A full course of braces for a child typically costs about $6,000–$9,000 in Australia — the same as for an adult. There is no cheaper “children’s tier” for comprehensive braces, because the brackets, wires, appointments and treatment time are the same whatever the patient’s age. At Cumberland Dental in Adelaide, comprehensive braces are $7,500 — about $58 a week on an interest-free plan — and the price is identical for kids, teens and adults. If you have seen a much lower “kids braces” price advertised, it almost always refers to early phase 1 treatment, not a full course. This guide explains the difference, what actually drives the cost, and every discount and rebate that genuinely applies to children.
By Dr Jack Gaffey — a general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics, practising since 2001 and placing braces since 2011. Cumberland Dental, Cumberland Park, Adelaide. Published 13 June 2026.
Five facts every parent should know before getting a braces quote:
- Comprehensive braces cost the same for a child as for an adult — there is no kids’ discount tier.
- A surprisingly low “kids braces” price usually means limited early (phase 1) treatment, not full braces.
- Medicare and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule pay $0 toward braces — the CDBS excludes orthodontics by name.
- Orthodontics Australia recommends a first orthodontic assessment between ages 7 and 10 — but an early check rarely means early treatment.
- The discounts that really exist are practice-level: at Cumberland Dental, a $500 sibling discount and a $500 pay-in-full discount, which stack.
Braces from $7,500 — the same price for kids and adults — about $58 a week, interest-free, with everything included. Your child’s first consultation is free.
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How much do braces cost for kids in Australia?
Where Australian providers publish figures at all, a full course of braces generally falls in these ranges — and the ranges are the same for children and adults:
| Type of braces | Typical cost for a full course (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Metal braces | $6,000 – $9,000 |
| Ceramic (tooth-coloured) braces | $6,500 – $11,000 |
| Clear aligners (comprehensive course) | $6,000 – $9,500 |
Weekly payment figures advertised around Australia commonly run $60–$95 a week. Very few clinics publish a fixed, all-inclusive total — in our June 2026 review of 35 metropolitan-Adelaide orthodontic and dental providers, fewer than one in ten published an actual treatment price on their own website. For the full Adelaide picture, see our guide to how much braces cost in Adelaide.
Why aren’t children’s braces cheaper than adults’?
Most parents assume a kids’ price exists, the way it does for haircuts and movie tickets. It doesn’t — and the reason is mechanical, not commercial. A 12-year-old’s comprehensive braces use the same brackets and wires as a 40-year-old’s, need the same schedule of adjustment appointments over a similar 18–24 month treatment time, and demand the same records, retainers and follow-up. The fee buys clinical time and materials, and a smaller patient doesn’t use less of either. What does change the price is who provides the treatment: care from a specialist orthodontist generally costs more than the same treatment from a general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics, which is how Cumberland Dental offers braces at general-dentist fees.
The cheap “kids braces” price trap: early treatment vs comprehensive braces
If you have seen braces for children advertised at a price well below the typical range, the quote is almost certainly for early interceptive treatment — sometimes called phase 1 — rather than a full course of braces. Early treatment is legitimate and genuinely helps some children: it uses plates, partial braces or other appliances around ages 7–10 to guide jaw growth, hold space or correct a crossbite while a child still has baby teeth. Because its goals are limited, it costs less.
The trap is comparing a phase 1 price with a comprehensive quote as if they were the same product. They are not. A child who has early treatment may still need full braces in their teens — which means paying twice. Before you compare any two quotes for a child, ask each provider two questions: “Does this price cover comprehensive treatment to finished result, or early treatment only?” and “If my child needs full braces later, what will that cost on top?” An honest provider will answer both in plain numbers.
What age should a child be checked — and when do braces actually start?
Orthodontics Australia recommends children have a first orthodontic assessment between the ages of 7 and 10, while they still have a mix of baby and adult teeth. An early check does not mean early treatment — most children assessed at that age are simply monitored, and comprehensive braces most commonly start in the early teens once most adult teeth have come through. The value of the early look is catching the minority of cases where guiding growth early genuinely simplifies or shortens later treatment. At Cumberland Dental this first assessment is part of the free initial consultation, and “monitor and wait” is a perfectly normal outcome. For teenagers weighing up options, see our guides to kids’ braces and braces for teenagers.
Does Medicare, the CDBS or a healthcare card pay for kids’ braces?
This is where most parents get an unwelcome surprise. Medicare does not cover braces, and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule — worth up to $1,158 over two calendar years for treatment periods starting in 2026 — excludes orthodontic work by name. A child with a full CDBS balance gets $0 toward braces; the scheme covers check-ups, fillings and extractions instead. The only Medicare-funded orthodontic items are for diagnosed cleft and craniofacial conditions.
A healthcare card makes a child eligible for your state’s public dental system, but public orthodontics is reserved for clinically severe cases, runs on waiting lists with no published length, and in most states still carries a fee — in South Australia the fee must be paid in full before treatment starts. For the complete state-by-state picture, including the genuinely free pathways that do exist, see our guide to free braces in Australia. Private health extras can rebate part of the cost — typically capped at a lifetime limit of around $1,800 — covered in detail in our guide to braces and private health insurance.
What kids’ braces cost at Cumberland Dental
- Comprehensive braces (metal or ceramic): $7,500 — about $58 a week on an interest-free Denticare plan (20% deposit). The price is the same for children, teenagers and adults.
- Everything is included: records and x-rays, every scheduled adjustment, unlimited repairs to broken brackets (we never charge for them), retainers, refinements and emergency visits during treatment — nothing billed on top.
- $500 sibling discount when another family member has been treated with us, and a $500 pay-in-full discount when you pay upfront. The two stack — a second child paid upfront can be $6,500.
- Payment plans: interest-free HUMM with no deposit, interest-free Denticare with a 20% deposit, or pay upfront — full detail on our payment options page.
- Your child’s first consultation is free, and you are welcome to bring an existing quote — including a phase 1 quote — so we can explain exactly what it covers.
For teenagers, Invisalign is also available at $8,000 all-inclusive. To talk through your child’s options, call (08) 8271 6233.
Frequently asked questions
How much do braces cost for kids in Australia?
A full course of braces for a child typically costs about $6,000 to $9,000 — the same as for an adult, because comprehensive treatment is the same whatever the patient’s age. At Cumberland Dental, comprehensive braces are $7,500 — around $58 a week — and the price is identical for kids, teens and adults. Much lower advertised “kids braces” prices almost always refer to early (phase 1) treatment, not a full course.
Are braces cheaper for children than for adults?
No. Comprehensive braces for a child use the same brackets and wires, the same schedule of adjustment appointments and a similar treatment time as for an adult, so there is no cheaper children’s version of the treatment to buy. Where you see a much lower price advertised for children, it is almost always for early interceptive (phase 1) treatment with limited goals — always ask which one a quote covers.
What age should a child first be checked, and when do braces usually start?
Orthodontics Australia recommends a first orthodontic assessment between the ages of 7 and 10, when a child has a mix of baby and adult teeth. An early check does not mean early treatment — many children are simply monitored. Comprehensive braces most commonly start in the early teens, once most of the adult teeth have come through. A small number of children benefit from earlier, limited (phase 1) treatment first.
Does Medicare or the Child Dental Benefits Schedule cover kids’ braces?
No. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule — capped at $1,158 over 2 calendar years for treatment periods starting in 2026 — excludes orthodontic work by name, so even a child with a full CDBS balance gets $0 toward braces. The only Medicare-funded orthodontic items are for cleft and craniofacial conditions. Private health extras can rebate part of the cost, but typical lifetime orthodontic limits are around $1,800.
Can kids get free braces with a healthcare card?
Rarely. A healthcare card makes a child eligible for the state public dental system, but public orthodontics is limited to clinically severe cases, involves a waiting list with no published length, and in most states still carries a fee — in South Australia it must be paid in full before treatment starts. For a typical child with moderate crowding, the public pathway screens them out. Our guide to free braces in Australia covers every scheme, state by state.
Is there a discount if more than one child needs braces?
At Cumberland Dental, yes: a flat $500 sibling discount applies when another family member has been treated with us, and a separate $500 pay-in-full discount applies if you pay upfront. The two stack, so a second child paid upfront can be $6,500 instead of $7,500. Interest-free payment plans are available through HUMM with no deposit or Denticare with a 20% deposit, and the first consultation is free.
Sources
- Orthodontics Australia — When you should see an orthodontist (first assessment between ages 7 and 10): orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/when-to-see-an-orthodontist/
- Services Australia — Child Dental Benefits Schedule: benefit cap and excluded services (orthodontic and cosmetic work excluded): servicesaustralia.gov.au
- SA Dental — Orthodontics (braces): public eligibility, fees payable in full before treatment: dental.sa.gov.au/advice/orthodontics
- Pricing-transparency figures from Cumberland Dental’s June 2026 review of 35 metropolitan-Adelaide orthodontic and dental providers, each classified after opening its own live fee page.
About the author: Dr Jack Gaffey is a general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics. He has practised since 2001, placed braces since 2011, and is a former President of the Australian Dental Association (SA Branch). Cumberland Dental, 376 Goodwood Rd, Cumberland Park SA.
