At Whitesmile Dental Care we treat many orthodontic cases
Dr Cam has earned a 2 year post graduate Diploma in Clinical Orthodontics from The City of London Dental School. His passion is to help all patients breathe well, smile confidently and function well.
His training focussed heavily on airway issues that lead to orthodontic problems and recognising these at risk children early, with referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor for assessment, has changed many kids lives for the better.
Our goal is to help children and adults achieve an ideal bite and a straight, healthy and beautiful smile for life. We will closely monitor your child’s growth and development and recommend early intervention as required. The aim of early intervention is to intercept developing problems, to completely correct some issues early on, and to make subsequent treatment easier.
Orthodontic treatment is not only for children with many adults now undergoing treatment or retreatment. Our oldest patient treated to date is 73 years young! Tooth coloured braces and clear aligners, such as Invisalign are now available and are much less noticeable than days gone by. This is obviously more appealing to adults who may have been keen to undergo treatment but avoided it due to the impact metal braces would have on their social and business life.
When should I visit?
For children, around 7-8 years of age is the best time to visit for an orthodontic assessment. This provides the best opportunity to diagnose developing problems and to intercept problems and thus minimise treatment. Some jaw and positional problems are best treated early when a child is still growing rapidly. Not every child requires immediate treatment and regular assessments are recommended to allow us monitor your child’s development. This will allow any treatment to commence at the earliest possible stage which usually results in shorter treatment time and lower costs.
Orthodontic treatment for teenagers is usually commenced after all the adult teeth have erupted, which on average is between the ages of 11 and 13.The process starts with an orthodontic assessment followed by xrays, photographs and digital tooth impressions.
We will then discuss with you and your child the treatment options to achieve an aesthetically pleasing and stable long-term result.
Treatment time can range from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the complexity of the case. Regular appointments will be required to make necessary adjustments to the braces or Invisalign aligners.
What orthodontic system is right for me?
When you visit Whitesmile Dental Care we can help decide what will be the best system for your individual needs. Some systems are completely invisible but are more expensive and may take more time to achieve the results you desire.
How Long will my orthodontic treatment take?
Treatment times are extremely variable, depending on complexity and compliance. Simple cases can often be completed in 3-6 months. Moderate cases 6-12 months and complex cases 2 years.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a popular option for adults and teens. It involves computer aided design of the desired changes and fabrication of a series of extremely thin custom-made clear plastic aligners, that place gentle pressure on the teeth to guide them into the correct position.
The Invisalign process involves taking digital impressions of your teeth with our Itero scanner and determining a treatment plan.
Invisalign cases are:
i) Express -7 aligners for very simple cases
ii) Lite -14 Aligners for simple cases
iii) Moderate – 26 aligners for moderate to difficult cases
iv) Comprehensive -unlimited aligners
Once the final design and treatment are approved the aligners are fabricated and treatment commences.
Invisalign aligners are changed every 1-2 weeks. Unlike braces , Invisalign is removable which makes maintaining your oral health easier and fits well with your lifestyle. You can remove them to eat normally, however, you must clean your teeth after every meal so as not to leave food trapped under the aligners.Because the aligners are removable you can brush and floss your teeth as normal.
We provide you with a number of aligners so that you only have to visit every 6 weeks or so to see how the treatment is progressing. Since Invisalign is much friendlier to oral hygiene you will not have to visit the dentist for cleans as often as when wearing fixed braces.
Unlike other forms of orthodontic treatment, Invisalign does rely on your compliance. Ideally the aligners should be worn for 22 hours a day and you do not, then the treatment may take much longer than originally anticipated or worse it may be ineffective.
The best part of the Invisalign treatment is that it is virtually invisible so no-one will notice you wearing them!
Invisalign treatment is also useful if you play contact sports as a normal mouth guard can be worn, with no risk of damaging braces or suffering cuts to the inside of your mouth.
Invisalign is an effective and discreet treatment for almost all orthodontic cases and has been used to treat over 6 million cases worldwide.
Adult Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment can be done at any age and invisible braces or Invisalign clear aligners are available for adult patients who wish to keep their orthodontic treatment discrete. Orthodontic technology has changed significantly over the years, and orthodontic treatment can often be completed faster with minimal discomfort.
Cost
Orthodontic treatment varies from patient to patient and an individual treatment plan and a quote is customised for each patient.
As a guide:
- Single arch braces $3,000 – $4,000
- Both arches braces $6,000 – $8,000
- Single arch Invisalign $3,000 – $4,000
- Both arches Invisalign $6,000 – $8,000
Includes all necessary adjustments and complimentary tooth whitening at completion.
Finance
Options exist to:
i) pay upfront and receive a discount on your treatment
ii) pay no deposit and pay interest free over 12 months Zip money – requires a credit check.Payments can be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly
iii) pay a deposit and pay interest free over 24 months Denticare – no credit check required.Payments can be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly
To find out more about WhiteSmile Dental Care and the treatments we offer, contact us today.