Sourcing orthodontic brackets from China

Duty and classification for dental fittings

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 9021 covers orthopaedic appliances, artificial body parts and dental fittings, among other goods. The other dental fittings line, 9021 29 00 00, carries 0% duty from China. The supplied facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for that line. For artificial joints, see our guide to sourcing knee replacement implants.

The supplied facts contain only one dental fittings line relevant to orthodontic brackets, so the table contains that line alone. Do not substitute artificial teeth codes simply to distinguish metal and ceramic brackets. Confirm the commodity code using the product description, intended use and construction.

Elsewhere in this heading, the tariff attaches cat and dog fur controls. The importer should confirm their applicability with their customs broker if a shipment includes products containing such fur. For the wider heading, see dental implants.

Specify the slot, prescription and bonding base

Give the factory a drawing and a tooth-position schedule. Specify bracket material, slot dimensions and tolerances, torque and angulation, hook positions, base curvature, bonding mesh and identification marks. For self-ligating brackets, define the opening mechanism and compatible archwire range. Approve production-equivalent samples rather than relying on catalogue photographs.

For sale in Great Britain, arrange conformity assessment for the device's class, a UK Responsible Person for the Chinese manufacturer and MHRA registration before placing devices on the market. Match the declaration and supporting documents to the actual bracket family. A Great Britain importer must inform the manufacturer or UK Responsible Person of its intention to import; they submit the importer's details to MHRA.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 20,000 orthodontic brackets under 9021 29 00 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £42,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,500, so it is £8,500. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Geometry: measure slots, base curvature and hook positions against the approved drawings; check that tooth-position markings match the contents.

Surfaces and bonding bases: inspect for burrs, cracks, contamination and blocked mesh; compare base attachment and bonding performance with the agreed test method.

Moving parts: check self-ligating clips for smooth opening, secure closure and damage after repeated operation against the agreed acceptance criteria.

Identity and packaging: reconcile batch references, material records, labels and instructions with the ordered models; check pack integrity and any claimed sterile presentation at inspection.

What goes wrong

A bracket can look correct while its slot geometry or tooth prescription differs from the approved sample. Mixed tooth positions, damaged clips, ceramic chips and poorly attached bonding bases can make otherwise tidy packs unusable. Keep an approved sample and require the factory to obtain agreement before changing materials, tooling or base construction.

Documentation can describe a different manufacturer or bracket family. Resolve those mismatches before shipment. MHRA registration is not product approval, so do not accept a registration entry as a substitute for conformity documentation and product-specific evidence.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.