Here at ACT Ortho, we offer the very latest metal and ceramic braces for children, teens and adults in Canberra.

Straighten your smile with modern braces from a Specialist Orthodontist.

At ACT Ortho, we provide contemporary metal and clear ceramic braces for children, teenagers and adults throughout Canberra. Modern braces are smaller, more comfortable and more efficient than ever, allowing us to create healthy, confident smiles with outstanding precision.

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Braces are used to help treat a wide range of orthodontic concerns:

  • Crowded teeth

  • Gaps between teeth

  • Crooked or rotated teeth

  • Overbite

  • Underbite

  • Crossbite

  • Open bite

  • Protruding front teeth

Why Choose Braces?

  • Some kids benefit from early orthodontic treatment to guide jaw development and create space for adult teeth.

  • The teenage years are often the ideal time for comprehensive orthodontic treatment because most permanent teeth have erupted while growth is still occurring.

  • It’s never too late to achieve a healthy, confident smile. More adults than ever are choosing braces to improve their smile, oral health and bite.

Braces For Every Age

Learn about caring for braces

Types of Braces We Offer at ACT Ortho

Close-up of a young girl smiling with braces, outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.

Metal Braces

Our metal braces are strong, sturdy and small. They are a great option for many young patients as they can be decorated with different colours at every visit!

A woman with brown hair styled in loose waves, smiling and showing her teeth, holding her hand near her face, wearing earrings and a black sleeveless top, sitting next to a modern standing lamp.

Clear Ceramic Braces

Our ceramic braces are designed to blend in with the natural colour of your teeth. They are very small, strong and are popular amongst many of our patients.

How Braces Work

Braces use gentle, continuous pressure to gradually move your teeth into their ideal positions. Small brackets are bonded to each tooth and connected by a specialised orthodontic wire. As the wire is adjusted over time, controlled forces guide the teeth through the jawbone, creating a healthier bite and a beautifully aligned smile.

Throughout treatment, your teeth, supporting bone and gums adapt gradually, allowing safe and predictable tooth movement. Regular adjustment appointments every 6-8 weeks ensure your treatment stays on track and achieves the best possible result.

Why Choose ACT Ortho for braces in Canberra?

  • Specialist Orthodontist providing all treatment.

  • Personalised treatment plans.

  • Modern digital technology and 3D scanning,

  • Metal and ceramic braces available.

  • Warm, caring and friendly team.

  • Conveniently located in Deakin, Canberra.

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Some Frequently Asked Questions About Braces

  • The most common age for comprehensive braces treatment in children is following the eruption of all of their adult teeth. This commonly correlates with the early teen years (ages 12-14 years); however there is individual variation. The main reasons for this age bracket are:

    1. All of the adult teeth are there to work with so we can straighten them all in one go.

    2. At this age most children are going through their adolescent growth spurt. We can use this growth to our advantage when straightening teeth and correcting bites.

    If you are wondering if your child is at the right age for braces, it is recommended that you book a consultation appointment with our orthodontist Dr Elise McConnell and she can guide you on the optimal timing.

  • The cost of comprehensive braces treatment varies according to the complexity of the case. On average, fees will range from aproximately $9,500-$12,800. This fee is inclusive of the braces fitting appointment, all adjustments, emergencies, braces removal appointment, dental retainers and follow-up retention visits for 18 months to ensure optimal maintenance of the orthodontic result.

  • Please rest assured, the braces fitting appointment is a simple, painless process! There are no needles- we just need you to keep relatively still whilst we glue the brackets in the correct spot on your teeth. A few hours after the appointment, the teeth will start moving- this is when you will feel some discomfort (like a dull ache) for up to 5 days. Over-the counter pain relief like panadol or neurofen is generally sufficient to manage the discomfort.

  • The duration of comprehensive braces treatment varies depending on the complexity of the tooth movements. On average, braces will stay on for 18-24 months. Sometimes the duration is much shorter if only minor tooth corrections are required.

  • Yes, of course! We do, however, recommend a mouldable mouthguard is worn to protect the braces and teeth when playing contact sports.

  • Yes for sure! We offer a whole range of different colours of the rainbow! Some of our patients like to change their colours at every visit, and some like to stick with the one colour. This is all included as part of the braces treatment. If you would prefer a more subtle looks, we can match the coloured modules with the colour of your brackets, and people will hardly notice them!

  • The clear braces we use are high quality ceramic braces. The actual braces do not stain, however, over time, the clear colour that goes around the brace and actives the wire can discolour with certain foods. Fortunately, we change these clear colours every adjustment so your braces will look as good as new again.

  • No matter what age you get braces, teeth will always want to move again. This is why dental retainers are essential after your orthodontic treatment is complete. Dental retainers need to be worn indefinitely if you want your orthodontic result to be maintained.

  • This is a common question many people ask the orthodontist. There is actually very little evidence for wisdom teeth causing crowding later in life. The main cause of crowding of the front teeth as we age is due to a forwards drift of our teeth with time. The only way to prevent this crowding is through a dental retainer. If you would like to enquire about a dental retainer, we encourage you to make an appointment with our orthodontist Dr Elise McConnell, and she can advise you what dental retainer is recommended for you.

  • The best way to determine the treatment plan for you is to book a consultation with our orthodontist Dr Elise McConnell. There are some very crowded cases where extraction of teeth is unavoidable. However, Dr McConnell looks at all ways of correction of crowding (such as arch expansion) beforehand.

  • Generally we see you every 6-8 weeks for your braces adjustment appointments. These appointments are often quite short, and we try to accommodate before and after school times. During the appointment we will replace the coloured ties on your braces and tighten or replace the wire.

  • If a bracket comes loose, please contact our clinic. We will either arrange an appointment to reglue the bracket or we may wait until your next adjustment appointment (depending on how far away that its).