Fastbraces: a guide for Point Cook patients

Fastbraces in brief

Fastbraces are fixed braces: a bracket is bonded to each tooth and linked by an archwire. What makes the system different is the shape of the bracket and the design of the wire. With conventional braces, the crown of a tooth, the part you can see, often moves first and the root follows later. Fastbraces are designed to move the crown and root together from earlier in treatment, which is why the system is associated with shorter treatment for suitable cases.

That's a design aim, not a promise. How long your treatment takes depends on your teeth, your bite and how they respond. Fastbraces are one of several fixed brace styles, along with metal braces and ceramic braces, and our Point Cook team can tell you which of these are currently available. If removable trays appeal more, clear aligners such as Invisalign are worth comparing.

Who Fastbraces may suit

Fastbraces tend to be considered for mild to moderate crowding, spacing and bite problems in teenagers and adults. They aren't a shortcut for every case, and a complex bite still needs the right tool rather than the quickest-sounding one. At your assessment, we check:

• how crowded or spaced your teeth are, and which ones need to move;
• how your upper and lower teeth meet, and whether your bite needs correcting;
• the health of your gums and the bone supporting your teeth;
• whether a fixed brace or a removable aligner is likely to work better for you.

If Fastbraces aren't the right fit, we'll tell you at the consultation, including when we think a specialist orthodontist should look after your case.

Fastbraces for teens and adults

Fastbraces can be used for teenagers and adults once the adult teeth have come through. For adults, the main requirement is healthy gums and supporting bone, which we check before anything else. For younger children who are still growing, braces may not be the first step at all; our Myobrace page explains the early-intervention approach.

Questions worth asking at your consultation

Because Fastbraces are often chosen with timing in mind, it's worth going into your appointment with a few questions ready. Good ones to ask us include:

• Are Fastbraces available at this clinic, and if not, which fixed braces are?
• Is my bite a good match for Fastbraces, or would standard braces or aligners suit it better?
• What's the estimated timeframe for my case, and what could make it longer?
• How many adjustment visits should I expect, and how far apart?
• Do I need one arch treated, or both?
• What does the retainer stage involve, and for how long?
• What is my total fee, and what does it include?

We'll answer each one with your examination and records in front of us, and put the plan and fee in writing so you can take it home and think it over before deciding.

What to expect with fixed braces, step by step

1. Consultation and records. We examine your teeth, gums and bite. Planning uses records such as photos and a digital scan or impressions; ask at your consultation how yours will be taken. If you need a clean or other dental work first, we'll plan that in.

2. Your written plan and quote. You'll see what the braces are meant to achieve, an estimated timeframe and the fee in writing before anything is booked.

3. Fitting. The brackets are bonded and the first wire is placed. Your teeth may feel tender for a few days while they get used to the pressure.

4. Reviews. At regular visits we check how your teeth are moving and adjust the wire to keep things on track.

5. Removal and retainer. Once your teeth are in position, the brackets come off and a retainer is fitted. The retainer holds the result, so it matters just as much as the braces did.

The first week and beyond

Most of the adjustment to fixed braces happens in the first week. Your teeth may ache as they respond to the pressure, and the inside of your cheeks and lips will take a few days to get used to the brackets. Soft food, a warm saltwater rinse and the orthodontic wax we give you all help during that stretch.

After that, it's about good habits. Cut hard foods into small pieces, avoid sticky lollies and chewing gum, and keep fizzy drinks to a minimum. Brush carefully around every bracket after meals and use interdental brushes or floss threaders, because plaque left around a bracket can mark the tooth underneath.

If a bracket comes loose or a wire starts to poke, call reception on (03) 8338 1515 and we'll book a time to fix it. It's rarely urgent, but leaving it can slow treatment. If you play contact sport, ask us about a mouthguard that fits over braces.

Fastbraces, standard braces or aligners?

With several fixed brace styles and aligner brands on the market, the choice can feel bigger than it is. It usually comes down to four things: how complex your bite is, how much you mind the brace being seen, whether you'd reliably wear a removable appliance, and your budget.

Fastbraces and conventional braces are both fixed, so there's nothing to remember each day. Ceramic brackets make braces less noticeable, at a higher fee. Clear aligners are removable and discreet, but they only work if the trays go back in after every meal. We'll match the option to your case rather than to a preference. For a wider look at fixed versus removable treatment, see our sister clinic's braces versus Invisalign comparison.

What affects the cost

Braces at Magical Smiles start from $4,500 per arch. Your fee depends on whether one or both arches are treated, how much movement is needed, the expected length of treatment, any care needed first and the retainer at the end. Fastbraces aren't automatically cheaper or dearer than other braces; your case decides. You'll see the exact figure in writing before you commit, and our budget calculator can estimate repayments.

Ways to pay

We accept most health funds with on-the-spot HICAPS claims. To spread the cost, there's also Humm, Afterpay, the National Dental Plan and SuperCare for early release of superannuation, each with its own terms and approval. Our payment options page explains each one. Braces for a teenager? The Child Dental Benefits Schedule won't pay for them: Services Australia's guidance, last updated on 1 January 2026, lists orthodontic dental work among the services it doesn't cover. An eligible child can still claim up to $1,158 over two calendar years (or $1,132 if their two-year period began in 2025) for basic care such as check-ups, cleaning and fillings, which is useful for getting teeth and gums ready before brackets go on.

General dentist or specialist orthodontist?

Dr Rachna Yadav and Dr Amolak Deep are registered general dentists, not specialist orthodontists. General dentists can treat many orthodontic cases, and when a case needs a specialist orthodontist we'll tell you. Either way, you'll get a straight answer about which path suits you. If you'd rather go straight to a specialist, healthdirect's guide to orthodontists, last reviewed in November 2024, notes that orthodontists complete an extra 3 years of training after their dental degree and that you don't need a referral to see one.