Short answer: Getting braces fitted takes about 60 to 90 minutes and doesn’t hurt during, though your teeth will ache for three to seven days afterwards as they begin to move. The full treatment runs 12 to 24 months with monthly adjustment visits of about 20 minutes each. The hardest part is the first week — after that, most people forget they’re wearing them for long stretches.
The internet is full of information about braces. The trouble is, most of it is written by orthodontists explaining the clinical side, or by companies selling a particular brand. Very little is written for the person sitting at home who’s just been told they need braces and wants to know what the experience is actually like — how it feels, how much of your life it disrupts, what it really costs, and what nobody warns you about.
Here is that version.
The consultation — what happens first
Before any braces go on, you’ll have a consultation with an orthodontist (a dentist who specialises in straightening teeth) or a general dentist who does orthodontic work. This usually involves:
- Photographs of your face and teeth — front, side, and inside your mouth.
- Impressions or a digital scan of your teeth — either biting into a tray of putty (slightly unpleasant, over in two minutes) or a wand-shaped scanner that creates a 3D model on a screen.
- X-rays — typically a panoramic X-ray of your full jaw and a lateral cephalogram (a side profile X-ray of your skull). These show root positions, jaw alignment, and whether any teeth are impacted.
The orthodontist studies all of this and presents a treatment plan — what type of braces, how long, how much, and what the expected result looks like. Some clinics show a digital simulation of how your teeth will look after treatment.
What to ask at the consultation
- What type of braces do you recommend and why?
- How many months will treatment take?
- What’s the total cost, including adjustments, retainer, and any extractions?
- Will I need teeth extracted before braces go on?
- How often are adjustment visits, and what do they cost?
- What happens if a bracket breaks — is that covered?
- Who will handle my adjustments — you or another dentist?
Get the total cost in writing, not just the braces cost. The real number includes the initial fitting, monthly adjustments (12 to 24 of them), possible extractions, the retainer at the end, and any emergency repair visits. Clinics that quote only the fitting cost are showing you half the picture.
Types of braces — what you’re choosing between
Metal braces
The standard. Stainless steel brackets glued to each tooth, connected by a wire. They’re the most visible but also the most effective for complex cases, the most predictable in results, and the least expensive.
Cost range: ₹25,000 – ₹70,000 for full treatment across Indian cities.
Ceramic braces
Same mechanism as metal, but the brackets are tooth-coloured or clear. Less visible from a conversational distance. The wire is still metal in most cases, though tooth-coloured wires exist at extra cost.
They’re more fragile than metal and stain if you eat a lot of curry, turmeric, or drink tea and coffee without rinsing. The cost is roughly 1.3 to 1.8 times metal braces.
Self-ligating braces (Damon and similar)
Metal or ceramic brackets that hold the wire with a built-in clip instead of elastic bands. Claimed advantages include fewer adjustment visits and slightly faster treatment, though the evidence is debated. Cost is typically 1.5 to 2 times standard metal braces.
Lingual braces
Brackets placed on the inside surface of the teeth, so they’re invisible from the outside. Effective but significantly more expensive (₹1 to ₹3 lakh), harder to clean, and can irritate the tongue for weeks. Few orthodontists in India offer these, and they’re not suitable for all cases.
Clear aligners (Invisalign, Toothsi, Flash, and others)
Custom-made transparent plastic trays worn 20 to 22 hours a day, changed every one to two weeks. No brackets, no wires, removable for eating and brushing.
Best suited for mild to moderate crowding and spacing. Complex cases — severe bite problems, rotations, vertical issues — often still need traditional braces. Indian brands (Toothsi, Flash, SDalign) start around ₹50,000–80,000. Invisalign brand costs ₹1.5 to ₹3.5 lakh.
The choice isn’t purely about preference. Some problems are better treated with specific types. A good orthodontist recommends what works best for your case and explains why, rather than offering only whatever they happen to stock.
Before braces go on
Extractions, if needed
Some cases need teeth removed to create space for the remaining teeth to align. Typically this means the first premolars — one on each side, upper and lower (so four teeth total). This sounds alarming but is routine in orthodontics and doesn’t leave visible gaps once the braces close the spaces.
The extractions are done before braces are fitted, usually with one to two weeks of healing in between.
Not everyone needs extractions. Whether you do depends on how crowded your teeth are and the size of your jaw. Ask your orthodontist to explain why extractions are or aren’t recommended in your case.
Dental work first
Any cavities, gum disease, or existing dental problems should be treated before braces go on. Braces make cleaning harder, so starting with a healthy mouth matters. Your orthodontist will usually tell you to get a scaling and any fillings done first.
The fitting day — what it’s like
How long it takes
60 to 90 minutes for a full set (upper and lower). Some orthodontists fit one arch first and the other a few weeks later.
Does it hurt?
The fitting itself doesn’t. There’s no injection, no drilling, no cutting.
What you feel: your teeth being dried with air, a slight chemical taste from the bonding adhesive, the orthodontist pressing each bracket into position (firm pressure, not pain), and the wire being threaded through and secured. The lip retractor holding your mouth open is the most uncomfortable part, and that’s just awkwardness, not pain.
Step by step
- Cleaning and drying. Your teeth are cleaned and dried thoroughly, because the adhesive needs a dry surface to bond properly.
- Etching. A mild acid gel is applied to the front of each tooth for about 30 seconds, then rinsed off. This roughens the surface microscopically so the glue sticks. You don’t feel it.
- Bonding the brackets. A small amount of dental adhesive is placed on each bracket, and the bracket is positioned precisely on the tooth. The orthodontist may use a blue curing light (a bright LED) to harden the glue — it takes a few seconds per tooth. You’ll wear protective glasses for this.
- Placing the archwire. A thin metal wire is threaded through all the brackets and secured with tiny elastic bands (ligatures) — these come in colours if you want them, or tooth-coloured/grey if you don’t.
- Checking and trimming. The orthodontist checks that nothing is poking your cheeks or lips, trims any excess wire at the back, and adjusts anything that feels wrong.
- Instructions. You’ll be told what to eat (and not eat), how to brush, how to handle a broken bracket, and when to come back.
You walk out. No recovery time, no restrictions on activity. But your teeth will start to feel tight and achy within a few hours.
The first week — the hardest part
Nobody lies about this: the first three to seven days are uncomfortable. Your teeth ache. They feel loose (they’re not — they’re just beginning to respond to the pressure). Biting into anything firm hurts. Your lips and cheeks get sore where the brackets rub against them.
What helps:
- Soft food. Rice, dal, curd, idli, dosa, khichdi, scrambled eggs, bananas, smoothies, soup. Anything you don’t need to bite hard into. This phase lasts about five to seven days for most people.
- Orthodontic wax. Your orthodontist will give you small strips of wax. Pinch off a pea-sized piece, roll it into a ball, and press it over any bracket that’s rubbing your cheek or lip. It creates a smooth barrier. Use it generously in the first week.
- Warm salt water rinses. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, swished around the mouth, helps with sore spots on the cheeks and gums.
- Painkillers. Ibuprofen or paracetamol as needed for the first two to three days. Most people stop needing them by day four or five.
After the first week, the soreness fades. Your cheeks toughen up, your teeth settle, and you stop noticing the braces most of the time. Each monthly adjustment brings back a milder version of this soreness for a day or two — but nothing like the first week.
Living with braces — the daily reality
Eating
What you can’t eat: anything very hard (raw carrots, apples you bite into, sugarcane, hard nuts, ice), very sticky (toffee, caramel, chewing gum), or very crunchy (popcorn kernels, hard murukku). These break brackets, and a broken bracket means an extra trip to the orthodontist and potentially delays your treatment.
What you can eat: almost everything else. Cut apples and carrots into small pieces rather than biting in. Eat corn off the cob, not on it. Tear roti and chapati into pieces. Use common sense — if it requires your front teeth to crack, tear, or rip something, don’t.
Brushing and cleaning
This is the single most important thing you can control. Braces create dozens of new surfaces where food gets trapped and plaque builds up. If you don’t clean properly, you can end up with straight teeth that are covered in white spot marks (demineralisation) or new cavities — which is worse than where you started.
- Brush after every meal, not just morning and night. Carry a travel toothbrush.
- Use a small-headed soft brush. An orthodontic brush with a V-shaped bristle pattern is ideal.
- Interdental brushes — tiny bottle-brush-shaped picks — clean between the wire and your teeth where a regular brush can’t reach. Use them daily.
- A water flosser (Waterpik) is helpful but not essential. Traditional floss works with a floss threader, but it’s slow.
- Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash at night.
Your orthodontist should show you how to brush around brackets at the fitting appointment. If they don’t, ask.
Talking
Your speech may sound slightly different for the first day or two, especially with ceramic brackets or lingual braces. This resolves quickly as your tongue adjusts.
Appearance
Metal braces are visible. That’s a fact, and no amount of marketing changes it. Most adults find that after the first social occasion — the one they were dreading — nobody cares as much as they feared. In India, braces are extremely common among teenagers and increasingly among adults, and the social stigma has reduced significantly.
If visibility is a serious concern, ceramic braces or clear aligners are options — but choose based on what works for your case, not just appearance.
Monthly adjustments
Every four to six weeks, you’ll visit for an adjustment — about 15 to 20 minutes. The orthodontist removes the wire, checks progress, may change the wire to a thicker or different-shaped one, replaces the elastic bands, and sends you home.
It’s uncomfortable for a day or two afterwards — similar to the first week but much milder. Most people take a painkiller that evening and forget about it by the next day.
These visits are where the real movement happens. Missing them or stretching the interval extends your total treatment time. If you travel frequently, discuss this upfront with your orthodontist.
How long does treatment take?
- Mild cases (minor crowding, spacing): 8 to 14 months
- Moderate cases (significant crowding, mild bite issues): 14 to 20 months
- Complex cases (severe crowding, significant bite correction): 20 to 30 months
These are ranges, not guarantees. Treatment can take longer if brackets break frequently, if appointments are missed, or if the teeth respond slower than expected. It can be shorter if everything goes smoothly.
Ask your orthodontist for a realistic timeline for your specific case, not a best-case number.
The retainer — after braces come off
When the braces come off — another 30 to 45 minute appointment, painless, satisfying — you’re not quite done. Your teeth will try to move back toward their original positions. This is called relapse, and it’s why retainers exist.
Two types:
- Fixed retainer: A thin wire bonded to the back of your front teeth, upper and lower. You don’t see it, you don’t feel it after a day, and it stays there for years — often permanently. Most orthodontists in India use this.
- Removable retainer: A clear tray (like an aligner) or a wire-and-acrylic plate worn at night. Often used alongside or instead of a fixed retainer.
Wear your retainer as instructed. The most common orthodontic regret is not “I wish I hadn’t got braces” but “I wish I’d worn my retainer.” Teeth that were moved over 18 months can shift back in weeks if the retainer is skipped.
How much do braces cost?
Total treatment cost (fitting + all monthly adjustments + retainer) varies by city and type:
- Metal braces: ₹25,000 – ₹70,000
- Ceramic braces: ₹35,000 – ₹1,00,000
- Self-ligating (Damon): ₹50,000 – ₹1,20,000
- Clear aligners (Indian brands): ₹50,000 – ₹80,000
- Clear aligners (Invisalign): ₹1,50,000 – ₹3,50,000
- Lingual braces: ₹1,00,000 – ₹3,00,000
Metro cities are at the higher end. Most clinics offer monthly payment plans — you pay a portion upfront and the rest spread across your adjustment visits. Ask about this before committing.
Check detailed dental treatment costs in your city →
For parents: braces for your child
The ideal age for a first orthodontic evaluation is around 7 to 8, but most braces are fitted between 11 and 15 — once most permanent teeth have come in.
A few things that are different with children:
- Compliance matters more. You can’t monitor a teenager’s brushing all day, and poor cleaning with braces leads to permanent white marks. Discuss this with your child before starting.
- Diet enforcement. Hard candy, biting pens, and chewing on random objects are bracket-breakers. Every broken bracket adds time and sometimes cost.
- Growth works in your favour. In growing children, the orthodontist can influence jaw growth — something that’s not possible in adults. This is why some cases are easier to treat in teens than later.
- Insurance. Some employer dental plans cover children’s orthodontics partially. Check before paying out of pocket.
Common fears, addressed plainly
“Will braces hurt?”
The fitting doesn’t. The first week aches. Monthly adjustments are sore for a day. None of it is sharp pain — it’s a dull pressure that painkillers manage well. The discomfort decreases with each month as you get used to it.
“I’m too old for braces”
There’s no upper age limit. Adults in their 30s, 40s, and even 50s get braces successfully. The biology of tooth movement works the same way. Treatment may take slightly longer in adults because bone remodelling is slower, but the results are the same.
“Braces will make me look odd”
For about a week, you’ll be self-conscious. After that, most people adjust. If it matters deeply, ceramic braces or clear aligners exist. But the temporary visibility of braces versus a lifetime of straight teeth is a trade-off most people don’t regret.
“What if I have a dental emergency during treatment?”
A broken bracket or poking wire is not a medical emergency — it’s an inconvenience. Cover the poking wire with orthodontic wax and call your orthodontist the next working day. If a bracket breaks, keep the piece and bring it to your next visit. The treatment plan adjusts around these minor setbacks.
Frequently asked questions
Does getting braces fitted hurt?
No. The fitting involves no injections or drilling. You’ll feel pressure as brackets are placed and mild awkwardness from the lip retractor. The aching starts a few hours later and peaks over the first three to five days.
How long do I need to wear braces?
Typically 12 to 24 months, depending on the complexity of your case. Mild crowding can be resolved in 8 to 14 months. Complex bite corrections may take up to 30 months.
Can I play sports with braces?
Yes, but wear a mouthguard for contact sports (cricket, football, martial arts). Your orthodontist can recommend or provide one. Non-contact sports and exercise are unaffected.
Can I eat normally with braces?
Mostly, yes. Avoid very hard, very sticky, and very crunchy foods that can break brackets. Everything else is fine — just cut hard fruits into pieces rather than biting in.
How often do I need adjustment visits?
Every four to six weeks, for about 15 to 20 minutes each. Missing or delaying adjustments extends your treatment time.
What happens if I don’t wear my retainer after braces?
Your teeth will gradually shift back toward their original positions. This can happen within weeks or months. Wearing the retainer as prescribed — often permanently for a fixed retainer — is essential to keeping your results.
Are clear aligners better than metal braces?
Not better — different. Clear aligners work well for mild to moderate cases and offer the advantage of being removable and nearly invisible. Metal braces are more effective for complex movements and severe bite issues. Your orthodontist should recommend what suits your case.
Next step
If you’re considering braces, start with a consultation — it’s usually just a conversation, some photographs, and a treatment plan with costs. You’re not committing to anything by showing up, and having the information is better than wondering.
If nerves are the thing stopping you, our guide to telling your dentist you’re anxious covers exactly what to say.
Find an orthodontist near you →
About this article. This is a general guide to the braces experience from the patient’s perspective, written with AI assistance. It contains no diagnosis, treatment advice or clinical recommendations. Treatment plans vary between orthodontists, and anything relating to your own teeth, bite, or treatment options should be discussed with a qualified orthodontist who has examined you.
Are you a practising orthodontist? We’re happy to publish a professional review note on this page with your name, qualification and clinic link. Get in touch.
