ORTHODONTICS FAQs

Braces are usually comprised of three main parts including:

Brackets – These are small, square shaped pieces which are bonded to the front surface of your teeth using a special glue to hold them in place. Brackets come in a variety of materials including ceramic, plastic and stainless steel.

Arch wire – This is a thin metal wire that attaches to your braces and acts like a handle to help put pressure on your teeth and guide them into place.

Ligatures – These are small elastic rubber bands that are designed to hold the archwires to your brackets. They come in a range of different colours and are changed at each appointment.

These three components work together by placing a constant pressure on your teeth which helps to move your teeth into their correct alignment.To ensure that the teeth keep moving into alignment, your braces may be adjusted every four – six weeks at your appointment.

This varies from person to person and depends on a number of contributing factors such as the severity of the problem, the distance the teeth need to travel, your oral health and the amount of room available for the teeth to shift into alignment. However, on average, most people will need to wear braces between one and three years. Those who are eligible for partial braces may have their treatment completed in as little as four to six months. After the treatment is complete, most people will then need to wear a custom fit retainer every day for the first six months and then only when sleeping thereafter.

To ensure that your teeth keep moving into alignment, it is important to be seen by your orthodontist regularly for a review and an adjustment. At your appointment, we will make any necessary adjustments to the wires and ligatures in order to place further tension and pressure on the teeth.

There are a few tell-tale signs to look out for which might mean that you need braces. These include: There are a few tell-tale signs to look out for which might mean that you need braces. These include:

Crooked or crowded teeth– This is the most common issue addressed by braces. Most people associate even, straight teeth with beauty so if you have crooked or crowded teeth, you may find that you have low self-esteem or lack the confidence to smile.  Most people can tell if their teeth are crooked just by looking in the mirror. Crowded teeth can also make it harder to keep them clean, resulting in gum disease and tooth decay.

Teeth that are too far apart – Even though your teeth may not be crowded; you may find that missing teeth, small teeth or large gaps between your teeth impair the movement and function of your bite and jaw. This kind of spacing is another common issue that can be treated with braces.

Bite issues – When you bite down, your top and bottom teeth should fit nicely together.  If you find that your upper teeth extend significantly past your lower teeth when you close your mouth, this is called and overbite. Contrastingly, if your lower teeth protrude much further past your top teeth, then this is called an under bite.

In other cases, you may find that when you bite down, your lower front teeth and upper front teeth do not touch – also known as an over jet or overbite – while upper teeth that are not positioned correctly inside the lower teeth is called a cross bite.

Other signs and symptoms – some other signs and symptoms to look out for include whether or not you get food constantly stuck in between your teeth, frequent bad breath, any speaking difficulties which may be a result of your bite and/or if you get any reoccurring jaw pain.

While this is certainly a good starting point, the best way to determine if you really do need braces is to have your teeth and gums examined by an orthodontist.

If you’re tired of having low-self-esteem and want to smile with confidence, then please give us a call on 08 9440 4455 or request an appointment with our qualified and experienced orthodontist today.

Braces can be applied to people of any age as the process conducted to move the teeth does not change. The main difference between orthodontic treatment in children and adults is that teeth move a lot easier when you are younger, so it may take longer and require more than braces to complete the orthodontic treatment. While it may take more time for an adult to achieve their desired result, the outcome is nevertheless just as successful.

Ensuring that the teeth and gums are healthy is essential at any age to ensure that the mouth is optimum condition to undergo orthodontic treatment.

Thanks to modern day advancements in dental technology, there are also Invisalign aligners and Rapid Smiles orthodontics available for adults who wish to enjoy the benefits of braces without compromising their confidence or busy lifestyles.

Rapid Smiles braces work in much the same way as traditional braces by using brackets, arch wire and ligatures to maintain a constant pressure on the teeth and shift them into alignment.

A popular form of treatment among those looking for a purely cosmetic outcome, Rapid Smiles offers a number of different options for achieving your dream of having straight teeth and a beautiful smile. These include:

Express – By using state-of-the-art orthodontic braces and custom wires, the Express method can straighten your teeth and enhance your smile is just two – four months. Depending on your eligibility, Express by Rapid Smiles is considered to be a simple, fast and cost-effective alternative to other orthodontic options.

Clear – If you’d like to enjoy the benefits of braces in a discreet manner, then Rapid Smiles Clear may be the most suitable treatment option for you.  For those who regularly speak or perform in public, Rapid Smiles is a flexible and inconspicuous alternative to orthodontic treatment options. Like Invisalign, the Rapid Smiles Clear aligners are almost invisible and can be easily removed when eating or brushing.

Controlled Arch – While traditional braces have many benefits, one of the major drawbacks can be the unpredictability of the teeth moving and the time it takes to achieve the desired result. The Rapid Smiles Controlled Arch system is considered to be the fastest form of orthodontic treatment – offering you peace of mind and predictability on your journey towards achieving your dream smile.

GMAX – To help restore the balanced development of the face, Rapid Smiles GMAX therapy offers an easy, simple way of remodelling not just your teeth, but the jaw and face so that it develops the way nature intended.

As a certified, Rapid Smiles provider, our expertly trained dental professionals will examine your mouth and create a custom treatment plan for you using a collection of x-rays, photographs and impressions of your teeth, gums and bite. Once taken, we will then send your impressions off to Rapid Smiles in order for your braces or aligners to be created. Once we have received your braces or aligners, we will get you back in to get them fitted.  Every five to six weeks, we will arrange a review to ensure that your teeth are moving correctly and to make any adjustments as necessary.

No. As Rapid Smiles is an orthodontic treatment designed purely for achieving cosmetic outcomes, there is much less pressure on the teeth and the forces used are much more gentler than traditional orthodontic options which can also adjust your jaw and bite.

The best way to find out if you are eligible for Rapid Smiles is to come for a chat with one of our expertly trained Rapid Smiles dental professionals. Simply give us a call on 08 9440 4455 or request an appointment online today.

Using a unique SMARTForce Technology, Invisalign works by creating a series of custom-designed removable aligners which you wear over your teeth to help gradually move them into the desired alignment. Made of a virtually invisible plastic, the aligners are designed to act as a discreet alternative to traditional metal braces which in time, help to transform your appearance and enhance your smile.

At your first appointment, our Invisalign-trained dental professionals will take diagnostic photos, x-rays and moulds of your mouth in order to devise your custom treatment plan. We then send off your records to Invisalign, who will create your customised 3D treatment plan and aligners.

Once we receive your aligners, we will get you back in to fit your first set (typically 3-4 at a time) which you will need to wear every day and change at home every two weeks. From there, we will get you in for a visit approx. every six to eight weeks for a check-up and to make any necessary adjustments. Once your treatment is complete, you may then need to wear retainers to help keep your teeth in their newly aligned position.

While Invisalign and traditional metal braces work in the same way to align your teeth and enhance your smile, there are a number of important differences. Besides being almost invisible to the naked eye, Invisalign aligners are also removable so you can take them out before eating and brushing. While you may feel some pain and discomfort each time you get your traditional braces adjusted, most people only feel some slight pressure in the early stages with their first set of aligners. With Invisalign, reviews and check-ups are usually every six-eight weeks whereas traditional braces require adjustments and reviews every month. For a full list of features and comparisons with traditional braces, visit https://www.invisalign.com.au/what-is-invisalign/invisalign-vs-braces

Like any orthodontic treatment, there are always advantages and disadvantages, which will largely depend on your wants, needs and budget. While Invisalign aligners are removable, they obviously need to be in your mouth for them to work! For optimum results, the aligners need to be in your mouth for a minimum of 22 hours per day. Failing to wear your aligners for more than 20 hours a day could lengthen the time of your treatment.

To avoid the build-up of plaque on your teeth and to prevent tooth decay, it is important to maintain proper oral hygiene before, during and after the treatment period. Although this can sometimes be a hassle, brushing and flossing after every meal is essential in order to ensure that any food debris is removed and that the areas where there is contact between the teeth and the aligners is kept clean.

Just like traditional braces, it is important to set realistic expectations throughout the treatment process. Although the treatment time for Invisalign is considered shorter than traditional metal braces, it cannot work magic and straightening teeth takes time.

Upon completion of your treatment, you may find that you will still need to wear a custom-made retainer while you sleep to ensure that your teeth do not move back into their old position.

To find out more about our Invisalign treatment, simply give us a call on 08 9440 4455 or request an appointment with one of our Invisalign-trained dental professionals today. In the meantime, you can also visit www.invisalign.com.au for more information on Invisalign, the treatment process, features and benefits, before and after images and FAQs.

While Invisalign is certainly a revolutionary treatment which can correct common orthodontic issues such as crowded teeth, over bites, under bites, crowding, crooked teeth and spacing, it is not the optimum solution for everyone. The best way to determine if Invisalign is for you is come in for a chat with one of our Invisalign-trained dental professionals. Simply give us a call on 08 9440 4455 or request an appointment today and in the meantime, head on over to www.invisalign.com.au/is-this-for-me/tool to access Invisalign’s quick compatibility tool.