Our Knowledge Centre provides up-to-date information about treatment interventions and models of care for orthodontic treatment. It is designed for professionals, as well as researchers and academics and members of the community who are interested in orthodontic treatments.
- What is an Orthodontist
- Common problems
- When to treat
- Adult treatment
What is an Orthodontist
An Orthodontist is a registered specialist who diagnoses, prevents and treats problems of alignment or development of your teeth and jaws.
Your Sydney Orthodontist at Orthodontics Exclusively has completed five years of dental training and a three-year full time masters program that includes clinical, academic, and research thesis components. They are registered specialists with the state dental board and often work closely with your family dentist or other specialists to give you your best possible result.
Meet the Specialists at Orthodontics Exclusively.
Common problems treated by your Orthodontists
There are many problems that are treated with orthodontics
- To improve the appearance of the teeth
- To improve oral function (eating and speech)
- To improve the health of the teeth and gums in the long-term
- To protect teeth from excessive wear or trauma over a lifetime
Straight teeth and well-aligned jaws help an individual to bite, chew and speak effectively. Straight teeth also contribute to healthy teeth and gums. Properly aligned teeth and jaws may alleviate or prevent physical health problems. Teeth that function better also tend to look better.
An attractive smile is always a result of orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic problems can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. Early orthodontic correction may be less costly than the restorative dental care required in treating more serious problems that can develop in later years if an orthodontic problem is left untreated.
See treated cases
When does your Orthodontist want to start treatment?
Anyone can book directly with an Orthodontist – you don’t need a referral. Your dentist can also provide you with a referral. Some problems, if caught early, can be very simple to treat and can help to minimise more severe problems later. Some treatments must wait until growth has ceased.
Early Treatment
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that by age seven, most potential orthodontic problems should be assessed. Even if no treatment is required at the time of the first visit, early assessment allows your Orthodontist to determine the most appropriate timing of treatment.
If a problem is identified but it is too early to treat, follow up visits, usually annually, are arranged at no charge.
Early phase orthodontic treatment can greatly improve self-esteem where there are cosmetic issues, and can also help minimise future problems, reduce the need for lengthy treatment at a later date, or help reduce the need for extractions or surgery.
Early assessment gives the parent peace of mind, and if treatment is required, the ideal time to commence can be identified.
The following early signs and common problems may indicate that your child should have an orthodontic examination:
- Crowded or poorly shaped teeth
- Facial asymmetry/imbalance
- Delayed eruption of teeth
- Early or uneven or late loss of teeth
- Difficulty with chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Thumb or finger sucking
- Jaws joint pain or noises
- Speech impediments
- Teeth biting gums or cheeks
- Jaws that protrude or retrude
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Adolescence
This is the most common time to treat orthodontic problems. Accelerated facial growth can often be used to help move teeth and jaws into the correct positions. Orthodontics in adolescents these days is fun, and coloured and cosmetic braces mean social acceptability is high. When orthodontic appliances are worn, extra care is needed for the teeth, which become more difficult to clean. A high level of patient cooperation is often needed for successful treatment. If there is difficulty with cooperation it may be better to delay treatment. Most orthodontic treatment can still be done at an older age.
Adult orthodontic treatment
Age is no barrier to orthodontic treatment! There are many invisible methods of orthodontic treatment, meaning more and more adults are seeking comprehensive treatment. These include tooth coloured braces which are less visible, lingual braces that are attached on the inside of teeth, or invisible clear plastic plates.
Please see our invisible treatment options – tooth coloured, lingual (invisible) and invisalign
At our practices we have a significant proportion of adults in treatment. Adult treatment can range from simply cosmetic, to more complex problems that have accumulated over a lifetime. Problems may include tooth wear, tooth decay or tooth loss, gum problems, bite discrepancies, growth abnormalities, facial asymmetry, muscle aches, and jaw joint problems.
Often adult treatment requires our specialists co-ordinating with your own dentist or other specialists to obtain the optimum aesthetic, functional and stable treatment result.
At Orthodontics Exclusively, we treat large numbers of adults and have developed expertise in the range of adult treatment from the very simple to the very complex.
