FAQ

General

Do I need a referral to see an Orthodontist?
No. Referral letters from your dentist are welcome, but not necessary to see an orthodontist.

How often do I need to my braces adjusted?
Once the braces have been fitted, most adjustment visits are scheduled around six to eight (6-8) weeks apart. The adjustment visits are required regularly, but are short visits only, usually only 10 mins long.

 

Will my braces interfere with my activities like sports, playing an instrument, or singing?
Playing an instrument or a contact sport may require some adjustment when you first get your braces, but wearing braces will not stop you from participating in any of your school activities.  If you play a contact sport, it is recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your braces or appliance.  We recommend a custom fitted mouthguard for all sports (not just for contact sports).  Please contact your Family Dentist to make a custom fitted mouthguard that you can wear over your braces.  Otherwise, we can organise one for you.

 

Can I get all my appointment scheduled after school?
Not all appointments can be scheduled after school as it is our desire to meet the needs of all our patients and there are just not enough hours after school to do this.  Some appointments require a longer time and they tend to be scheduled during the day with shorter, check-up appointments being scheduled after school.  We will attempt to accommodate you but not all appointments can be made after school.

 

Do I need retainers after orthodontic treatment?

Yes. There are two types of retainers, fixed ‘glued on’ retainers, and removable retainer ‘plates’. Without orthodontic retainers, you teeth will not stay straight for long. It is important to use your retainers as directed, to maintain your results.

 

Do I still need to see my dentist for check-ups?

Yes.  It is recommended that you keep your regular check-up appointments with your dentist for your general dental care.  Being a specialist orthodontist practice, we are only able to provide you with your specialist orthodontic care.

 

How much will it cost?
The cost of treatment usually depends on the duration and thus complexity of the treatment.  A fixed quote is ordinarily provided after appropriate records are taken and prior to commencement of treatment.  This fee usually includes an active phase of treatment as well as the maintenance of the result for a period of up to two years after braces have been removed.

 

Should I take out health insurance cover?
The cost of Orthodontics is partially covered by most medical insurance companies, depending on your level of cover.  However, there is usually a ‘waiting period’ of up to a year for certain services including orthodontics and we would suggest that you speak to the different funds to ascertain what would be the best thing for you do.  Ordinarily it is not recommended that you take out cover specifically for this purpose and only to do so if you have other medical needs as well.

 

Adults

Will braces affect my life style?
No, in that you can still do everything you could do before.  Your diet may be somewhat restricted but not to the point of imposition.  However, adults may take a little longer than children to become accustomed to the slight roughness of braces.

Will braces be uncomfortable?
Braces will be uncomfortable for a few days after they are initially affixed and for a day or so each time they are adjusted.  Otherwise they will not be uncomfortable and will not be noticeable to the wearer.

What are the other alternatives to traditional braces?
One could utilise partial braces, plates, aesthetic (Ceramic) braces, lingual braces or Invisalign.

Should I take out health insurance cover?
We are unable to give specific advice in this area as there exists substantial variation between the cover offered by the different funds and this constantly changes.  However, we find that taking out insurance specifically for orthodontic treatment is often inadvisable due to the waiting periods and other conditions precedent.  We would suggest that you seek out information from the different funds before making the decision.

Am I too old to have braces?
Teeth move throughout a person’s life and thus, theoretically no one is too old for braces.  However, one needs to be cautionary of the possibility of gum disease in older people and aware of the fact that teeth move slower in older people.

 

Children

How are teeth Straightened?
Teeth are straightened by the use of appliances, which are custom-made to suit each patient.  They may be fixed to the teeth (braces) or may be removable (plate) but either way they apply gentle force to the teeth to move them to the desired position through their supporting bone.

What is the best age to see an orthodontist?
Healthy teeth can be moved at any age. However, it is recommended that all children have an orthodontic check up no later than age 7 as orthodontic treatment is most successful and efficient if the growth and development of the teeth and jaw are monitored from about the age of 7.  In fact waiting until all the permanent teeth come in may make the treatment of some problems more difficult.

Will orthodontics be uncomfortable?
The patient may be uncomfortable for about 24 hours after an appliance, be it braces or a removable appliance is placed on their teeth or after adjustments to the appliance.  However this discomfort is usually short lived.  It will not prevent the patient from eating and can be treated in the same way one would a headache.

How long does treatment take?
Treatment using full braces usually takes between 18 and 24 months but in some cases as much as 30 to 36 months.  The length of treatment is dependent partially on the co-operation of the patient. The expediency of the treatment is usually increased with a co-operative and diligent patient.

FAQ

General

Do I need a referral to see an Orthodontist?
No. Referral letters from your dentist are welcome, but not necessary to see an orthodontist.

How often do I need to my braces adjusted?
Once the braces have been fitted, most adjustment visits are scheduled around six to eight (6-8) weeks apart. The adjustment visits are required regularly, but are short visits only, usually only 10 mins long.

 

Will my braces interfere with my activities like sports, playing an instrument, or singing?
Playing an instrument or a contact sport may require some adjustment when you first get your braces, but wearing braces will not stop you from participating in any of your school activities.  If you play a contact sport, it is recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your braces or appliance.  We recommend a custom fitted mouthguard for all sports (not just for contact sports).  Please contact your Family Dentist to make a custom fitted mouthguard that you can wear over your braces.  Otherwise, we can organise one for you.

 

Can I get all my appointment scheduled after school?
Not all appointments can be scheduled after school as it is our desire to meet the needs of all our patients and there are just not enough hours after school to do this.  Some appointments require a longer time and they tend to be scheduled during the day with shorter, check-up appointments being scheduled after school.  We will attempt to accommodate you but not all appointments can be made after school.

 

Do I need retainers after orthodontic treatment?

Yes. There are two types of retainers, fixed ‘glued on’ retainers, and removable retainer ‘plates’. Without orthodontic retainers, you teeth will not stay straight for long. It is important to use your retainers as directed, to maintain your results.

 

Do I still need to see my dentist for check-ups?

Yes.  It is recommended that you keep your regular check-up appointments with your dentist for your general dental care.  Being a specialist orthodontist practice, we are only able to provide you with your specialist orthodontic care.

 

How much will it cost?
The cost of treatment usually depends on the duration and thus complexity of the treatment.  A fixed quote is ordinarily provided after appropriate records are taken and prior to commencement of treatment.  This fee usually includes an active phase of treatment as well as the maintenance of the result for a period of up to two years after braces have been removed.

 

Should I take out health insurance cover?
The cost of Orthodontics is partially covered by most medical insurance companies, depending on your level of cover.  However, there is usually a ‘waiting period’ of up to a year for certain services including orthodontics and we would suggest that you speak to the different funds to ascertain what would be the best thing for you do.  Ordinarily it is not recommended that you take out cover specifically for this purpose and only to do so if you have other medical needs as well.

 

Adults

Will braces affect my life style?
No, in that you can still do everything you could do before.  Your diet may be somewhat restricted but not to the point of imposition.  However, adults may take a little longer than children to become accustomed to the slight roughness of braces.

Will braces be uncomfortable?
Braces will be uncomfortable for a few days after they are initially affixed and for a day or so each time they are adjusted.  Otherwise they will not be uncomfortable and will not be noticeable to the wearer.

What are the other alternatives to traditional braces?
One could utilise partial braces, plates, aesthetic (Ceramic) braces, lingual braces or Invisalign.

Should I take out health insurance cover?
We are unable to give specific advice in this area as there exists substantial variation between the cover offered by the different funds and this constantly changes.  However, we find that taking out insurance specifically for orthodontic treatment is often inadvisable due to the waiting periods and other conditions precedent.  We would suggest that you seek out information from the different funds before making the decision.

Am I too old to have braces?
Teeth move throughout a person’s life and thus, theoretically no one is too old for braces.  However, one needs to be cautionary of the possibility of gum disease in older people and aware of the fact that teeth move slower in older people.

 

Children

How are teeth Straightened?
Teeth are straightened by the use of appliances, which are custom-made to suit each patient.  They may be fixed to the teeth (braces) or may be removable (plate) but either way they apply gentle force to the teeth to move them to the desired position through their supporting bone.

What is the best age to see an orthodontist?
Healthy teeth can be moved at any age. However, it is recommended that all children have an orthodontic check up no later than age 7 as orthodontic treatment is most successful and efficient if the growth and development of the teeth and jaw are monitored from about the age of 7.  In fact waiting until all the permanent teeth come in may make the treatment of some problems more difficult.

Will orthodontics be uncomfortable?
The patient may be uncomfortable for about 24 hours after an appliance, be it braces or a removable appliance is placed on their teeth or after adjustments to the appliance.  However this discomfort is usually short lived.  It will not prevent the patient from eating and can be treated in the same way one would a headache.

How long does treatment take?
Treatment using full braces usually takes between 18 and 24 months but in some cases as much as 30 to 36 months.  The length of treatment is dependent partially on the co-operation of the patient. The expediency of the treatment is usually increased with a co-operative and diligent patient.