Orthodontic FAQs
Discover Expert Responses to Our Most Frequently Asked Patient Questions at Ortho Co.
Orthodontic treatment is a specialised branch of dentistry that focuses on correcting teeth and jaw alignment issues to improve oral health and aesthetics.
You do not need a referral to see an orthodontist and appointments can be made directly with an orthodontist of your choice. Always check your orthodontist is registered with the Australian Society of Orthodontics (ASO) before making a booking.
Common orthodontic appliances include traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces (placed on the backside of teeth), and clear aligners (such as Invisalign).
Orthodontic treatment can be beneficial for individuals of all ages. While it’s more common to undergo treatment during adolescence, many adults also choose to straighten their teeth later in life.
Most orthodontists recommend children should see an orthodontist from the age of 7. At Ortho Co, we will only recommend that treatment begins when your child’s teeth are ready.
With metal braces, you will need to see your orthodontist every 6-8 weeks so that we can carefully monitor the progress of your teeth. At appointments, we will then make adjustments to your braces such as changing the wire. For clear aligners, we still like to keep a close eye on your treatment personally so that we can ensure everything is on track and answer any questions you may have. We need to see you a little less often with clear aligners compared to braces, usually around every 8 to 10 weeks.
When braces are originally applied to the teeth the process shouldn’t be painful. However, throughout the treatment, you might experience some minor discomfort or soreness as your teeth slowly adjust to their new position in your mouth.
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While there may be some dietary restrictions during orthodontic treatment to avoid damaging appliances, most patients can eat a relatively normal diet with proper care and caution.
Most patients do not notice a significant difference in their speech when they have orthodontic treatment. However, it can take a short period to get used to the feeling of having metal braces or clear aligners in your mouth.
Treatment times vary depending on the individual patient and the level of treatment required, however, on average the treatment period can be anything between 6 and 24 months for braces and clear aligners.
Risks and complications are rare but can include tooth decay, gum disease, and temporary discomfort or irritation from appliances. Your orthodontist will discuss potential risks and how to minimise them before starting treatment.
Of course! It’s important to stay fit and healthy throughout your treatment, but we do recommend the use of a mouthguard for certain sports such as contact sports, sports involving the use of a ball, and high-risk sports such as skiing. Similarly to a normal mouthguard, a specialist brace mouthguard can be used to protect your teeth and braces from injury or breakages when you play sports.
The answer is yes, but there may be a period of adjustment that comes with learning to use an instrument with braces if it involves direct contact with the mouth when being played. The more practice you have using your instrument with braces, the quicker you will learn to adapt.
Orthodontic treatment is usually covered if you have added it as an extra to your private health insurance. If this is the case, you will need to check your individual insurance provider’s policy to find out how much they will reimburse you for your treatment. The item number for full fixed braces is 881 and the item number for upper and lower clear aligners is 825 x 2.
Removing braces is quite quick and easy. We use a special instrument to hold each bracket and we softly squeeze the bracket which makes it gently come away from each tooth. This process is painless, although you may hear popping sounds as each bracket is removed which is normal. We will then polish off any leftover adhesive to ensure that your new smile is super shiny. Then you can check out your brand-new smile in the mirror! We know you’ll love it!
Yes. We recommend continuing with your regularly scheduled dental check-ups. This will help to ensure proper oral hygiene throughout your treatment with us.
Our specialist orthodontist memberships and partners
