Clear Braces

Good question. Some conditions are better treated with braces and others with Invisalign, but perhaps the biggest difference is how discreet you want to be about your treatment and your lifestyle. It may even be that we can use both systems to treat your case for maximum efficiency. Below is a table with the main points of difference between the two treatments. We do offer Invisalign too, you can find more information on the Invisalign page

No, we’re a general dental practice but we offer orthodontics. Our dentists have acquired further knowledge through a few more years of specific training, but they’re not specialist orthodontists. We treat a broad range of conditions but usually not involving surgical needs or extreme skeletal problems. These are referred to specialist orthodontists. If we identify your case cannot be treated by us, we will gladly recommend an orthodontist for your consideration.

Contrary to popular belief, braces are for everyone, there’s no age limit. The advantages of straight teeth are worth pursuing for every age bracket. Provided your teeth and gums are healthy you can get braces.

Yes we do. Even though our speciality is clear braces, we do have the metal type for those who prefer a stronger option, or for the kids who love coloured elastics for a funky look.

Yes, even though we won’t be placing braces on an 8 year old child, we can certainly identify early problems at this age, including bad habits. In fact, 8 is the perfect time to start, because a few adult teeth are present and we can check for growth problems too, such as excessive growth of the lower jaw, not enough development of the upper jaw, crowding, and cross bites amongst other problems. If we do identify a problem, we can often treat these with removable or fixed appliances and by starting earlier, we will be minimising or even avoiding altogether, the need for braces in the near future.

• • Twin block – This is an appliance to correct the relationship between the top and bottom jaws. If your child has a large overbite and the lower jaw is not developed enough, this can be improved and treated with the use of this type of appliance. The results can be pretty incredible dependable on compliance, and your child will benefit from increased confidence at school and better speech capabilities.
    

• • Cross bite: This is the condition where the bottom teeth are in front of the top teeth in a cross situation. This can lead to problems with the mouth joints and should be treated and intervened as early as possible. We can use an appliance called a  “palatal expander”. This appliance causes the top jaw to expand and grow, thus correcting the crossbite and improving the airway as well. It will also reduce the chances of crowding by allowing extra space in the mouth.

    

• Thumb sucking: We know it’s cute and comforting for your child to suck their thumb, however this habit can cause severe problems with the top teeth and jaw if not stopped early. The main consequence is an open bite, where the front teeth don’t touch. We can produce appliances that could help to discourage your child to continue with the habit.