How do I choose an orthodontist in Dubai?

Orthodontic treatment usually lasts months, sometimes more than a year, and the person who plans it decides how your teeth move at every stage. That makes the choice worth a little checking. The steps below work for any clinic in Dubai, including ours.

1. Check the licence, and the category it is in

Doctors and dentists in Dubai are licensed by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA); clinics inside Dubai Healthcare City are licensed by that free zone’s own regulator. The DHA’s public medical registry, Sheryan, lets you search by name and shows the category each professional is licensed in, for example general dentistry or a specialty such as Specialist Orthodontics. You can also ask to see the licence card the professional carries.

An orthodontist is a dentist who has gone on to complete additional training in orthodontics after dental school. The American Association of Orthodontists describes this as an accredited residency of two to three years. If you want an orthodontist specifically, the registry entry is the quickest way to confirm it.

For transparency: Dr Berk Köni’s licence is 68492102-002 in Specialist Orthodontics, and you can look it up in the Dubai Medical Registry.

2. Ask who plans your treatment, and who adjusts it

Clear aligners and braces both follow a treatment plan: which teeth move, in what order, how far, and when the plan is reviewed. Ask:

• Who designs my treatment plan?
• Who checks my progress at each visit, and who changes the plan if a tooth does not move as expected?
• Will I see the same clinician throughout?

There is no single right answer, but you should get a clear one.

3. Understand what provider labels do and do not mean

You will often see labels such as “Invisalign Gold, Platinum or Diamond Provider”. These levels are awarded by Align Technology, the maker of Invisalign, and are commonly described as reflecting how many Invisalign cases a doctor has treated in a period. They tell you about experience with one aligner system. They are not a licence and not a specialist qualification, so read them alongside the registry entry, not instead of it.

Disclosure: Dr Berk Köni has been an Invisalign provider since 2018 and an Invisalign Diamond Provider since 2022, a provider status awarded by Align Technology. Invisalign is a trademark of Align Technology, Inc.

4. Know what a good first consultation includes

A first visit should leave you understanding your situation, not just a price. Expect:

• Records: photographs and a 3D scan, with X-rays where they are needed.
• An examination of your teeth, bite and jaws, and time to say what you would like to change.
• Your options, including fixed braces, clear aligners, or no treatment at all, with the reasons for each.
• Risks explained: for example tenderness, the need to keep teeth clean, and the need to wear retainers afterwards.
• A simulation, if offered, clearly described as a plan rather than a promised result.
• The cost in writing for the proposed plan, before you decide.

You should never feel pressed to start on the day.

5. Questions to bring with you

• What exactly is the problem, and what happens if I do nothing?
• Which options suit my case, and why would you choose one over another?
• How long is treatment likely to take, and how often will I need to come in?
• What does the fee include: review visits, additional aligners or adjustments, retainers?
• What happens if I travel or miss an appointment?
• How long will I need to wear retainers?

6. Look at what a quote includes

Orthodontic fees vary because cases vary. Look at what is included, not only the headline number: who plans the treatment, how many reviews and refinements are covered, and whether retainers are part of the fee. Our Invisalign price in Dubai and braces cost in Dubai pages show current ranges and what changes them.

In Dubai specifically

• Language: treatment involves many conversations. Choose a clinician you can talk to comfortably; Dr Köni consults in English and Turkish.
• Location and timing: you will visit regularly for months, so a clinic you can reach easily from home or work helps you keep appointments.
• Travel: many Dubai residents travel often. Ask how the clinic handles trips, lost aligners and missed visits.
• Children: for a child, ask how the orthodontist decides between treating now and monitoring growth. Our child orthodontics page explains when a first check-up is useful.

If you would like an assessment with Dr Berk Köni at Invisalign Center Dubai in Umm Suqeim 2, you can send a message through the enquiry form. You will get the answers to the questions above at your first visit.