Howick's specialist
orthodontist is about
30 minutes away in Newmarket.
Milk Orthodontics at 2 Nuffield Street, Newmarket, is about 25 to 35 minutes from Howick off peak: Pakuranga Road onto the South-Eastern Highway, or Ti Rakau Drive to the Southern Motorway. Free patient parking, and specialist orthodontist Dr Shaz MacAvoy plans every case. Braces, clear aligners and early treatment for children, teens and adults. The first step is free and can be done from your phone.
Free first step, no referral needed. Choose Newmarket or Albany and switch at any time.
Reviewed by Dr Shaz MacAvoy, Specialist Orthodontist. Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Orthodontics), registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand.
Newmarket is the specialist clinic Howick families use
2 Nuffield Street, Newmarket
Suite 27, directly opposite Newmarket Train Station. Free patient parking at the Nuffield St Carpark, a short walk from our door. Tell the front desk you have parked there when you arrive.
About 25 to 35 minutes from Howick
Pakuranga Road to Panmure and along the South-Eastern Highway, or Ti Rakau Drive to the Southern Motorway and off at Gillies Avenue. Off peak it is 25 to 35 minutes; at school pick-up time allow more. Reviews are short and every six to ten weeks, so the drive is the longest part of the visit.
Or Albany, if the North Shore suits your week
Our second clinic at 6 Munroe Lane, Albany, right at the motorway exit with free parking. Choose whichever clinic suits, and switch between the two at any time.
More about the clinic, the team and the hours on our Newmarket page. Closer to the Tamaki River? See our Pakuranga page, or the wider East Auckland page.
Families we see from
Why Howick families choose a specialist in Newmarket
Every case is diagnosed and planned by a registered specialist orthodontist with around three extra years of university training, not by a clinician who also offers aligners on the side.
An early or late appointment fits either side of the school run, and siblings are booked back to back so one trip covers the family.
We work around Howick College, Macleans College, Botany Downs Secondary College, Sancta Maria and Elim timetables. See what sits closest to each clinic on our schools page.
Reviews are every six to ten weeks, not fortnightly, and each one is short, so the drive is the longest part of the visit.
LightForce custom 3D-printed braces and Angel Aligners, with real before and after results you can see.
Transparent, all-inclusive fees quoted in writing, family discounts for siblings, and interest-free plans from about $60 a week.
Specialist care for every age
One practice for the whole family: children's early assessment from around age seven, teens, and adults, with braces, clear aligners and LightForce custom braces all available at Newmarket. See real before and after results from Auckland patients.
Clear pricing, the same at both clinics
The first step is free: get your options online from your phone, take a free video call, or book a 20 minute Smile Assessment with our Treatment Coordinator at Newmarket. A New Patient Consultation with Dr Shaz, a written plan and your exact quote is $390.
Fees include records, appliances, every appointment, retainers and aftercare. Full details on our prices page, and a straight answer on Invisalign vs braces cost.
What happens at Newmarket, step by step
Most Howick families arrive with the same two questions: does my child (or do I) actually need treatment, and what would it cost? The first two steps answer both, and neither commits you to anything.
Free Smile Assessment
About 20 minutes with our Treatment Coordinator at Newmarket, or from your phone online, or as a free video call. We look at the teeth and bite, talk through what you have noticed, and give you an honest steer on whether treatment is needed now, later, or not at all. No referral, no obligation.
New Patient Consultation with Dr Shaz
If treatment looks worthwhile, the $390 specialist consultation takes the records: photographs, a panoramic and side-profile x-ray, and a 3D scan of the teeth. Dr Shaz examines how the teeth, jaws and face fit together and diagnoses what is actually going on, rather than what is visible at the front.
Your written plan and exact quote
You receive a written treatment plan with your options, the appliance we recommend and why, the expected timeframe, and one all-inclusive fee that covers records, appliances, every appointment, retainers and aftercare. Interest-free plans are set up at this stage if you want one.
Treatment and reviews
Braces or aligners are fitted at Newmarket, then reviews run every six to ten weeks for the 12 to 24 months most treatments take. Each review is short, so the drive is the longest part of the visit. Retainers are fitted at the end and checked afterwards, and both are included in the fee.
The options we offer Howick families
Every appliance we use is chosen for the result it will give you, not for its brand. Dr Shaz explains the trade-offs at the consultation and recommends the one that fits your teeth, your age and your life.
Braces
Classic metal braces are still the most versatile tool for crowding, gaps and bite correction, and the reliable choice for teenagers because there is nothing to remember. Clear ceramic braces work the same way and are much harder to spot. LightForce custom braces are 3D-printed to each tooth, which typically means fewer adjustments and a more predictable finish.
Clear aligners
A series of clear, removable trays, planned by the specialist and changed at home every one to two weeks. We plan aligner treatment with Angel Aligners, worn about 22 hours a day, with reviews at Newmarket every six to ten weeks. Aligners suit motivated teens and most adults, and we will say honestly when braces would do a better job.
Children's early treatment
Around age seven, a short first phase with a plate, an expander or a few braces can guide jaw growth, make room for adult teeth and correct a crossbite while a child is still growing. Phase 1 on its own starts from $4,500, and most children who need it go on to a shorter, simpler second phase in their teens. More on children's treatment.
Not sure which suits? The braces vs clear aligners page gives a straight comparison, and our before and after results show what each can do.
Howick questions, answered honestly
Where is the closest specialist orthodontist to Howick?
Milk Orthodontics at 2 Nuffield Street, Newmarket, about 25 to 35 minutes from Howick off peak along the South-Eastern Highway or the Southern Motorway. Every case is planned by specialist orthodontist Dr Shaz MacAvoy, no referral is needed, and the first step is free.
How long is the drive from Howick to Newmarket?
About 25 to 35 minutes off peak by Pakuranga Road and the South-Eastern Highway, or by Ti Rakau Drive and the Southern Motorway. At school pick-up time allow closer to 45. Free patient parking at the Nuffield St Carpark when you arrive.
Can we start without driving to Newmarket at all?
Yes. The free Smile Assessment can be done online from your phone or as a free video call. Send a few photos of the teeth and our Treatment Coordinator replies within two working days on your own private link with the options and a cost guide. Children and teens can also have the Smile Assessment in the clinic if you prefer.
Which Howick schools do you work around?
Howick College, Macleans College, Botany Downs Secondary College, Sancta Maria College, Elim Christian College, and Howick, Somerville and Bucklands Beach Intermediates. Tell us the school and the year level when you book and we will aim for a time that costs the least classroom.
Is there parking at the Newmarket clinic?
Yes. Free patient parking at the Nuffield St Carpark, a short walk from our door. Tell the front desk you have parked there when you arrive. The clinic is also directly opposite Newmarket Train Station.
How much do braces or clear aligners cost?
Simple cosmetic treatment from $7,900 and comprehensive specialist treatment from $9,900, most cases around $10,400, all-inclusive of records, appliances, appointments, retainers and aftercare. Interest-free plans work out around $60 to $76 a week, with $500 off if paid in full and family discounts for siblings.
When should my child first see an orthodontist?
Around age seven, when the first adult teeth are through. Most children need nothing done yet, but it is the best time to catch the few problems that are simpler to guide early. The first check is a free Smile Assessment.
How many appointments will we have?
Most comprehensive treatment takes 12 to 24 months with a short review every six to ten weeks, which is eight to fourteen visits in total plus the fitting and the retainer appointments. Children's early treatment is typically 9 to 12 months.
Do I need a referral from my dentist?
No. You can book directly with Milk at Newmarket, or start with the free online Smile Assessment from your phone. We keep your dentist in the loop if you have one.
Howick's specialist orthodontist, about 30 minutes away
Book a free Smile Assessment at Newmarket, or send us a few photos from your phone and our Treatment Coordinator replies within 2 working days with your options and a cost guide.