If you have started looking into braces, you have probably already found prices that vary by thousands of dollars. One practice might advertise treatment from around $5,000, while another suggests allowing $9,000 or more, and neither figure necessarily tells you what your own treatment will cost. There is no set fee for braces in Australia: the price depends on the type of braces, how much movement is required, how long treatment is expected to take and what the provider includes. To make the numbers easier to understand, Dentist360 reviewed pricing information available across Australian dental and orthodontic websites, guidance from professional bodies, and costs reported by patients through review sites and public discussions, including estimates that place metal braces at around $7,000 to $9,000, ceramic braces at $7,500 to $10,000, and lingual braces at $10,000 to $12,000, alongside lower patient-reported and advertised prices for metal braces and less extensive treatment. These figures are indicative only, not direct quotes, fixed fees or a prediction of what you will pay, and are meant to help you understand the questions worth asking and walk into a consultation with a clearer idea of the likely range. This page is general information only, not medical, dental or financial advice: the suitable treatment, likely result and final cost can only be discussed after an assessment by a registered dental practitioner.
What braces may cost in Australia
These broader ranges reflect professional guidance, publicly advertised fees and patient reports, and should not be treated as a fee schedule. One quote may include scans, regular appointments and the first set of retainers, while another lists some of those costs separately. The useful number is not the advertised starting price, but the expected total, with inclusions and possible extra charges set out clearly.
| Treatment | Indicative cost in Australia |
|---|---|
| Metal braces | $4,942 to $9,000 |
| Ceramic braces | $5,771 to $10,000 |
| Clear aligners, including Invisalign | $5,334 to $10,000 |
| Braces, general reported range | $7,650 to $10,350 |
| Lingual braces | $8,870 to $12,000 |
| Retainer | $371 to $503 |
Metal, ceramic and invisible braces: how costs compare
Metal braces are often the least expensive fixed option. Brackets are attached to the front of the teeth and joined by a wire, which is adjusted during treatment. The indicative range in the data reviewed for this guide is $4,942 to $6,686. Metal braces are visible, but they can be used for many kinds of tooth and bite movement, and a dentist or orthodontist can explain whether they are suitable.
Ceramic braces work in a similar way to metal braces, but use tooth-coloured or clear brackets that are less noticeable from a distance. Their indicative range is $5,771 to $7,807. They usually cost more than standard metal braces, so check whether each quote covers the same appointments, treatment period and retainers, as a price difference may reflect more than the brackets.
Lingual braces are fixed to the back of the teeth. This makes them harder to see, but their design and placement can require more specialised planning and adjustment. The indicative range is $8,870 to $12,000, making them the highest-priced option in this comparison. Not every practice offers lingual treatment, and it will not suit every case, so ask about cleaning, comfort and appointment requirements as well as the fee.
Clear aligner treatment uses a series of removable trays rather than brackets and wires. Invisalign is one brand, not a general name for every clear aligner system, and the indicative range reviewed for this guide is $5,334 to $7,216. Some advertised prices cover a limited course, so ask whether additional trays and retainers are included.
Do braces cost more for adults than for children?
There is no single adult price and child price. The fee is usually shaped more by the treatment required than by age alone. A child may need treatment in more than one stage, while another may only need monitoring at first, and for adults, previous dental work, gum health or a complex bite can change the plan.
For a child, ask whether the fee covers one stage or the entire expected course, and whether observation appointments are included. For an adult, ask whether dental work needs to be completed first, as it may sit outside the orthodontic quote.
What changes the price of braces?
The type of braces matters, but it is rarely the only reason two quotes differ. The total may also be affected by the movement required and the complexity of the bite, whether one or both arches are treated, the expected length of treatment, scans, X-rays, photographs and other records, additional appliances or procedures, the number and frequency of appointments, replacement brackets, lost aligners or missed appointments, retainers and follow-up after active treatment, and the provider's qualifications, location and fee structure.
A general dentist may provide some orthodontic treatment within their training and scope of practice, while an orthodontist is a dentist with specialist registration in orthodontics. The title is protected in Australia, and specialist registration can be checked through the Ahpra register of practitioners. The right provider depends on the treatment required, not simply which title produces the lower quote.
What should an orthodontic quote include?
A good quote should explain the likely total. Ask for the proposed treatment, appliance type, full fee and payment schedule, records, scans, X-rays and adjustment appointments, additional appliances, repairs or replacements, extra clear aligner trays if relevant, removal, retainers and follow-up, and charges if treatment takes longer than planned, all in writing.
If two totals are far apart, compare the treatment plans, since the providers may be recommending different approaches or inclusions.
Does the Child Dental Benefits Schedule cover braces?
No. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule does not cover orthodontic dental work, including braces. It covers certain basic dental services for eligible children, but Services Australia specifically excludes orthodontic work, cosmetic dental work and dental services provided in hospital.
In 2026, eligible children can receive up to $1,158 over two consecutive calendar years for covered services. That balance cannot be used for braces, although it may cover eligible basic dental care that is separate from the orthodontic treatment. Check eligibility and the remaining balance with Services Australia.
Can private health insurance help pay for braces?
Some extras policies include orthodontics, but the benefit is unlikely to cover the whole cost. Extras policies may pay a percentage of a service or a set amount, and coverage differs between policies.
Orthodontic benefits often have waiting periods, annual limits or lifetime limits. Before treatment starts, ask your fund whether orthodontics is included and the waiting period has been served, what annual and lifetime limits apply, how much has already been claimed, what is needed for a benefit estimate, and when benefits are paid during treatment. You can compare policies through PrivateHealth.gov.au, and request a benefit estimate from your fund using the treatment plan, since a policy summary cannot calculate your personal rebate.
Payment plans and other ways to manage the cost
Many providers allow the fee to be paid over the treatment period, often through a deposit and regular instalments.
Before agreeing, check whether the payment plan changes the total fee. Ask about establishment charges, interest, late fees and what happens if treatment is paused or transferred to another provider. If external credit is involved, read the credit terms separately from the clinical treatment agreement.
Before you choose a provider
Start with the treatment plan, then look at the cost. Braces are worn and adjusted over many months, so you need to understand who will manage the treatment, where appointments take place and what support is available if something breaks or feels wrong.
Check the practitioner's registration, ask questions until the quote makes sense and get the expected fees in writing. The figures in this guide can help you recognise the broad market range, but only an assessment can establish which options are clinically appropriate and what your own treatment will cost.
Frequently asked
The indicative 2026 figures reviewed for this guide range from about $4,942 to $12,000. Metal braces sit towards the lower end, while lingual braces sit towards the higher end. Your quote may vary with the treatment required, its length, the provider and what is included.
Metal braces are usually the lowest-priced fixed option. The indicative range used in this guide is $4,942 to $6,686. The least expensive suitable treatment can only be identified after an assessment, because the options available depend on the tooth and bite movement required.
Sometimes, but not always. A quote may include one set of retainers after the braces are removed, while replacement or long-term retainers are charged separately. Ask how many retainers are supplied, which type is proposed and what replacements currently cost.
Medicare does not generally cover routine orthodontic treatment. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule also excludes orthodontic dental work. Some private health extras policies provide a limited orthodontic benefit, subject to waiting periods and annual or lifetime limits.
Many practices offer staged payments during treatment. Terms vary, so ask for the deposit, instalment amount, payment period and total payable in writing. Check whether interest or administration fees apply and what happens if the treatment plan changes.
