Pain, discomfort and sensitivityQuestion before treatment

Does it hurt to have braces fitted?

Answered byDr Ivelina Ivanova-Koycheva, Orthodontist (MSc)Master's degrees in orthodontics in Rome and in aligner treatment in Turin, international lecturerPublished on 12 November 2026

Having braces or aligner attachments (buttons) fitted is not a painful procedure.

It involves cleaning the teeth, which can be unpleasant but is not painful. Bonding the braces themselves does not require a drill.

Once the brackets are in place, the archwires are fitted, which may cause a slight feeling of tightness, but this passes quickly. You leave the clinic without any pain or discomfort.

This answer is for general information. Your own case needs an examination by an orthodontist.