Frequently asked questions

Orthodontics is a specialist branch of dentistry that is concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental irregularities and facial growth problems.

After qualification as a dentist, a Specialist Orthodontist has to complete a further three years of advanced training in a recognised university program. This training will teach them how to straighten smiles with orthodontic appliances such as braces and clear aligners.

Orthodontic treatment has a number of potential benefits such as:

• A great smile for life
• Better dental health
• Improved function of the teeth and jaws
• Easier cleaning
• Optimised dental treatments

When you come to our practice for your initial consultation, we will assess your smile to see if you could benefit from orthodontic treatment. Some things we will check include:

• Do your front teeth “stick out” (overjet)?
• Do your upper teeth cover your lower teeth (deep bite)?
• Do you have a gap between your upper and lower front teeth when you bite together (open bite)?
• Are your lower teeth biting in front of your upper teeth?
• Is there crowding?
• Is there spacing?
• Does the centre of your teeth align in the front?
• Does your jaw shift to aid chewing?

Orthodontic treatment is suitable for children, teens and adults. We recommend all children have an orthodontic assessment by the age of 7, as this allows us to evaluate their dental development and prepare for any issues that may arise in the future.

Generally, most children will start braces when they have lost all of their baby teeth. However, it is never too late to consider treatment. A growing number of adults are now seeking treatment with braces and clear aligners.

Different orthodontic appliances work in slightly different ways; however, the basic principle is that teeth will move when a gentle light continuous pressure is applied to them.

The duration of your treatment is dependent on the severity of your problem and the type of appliance used. In general, treatment time can vary between 1-3 years.

Orthodontic treatment should not be painful. However, when you are first fitted with appliance, and after each adjustment, your teeth may be sensitive for the first few days. It may also take a little while for your lips and cheeks to get used to your braces.

If you plan to play contact sports while wearing braces, you will need to wear a mouthguard. Because your teeth change position regularly, we suggest the use of mouldable mouthguard during treatment. These can be readily obtained and adjusted at home.

At the completion of your treatment we highly recommend a custom mouthguard to protect your new smile. For removable treatments like Invisalign® clear aligners, you can simply take your aligners out while playing and put them back in once you have finished your game.

This is usually not an issue, but ask us at your appointment and we will be able to give you specific advice. If you are receiving Invisalign® treatment, you will be able to take the aligners out while playing your instrument. Just make sure to put them back in place once you finish playing.

Yes. We always recommend that you continue to see your dentist throughout your orthodontic treatment for regular checks and cleaning.

Most patients are candidates for Invisalign® treatment, but we won’t know for sure until we assess your smile at your free consultation. As a Gold I Invisalign® Provider, Dr Andrew is an expert in treating even complex cases with Invisalign® clear aligners.

If you misplace a set of aligners, give us a call so we can advise you on how to move forward with your treatment. If you are scheduled to move to a new set of aligners soon, your Specialist Orthodontist may advise that you put the new set in early.

Yes! Retention is one of the most important parts of any orthodontic treatment. If you want to keep your smile results, then you need to wear a retainer. If you do not, your teeth will start to move back to their original positions.

When you finish your braces or aligner treatment, you will need to wear your retainer at all times. After a period of time, you will then only need to wear it at night. We will let you know at what stage you can do this.

If you wear your retainers as instructed, your teeth will not move. If some movement does occur, sometimes the retainers themselves can fix this, but often you may need further treatment with braces. This will be classed as a second treatment and charges will apply.

No! As long as you have healthy teeth and gums, you’re never too old to straighten your smile. We have convenient and discreet treatments to help you fit orthodontics into your lifestyle.