Orthodontics Explained

An orthodontist is a registered specialist dentist who has completed an additional 3 years of formal university training (Masters degree in Orthodontics) An orthodontist is very different to a general dentist who dabbles orthodontic treatment, as a general dentist does not have any formal additional training. 

An orthodontist is recognised as an expert in orthodontic treatment and has the knowledge and clinical skills to provide the highest quality of orthodontic treatment.

There are number of reasons why orthodontic treatment is carried out.

Patients with bite problems and/or crooked teeth can wear their teeth down unevenly. This can shorten the life of the teeth or result in the need to expensive treatment later in life.

It is also more difficult to clean crooked and crowded teeth. Without adequate cleaning, decay and gum problems can develop. Certain bite problems such as a deep bite can also damage the gums.

Orthodontic treatment can of course also assist in obtaining a beautiful smile that can help with self –esteem and self-confidence.  We believe that everyone should feel good about themselves and helping you achieve a beautiful smile is what we take great pride in doing.

If you notice any irregularities with your child’ teeth or jaw it is ideal to visit an orthodontist at around 8 years of age.

Our practice certainly encourages early orthodontic assessment. The Australian Society of Orthodontists does recommend an orthodontic assessment for patients 8 years of age. In many cases your children’s teeth are monitored every 6 to 12 month whilst their adult teeth are coming through however, an assessment of a young child patients in the mixed dentition does not and should not routinely lead to early orthodontic treatment.

Our orthodontists do recommend interceptive orthodontic treatment in very specific mixed dentition cases when such treatment can be justified from the cost-benefit perspective.

The average active treatment duration for interceptive orthodontic management is 6 months with periodic follow-up until the permanent dentition.

In the absence of any developmental abnormalities, our orthodontists prefer to treat orthodontic patients comprehensively with fixed appliances when all of the permanent teeth have erupted. The average treatment duration for comprehensive fixed appliance treatment in our practice is 18 months.

There is no age restriction for having your teeth straightened. We have treated many adult patients and are delighted to provide our patients with the confidence to smile proudly.

We aim to make the orthodontic experience enjoyable for all of our patients. Your satisfaction is our highest priority and we strive to ensure that your beautiful smile is one of the best investments that you ever make.

You’re never too old! Recent studies show that over 25% of patients currently in orthodontic treatment are adult patients .  Many adults are correcting problems that were never treated when they were children, and can now experience the satisfaction of a perfect smile without the need for cosmetic dentistry.

More information to come

Orthodontic treatment can range from moving a single tooth a very short distance (mild cases) to treatment that involves jaw surgery and braces (severe cases). Every patient is an individual and every person’s teeth will move at different rates.

The average treatment time for comprehensive orthodontic treatment (i.e. correcting the bite and crowding/spacing of the teeth) is 18-24 months. Patients are usually seen every 6-8 weeks to ensure that the braces are in good condition and to achieve the necessary tooth movement.

Some patients may require extraction of permanent teeth as part of their orthodontic treatment. Cases where such extractions are beneficial include:

• severe crowding
• severe bite problems
• heavily restored or decayed teeth (which may cause significant problems in the future)

Your orthodontist will advise you whether or not extractions are required in your individual case.

Braces are used to move the teeth precisely into position and close all of the extraction spaces.

A combined orthodontic-orthognathic surgical approach may be the ideal option for patients with a severe jaw discrepancy and/or severe bite problem. This type of treatment is generally performed in late adolescence or adulthood. Your orthodontist will work together with a specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon to achieve the most ideal dental and facial result.

Combined orthodontic-orthognathic surgical treatment for a small lower jaw and severe bite problem. Note the improved projection of the lower jaw and improvement in the facial profile.