Braces.

Braces in Australia are placed by both general dentists and specialist orthodontists, and pricing reflects that range — typically $7,000 to $11,000 AUD for full treatment. At Element Dental, our specialist orthodontist offers competitive pricing from $7,500 to $9,000, depending on the complexity of your case and the appliance used. Most private health funds include an orthodontic benefit, which can meaningfully reduce out-of-pocket costs — we recommend checking your level of cover before your consultation. A detailed, transparent quote is provided once records have been reviewed. No surprises.

Braces treatment can range from as little as 6 months for straightforward cases to 3 or more years for complex bite and skeletal correction. The average treatment time is around 18 months. The main variables are the severity of the original problem, the patient's stage of growth, and how consistently appointments are kept and brackets are maintained. We provide a realistic timeline at your initial consultation, and our specialist works to keep treatment moving efficiently at every visit.

Absolutely — and in some cases braces are the preferred option for adults. Certain complex tooth movements are more reliably achieved with fixed appliances, and for patients who are realistic about the compliance demands of removable aligners, braces remove that variable entirely. Adult treatment addresses crowding, bite problems, and aesthetic concerns with the same precision as adolescent cases. If discreetness matters, ceramic (tooth-coloured) braces offer a less visible alternative to metal.

The main rule is to avoid really hard, sticky, or chewy foods — things like nuts, hard lollies, and pork crackling can debond a bracket (sometimes more than one). Beyond that, most everyday foods are completely fine as long as they are not excessively hard or sticky. A broken bracket means an unplanned repair visit and can add time to your treatment, so a little dietary awareness goes a long way across a course of treatment.

Retainers are critically important — this phase is just as significant as the treatment itself. At Element Dental, patients are provided with lingual wires (fixed retainers bonded to the back of the teeth) and a custom night retainer, giving full arch retention across both day and night. Teeth have a natural tendency to drift back toward their original positions after orthodontic treatment, and retainers are what prevent that. We guide every patient through their retention protocol at the end of treatment and follow up to ensure everything is holding well.

Orthodontic treatment can be undertaken at any age. The optimal window, however, is during the adolescent growth spurt — typically between the ages of 11 and 14, slightly earlier in girls. During this period the bones are still growing, making it possible to guide teeth and jaws with less resistance and more stable long-term outcomes. Adults can still achieve excellent results; treatment simply works within existing bone structure rather than guiding its development.

Not every child benefits from early treatment, and we do not recommend it routinely. There are specific situations where early intervention is clearly indicated: a crossbite causing facial asymmetry or damage to permanent teeth; a Class III malocclusion (underbite); a traumatic deep bite where lower teeth press into the palate; early loss of primary molars requiring space maintenance; or excessive spacing from extra teeth. We assess each child individually and err toward monitoring where possible — natural growth during the teenage years resolves many concerns without any intervention at all.

Children with significant crowding or a deep, narrow palate may benefit from palatal expansion before braces begin. We recommend fixed expansion appliances over removable ones: removable expanders tend to create space by tipping the teeth outward, which is not structurally ideal. Genuine skeletal expansion — producing more stable and lasting results — is only achievable with a fixed appliance. Our specialist selects the most appropriate appliance based on each child's specific anatomy and growth stage.

We do not support or promote natural teeth straightening. Myofunctional exercises, generic removable devices, and similar approaches lack the precision, customisation, and clinical oversight necessary for safe, predictable tooth movement. Uncontrolled movement carries real risks — including root resorption, gum recession, and relapse. Every treatment plan at Element Dental is overseen by a trained specialist, uses custom-fabricated appliances, and follows evidence-based protocols. There is no shortcut that achieves comparable safety or long-term results.

Growth modification uses appliances — such as palatal expanders, twin blocks, or headgear — to influence the shape, size, or position of the jawbones while they are still actively developing. The optimal treatment window is the adolescent growth peak, though underbite correction (Class III) and crossbite with facial asymmetry are addressed earlier to ensure the best outcomes. Once skeletal growth is complete — typically in the late teens — jaw changes can no longer be achieved through orthodontics alone. Missing the optimal window may limit future options and, in significant jaw discrepancy cases, may make surgical correction the only remaining path.

A gummy smile — excessive gum display on smiling — has multiple possible causes: a short or hyperactive upper lip, a vertically long upper jaw (Vertical Maxillary Excess), teeth that sit low in the gum, or enlarged gum tissue due to medication, mouth breathing, genetics, or inadequate oral hygiene. Orthodontics alone is rarely sufficient, and the appropriate treatment depends entirely on the cause and severity. Options range from braces with or without Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs), to Botox for lip hyperactivity, gum sculpting (gingivectomy), and in significant cases, a maxillary osteotomy. We assess each patient individually and work through the most conservative combination that achieves meaningful improvement.

An OMD describes abnormal muscular patterns in the face and mouth that affect breathing, swallowing, speaking, or eating. The position of the teeth is strongly influenced by the surrounding soft tissues — the lips, cheeks, and tongue — so disordered muscle function can directly affect dental development and the long-term stability of orthodontic results. Signs of an OMD include mouth breathing, drooling, lisping, and poor tongue posture or positioning. We evaluate for a medical or anatomical basis and, where appropriate, refer to an ENT specialist, sleep physician, or Speech-Language Pathologist. Addressing an OMD before or alongside orthodontic treatment significantly improves the durability of results.