Your Guide to Orthodontics. Creating your beautiful new smile

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1 Your Guide to Orthodontics Creating your beautiful new smile

2 Orthodontics explained Contents Orthodontics explained Creating your perfect smile What are my options types of braces Invisalign After treatment Financing

3 Orthodontics Explained What is Orthodontics? Orthodontics is a SPECIALIST area of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly. What is an Orthodontist? Orthodontists are dental specialists who have received three years of specialised orthodontic education beyond their five years in dental school. Because there is minimal orthodontic training in dental school, this specialty education makes an Orthodontist the most trained person to treat you or your child s crooked teeth or improper bite. Most people are unaware that under Australian regulations there is no law preventing a general dentist from practicing orthodontics despite their limited training. What are the benefits of Orthodontic Treatment? Research has shown that orthodontic treatment leads to: Improved self-esteem and confidence in smiling. A healthier mouth - Crooked teeth are harder to keep clean, being more at more risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. Improved chewing and speech. A decreased risk of dental trauma and abnormal wear of teeth.

4 Creating your perfect smile What do we look for? Everyone has a different smile that is right for them. The shape of your jaw, the shape, width and height of your teeth, your tooth colour, the width of your smile and the amount of gum you show all play an important role in deciding the final look of your perfect smile. In the following pages we ll try to shed light on this fascinating subject and show you what we, as specialist orthodontists, look at when we assess and treat you. Smile Symmetry The perfect smile should have both upper and lower teeth centered around the center line of the face as much as possible. Smile Line The smile line, which joins the edges of your upper teeth, should follow the curve of the bottom lip. This gives a more youthful appearance. A flat line is associated with more worn and aged teeth. Women have more curved smiles than men fact!

5 Gum Line The gum line follows the highest points of the gums of the upper teeth. In a perfect smile this line follows the line of the top lip or is just above it. This ensures that you display maximal teeth and minimal gum when smiling. Smile Width A narrow smile will often leave dark shadows/spaces at the corners of the mouth making it appear like teeth are missing. A wider smile creates less shadowing and allows people to see your smile from the front to the back teeth; this is more attractive! Tooth Proportions For a smile to be considered perfect, the visible widths of the top 6 front teeth should an ideal ratio. This ratio is 1.6 / 1.0 / 0.6 and what we describe as the Golden Rule of Proportions. Embrasures Embrasures are the small triangular gaps between the tips of the teeth at the biting edge. Without these a smile would look fake- like the keys of a piano. We can create these after braces come off to ensure a more natural look.

6 What are my options? In modern orthodontics there are two main orthodontic treatment options we have available to treat you or your child, Braces and Invisalign. Braces Braces are still the most popular form of orthodontic treatment, as they are the quickest and most accurate way of straightening teeth. What are Braces and how do they work? Braces are a combination of two main components; brackets and wires. The brackets are handles that are glued to the outside surface of the teeth. The wires grip these handles, and move the teeth to their desired position.

7 Metal Braces The most common brackets we use are metal, made from high grade stainless steel. If requested, colourful elastic modules can be placed over the braces to make them more fun for our younger patients. Metal braces are the most cost-effective method of orthodontic treatment. Metal Braces Ceramic Braces Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth. Ceramic Braces Lingual Braces Lingual braces are hidden behind the teeth and are therefore invisible when you smile. Lingual braces are 100% customised to match the shape of your teeth and therefore the metal appliances are created uniquely for you. Lingual Braces

8 Invisalign What Is invisalign? Invisalign uses a series of removable, clear and plastic aligners that no one can tell you re wearing. Invisalign is made with 3D computer imaging technology and has been proven effective treating certain orthodontic cases. How does it work? You wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move little by little, week by week until they have straightened to the final position your orthodontist has prescribed. You ll visit our practice about once every six weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case. Why Invisalign? Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in our office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

9 Invisalign

10 After treatment... The period after your braces come off is called RETENTION. Retention is the MOST important part of orthodontic treatment, as now that your teeth are straight we want them to stay that way forever. Teeth have a natural tendency to move once your orthodontic treatment is complete. This is known as orthodontic relapse and it occurs to 90% of patients. Studies show that the only way to guarantee straight teeth for life is through the use of fixed and/or removable retainers for life. Types of Retainers Retainers may be removable or fixed, each with benefits and disadvantages. At My Dental Team we will help you decide which type of retainer will suit your individual circumstances.

11 Fixed wire retainers Fixed retainers consist of a wire that is glued to the back of the upper and lower six front teeth and can be left permanently in place in order to ensure that the teeth do not shift position. The best benefit of this retainer is that you don t have to remember to wear it, as it remains permanently glued on. With time the glue and occasionally the wire may break. If this occurs you will need to see us, so that it can be repaired, otherwise your teeth may start to move! The main disadvantage of this retainer is that it is harder to keep clean, particularly when it comes to flossing. Removable (clear) retainers The removable retainer is clear, made from plastic and is virtually invisible. It is usually worn during sleep, ensuring that the treated teeth will not shift position. It is an excellent retainer in holding spaces closed and is a good cosmetic retainer option. Due to the thin aesthetic plastic, this retainer deteriorates at a faster rate than the wire retainer and will need to be replaced more frequently. The main benefit of this retainer is that you can remove it, so it does not interfere with your ability to brush and floss your teeth.

12 Financing At My Dental Team We understand that the decision to invest in you or your child s smile is an important one. We will work with you to find a finance plan that fits your budget. After your complimentary consultation an all-inclusive quote will be provided to you so you know exactly what to expect before beginning treatment. Flexible Interest-Free payment plans Our payment plans are structured so that you can pay a small initial deposit when the braces go on and take care of the balance in monthly instalments that can be repaid over the course of treatment. Health Insurance Health insurance funds have different rules and regulations about what they will cover for orthodontic care. Your written quote can be taken in to your health fund to so that they can determine the rebate you are entitled to. Why do we need to see you to give you a quote? Because we tailor our orthodontic treatment to our patients needs, there are numerous factors that will determine costs such as: Will treatment be for upper, lower or both sets of teeth? The type of braces you wish to have? Would you prefer an alternative to braces such as Invisalign? The complexity of the treatment and how long we expect it to take