How to Prepare for Your First Braces, the Treatment Steps and Starting Costs

Getting Braces for the First Time

How should patients prepare for their first braces? This page covers what to do before treatment and answers the questions patients most often ask our dentists.

First, a look at dental health, and which teeth are good candidates for braces.

Everyone would like nice teeth. For people with crooked, crowded, gapped or protruding teeth, braces are one way to correct the problem, and they are very popular today. Getting braces for the first time does involve preparation, though: an oral examination, the orthodontic steps themselves and regular check-ups. All of this takes time and understanding.

So first-time patients need to be ready in body and mind, and to budget for the cost. Below are the treatment steps, the starting costs and how to prepare, so there is no need to worry.

How Many Types of Braces Are There?

Our dentists have written about each type of braces in the articles linked below. If one type interests you, we suggest reading about it first so you have the information to decide.

How to Prepare Before Getting Braces

A little preparation before braces goes a long way. First-time patients don’t need to feel nervous. Here is each step in detail.

Once you have decided on braces, the first step is to see an orthodontist for a consultation and an oral examination to check for any problems in the mouth. Some patients have tooth decay, impacted wisdom teeth or tartar buildup, and the dentist treats these first so the mouth is healthy before braces go on. The dentist also looks at the shape of the teeth and the bite, checking for protruding, gapped or crooked teeth.

Next comes the treatment plan. The patient chooses the plan (for example, with or without extractions), with guidance from the dentist. If you would like to know which types of braces are available, our dentists suggest reading “What Are the 4 Types of Braces? Basic Facts About Each“.

Before treatment starts, the dentist explains the steps and the cost. Ask about anything you are unsure of, because orthodontic treatment lasts at least 2 years.

Your First Braces, Step by Step

What happens when you get braces for the first time? Here are the steps.

Be ready before you start. Ask yourself honestly whether you are ready, because treatment takes at least 2 years of continuous care. You will need time to see the dentist every month and at every scheduled appointment. Some patients travel to other provinces or abroad, or live far from the clinic, which makes the trips harder. Anyone starting braces needs both the time and a real commitment. Once you’ve decided, go ahead.
Consult a dentist. Once you’ve made up your mind, schedule a consultation. The dentist will explain the treatment steps, the cost and the treatment plan.
On the first day, the dentist checks your oral health and treats any problems found. Then the dentist takes impressions and X-rays to analyze your facial bones, jaws and teeth, plans the treatment and estimates the total cost for you. The patient chooses which plan to follow, based on what suits them and within the dentist’s advice. Ask about anything unclear at this stage, because changing the plan after treatment has started makes things difficult for everyone.
Extractions. After you and the dentist agree on a plan, the dentist tells you which teeth need to be removed and clears up any dental problems before the braces are fitted. This can include fillings, scaling, wisdom tooth surgery or root canal treatment.
Fitting the braces. At first the wires and brackets feel irritating because you are not used to them yet, and the teeth may ache or feel sensitive. These symptoms ease gradually within the first week, so first-time patients need not be alarmed. Prepare well, read up, get ready mentally and follow the treatment plan, and treatment will go smoothly. You can also ask our Mahidol University-trained dentists at Smile & Co. any questions before starting treatment. You can find our contact details on our contact page.

How Much Do First Braces Cost to Start?

How much does it cost to start braces, and what exactly do you pay for? Here are the starting costs.

It starts with clearing up any dental problems, although the exact cost is only known after the dentist examines you. On the first day, plan to bring around 2,000–2,400 THB for items such as impressions, intraoral photos, an X-ray to assess facial structure and X-rays to check for decay.
Clearing up dental problems. This cost varies from person to person: scaling 1,000–1,800 THB, fillings from 1,000 THB, extractions from 1,000 THB and wisdom tooth surgery 3,500–6,000 THB. It depends on each patient’s oral health, since everyone’s problems differ.
Fitting the braces costs about 39,000 – 48,000 THB (for standard metal braces), followed by monthly payments until the treatment plan is complete. If a bracket comes off, replacing it costs 500–1,000 THB.

Patients can see prices for every type of braces here: Braces Prices With Full Payment and Installment Plans.

What Color Bands Should I Choose for My First Braces?

Which color should I pick for my first braces? Many patients wonder about this.

Choosing a color can feel like a decision of national importance. Pick the wrong one and it might feel life-changing, because once you choose, you live with it for a while. So here are some tips for choosing brace band colors. If you still can’t decide, read on carefully.

For darker skin tones, we suggest gold, blue, green, sea green, purple or pink bands.

For fair skin, we suggest light blue, dark purple, red or pink bands.

Choosing band colors to match your skin tone suits your overall look and gives you more confidence.

One more tip: dark bands make teeth look whiter, while light bands can make them look more yellow. Above all, never choose a color you don’t like. It will bother you and take the enjoyment out of wearing braces.

If you still can’t settle on a color, here are the popular ones.

Red is a favorite. If your teeth are white and you keep them clean, red really makes you stand out.
Green is another popular choice and adds plenty of charm when you smile.
Pink is a classic that brightens the face and adds a sweet touch.
Purple is a stylish color that’s worth trying and makes your look more interesting.
Blue is a darker shade that makes teeth look whiter. Your smile looks brighter, and you feel much more confident.

In the end, choose a color you like wearing and that doesn’t clash with your taste. That is enough. Think of the band color as a splash of color that adds charm to your smile.

Do First Braces Hurt, and How Long Does the Soreness Last?

For anyone wondering whether first braces hurt, our dentists can answer directly. Most patients feel some degree of soreness after braces are first fitted, which leads to the next question: how many days does it last? The soreness comes from fitting or adjusting the braces, as the force moving the teeth presses on the blood vessels. It usually eases within 3–5 days. During that time, patients can take pain relievers. Avoid chewing hard or sticky foods, because they can knock the brackets loose.

Read more: Do Braces Hurt? Answers for Anyone Thinking About Braces

What Can I Eat With New Braces?

If you’ve just had braces fitted, food choice matters. You need to eat more carefully to avoid damaging the braces and to prevent soreness when chewing. Here is what you can eat after your first braces.

Choose soft foods that are easy to chew, so the braces stay intact. Teeth that have just started moving are sensitive, and soft food also reduces soreness. Examples include soup, soft boneless meat, noodles, eggs or soft bread.
Banning foods outright may sound harsh, so our dentists recommend avoiding hard foods instead. They can damage the braces and make teeth sore. Hard foods to avoid include nuts, popcorn, ice, crusty bread, pizza, meat on the bone and whole fruit that you bite into directly. Fruit cut into small pieces is fine.
Avoid sticky foods, which are bad for braces, such as candy, chewing gum, caramel and chocolate.

How to Eat With First Braces

Cut food into small pieces to lower the risk of damaging the braces.
Chew with your back teeth. Teeth are very sensitive when braces are new, and chewing with the molars eases the soreness.
Chew slowly, because fast chewing can make teeth sore and inflamed. Look after new braces well. Treatment takes a long time, and repairing damage costs you money and time, on top of the frustration. It simply isn’t worth it.

First Braces FAQs

Q: At what age can you get braces?

Braces can be done from childhood through adulthood. The usual recommended window is around ages 10–14, because the body is still growing and the facial structure changes most during these years, so the teeth move more easily.

Read more: Can Adults Get Braces? Costs, How It Works and Which Option Is Least Uncomfortable

Q: Do first braces hurt?

Most patients feel some soreness, and how much depends on the individual. It comes from fitting or adjusting the braces, as the force moving the teeth presses on the blood vessels. The soreness usually eases within 3–5 days.

Q: Do braces make the face slimmer?

Braces don’t slim the face directly. However, with braces you can’t chew as forcefully as before, which can make the face look smaller. In some cases, braces combined with extractions can change the shape of the face. For example, pulling the lower teeth back can make the chin more defined, and pulling the upper teeth back can make the nose look more prominent.

Q: Do braces always require extractions?

The dentist first examines the mouth and teeth, takes X-rays to see the structure of the face and jaws, and makes detailed plaster models of the teeth. Only then can the dentist decide whether a patient needs extractions, which depends on each patient’s condition. If extractions are needed, the dentist will explain how many teeth and which ones, then plan the treatment step by step.

Preparing well for first braces means reading up, looking at reviews from people who have had braces and consulting a dentist about preparation, the first appointment, the treatment steps and the cost. That lets patients plan their budget and schedule their visits, since braces take several years to move teeth into place. Care during treatment matters too. Pay attention to cleaning and diet to lower the risk of damage, and the teeth will settle into place faster.