Last updated 13 June 2026 · Written by Dr Jack Gaffey, a general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics · Sources: the Dental Board of Australia, healthdirect, the Australian Society of Orthodontists and the Australian Dental Association, checked June 2026.
No — you do not need a specialist orthodontist, and you do not need a referral, to get braces in Australia. Braces and clear aligners are not reserved for specialists: orthodontic treatment sits within the scope of a general dentist who is trained and competent in it, and for private treatment you can book a consultation directly. What a specialist orthodontist adds is depth — a protected title, around three extra years of full-time university training, and a practice devoted entirely to complex tooth-and-jaw problems. For straightforward to moderate cases, a general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics can be a more affordable alternative; for complex cases, a specialist may be the right referral. This guide explains the real differences — title, training, scope, referrals and cost — using regulator and government sources, so you can choose with your eyes open.
The short answer
- There is no law that limits braces to specialist orthodontists. A general dentist may provide orthodontic treatment that is within their education, training and competence, and must refer anything beyond it.
- You don’t need a referral for private treatment. healthdirect and state health services confirm you can see an orthodontist — or start braces with a general dentist — without a referral from a GP or dentist.
- “Specialist orthodontist” is a protected title. It means a dentist who completed at least two years of practice plus an accredited three-year full-time university program in orthodontics and then registered as a specialist. As of June 2023 there were just 640 registered orthodontists in all of Australia.
- A general dentist must never imply specialist status. They may describe a “special interest” in orthodontics, but they cannot call themselves an orthodontist or say they “specialise” — those words are reserved by law for registered specialists.
- The honest rule of thumb: simpler cases can often be treated well, and in many cases more affordably, by an experienced general dentist; the most complex jaw and growth cases call for a specialist, or for co-management with a surgeon.
Dentist vs orthodontist: what actually differs
| General dentist (with a special interest in orthodontics) | Specialist orthodontist | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | “Dentist” — a registered general dental practitioner. Cannot use “orthodontist” or “specialise”. | “Orthodontist” / “Specialist Orthodontist” — a protected title only registered specialists may use. |
| Training | A 4–5 year dental degree, plus any further orthodontic training and experience the dentist has chosen to undertake. | The dental degree, then at least 2 years of practice, then an accredited 3-year full-time university program in orthodontics, then specialist registration. |
| Focus | All of general dentistry; orthodontics for suitable cases. | Orthodontics only — diagnosing and correcting teeth, bites and jaws all day, every day. |
| How many in Australia | The large majority of registered dentists. | 640 registered orthodontists (June 2023). |
| Best suited to | Straightforward to moderate crowding, spacing and alignment in a healthy mouth — and, with experience, the orthodontic side of more complex and surgical cases. | Complex bites, significant jaw or skeletal problems, surgical and early growth-guidance cases. |
Can a general dentist legally do braces in Australia?
Yes — within their scope of practice. The Dental Board of Australia’s scope-of-practice standard says every dental practitioner may carry out treatment they are educated, trained and competent to perform, and must refer anything beyond that. Orthodontics is one of 13 recognised dental specialties, but it is not a restricted act reserved for specialists: a general dentist who has the training and experience to provide braces or clear aligners for a suitable case is permitted to do so — and is equally obliged to refer a case that is beyond their competence. It is the same principle by which root canal treatment is not restricted to specialist endodontists: scope follows training and competence, not title.
There is one line a general dentist must not cross, and it is about words, not treatment. Under the National Law, only a dentist with specialist registration may use the protected title “orthodontist” or “specialist orthodontist”, or describe themselves as “specialising” in orthodontics. A general dentist with genuine experience may say they have a special interest in orthodontics — which is exactly how Dr Jack Gaffey describes himself. If a practice blurs that line, that itself tells you something useful about the practice.
When a specialist orthodontist is the right choice
See a specialist — or ask your dentist to refer you — when the case is complex. That may include:
- a significant jaw or skeletal discrepancy, or any case that may need jaw surgery;
- impacted teeth that need surgical exposure and guided alignment;
- cleft or craniofacial conditions (these also attract Medicare items — see our guide to free and subsidised braces in Australia);
- young children who need early, growth-guidance (“interceptive”) treatment while the jaw is still developing;
- previously failed or unusually complex treatment;
- anything your general dentist assesses as beyond their scope.
Specialist orthodontists handle these cases all day, and the extra years of training exist for exactly these situations. That said, an experienced general dentist often provides the orthodontic part of a complex case while working alongside a specialist or surgeon. Dr Jack, for example, provides the braces for orthognathic (jaw-surgery) cases — with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon performing the surgery — and carries out simpler tooth exposures himself while referring more difficult surgical exposures, then completing the alignment. The line that never moves is competence: he treats what he is trained and experienced to treat, and refers what he is not.
When a general dentist is a reasonable option
For many people the case is more straightforward: mild to moderate crowding, spacing or alignment, in a mouth that is otherwise healthy. For suitable patients like these — assessed honestly at a consultation — an experienced general dentist can be a sensible and potentially more affordable way to get braces or clear aligners. The key word is assessed: the right first step is an examination, not a price. At a free consultation you should be told plainly whether you are a good candidate, and referred on if a specialist is the correct choice.
Do you need a referral for braces?
No — not for private treatment. healthdirect states you do not need a referral to see an orthodontist, and Victoria’s Better Health Channel says the same: your dentist or GP can refer you, but you are not required to have one, and you can contact a practice and book directly. The exceptions are the public system and Medicare-funded pathways — public orthodontic waitlists and Cleft and Craniofacial Services — which generally do require a referral. Some health funds also ask for a treatment plan before paying a rebate, so check your policy.
Does it cost less with a general dentist?
It can, but only a like-for-like comparison tells you the truth. Orthodontic fees vary widely between providers, and many — specialist and general alike — don’t publish them at all, which makes shopping genuinely hard. Compare the total cost, exactly what it includes (records and x-rays, adjustments, retainers, refinements), and the payment terms — not a weekly headline figure that may hide a deposit or a longer plan.
For comparison, our own fees are published and all-inclusive, and you can read the full detail on our how much braces cost in Adelaide and how much Invisalign costs in Adelaide guides. Health funds with extras cover rebate orthodontic treatment whether a general dentist or a specialist provides it — see our guide to private health insurance and braces.
How we work at Cumberland Dental
Treatment is provided by Dr Jack Gaffey, a general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics since 2011 and a former President of the Australian Dental Association (SA Branch) — a more affordable alternative to a specialist orthodontist for suitable cases. The first consultation is free, and its job is to tell you the truth: whether braces or Invisalign suit your case, what it will cost with no surprises, and — if your case would be better handled by a specialist — to say so and refer you.
Being a general dentist is also a practical advantage for families. If your treatment needs a tooth taken out, Dr Jack can do the extraction at a routine wire-change visit and put the wires back on in the same appointment — fewer trips for the family, and a child builds trust with one familiar dentist for what can be a stressful step. And because it’s all under one roof, your orthodontics, any extractions and any other general dentistry you need can sit together on a single payment plan.
- Comprehensive braces: $7,500 — around $58 a week on an interest-free Denticare plan (20% deposit) — including unlimited repairs to broken brackets, which we never charge for — and the same price for kids, teens and adults: there is no cheaper “kids tier” in orthodontics. See how much braces cost for kids.
- Invisalign: $8,000 all-inclusive — around $62 a week — covering up to 2 years of treatment, 2 sets of retainers after treatment, whitening and intra-oral scanning.
- $500 sibling discount and a $500 pay-in-full discount — they stack, so braces for a second child paid upfront can be $6,500.
- $0-deposit HUMM plans, Denticare, or upfront payment — details in our payment options guide and our low cost braces page.
- Free initial consultation — bring any quote or assessment you already have.
Call (08) 8271 6233 to book a free consultation at 376 Goodwood Rd, Cumberland Park.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a specialist orthodontist for braces?
No. In Australia there is no law that limits braces or clear aligners to specialist orthodontists. Orthodontic treatment falls within the scope of a general dentist who is trained and competent in it, and you do not need a referral to start private treatment. A specialist orthodontist holds a protected title and has completed about three extra years of full-time university training, and is the right choice for complex bites, jaws and growth problems. For straightforward to moderate cases, a general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics can be a more affordable alternative, and a responsible dentist refers cases that are beyond their scope.
Can a general dentist do braces in Australia?
Yes, within their scope of practice. The Dental Board of Australia allows every dental practitioner to provide treatment they are educated, trained and competent in, and orthodontics is not a restricted act reserved for specialists. A general dentist must not call themselves an orthodontist or say they specialise in orthodontics, because those are protected terms, but they may describe a special interest and treat suitable cases. With further training and experience that competence can extend to more complex work, including providing the orthodontics for a surgical case while a surgeon performs the surgery, with anything beyond it referred on.
Do you need a referral to see an orthodontist or get braces?
Not for private treatment. healthdirect and state health services confirm you do not need a referral from a dentist or GP to see an orthodontist or to start braces privately, and you can book a consultation directly. A referral is generally only required for public dental or Medicare-funded pathways, such as public orthodontic waitlists and Cleft and Craniofacial Services. Some health funds may ask for a treatment plan before paying a rebate.
What is the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist?
A general dentist is trained across all of general dentistry. A specialist orthodontist is a dentist who completed a general dental degree, at least two years of practice and an accredited three-year full-time university program in orthodontics, then registered as a specialist, which is a protected title. As of June 2023 there were 640 registered orthodontists in Australia. Orthodontists focus only on aligning teeth, bites and jaws, while many general dentists also provide orthodontics for suitable cases and refer or co-manage complex ones.
When should you see a specialist orthodontist instead of a general dentist?
A specialist can be the right choice when the case is complex: a significant jaw or skeletal discrepancy or a likely need for jaw surgery, impacted teeth needing surgical exposure, cleft or craniofacial conditions, young children who need early growth-guidance treatment, or any case a general dentist assesses as beyond their scope. An experienced general dentist may still provide the orthodontics for some of these cases — for example the braces for a jaw-surgery case with the surgery performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, or simpler tooth exposures done in-house — referring on whatever is beyond their competence.
Is it cheaper to get braces from a general dentist than an orthodontist?
It can be, but compare like for like. Fees vary widely between providers and many do not publish them, so the only fair comparison is the total cost, exactly what it includes, and the payment terms. At Cumberland Dental, braces are $7,500 (about $58 a week on an interest-free Denticare plan) and Invisalign is $8,000 all-inclusive, published up front and the same price for kids, teens and adults. A general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics can be a more affordable alternative for suitable cases.
Sources
- Dental Board of Australia — Scope of practice registration standard and Guidelines for scope of practice (the 13 recognised specialties, including orthodontics)
- healthdirect — The role of an orthodontist (no referral needed; three years’ extra training)
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Government) — Orthodontist (referral not required)
- Australian Society of Orthodontists — How to become an orthodontist (training pathway) and orthodontic referrals
- Australian Dental Association — Scope of practice
About the author: Dr Jack Gaffey is a general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics, treating orthodontic patients in Adelaide since 2011. He is a former President of the Australian Dental Association (SA Branch). This article explains how dental regulation and treatment pathways work in Australia and is general information, not personal advice; your suitability for any treatment can only be determined by a clinical assessment.
