Fixed braces can correct crowding, gaps and bite problems that removable options struggle with. We use passive self-ligating braces, which hold the wire with a built-in clip instead of elastic ties, and we also offer tooth-coloured ceramic braces if you would prefer them to be less noticeable. Every case starts with an assessment and a written plan, so you know the likely timeframe and cost before anything is placed.
Braces stay on the teeth for the whole treatment and work around the clock, which makes them suited to movements that are harder to achieve with aligners, including rotated teeth, bite corrections and larger amounts of crowding. They suit teenagers and adults alike, as long as the teeth and gums are healthy.
Traditional braces hold the wire in each bracket with an elastic tie, which presses the wire into the bracket and creates friction every time it needs to slide. Passive self-ligating brackets replace the ties with a small clip built into the bracket. The clip closes over the wire without squeezing it, so the wire can slide more freely as the teeth move.
Ceramic braces work the same way as metal braces, but the brackets are made from a tooth-coloured ceramic that blends with your teeth. They are often called clear braces, and they are much less noticeable in photos and conversation.
Worth knowing
Ceramic brackets are slightly larger and more brittle than metal, so they need care with hard foods. Depending on your bite, we may suggest ceramic on the upper teeth and metal on the lower teeth, where they are less visible and less likely to touch the opposing teeth. Removal takes a little more care, and we will explain what to expect.
Most full treatments take somewhere between 12 and 24 months, and some take longer. Your plan will give you an estimate for your own case.
About an hour
An examination, X-rays, photos and a scan, and a conversation about what you would like to change. You leave with a written plan and itemised quote.
One to two hours
The brackets are bonded to the teeth and the first wire placed. No injection is needed. We go through cleaning and eating before you leave.
Every 6 to 10 weeks
Short visits to check progress and change wires. We are open Saturdays, which makes them easier to fit around school and work.
At the end
The brackets come off, the teeth are polished, and retainers are fitted to hold the result.
There is no recovery period, but there is an adjustment. Braces feel tight and tender for a few days after they go on and after each adjustment, and it takes a week or two to get used to eating and cleaning around them.
Expect some tenderness for a few days. Soft foods and over-the-counter pain relief, taken as directed on the pack, usually help. Orthodontic wax can be pressed over any bracket that rubs.
Avoid very hard, sticky or chewy foods such as nuts, hard lollies, toffee and crusty rolls, and cut apples and corn into small pieces. Brush around every bracket after meals and use interdental brushes or floss threaders once a day. We will show you how at your fitting.
Wear a mouthguard for contact sports, and we can advise on one that fits over braces. Wind instruments usually take a week or two to get used to.
Call us on (02) 4744 3754. A loose bracket or poking wire is rarely urgent, but we would rather see it early.
Teeth tend to drift back, particularly in the first year after braces come off. We may recommend a fixed retainer bonded behind the front teeth, a removable clear retainer, or both, and we will explain how long to wear them.
Every type of brace feels sore for a few days after fitting and adjustments. Research comparing self-ligating and conventional braces has not shown a consistent difference in overall treatment time, which depends mostly on the movement your teeth need and on wearing any elastics as directed. Good cleaning matters throughout, because plaque left around brackets can mark the teeth. Some cases, such as significant jaw discrepancies or treatment that may need jaw surgery, are better managed through a referral, and we will tell you at your assessment if that applies.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Visible but low profile. Suited to simple through to complex movements.
Tooth-coloured and much less noticeable. Slightly larger brackets that need care with hard foods.
Removable trays worn 20 to 22 hours a day. Suited to mild to moderate movements.
Braces treatment here is planned and carried out by Dr Michael Kozman, a general dentist. He is not a registered specialist orthodontist. Where a case would be better handled by one, we’ll say so at the assessment and arrange the referral.
The main factors are how much movement is needed and how long treatment will take, whether you choose metal or ceramic brackets or a combination, whether one or both arches are treated, and the retainers needed at the end. We can only give an accurate fee after an assessment.
Orthodontic cover varies between funds, so check your policy with the item numbers on your quote.
Afterpay, Humm, National Dental Plan and DentiCare.
An itemised plan and full cost before we begin.
Most full treatments take between 12 and 24 months, and some take longer. Your written plan will include an estimate for your case.
Fitting braces doesn’t need an injection. Most people feel pressure and tenderness for a few days after the braces go on and after each adjustment, which settles as the teeth adjust.
Not reliably. Their advantages are lower friction, no elastic ties to collect plaque or stain, and shorter adjustment visits. Treatment time depends mostly on the movement your teeth need.
No. Adults of any age can have braces as long as the teeth and gums are healthy. Adults who would prefer their braces to be less noticeable often consider ceramic brackets.
If you notice crowding, a bite that doesn’t meet evenly, or teeth coming through out of position, it is worth an assessment. Some problems are easier to manage while the jaws are still growing.
The ceramic brackets themselves resist staining. Where elastic ties are used, those can discolour between visits and are replaced at each adjustment.
It depends on the movement your teeth need and your routine. We will explain which suits you, and why, at your assessment.
Book an assessment. We’ll examine your teeth and bite, explain your options, and give you a written plan and quote before anything is decided.