Is 15, 16 or 17 too late for braces?
No. Plenty of teenagers start braces or clear aligners at 15, 16 or 17, and the results are every bit as good. The window of 11 to 14 gets talked about because the jaws are still growing then, which helps with certain bite problems. By the later teens growth is slowing, so treatment relies more on moving the teeth themselves. For crowding, spacing and most bites that makes no real difference to the result, and often none to the time. If your teenager is younger, read braces at 12, 13 or 14 instead.
4.9 from 75 Google reviews · Specialist orthodontist · No referral needed · Newmarket and Albany
Reviewed by Dr Shaz MacAvoy, Specialist Orthodontist. Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Orthodontics), registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand.
What changes when a teenager starts later
Three things are different at 15 to 17 compared with 12. Only one of them ever changes the plan.
The teeth move the same way
Teeth move through bone at any age, and at 15 to 17 the bone is still young and responsive. Crowding, gaps, rotated teeth and most bite problems are treated exactly as they would be at 13, with the same appliances and a similar timeframe.
Growth is slowing down
This is the one that matters. A lower jaw that sits well back, or an upper jaw that is narrow, responds best while the jaws are still growing. Girls usually finish that growth earlier than boys. If your teenager has a jaw-size problem, we tell you plainly what is still possible and what would need a different approach.
Wisdom teeth are on the X-ray
From about 15 the wisdom teeth start to show on the panoramic X-ray. They do not cause crowding on their own, whatever the old saying, but we plan around them and let you know early if they are likely to need attention later. Retainers protect the finished result either way.
Age by age
A guide, not a rule. Every teenager is checked as an individual at the free Smile Assessment.
Braces at 15
Still inside the classic window for most cases. Nearly all the adult teeth are through, and there is usually some growth left to help with the bite, especially in boys. Treatment normally finishes before the end of school.
Braces at 16
A very common starting age, and a good one. Most 16 year olds are motivated, look after their braces well and finish in 12 to 24 months. Clear braces and Angel Aligners suit this age, because a lot of 16 year olds would rather nobody noticed.
Braces at 17
Not too old, and not unusual. Growth has mostly finished, so we plan on tooth movement alone, which is what adult treatment is anyway. Starting at 17 often means finishing in the first year of university or work, and we book around both.
Braces at 18 and beyond
From 18 we treat you as an adult, and adults are a large part of our practice. The options are the same. Adults start with a free online Smile Assessment or a free video call, rather than a clinic visit. Read our guide to orthodontics for adults.
Reasons teens start later, and why none of them matter
We hear these every week. Each one is a good reason, and not one of them makes treatment less successful.
How long it takes, and what it costs
Time
Most 15 to 17 year olds are in braces or aligners for 12 to 24 months, the same as younger teens. Simple crowding or spacing often finishes in about a year, bite correction nearer two. We give a written estimate at the consultation. More in how long teenagers wear braces.
Cost
At Milk, comprehensive specialist treatment is from $9,900, with most cases around $10,400, all-inclusive of records, appliances, appointments, retainers and aftercare. Simple cosmetic treatment is from $7,900. Interest-free in-house plans work out around $60 to $76 a week, there is $500 off if paid in full, and family discounts apply for siblings. The first visit, a 20 minute Smile Assessment with our Treatment Coordinator, is free. The $390 New Patient Consultation with Dr Shaz gives you a written plan and an exact quote. Full detail on braces cost for under 18s.
Finishing before they leave school
Starting at 15 or 16 usually means the braces are off before the end of Year 13. Starting at 17 sometimes carries into the first year after school, which is fine: appointments are a short review every 6 to 10 weeks and we fit them around study, work and travel. If a date matters, such as a school ball or a gap year, tell us at the first visit and we plan towards it.
Answered honestly
Is 16 too late for braces?
No. Sixteen is one of the most common ages to start at Milk, and the results are as good as for a 13 year old. The teeth move the same way. The only difference is that jaw growth is slowing, which matters for a small number of bite problems. We tell you at the free Smile Assessment whether that applies.
Is it normal to get braces at 17?
Yes. Some teenagers get their adult teeth late, some wait until they are ready, and some finish an early phase and come back. Seventeen year olds are treated in the same way as adults, on tooth movement alone, and usually finish within 12 to 24 months.
Can a 15 year old get braces?
Yes, and 15 is still inside the classic window. Nearly every adult tooth is through and there is often growth left to help with the bite, particularly in boys. Fifteen year olds routinely finish treatment before they leave school.
Will braces take longer at 16 than at 12?
Usually not. Treatment time depends far more on the case, and on how well the braces are looked after, than on age. Most teens of any age are in braces for 12 to 24 months. Where growth would have helped a bite, an older teen may need a different plan rather than a longer one.
Are teeth more often removed when a teenager starts later?
No. Whether a tooth needs to come out depends on how much crowding there is and how the face and lips sit, not on age. Most of our teenage patients keep all their teeth. When an extraction would give a better result we explain exactly why before anything is decided.
My teenager is 18. Is that still a teen page?
From 18 we treat your teenager as an adult, and the answer is still no, it is not too late. Adults start with a free online Smile Assessment or a free video call rather than a visit to the clinic, and the treatment options are the same. See our adult orthodontics page.
Can a 16 year old get braces for free in New Zealand?
Free dental care for under 18s in NZ does not cover braces, apart from a small number of severe cases treated through the public hospital system. Nearly all braces are paid for privately. Interest-free plans, a family discount for siblings and $500 off for paying in full are the things that help most. Our braces funding guide explains the options.
Is 15 too late for clear aligners?
No. Angel Aligners suit older teens well, because they are usually mature enough to wear them for the 22 hours a day they need. Aligners work best for mild to moderate crowding and spacing. At the free Smile Assessment we tell you honestly whether your teenager's case suits them or whether clear braces would do a better job.
Find out where your teenager stands
A free 20 minute Smile Assessment at Newmarket or Albany. No referral, no obligation, just an honest specialist answer on whether now is a good time and what treatment would involve.
Related: orthodontics for teens, braces at 12, 13 or 14, how long teenagers wear braces and orthodontics for adults.