Orthodontics on the Gold Coast
Orthodontic treatments have advanced considerably since past days of bulky, heavy, metal wires and brackets. As your local dental professionals on the Gold Coast, Robina Town Dental is passionate about helping both children and adults achieve their best possible occlusion (bite).
The alignment of your teeth can significantly impact the functionality of your jaw and the appearance of your face. Our goal is to help all of our patients create straight, beautiful, and most importantly healthy smiles that last a lifetime.
Because our patients vary so widely in their needs and backgrounds, it’s important to discuss with us which type of treatment is most suitable for you or your child.
Orthodontic Consultation
We invite all of our existing and new patients to book an orthodontic consultation with us. We are passionate about providing the Gold Coast with the orthodontics treatment they need.
Orthodontic Treatment on the Gold Coast
Who needs orthodontics?
Orthodontics are used to treat a variety of dental issues, such as:
- Overbite, where a patient’s lower jaw is too far behind the upper jaw, causing the teeth to stick out over the lower teeth.
- Underbite, when the lower teeth are positioned too far forward and the upper teeth sit too far back.
- Spacing and gaps, which is caused by missing teeth or a tooth that simply doesn’t fill up the entire space necessary.
- Crowding, where there are too many teeth for the dental ridge to hold.
There are a number of benefits for orthodontic treatment. While many are concerned with the appearance of misaligned teeth (which can also be corrected with dental veneers), orthodontics can improve the overall function and oral health of a patient, as well as prevent future problems. Unlike dental veneers, which typically on restore the look or function of the teeth that are treated, orthodontic treatment can correct a whole series of bite problems.
Correcting these problems can prevent grinding, clenching, or excessive wear of teeth. It may also help stop gum problems, as serious cases of malocclusions can sometimes can damage to the gums.
Teeth that are heavily crowded or overlapping can make it difficult to clean around the teeth; correcting this issue often makes it easier to maintain good oral hygiene. In general, straighter, better-aligned teeth tend to be easier to look after, which helps prevent the risk of tooth decay, periodontal disease, and even tooth loss.
For those with serious alignment problems, patients may experience impaired speech or pain in or near the jaw joint. Orthodontic appliances can help reduce problems in these areas, allowing for clearer speech or reduced (or altogether eliminated!) discomfort and pain.
Don't let dental issues hold you back any longer! Visit our Gold Coast Orthodontics practice today and take the first step towards a healthier and more confident smile. Book your appointment now and see the difference an orthodontic treatment can make in your life.
“Orthopaedics” refers to orthodontics for young children. This might simply involve maintaining space for adult teeth that are still erupting or going to erupt. This can be achieved through the use of functional or growth appliances: expansion appliances, removable plates, or partial braces. At Robina Town Dental, we make it a priority to monitor your child’s dental development in order to catch any irregularities. Intervention in these cases can make a big difference!
Because their bones are still developing, children tend to be quite responsive to treatment at this age, making it easier to guide teeth into the correct alignment. They may still need braces, retainers, or other appliances later on. However, pre-treatment can many times reduce the severity of future problems, making treatment time and cost more manageable. It may help avoid needing to remove healthy adult teeth due to excessive crowding later on.
As is the case with most dental treatments, prevention is almost always better than cure!
This type of orthodontic treatment generally begins in adolescents after all of their adult teeth have erupted (most often this falls between the ages of 11 and 13).
How is teenage orthodontics different?
In order to find the best treatment plan for your child, we’ll meet with both adolescent and parent for an assessment. From there, we will explain the options available to you for corrective treatment and how we can best achieve optimal, long-lasting results. Most teenagers will vary in the type of treatment they need, but most commonly treatment will involve appliance therapy or fixed braces. Again, this will depend on your child’s individual needs.
How long will it take?
On average, these treatments tend to last 6 to 24 months. We’ll carefully monitor your child’s progress and oral care. We will require regular appointments to adjust and maintain your child’s appliances or braces.
Adult Orthodontics
Adults, too, are able to correct their tooth alignment problems. These types of problems may be pre-existing, extending all the way back to childhood, or they may appear later in life as a result of missing or moving teeth.
Popular orthodontic options for adults
Tooth-coloured braces and clear aligners (Invisalign) are extremely popular among adults; many may be hesitant about metal braces because of perceived effects on their social or professional lives. Tooth-coloured or clear solutions are far less noticeable, with clear aligners being one of the most popular orthodontic treatments.
Will Invisalign work for me?
However, clear aligners are not suitable for every patient, so be sure to discuss this with us during your consultation. One alternative may be ceramic fixed braces, which blend with your teeth and make them less noticeable than an option like stainless steel braces.
How long will it take?
Depending on your personal circumstances, treatment can take from 6 to 24 months. Once we have worked out your most appropriate treatment plan, we can give you a much clearer timeline for successfully completing your treatment.
Orthodontic treatment and oral health
Your oral health is even more important during orthodontic treatment! Even though your oral hygiene is always crucial, failing to maintain proper hygiene routines during orthodontic treatment can impede your progress. Brushing and flossing will be vital for avoiding plaque and tartar build-up around the brackets or appliance. We still advise maintaining regular cleaning appointments with a Robina Town Dental therapist.
As discussed earlier, straighter teeth can make oral hygiene easier, but while you are wearing braces or appliances, you may need to change or incorporate a few extra steps in your dental hygiene routine. If your treatment involves brackets or wires, then you will need to floss between the braces and under the wires. A floss threader can help you with this, and our team will demonstrate the most effective flossing and brushing techniques. If you have any issues with cleaning your teeth while wearing braces, simply get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.
The Acceledent Optima™ device is clinically proven to speed up your orthodontic treatment and reduce discomfort in a noninvase and non surgical way, all within the space of 20 minutes. Simply insert the mouth piece around your braces or aligners and for 20 minutes, allow the SoftPulse Technology® encourage teeth movement, you can sit back read, work or watch a show.
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Robina Town Dental offers free orthodontic consultations for all ages. Contact our team on (07) 5575 9100 and book your appointment today.