Metal · ceramic · all ages
Braces That Work With Growing Faces
Braces remain a precise and reliable way to align teeth and bites. Ours are planned around jaw development, breathing and long-term stability, with adjustment visits available on weekends. Fitted and adjusted at our Beaconsfield clinic, close to Berwick, Officer and Pakenham.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Sofia Monter, general dentist with additional orthodontic training · Reviewed October 2026
Weekend appointments: orthodontics and airway checks now run on Saturdays and Sundays.
At a Glance
- Types: modern metal or tooth-coloured ceramic.
- Typical length: 12 to 24 months; the research average is about 20 months.
- Visits: every six to eight weeks, weekends available.
- Afterwards: retainers, long term.
- First step: a free consultation with an approximate plan and quote.
- Typical cost: most orthodontic and airway treatments here cost $4,000 to $9,750, with an approximate quote at your free consultation.
Your Options
- Modern metal braces. Smaller and more comfortable than the braces most parents remember. The workhorse: precise, robust and usually the fastest way through complex corrections.
- Ceramic braces. The same mechanics in a tooth-coloured material that blends into the smile. A popular middle path for teens and adults who want braces without the metal look.
Which suits you depends on your bite, your priorities and your budget. We lay the trade-offs out plainly at your consultation and are equally happy to fit either.
This page is part of our orthodontics in Beaconsfield guide, which explains how we plan every case around breathing and jaw development.
How We Plan Differently
Before any bracket is chosen we look at how you breathe and sleep, how the jaws sit, and how much room the tongue has. Orthodontic research increasingly treats tongue space and facial growth as part of the picture rather than an afterthought (Huang & Guilleminault, 2013), and that is how we plan.
In practice it means that where there is a genuine choice, we prefer plans that preserve space rather than close it. Extractions are sometimes still the right clinical call. When yours is one of those cases we will say so plainly and explain why, and when it is not, we will show you the alternatives.
What to Expect, Month by Month
Fitting takes about an hour and is usually painless, though the teeth feel tender for a few days afterwards. From there you visit every six to eight weeks for adjustments, and those visits can fall on a Saturday or Sunday so treatment does not keep costing school or work time. Most courses run somewhere between twelve and twenty-four months depending on the starting point, and research puts the average at about twenty months (Tsichlaki et al., 2016); we give you an honest estimate before you commit, and update it as we go.
When the braces come off, retainers take over. Teeth drift throughout life, and long-term retainer wear is the honest price of keeping the result. We would rather tell you that at the start than surprise you at the end.
What Do Braces Cost?
Most orthodontic and airway treatments at Inline Smiles Dental & Orthodontics cost between $4,000 and $9,750, depending on the treatment and how complex the case is. Straightforward cases start from a quoted figure. You get an approximate quote at the free consultation, and your exact cost is confirmed in writing once records are taken, because no two bites are the same. Interest-free payment plans spread the cost across treatment, and health fund rebates can be claimed on the spot. The place to start is a free orthodontic and airway consultation, where you will get options and honest pricing with no obligation. See our treatment costs guide for what is quoted separately and how payment plans work.
Good to know
Common Questions
Do braces hurt?
Fitting is usually painless. Teeth are tender for three to five days after fitting and briefly after some adjustments; ordinary pain relief and soft food cover it. Most patients stop noticing the braces within a couple of weeks.
Can I still play sport?
Yes. We recommend a custom-fitted mouthguard made over the braces for contact sport, and we can arrange one.
What can’t I eat?
Very hard, very sticky and very chewy things: whole apples unsliced, toffees, hard crusts, ice. Everything else is fine. We give you the full list, and breakages are repaired quickly if they happen.
Am I too old for braces?
No. Healthy teeth and gums can be moved at any age. See our adult orthodontics page for how treatment differs for grown-ups.
What if I lose or break my retainer?
Call us promptly. Wear your previous retainer if you have one, and we will make a replacement. Teeth can start to shift within days without a retainer, so sooner is better.
How do I keep my teeth clean with braces on?
Carefully, and we show you exactly how. Brushing takes a little longer, small interdental brushes become your friend, and we check hygiene at every adjustment visit.
Ready to Look at Braces Properly?
A free consultation with honest advice on options, timing and cost. Weekend appointments available.
The free orthodontic and airway consultation includes a discussion of your concerns, a visual examination, general information about suitable options and an approximate plan and quote. It does not include diagnostic records, X-rays, photographs or a formal diagnosis; these are quoted separately if you choose to proceed, and your plan and quote may change if they show anything not visible at the examination. No obligation. One complimentary consultation per person. Orthodontic treatment is provided by general dentists with additional orthodontic training.
The research behind this page
- Huang YS, Guilleminault C. Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and the critical role of oral-facial growth. Frontiers in Neurology, 2013.
- Tsichlaki A, et al. How long does treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances last? A systematic review. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, 2016.
Inline Smiles Dental & Orthodontics: orthodontic treatment provided by our experienced general dentists. Where specialist care is in your best interest, we will tell you and refer you. This page is general information only, not a diagnosis or a personal treatment recommendation. Research findings describe groups, and individual results vary; suitability for any treatment is assessed individually.