Orthodontics

If you have crowded, malaligned teeth, problems with bite and dental occlusion, they can be treated with Orthodontics. Dr Raymond Platon is very experienced with Orthodontics and has been practicing this since 2007. We have helped many patients achieve straight teeth and a beautiful smile, and are very happy with the results.

There are several options for Orthodontic treatment: Early treatment on children, conventional metal braces, clear ceramic braces, lingual braces or Invisalign. To get the required space to align the teeth and correct the bite, we may have to extract teeth. We prefer the non extraction option always! As extraction can affect the facial profile. However in some cases we have to extract 1 to up to 4 teeth, to achieve that beautiful smile with perfect straight teeth.

With payment, it is done in repayments, where a deposit is made on commencing treatment, and then monthly payments are taken during the monthly adjustment appointments.

To start orthodontic treatment, you will be booked with our Oral Health Therapist for : OPG and Lateral Cephalometric Xrays collection, Preoperative photos, Impressions of your teeth, Scale and clean and Oral Hygiene instructions.

Early Treatment

In some cases, some children can be treated early at a young age, even if they have baby teeth still, to allow the permanent teeth to develop and align correctly. Plates of different designs are made to achieve things like: arch expansion, opening or closing of the bite, stopping thumb sucking, reducing overjet, allowing favourable lower jaw growth, etc. After this treatment, braces may be necessary to achieve alignment, but it will be quicker and easier.

Braces

Either conventional metal or ceramic brackets are bonded to the labial surfaces of the teeth, and molar bands on molar teeth. Ceramic brackets are slightly higher in price. Braces are the best and most effective way of correcting dental malocclusion. Treatment time will take an average of 18 months to 2 years, sometimes more or less, depending on the case and treatment progress. The main disadvantage of braces is that they are visible. Regular scale and clean every 6 months with our Oral Health Therapist is recommended.

Once treatment is complete and braces are removed, we will make an upper plate as a retainer, for the upper teeth. On the lower teeth, a fixed lingual wire, which is very thin and wavy so floss can be used, is bonded behind the lower front teeth to prevent relapse or recrowding in the future, due to the natural mesial drifting of teeth which causes them to move and get crowded again. An OPG Xray is ordered to check all the teeth, including the wisdom teeth, if they need removal in the future.

Lingual Braces

In certain cases where only alignment of the front teeth are necessary, and no bite correction is needed, and if no visible braces are preferred, then we can do Social 6 treatment, in which we only align the front teeth. We place brackets behind either the upper or lower front teeth only, or both upper and lower, so they are not visible at all. Treatment time will take an average of 6 months sometimes more or less, depending on the case and treatment progress. The main advantage of Social 6 is that they are not visible. Regular scale and clean every 6 months with our Oral Health Therapist is recommended.

Once treatment is complete and braces are removed, we will make a fixed lingual wire, which is very thin and wavy so floss can be used, is bonded behind the lower front teeth to prevent relapse in the future. An OPG Xray is ordered to check all the teeth, including the wisdom teeth, if they need removal in the future.

Invisalign

If you prefer to align all your teeth, correct the bite, correct the whole dental malocclusion and have something that is not visible, then Invisalign is the best option. Alignment is achieved through the use of aligners, which are thin clear plastic material that is digitally manufactured by Invisalign. They get changed to a new set of aligners every 2 weeks, and are worn all the time, except during toothbrushing and eating. Treatment time will take an average of 18 months to 2 years, sometimes more or less, depending on the case and treatment progress. The main advantage of Invisalign is that they are not visible.

Once treatment is complete, we will make an upper plate, like a thicker aligner, as a retainer, for the upper teeth. On the lower teeth, a fixed lingual wire, which is very thin and wavy so floss can be used, is bonded behind the lower front teeth to prevent relapse in the future. An OPG Xray is ordered to check all the teeth, including the wisdom teeth, if they need removal in the future.