Treatment

What is an Orthodontist?

Orthodontists are dental specialists. They specialise in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dental and facial irregularities to help correctly align teeth, bites and jaws, including straightening teeth. Orthodontists complete an additional three years of university training, on top of their general dental degree.

So, who should I see for advice about my smile?

When it comes to orthodontic care, it is recommend that patients only see a specialist orthodontist.

Patients should absolutely continue to see their dentist for regular check-ups and cleaning throughout their orthodontic treatment, however, patients need to be aware that a general dentist offering orthodontic treatment does not have the additional university training, knowledge and experience in orthodontics that specialist orthodontists do.

Both dentists and orthodontists play a valuable role in keeping your teeth healthy and looking good. They will always work together to achieve optimal results for you and your children. Although a referral from a dentist is not required for you to be seen by an orthodontist, it is always a good idea to first see your family dentist for a check-up and then request a referral to a specialist orthodontist that they have a good working relationship with.

Who is orthodontic treatment suitable for?

Orthodontic treatment is an option for most adults as well as children and teenagers with crooked teeth or uneven bites.

Some of the most common situations where orthodontic treatment might be considered are:

• Missing teeth
• Crowded, crooked or misplaced teeth
• Protruding teeth
• Underbite
• Deep bite
• Jaws and/or facial asymmetry
• Excessive spacing between the teeth
• Realignment of the teeth prior to the placement of veneers, crowns, implants or even dentures