FAQ’s

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   What is an orthodontist?

   An orthodontist is a specialist in the field of dentistry. Orthodontists study and treat oral malocclusions (incorrect bites), which may be a result of irregular tooth position, muscle imbalances or disproportionate jaws. In essence, an orthodontist will correct how your teeth and jaws function together as well as giving you a beautiful smile. It should be noted that orthodontists cannot assist in treatments concerning the health of your teeth such as issues surrounding decay or gum disease.

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   Do I need a referral?

   No referrals are necessary to see an orthodontist. This is a common misconception as most specialists will require a general practitioner to give you a referral. Orthodontics is one of the only specialties that do not require this - You can contact us and make an appointment whenever you like!

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   What age should I bring my child in?

   The best age for an orthodontic screening of children is 7-8 years of age. While some orthodontic appliances can only be used at a later stage in oral development, there are many early intervention treatments we can use to harness the growth in a young child and avoid such drastic orthodontics at an older age. This will mean not only shorter treatment times but cheaper overall costs as well! Remember, general dentists have not had the specialist training that an orthodontist has had. Although they may tell you that you need to wait until all your adult teeth are in before seeing an orthodontist, we would prefer to see you at 7-8 years of age.

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   Is orthodontics only for children/teenagers?

   Orthodontics is for everyone! There are absolutely no age limits on when we can move teeth – Full Stop!

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   How much does orthodontics cost?

   Treatment quotes are determined on a case-to-case basis. The type of appliance needed, as well as the length the treatment will run for are the main contributing factors to determining a final price. In addition, all treatment quotes at Braces ‘n’ Faces can be paid off via interest free monthly instalments.

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   Are orthodontics painful?

   Some orthodontic appliances (e.g. braces) can result in an initial period of discomfort for the first 2-7 days of wear. This is not something that hurts continuously, but can mean that teeth are a little more tender than normal when eating for the first week. All staff at Braces ‘n’ Faces have had orthodontics and we can promise that your teeth will go back to feeling completely normal after the initial stage of getting used to something new in the mouth.

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   Will I need teeth extracted?

   Many advances in modern orthodontics have eliminated many of the needs for teeth coming out and, as a result, we do everything within our power to prevent loss of permanent (adult) teeth. Having said this, there are certain cases where teeth are still required to be extracted. These most often include major midline shifts (i.e. the line between your two front teeth being centred to your face) and people with a very full mouth wanting a flatter profile. Often this is the last resort as our aim is to restore the teeth.

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   What is anti-wrinkle treatment?

   Anti-wrinkle treatment combats worry lines and wrinkles that formulate on the surface on the skin over time. The formula used is safe and diluted with a saline solution and injected into the area of concern. The safe bacterium weakens muscle contractions that cause lines and aging in the face, immobilising and smoothing them down.

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   What does interceptive orthodontics involve?

   Interceptive orthodontics corrects breathing techniques that affect the jaw and aligning posture problems at a young age. As most children are mouth breathers, it is important to educate with proper breathing techniques that correct misalignments in the jaw. Our association with chiropractors also can help with any posture techniques that affect your child’s breathing patterns.

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    What does Dysfunctional breathing evaluation and treatment involve?

    For patients with dysfunctional breathing patterns we can evaluate issue with a capno trainer and then measure treatment. Training is provided if a problem is detected using the capno trainer which corrects nasal breathing and can be performed over a series of weeks. Breathing programs can be tailored for both adults and children.

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    What are Orofacial Myofunctional disorders?

    Orofacial Myofunctional disorders are caused by inappropriate muscle use involving the tongue muscle and lips. Often they are caused by thumb of finger sucking, nail biting and teeth grinding. Ultimately misuse of muscles in the mouth affect development leaving misaligned teeth and protruding lips. At Braces ‘n’ Faces our professionals can provide you with Oral Facial Myology techniques involving re-education and awareness of poor oral habits, and correctly positioning the muscles with suitable oral habits.

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