of 15 studies found similar treatment quality in cases without extractions, but better results with fixed braces when teeth were extracted.

A removable appliance, that is, a plate that can be taken out, is used mainly in children who are still growing, and it works only if the child wears it. In the clinic’s price list a removable appliance costs 1 150 zł and a check-up visit for a removable appliance 250 zł.

How much do braces cost in the clinic’s price list in Białystok?

In the price list of the DentalBlue clinic in Białystok, orthodontic items fall into two categories: orthodontics with fixed and removable appliances, and Clear Aligner, that is, treatment with aligners. The table brings together the items that most often make up treatment; the names are given as they appear in the price list.

The price list does not give a single figure for complete fixed braces on both arches: their price follows from the treatment plan and is set at the consultation. The orthodontics category also includes the items “Angel Unlimited” (8 000 zł) and “Angel unlimited wizyta kontrolna” (Angel Unlimited check-up visit, 1 000 zł), whose scope the orthodontist explains.

The final scope and cost of treatment are set at the consultation, and prices may change. The full list of items is in the clinic’s price list.

Braces on the NFZ: who is entitled to them and what is free?

Braces on the NFZ are available to children up to the age of 12, and only as a removable appliance for one or both jaws; fixed braces are expressly excluded from the list. This is set out in Annex 6 to the Minister of Health’s regulation on dental treatment funded by the NFZ (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2025 item 615), with the law as at 12 October 2026.

After treatment ends, the NFZ funds check-ups during the retention period up to the age of 13, no more than 12 times per calendar year, and one repair of the appliance with an impression per year. The repair is not covered if the appliance was damaged through improper use. Up to the age of 12, the NFZ also funds a space maintainer.

Teenagers past their 12th birthday and adults have orthodontic treatment privately, whatever the type of appliance. Fixed retainers are not among the services funded by the NFZ.

Does the cost of treatment end when the braces come off?

The cost of orthodontic treatment does not end when the braces come off, because that is when retention begins, that is, wearing a retainer, which the BOS considers essential and recommends for a long time. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) states that many patients wear a retainer every night for the rest of their lives if they want to keep the result.

Retainers wear out and break. The BOS warns that removable retainers sometimes need repair or replacement, for which the practice may charge a fee. For fixed retainers, a review of studies (Iliadi et al., 2015) describes the wire coming loose from at least one tooth in 12 to 50% of patients, depending on the study.

Which retainer to choose and how long to wear it is covered in the article on retainers after braces. From a cost point of view, it is worth knowing in advance which retainer the plan provides for and how much it costs to have it made again.

What questions about cost should you ask before treatment starts?

Questions about cost are best asked once the treatment plan is ready, but before the first bracket is bonded or the aligners are ordered. These questions give the conversation a structure and let you compare the plan with your own budget.

• What is the total cost of treatment and which items does it include?
• Does the quotation cover breakages, and if not, how much does a repair cost?
• How many check-up visits does the plan provide for and how often will they be?
• What happens to the cost if treatment takes longer than expected?
• Which retainer is planned after treatment and is its price in the quotation?
• Is professional cleaning or treatment of the teeth or gums needed before the braces?

How orthodontic treatment is priced at DentalBlue

At DentalBlue in Białystok, orthodontic treatment is carried out with Clear Aligner trays and with fixed and removable appliances, and the plan is prepared digitally on the basis of cephalometric analysis. The cephalometric X-ray and the panoramic X-ray are taken in the clinic’s own radiology unit. The first step is an orthodontic consultation, and the final scope and cost are set after diagnosis; prices in the price list may change. A consultation can be booked by phone.