Getting braces is a multi-step process that starts with a consultation, moves through diagnostic imaging and treatment planning, and ends with a bonding appointment where brackets are cemented to your teeth. The whole journey from first phone call to walking out with braces typically takes a few weeks, though the timeline depends on your specific dental needs and whether any prep work is required first.
Step 1: The Initial Consultation
Your first orthodontic appointment is an evaluation, not a commitment. The orthodontist examines your teeth, jaws, and bite to identify problems like overcrowding, spacing, or misalignment. During this visit, several diagnostic tools come into play. X-rays show the position of your teeth, their roots, and the underlying jawbone. The orthodontist or a technician will take photographs of your face and teeth from multiple angles. You may also get impressions, either traditional molds using a putty-like material or a digital scan that creates a 3D model of your teeth.
This information lets the orthodontist map out exactly what needs to move and how. At the end of the consultation (or at a follow-up appointment), you’ll get a treatment plan that covers the type of braces recommended, the estimated timeline, and the cost.
Step 2: Any Prep Work Before Placement
Not everyone goes straight from consultation to braces. Some patients need preliminary dental work first. Cavities should be filled and gum disease treated before brackets go on, since braces make thorough cleaning harder. If your teeth are severely crowded, the orthodontist may recommend extracting one or more teeth to create space.
For younger patients, the orthodontist might suggest a palatal expander before braces. This device gradually widens the upper jaw while the bones are still growing, creating room for permanent teeth and potentially avoiding extractions later. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7, because some problems are far easier to correct while the jaw is still developing. Cases left untreated during growth years can sometimes require surgery to fix in adulthood.
Step 3: The Bonding Appointment
This is the day you actually get braces. The appointment typically takes one to two hours. Here’s what happens in the chair:
- Cleaning and drying: Your teeth are polished and dried so the adhesive bonds properly.
- Bonding the brackets: A dental adhesive is applied to each tooth, and a bracket is placed on top. A curing light hardens the glue in seconds.
- Threading the archwire: A thin metal wire is threaded through the brackets and secured with small elastic bands (the colored ties you get to choose). This wire applies the gentle, continuous pressure that moves your teeth over time.
The process itself is painless. You’ll feel pressure and some awkwardness as your mouth adjusts to the new hardware, but there are no needles or drilling involved.
What Braces Feel Like Afterward
Discomfort peaks in the first 24 to 48 hours after placement and generally fades within a few days. Your teeth will feel sore and tender, especially when chewing. The inside of your lips and cheeks may feel irritated where they rub against the brackets. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen help, and many orthodontists suggest taking a dose shortly before or after the appointment. Orthodontic wax, which you press over any bracket that’s causing irritation, becomes your best friend during the first week or two.
You’ll experience a milder version of this soreness after each adjustment appointment, which happen every four to eight weeks. Those visits are quick, usually 15 to 30 minutes, and involve tightening or replacing the archwire to keep teeth moving on schedule.
Types of Braces and What They Cost
The type of braces you get depends on your orthodontic needs, cosmetic preferences, and budget.
- Metal braces: The most common and affordable option, running $3,000 to $7,000. They use stainless steel brackets and are effective for virtually all types of correction.
- Ceramic braces: These work the same way as metal braces but use tooth-colored or clear brackets that blend in more. They cost $4,000 to $8,500, roughly $1,000 to $1,500 more than metal.
- Lingual braces: Brackets are bonded to the back of your teeth, making them invisible from the front. They’re the most expensive traditional option at $8,000 to $10,000 and require a specialist with specific training.
- Clear aligners: Removable plastic trays (like Invisalign) that straighten teeth without brackets or wires. These work well for mild to moderate cases but aren’t suited for complex corrections.
If you have a nickel allergy, let your orthodontist know. Standard stainless steel brackets contain about 8% nickel, and nickel-titanium wires can be 50% nickel or more. That said, research suggests stainless steel components are generally safe even for nickel-sensitive patients because the metal’s structure prevents nickel from releasing into the mouth. For patients who react anyway, nickel-free options exist: ceramic brackets, titanium brackets, and alternative wire alloys.
Paying for Braces
Many dental insurance plans cover a portion of orthodontic treatment, though coverage varies widely. Check whether your plan has an orthodontic benefit and what the lifetime maximum is, since many plans cap orthodontic coverage at a fixed dollar amount (commonly $1,000 to $2,000). Some plans only cover patients under 18.
If you have a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can use pre-tax dollars to pay for braces. Initial evaluation fees, down payments, and ongoing monthly payments are all eligible for reimbursement. One thing to watch: if your FSA doesn’t have enough funds to cover a submitted claim in full, the reimbursement request gets canceled entirely rather than partially paid. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) also cover orthodontic expenses.
Most orthodontic offices offer in-house payment plans that spread the cost over the length of treatment, often with no interest. It’s worth asking about this at your consultation, since the monthly payment structure can make braces significantly more manageable than a lump sum.
Living with Braces
Braces add small ledges and gaps where food particles love to hide, so oral hygiene takes more effort. You’ll need to brush after every meal and use floss threaders or a water flosser to clean between teeth and under the archwire. Skipping this leads to plaque buildup, white spots on enamel, and cavities.
Certain foods are off-limits for the entire treatment because they can snap wires or pop brackets loose. Every broken bracket sets your treatment back. The main categories to avoid:
- Hard foods: nuts, ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, raw carrots (unless cut into small pieces), pretzels, and crusty bread like bagels
- Sticky foods: caramel, taffy, gummy candy, and anything that clings to brackets
- Biting into large items: apples, corn on the cob, and whole carrots should be cut into pieces first
Softer foods like pasta, yogurt, bananas, cooked vegetables, and soup are safe choices, especially in the days after an adjustment when your teeth are most sensitive.
How Long Treatment Takes
Most people wear braces for 12 to 24 months, though complex cases can take longer. The timeline depends on the severity of your bite issues, how well your teeth respond to movement, and whether you follow care instructions (broken brackets and missed appointments add time). After braces come off, you’ll wear a retainer to keep teeth from shifting back. Many orthodontists prescribe a permanent wire retainer bonded behind the front teeth plus a removable retainer to wear at night, often indefinitely.