Getting braces in Bangkok (dental)

Have you seen all the teenagers wearing them? Getting braces in Bangkok is super easy! Or is it..? It’s just the language barrier really. So I got mine done in Suan Luang (south-east) area of Bangkok, Srinakarin road, very close to Seacon Square and Rama IX park.

Even though I get all my dental issues fixed at a good clinic in Bangkok, my former colleague recommended getting them done for half-price at a local clinic in Srinakarin. So I did. It’s half-price, right? I was advised the doctor speaks English, but I still didn’t know what to expect. I went there and was greeted by a lovely doctor’s assistant (the receptionist didn’t speak much English), and then sat down to have a chat about braces with the doctor. She was so informative and passionate about her work. They both spoke almost fluently, and the doctor knows her stuff. A year later, I am still their client, and each visit is a breeze.

During my first appointment she explained everything, including the technical details, possible complications, timescales and so on. Then we discussed the payment options – there were 3: either paying the lump sum up front (35,000 baht for mine), paying every quarter (for a year), or paying like 30% and then 1,500 every month. I chose the third one, which is very convenient, because you only pay a small part on the first day, like 20 or 30 %, then 3,000 for 3 months, and then 1,500 each visit. This worked out 50% cheaper than in Bangkok, and the quality of work is brilliant.

Every time I make an appointment, they don’t write a specific time, as I come late quite often. They’re open till like 8 PM, so if you’re working – that’s a good option. One of the tiny rubber gums came off one time and they accepted me with like zero notice. It’s like the best clinic I’ve been to, in terms of service and value for money. And fun staff (see picture!)

The braces themselves I have to wear for one year, and then I’ll have to wear a retainer for about 2 years. The doctor said after the braces are removed, I can use other doctors’ services if I move abroad. I got used to wearing them in like a couple of weeks and haven’t had any problems. I change the tiny rubber rings each month and they let me choose different colours. I feel just like my 7^th graders, and they always point at my mouth at school when they see my new colours – “teacherrrr!” Haha. I used the opportunity to get braces here in Thailand, because in Europe adults don’t really wear them and it looks inappropriate, but here it’s a fashion thing. People actually get them just to look cool, or to change the appearance of their jawline, which makes their face look slimmer… Crazy stuff!

The clinic is called ‘ple dental clinic’ (Apple Dent) and this is their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pledentalclinic and a Google-friendly address in Thai ไปคลินิคทำฟันหมอเปิ้ล สวนหลวง ถนนเฉลิมพระเกียรติ์ซอย14.

Getting there is very easy: Songthaew for 8 baht (or a taxi). For songthaew take the BTS to Udom Suk, get off and walk down Udom Suk road for less than 5 minutes (there is a white/green UDOM SUK ONE community mall sign on the corner of that road). Stay on the left hand-side of the road until you walk past some street vendors, and you’ll see anything from 1 to 4 red songthaews – some of them are old, some new, some go to Seacon Square, and some go to Suan Luang – that is want you need to ask the driver (unless you can read Thai). Just say “Suan Luang Suan Luang” and they’ll tell you straight away or show you to another red truck. Once the driver feels he’s got enough people, he starts driving. Once you pass the Udom Suk-Srinakarin intersection (after about 60 Sois on Udom Suk road), stay on the truck and get off at Soi 14. Then just look it up on Google – it’s very easy to find in one of the hidden alleys (it is actually easy to find).