Whangaparaoa's specialist
orthodontist is in Albany,
one run down the motorway.
There is no specialist orthodontist on the peninsula. The closest is Milk Orthodontics at 6 Munroe Lane, Albany: about 25 minutes from Stanmore Bay and about 30 minutes from Gulf Harbour, with free patient parking. Specialist orthodontist Dr Shaz MacAvoy plans every case, and the first step is free. You do not need a referral, and you can do that first step from your phone without driving anywhere.
Free first step, no referral needed. Choose Albany or Newmarket 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.
Albany is the closest specialist orthodontist to Whangaparaoa
6 Munroe Lane, Albany
At the Albany motorway exit, next to the shops you already drive to for everything the peninsula does not have. Free patient parking at the Wilson carpark on Davies Drive, with on-street parking nearby.
About 25 to 30 minutes from the peninsula
Whangaparaoa Road to the Silverdale interchange, then straight down the Northern Motorway to the Albany exit. About 25 minutes from Stanmore Bay and Red Beach, about 30 to 35 minutes from Manly, Gulf Harbour and Army Bay. Mid morning and early afternoon appointments miss the queue in both directions.
Or Newmarket, if you work in town
Our original clinic at 2 Nuffield Street, Newmarket, opposite the train station. Choose whichever suits your week, and switch between the two at any time.
More about the clinic, the team and the hours on our Albany page, and the wider coast on our Hibiscus Coast page.
Families we see from
The peninsula problem, and how we work around it
One road on, one road off. That is the real question for Whangaparaoa families, not whether the treatment works. Here is how we keep the driving down.
The free first step needs no drive at all. Send photos from your phone, or take a free video call, and get your options and a cost guide within 2 working days. You only come to Albany once you have decided it is worth it.
Reviews are every six to ten weeks, not fortnightly, so most treatments are eight to fourteen visits across a year or two. Where the treatment allows it we space Whangaparaoa appointments at the longer end.
Mid morning and early afternoon slots let you leave the peninsula after the school run and get back before it. Tell the front desk you are coming from Whangaparaoa and they will aim for those.
Siblings are booked back to back, so one trip covers the whole family rather than two afternoons.
Aligner checks and some reviews can be done remotely once treatment is underway, which takes trips off the calendar rather than adding them.
If you work in town, Newmarket is open to you as well, and you can switch between the two clinics at any time.
Why peninsula families choose a specialist
A specialist orthodontist has around three extra years of full-time university training after dentistry, and does nothing else all day. Every case at Milk is diagnosed and planned by one.
Whangaparaoa is full of young families, and around age seven is the right time for a first orthodontic check. Most children need nothing done yet, and being told that honestly is worth the trip.
We work around Whangaparaoa College, Whangaparaoa School, Stanmore Bay School, Gulf Harbour School, Wentworth Primary and Wentworth College timetables. See which schools are closest to each clinic.
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 Albany. 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 Albany. 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.
What happens at Albany, step by step
Most Whangaparaoa 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 Albany, 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 Albany, then reviews run every six to ten weeks for the 12 to 24 months most treatments take. Each review is short, and we aim for the middle of the day so the peninsula run is an easy one. Retainers are fitted at the end and checked afterwards, and both are included in the fee.
The options we offer Whangaparaoa 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: fewer trips off the peninsula as well.
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 Albany 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.
Whangaparaoa questions, answered honestly
Is there a specialist orthodontist on the Whangaparaoa peninsula?
There is no specialist orthodontic practice on the peninsula itself. The closest one is Milk Orthodontics at 6 Munroe Lane, Albany, about 25 minutes from Stanmore Bay and about 30 minutes from Gulf Harbour, led by specialist orthodontist Dr Shaz MacAvoy. No referral is needed.
How long does it take to drive from Whangaparaoa to Albany?
Off peak it is about 25 minutes from the Stanmore Bay end and about 30 to 35 minutes from Gulf Harbour or Army Bay: Whangaparaoa Road to the Silverdale interchange, then straight down the Northern Motorway to the Albany exit. Mid morning and early afternoon appointments miss the peninsula queues in both directions.
How many trips to Albany will we actually make?
Most comprehensive treatment is 12 to 24 months with a short review every six to ten weeks, so eight to fourteen visits in total, plus the fitting and the retainer appointments. We book Whangaparaoa families further apart where the treatment allows, and we keep the appointments short.
Can we do the first step without driving anywhere?
Yes. The free Smile Assessment can be done online from your phone, or as a free video call. You send a few photos of the teeth, our Treatment Coordinator replies within two working days on your own private link with the options and a cost guide, and you only drive to Albany if you decide to go further. Children and teens can also have their Smile Assessment in the clinic if you prefer.
Is there parking at the Albany clinic?
Yes. Free patient parking at the Wilson carpark on Davies Drive, and on-street parking on Davies Drive and the surrounding streets. Give your registration number to the front desk team when you arrive.
Which peninsula schools do you work around?
Whangaparaoa College, Whangaparaoa School, Stanmore Bay School, Gulf Harbour School, Wentworth Primary and Wentworth College, and further down the coast Kingsway School and Orewa College. Tell us the school and the year level when you book and we will aim for a time that costs the least classroom. Our schools page lists what is closest to each clinic.
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.
Do I need a referral from my dentist?
No. You can book directly with Milk at Albany, or start with the free online Smile Assessment from your phone. We keep your dentist in the loop if you have one.
Specialist orthodontics, one run down the motorway
Book a free Smile Assessment at Albany, 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.