Quick answer
In Sydney, a full course of braces for a child or teenager is commonly quoted at roughly $4,500 to $8,000 for metal braces, $5,000 to $8,500 for ceramic braces and $6,000 to $9,000 for Invisalign®. The figure depends mostly on how much the teeth and bite need to change, not on the child’s age. The Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule does not cover orthodontics, but family extras cover with orthodontic benefits usually contributes after a waiting period. At Align the first orthodontic consultation is free, and fees can be spread over up to 24 months at 0% interest after a minimum $2,000 deposit.
Typical Sydney ranges for children and teens
As a broad market guide, for a full course of treatment:
- Metal braces: roughly $4,500 to $8,000
- Ceramic (tooth-coloured) braces: roughly $5,000 to $8,500
- Invisalign®, including Invisalign Teen: roughly $6,000 to $9,000
Most children start full braces between about 11 and 14, once most of the adult teeth are through. The same ranges apply to adults: the price follows the work, not the birthday. Every option side by side is in our braces and Invisalign cost guide.
Early treatment, from about age 7
Some problems are easier to guide while the jaw is still growing: a narrow upper jaw, a crossbite, or habits such as thumb sucking pushing the teeth forward. Early treatment uses appliances like an expander or Myobrace®, and it is usually shorter and costs less than a full course of braces. It doesn’t always replace braces later, but it can make them simpler. Most early checks end in reassurance, which is why the first one is worth having around age 7. More on early orthodontics.
What moves the price
- How much needs to change. Straightening crowded front teeth is a smaller job than correcting how the upper and lower jaws meet.
- The appliance. Metal braces usually cost least, ceramic a little more, and aligners similar to ceramic or slightly above.
- How long treatment runs. More months means more review visits, which a fair quote includes rather than billing one by one.
- Retainers. Teeth drift back without them. A fair quote names the retainers and what replacements cost.
Medicare, the CDBS and health funds
The Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule covers general dental care for eligible children, such as check-ups, cleans, X-rays and fillings. It does not cover orthodontics. Braces are claimed under the orthodontic part of extras cover, usually with an annual or lifetime limit per person and a waiting period of around 12 months, so it pays to check the policy before treatment is due. Your written plan lists the item numbers, so your fund can tell you the rebate before you commit. Children’s general dentistry at Align is bulk billed for eligible children under the CDBS.
Paying it off at 0%
Align’s own 0% interest-free plan takes a deposit of at least $2,000 at the start, then weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments over up to 24 months, with no interest or fees, so the total is the same as paying upfront. As an example, a $6,000 fee with a $2,000 deposit over 24 months works out at $38.47 a week. Your own figures are set out in your written quote.
Getting a real number
The first orthodontic consultation at Align is free and needs no referral. Dr Anand Srinivasa checks whether treatment is needed now, later or not at all, and you leave with a written, itemised quote. Signs worth booking for are in signs your child may need braces.
Orthodontic treatment at Align is planned by Dr Anand Srinivasa, who has practised orthodontics for more than 26 years and delivered over 8,000 cases.