This is our library of plain-English guides to dental and orthodontic care in Australia: what treatments involve, what they typically cost in 2026, how to look after braces, aligners and retainers, and how to choose products and practitioners. Every guide is sourced, dated and written as general information, not a substitute for seeing a registered dentist or orthodontist.
No, teeth are not bones. Both are hard and rich in calcium and phosphate, but bone is living tissue that heals, while…
Braces colours are the small elastic ties around each bracket, changed free of charge at every adjustment, usually every 6–10 weeks. Australian…
Not always. A mild overbite of 2–4 mm is normal and usually needs no treatment. Moderate or severe overbites that cause wear,…
An emergency dental appointment at an Australian private practice typically costs $85–$240 in 2026 before any treatment, based on published fees in…
Gum disease is inflammation of the gums caused by plaque; it starts as reversible gingivitis (red, bleeding gums) and can progress to…
An adult has 32 teeth when all four wisdom teeth are present: 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars and 12 molars, split…
Braces pain is worst in the first 3–5 days after fitting or an adjustment and usually settles within a week. In 2026…
There are three ways to whiten teeth in Australia in 2026: over-the-counter kits and strips ($20–$150, capped at 6% hydrogen peroxide), dentist-supplied…
Aligner chewies are small cylinders of soft, dense foam that you bite on for a few minutes after inserting an Invisalign tray…
Invisalign and braces cost about the same in Australia in 2026: published practice prices put Invisalign at $3,500–$9,500 and metal braces at…
A retainer holds your teeth in place after braces or aligners. In Australia in 2026 a replacement retainer typically costs $200–$800 from…
Sensitive teeth toothpaste such as Sensodyne costs $9.45–$12.30 for 100 g in Australia in 2026, with Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief from $6.59. Used…
Most Australian children get braces between 11 and 14, once most adult teeth are through. The Australian Society of Orthodontists recommends a…
With braces, avoid anything hard, sticky or chewy: chewing gum, hard and sticky lollies, nuts, ice, popcorn, muesli bars, crusty bread and…
An orthodontist is a registered dentist who has completed a further three years of full-time university training in orthodontics and holds specialist…
Most babies start teething at around six months, with a normal range of about four to ten months, and have all 20…
Wisdom teeth soreness is usually worst on days two and three and eases over four to seven days; 2026 Australian health fund…
Our guides answer the questions people ask before, during and after dental treatment. Some are practical, such as what you can eat with braces, how to manage braces pain and what wisdom teeth recovery looks like. Some explain a choice, such as Invisalign versus braces or the types of braces available in Australia. Others cover everyday oral health, from gum disease and sensitive teeth to baby teeth.
Where a guide mentions a cost, the figure is indicative, dated and traced to a published Australian source; our cost guides go deeper on prices. Where it mentions a product, affiliate links are labelled and we say who the product does not suit. Where it touches on cover, we point you to your policy rather than promising what a fund will pay.
Every page carries an editor byline and a last-updated date, and our editorial policy explains how it was researched. These guides are general information. If you have pain, swelling or a dental injury, or you are deciding on treatment, see a registered dentist or orthodontist.