Nowadays, orthodontic treatment is simpler, more convenient and more economical for patients of all ages. At Mayfield Dental Care our patients receive orthodontic care for three main reasons:
- Improved appearance
- Better oral health
- Improved oral function
To help you better understand your orthodontic options, or those of your child, we’d like to introduce you to when orthodontic treatments are recommended and what treatments are possible.
What is the right age for orthodontics?
For children
Having your children examined earlier (before age 7) has numerous benefits, including:
- Long-term treatment can be properly determined
- Oral problems can be identified earlier
- It is easier to ‘pre-align’ teeth for braces, reducing the time they have to be worn
In some cases circumstances may require earlier treatment, including:
- Overcrowding
- Open bites – upper and lower front teeth fail to meet
- Overbites – upper teeth protrude past the lower teeth
- Underbites – lower teeth protrude past the upper teeth
- Crossbites – upper and lower jaw fail to line up
For children, there are two phases to orthodontic intervention.
Early Treatment vs. Comprehensive Treatment
Early treatment starts before all the permanent teeth have grown in and can create space for developing teeth and correcting oral problems, such as overbites and cross bites.
Comprehensive treatment begins when the child is older and all their permanent teeth are in place. This treatment usually involves full braces.
For adults
Adult patients often have conditions younger patients don’t have including insufficient blood supply, gum disease, and even bone loss. Adult bones are also harder and no longer growing, which means they can take longer to adjust to your teeth’s new positions.
In adults there is often insufficient room for teeth to move into place without extracting one or more teeth. By adulthood, a patient might also have worn some teeth down, which can also make malocclusion worse.
Previous extractions can also present a problem. Old extraction sites may not be good sites for teeth to move into, without addition of prosthetic bone in the area.
Adult patients have a higher risk for root resorption than children. If you are susceptible to root resorption and the treatment affects your roots, your teeth may become loose and fall out over time.
For all these reasons, adult orthodontics tend to focus more on proper function than perfect aesthetics.
Orthodontic treatments
There are four primary orthodontic treatments – traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces, and Invisalign.
Traditional Metal Braces
The advantages of traditional braces are that they are the least expensive option, allow for coloured band, personalisation and will work even if there are significant dental issues to be addressed.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic Braces are tooth-coloured and blend more easily with your teeth. Sometimes, the wires are also tooth-coloured, making them even less noticeable. They cost more than traditional braces and stain more easily.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces look exactly like metal braces and are made of metal, but are placed inside your teeth. They are harder to clean, not recommended for severe cases, more expensive, and can feel more uncomfortable.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a series of clear, removable, plastic aligners. They are nearly impossible to detect when worn, as opposed to the metals in the traditional braces.
Invisalign has several advantages over traditional braces:
Invisalign makes eating more comfortable and enjoyable. While traditional braces can restrict your diet, Invisalign aligners are removable, so you don’t have to limit or modify your diet.
Invisalign is a “stealth” orthodontic treatment. The clear aligners are nearly invisible, hence the name.
Unless you point them out to people, it’s unlikely they’ll even notice you’re wearing them.
No painful brackets and wires. Traditional braces have sharp edges that can poke the inside of your cheeks and lips and brace tightening can cause soreness. Many people prefer the more comfortable option of Invisalign.
Invisalign can be a faster treatment. While ordinary braces can take a couple of years, Invisalign treatment can often be completed in about a year and requires fewer appointments.
Invisalign treatment can be as effective. Invisalign isn’t right for all patients, which is why we offer more traditional orthodontic treatment. But in many cases in which teeth need to be straightened, Invisalign can be as successful in building the smile you’ve always wanted.
Learn more about Invisalign
Making a Better Dental Future at Mayfield Dental Care
Mayfield Dental Care provides excellence in dentistry under the slogan, “Customer satisfaction must be our top most priority”. We believe in innovation, culture and care. Our equipment is cutting-edge and our outlook is forward-looking to provide you with the best dental experience you have ever had.
Our Dental Clinic is conveniently located in Mayfield, at the corner of the Pacific Highway and Hanbury St., with public transportation adjacent.
Mayfield Dental Care offers world-class dental and orthodontic specialists, superb technology, wonderful supporting staff who are well experienced in the field, and a comfortable and welcoming environment.
Call us on (02) 4023 3885 or book your appointment online today!