Most of what people remember about braces is a decade or two out of date. Brackets are smaller, materials are more comfortable, and there's now more than one system to choose from — traditional metal, clear ceramic, and Fastbraces. We'll walk you through all three, honestly, plus what early intervention can look like if it's your child you're thinking about.
Crowding, gaps and a bite that's never quite sat right rarely arrive all at once. More often, they're just there in the background — in the way you smile for photos, the way food gets caught in the same spot, or a comment from a dentist that's stuck with you longer than it should have.
If any of that sounds close, the good news is there's more choice now than a single wire-and-bracket system — and, for children, sometimes a much gentler starting point than braces altogether.
Every fixed brace system — metal, ceramic or Fastbraces — works on the same underlying idea. A small bracket is bonded to the front of each tooth, and an archwire is threaded through them, applying gentle, continuous pressure. Over time and a series of adjustment visits, that pressure guides your teeth toward a planned position.
The main differences between systems come down to what the brackets are made from, how visible they are, and — in the case of Fastbraces — the specific bracket shape and wire engineering used. We'll walk through the 3D animation alongside to show how the pieces actually work together, before we get into how the three systems compare.
All three systems below straighten teeth using brackets and an archwire. Where they differ is visibility, material and — for Fastbraces — the bracket design itself. Here's the honest comparison, so you can ask better questions at your consultation, not so you have to decide anything today.
Braces sit within orthodontics at Magical Smiles, alongside clear aligners and early intervention.
Small stainless-steel brackets bonded to each tooth, connected by an archwire that's adjusted at intervals. It's the most established, most widely used fixed-brace system, and typically the most budget-friendly of the three.
Modern metal brackets are considerably smaller and less bulky than older versions, and can suit a broad range of case complexity.
Tooth-coloured or clear ceramic brackets, working the same way as metal braces but blending in far more with your natural teeth. A popular choice for anyone who wants a fixed brace without it being the first thing people notice.
Ceramic brackets are a little larger than metal and need a bit more care to keep clean, which is generally reflected in a higher cost than metal braces.
Fastbraces uses a differently shaped bracket and a specially engineered archwire, designed to move the crown and root of each tooth together earlier in treatment, rather than moving the crown first as with some conventional systems.
For suitable cases, this can mean a shorter overall treatment timeline than traditional braces — how much shorter depends entirely on the individual case, and we'll only give you a specific figure after an assessment.
Which system suits you best depends on the position of your teeth, your bite, your budget and how much visibility bothers you — not on picking a name off a list. We'll go through the honest options for your mouth specifically at a consultation. Results, timelines and suitability vary between individuals. Prefer something removable? Compare clear aligners instead →
Whichever system ends up suiting you, the path looks broadly similar. Here's what to expect, so there are no surprises.
Consultation & assessment
We assess your crowding, spacing and bite, take scans or impressions, and talk through which of the three systems tends to suit a case like yours.
Fitting your brackets
Brackets are bonded to each tooth and connected with an archwire — the first appointment where you'll actually see and feel the system in place.
Regular adjustments
Periodic visits let us tighten or swap the archwire, guiding your teeth further along the planned sequence of movements.
Progress reviews
We check that your teeth are tracking to plan at each visit, with room to make small corrections along the way if something needs it.
Debonding & retention
Once treatment is complete, brackets come off and a retainer — usually worn on a reducing schedule — helps hold your teeth where they've moved to.
A lot of parents come to us assuming braces are the only path forward for a child's crowding or bite. Often, there's a gentler option worth exploring first — while your child is still growing.
While a child's jaw is still developing, a removable myofunctional appliance — worn mostly overnight, with a short period of wear during the day — can help address habits like mouth breathing, tongue thrust or thumb sucking, and gently guide jaw growth to make more room for adult teeth as they come through.
It isn't a replacement for braces in every case, and it isn't right for every child or every age. But for the right presentation, starting early can mean a simpler path later — sometimes avoiding the need for extractions, and sometimes simply making a future course of braces shorter and more straightforward.
Signs worth asking us about:
This is a suitability conversation, not a sales pitch — the honest answer for a lot of children is simply "let's keep an eye on it." A short assessment is the only way to know whether early intervention is right for your child specifically. Outcomes and suitability vary between individuals.
A calm, unhurried first conversation
Braces suit a lot of cases brilliantly, and they're genuinely not the only sensible option for everyone. Here's an honest starting point — the rest gets worked out at a consultation. When the choice is between braces and clear aligners, our braces versus Invisalign comparison sets the two approaches side by side.
Curious about clear aligners instead? Compare Invisalign & other aligner systems → · Thinking about your child? Explore Myobrace myofunctional therapy →
Cost is usually the first thing people want to know and the last thing we can honestly tell you without seeing your teeth — it depends on which system you choose, how many teeth need to move, and how complex the case is. What we can do upfront is lay out the range in plain English and work with payment options that spread the cost across smaller, regular amounts instead of one lump sum.
Know the numbers before you decide anything.
Curious what metal, ceramic or Fastbraces might cost? Open the repayment estimator →
Estimate only — not a quote or credit approval. Your actual cost is confirmed at consultation.
We accept
About the estimator: it gives an indicative figure only, based on typical full-treatment pricing — it is not a quote. Cost varies significantly between metal, ceramic and Fastbraces and by case complexity; you'll always see the exact cost in writing once we've assessed your teeth. Repayment figures are illustrative, calculated using Humm/NDP's own plan-fee formula for the term selected, so Humm's fees are already included; finance is subject to Humm's own eligibility criteria and approval, and is not guaranteed.
We offer metal, ceramic and Fastbraces and talk you through which genuinely suits your case — not just the one we'd rather sell.
Early intervention is only ever suggested when it genuinely suits your child's age and presentation — never as a default recommendation.
A retainer plan is part of every course of treatment, so the result is looked after long after the brackets come off.
A short consultation is usually enough to know whether metal, ceramic or Fastbraces is the more sensible starting point for you, or whether an early myofunctional appliance is worth exploring for your child. If you'd like to ask a few things first, give us a call.
Book a consultation (03) 8358 2565Information on this page is general in nature. Treatment outcomes, fit, timeline and comfort vary between individuals — we'll examine your teeth (or your child's) and explain what's realistic for your situation before you decide anything.
Major health funds
A short consultation is usually enough to tell whether metal, ceramic or Fastbraces is the right fit for your teeth — or whether an early myofunctional appliance is worth exploring for your child — with a clear, written cost estimate before you decide anything.