Welcome to Milk. Here is how to start.
Thinking about braces or clear aligners, for yourself or your child? Starting is easy, and there is no rush. Your first visit is a complimentary Smile Assessment, a relaxed chat about your options with no referral, no pressure and no commitment. New patients are usually seen within three weeks.
Specialist orthodontic practice in Newmarket, and Albany from August 2026. No referral needed.
The Smile Assessment
Your first visit is a complimentary 20-minute Smile Assessment with Colleen, our treatment coordinator. It is a warm, unhurried welcome, not a hard sell. You will have a look around the clinic, we will take a few photos, and you will have a real conversation about what you would like to change and how we could help.
What happens at your Smile Assessment
- A friendly welcome and a tour of the clinic
- A few photos of your smile, to talk through together
- An honest conversation about your options and rough timing
- Time for all of your questions, at your pace
- No specialist examination yet, and no commitment
No pressure, and nothing to pay
A relaxed first step, with the detail saved for later.
- There is no deposit or holding fee of any kind
- You will not be asked to decide anything on the day
- If you would like to go ahead, we book a full specialist assessment as the next step
- Already have a plan from elsewhere? You are welcome to a second opinion
The Smile Assessment is led by specialist orthodontist Dr Shahrzad MacAvoy, known to everyone as Dr Shaz, and her team. If you would rather compare a plan you already have, our complimentary second opinion is a good place to start.
Your forms, done at home
There is no clipboard waiting for you in reception. We send your intake forms by email or text before your first visit, so you can fill them in at home, in your own time. It means less paperwork on the day and more time for the conversation that matters.
Once your appointment is booked, your forms arrive by email or text. Completing them before you come in is a big help, but if you run out of time, do not worry, we will sort it together when you arrive. Any questions before your visit? Get in touch with our team.
Just a few simple things
Because your forms are done beforehand, there is very little to organise. If you have any of the following, bring them along. If you do not, that is completely fine.
Care you can trust, from the very first visit
We are a specialist orthodontic practice, not a general dental clinic. That means everything about your treatment is planned and delivered by a specialist orthodontist, with the right appliance chosen for your teeth, rather than your teeth fitted to whatever is on hand.
Specialist-led, always
Every treatment is planned and directed by Dr Shaz, a registered specialist orthodontist with four university degrees and published research, so the right appliance is chosen for your teeth.
Transparent pricing
Clear, upfront pricing with interest-free payment plans, so you can see the investment before you decide anything. Explore our pricing in full.
A calm, welcoming clinic
Our architecturally designed, award-winning Newmarket clinic is a genuinely nice place to be, for children, teenagers and adults alike.
No referral needed
You can book directly with us. If you have been referred by your dentist, that is welcome too, but it is never a requirement.
Seen quickly
New patients usually get a first appointment within three weeks, so you are not left waiting to get started.
A team who knows you
You will see the same friendly faces at every visit, all working to Dr Shaz's plan. Meet the team.
Making treatment affordable
When the time comes, we want treatment to be easy to plan for. Our pricing is transparent, and most families spread the cost interest-free. Nothing is due at your Smile Assessment, this is simply so you know how it works.
Interest-free payment plans
A deposit, usually around $2,200 and flexible case by case, then interest-free monthly payments by GoCardless direct debit. Standard plans run over around 18 months. Try our payment calculator to estimate a monthly figure.
Savings for paying in full
Save $500 on comprehensive treatment paid in full. For families, there is $200 off a second family member, and $300 off each one after that.
Health insurance
We provide itemised receipts you can use to claim through your health insurer. Full pricing and plan details are on our pricing page.
Finding us, and when we are open
Our Newmarket clinic is on the corner of Nuffield Street and Remuera Road, directly opposite Newmarket Train Station. A second clinic in Albany opens in August 2026.
Corner of Nuffield St and Remuera Rd
Directly opposite Newmarket Train Station, in the heart of Newmarket.
Parking. Complimentary 2-hour parking at the Nuffield Street Carpark, under a minute's walk away. Validate through the Westfield Plus app, with the entrance at 40 Nuffield Street.
Public transport. Trains and buses run to Newmarket Station, right across the road.
Phone (09) 520 1880, text (022) 194 49 45, or email hello@milkorthodontics.co.nz. See our contact page for directions.
Opening hours
- Monday to Thursday8:00am to 5:00pm
- Friday8:00am to 12:00pm
- Saturday & SundayClosed
Friday mornings are for admin only, with no appointments. The best way to book a time that suits is online, by phone or by text.
Before school. We open at 8:00am Monday to Thursday, so school kids can have their appointment first thing and still make the bell. We are within walking distance of many local schools, which makes the school run easy.
Albany · opening August 2026
Our new North Shore clinic is on its way. In the meantime, you are warmly welcome at Newmarket.
New patient questions
Before your first visit
Does the first visit cost anything?
No. Your first visit is a complimentary Smile Assessment, and there is no deposit or holding fee of any kind. It is simply a relaxed conversation about your options, with no commitment to go ahead.
Do I need a referral to book?
No referral is needed. You can book directly with us. If your dentist has given you a referral letter or x-rays, you are welcome to bring them along, though it is not a requirement.
How soon can I be seen?
New patients usually get a first appointment within three weeks. If you need to be seen sooner, let our team know and we will do our best to help.
What happens after the Smile Assessment?
There is no pressure and no commitment. If you decide you would like to go ahead, the next step is a full specialist assessment with Dr Shaz, where you receive a personalised treatment plan and an exact quote in writing. You can follow the full journey on our process page.
Can I bring my children along?
Yes. Families are welcome, and you are welcome to bring your children to the Smile Assessment. If the visit is for your child, they can come and have a look around too, so the clinic feels familiar before any treatment begins.
Do I need to fill in any forms beforehand?
Yes. We send your intake forms by email or text before your first visit, so you can complete them at home in your own time. That means less paperwork on the day, and more time for your questions.
Have a different question? Browse our full FAQ or contact us.
Ready to start? Book your Smile Assessment
A warm, complimentary chat about your options, with no referral, no pressure and nothing to pay. New patients are usually seen within three weeks.
Book your Smile Assessment