Yes. In both clinical research and in dental practices around the world, Invisalign has been proven effective at straightening teeth. Over a million patients have either been treated, or are in treatment, and over 44,000 dental professionals have been trained on how to use Invisalign.

Aligners are made of clear, strong medical grade non-toxic plastic that is virtually invisible when worn.

Aligners are nearly invisible and look similar to clear tooth-whitening trays, but are custom made for a better fit to move teeth. Some dentists have referred to them as “contact lenses for teeth”.

The length of treatment is dependent on the severity of the individual case. Treatment may vary from anywhere between 6 months to two years, with an average treatment taking around 12 to 14 months.

Like brackets and arch wires, the Invisalign aligner moves teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force on the teeth. The principal difference is that Invisalign not only controls forces, but also controls the timing of the force application. At each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move, and these movements are determined by the orthodontic treatment plan for that particular stage. This results in an efficient force delivery system.

As is typical of medical product introductions, Invisalign conducted extensive testing prior to commercially releasing the product. Various US universities have conducted clinical studies and numerous clinical articles have been published by US and Australian dentists.

Most likely, there is a government rebate that is available to a taxpayer whose eligible net medical expenses in the year of income exceed $1,500. The amount of the rebate is 20% of the excess over $1,500 but cannot exceed the amount of the tax otherwise paid. The rebate is claimed when the patients lodges their annual income tax return. Invisalign may also be claimable through your Private Health Insurance fund. It is best to seek advice from your accountant to check if you are eligible.

Cases that are difficult or unsuitable for Invisalign may include up-righting severely tipped teeth, multiple missing teeth, cases where teeth have not erupted, cases with multiple missing teeth, patients with poor periodontal conditions or patients that want to change their facial profile.

After or during the initial consultation, the staff at The Ortho Practice will need to take x-rays, photos, and moulds of your teeth. These records will be sent to the US to be used to manufacture your custom made aligners. This process will take approximately 6 weeks (from the time the moulds are taken of your teeth).

It has been reported that the pain is nothing like the pain experienced in normal fixed braces, most people experience temporary, minor discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is normal and typically described as the feeling of pressure. It is a sign that the aligners are working – sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination. This discomfort typically goes away a couple of days after you insert the new aligner in the series.

Like all orthodontic appliances, aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two. However, as your tongue gets used to having the aligners in your mouth, any lisp or minor speech impediment caused by the aligners should disappear.

There is no age limit for braces. As long as you have good periodontal health, braces can be used to straighten your teeth and correct your bite. More people over the age of 30 are getting braces today than ever before.

Many adults "finally get their teeth done" when their kids go in for orthodontic treatment. It’s more common than you think!

Occlusion is another word for your bite – how the teeth in your top and bottom jaw meet with each other. So, a malocclusion means a bad bite – a bite with problems.

A malocclusion is most often caused by hereditary factors, such as an abnormal relationship between the size of the teeth and the size of the jaws. A malocclusion may also result from missing teeth or from habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting.

That depends on your case. Orthodontics isn’t just about making your teeth straight or making them look better. Our orthodontists take a lot of things into consideration when recommending treatment, such as:

• how the top and bottom teeth meet with each other (ie your bite)
• how well you can chew your food
• whether you have a tongue thrust problem
• whether extractions or surgery will be necessary to correct your problems
• whether you will need any appliances in your treatment, such as a palate expander or headgear (yes, some adults do wear headgear)

So you see, it isn’t just a matter of making your teeth look pretty. There are lot of other factors to take into consideration. This is why you sometimes need a full set of braces, even if you think that you only need them on top or bottom. Of course, some people are lucky. Their bites are good and perhaps they only need a bit of straightening. People in this position often can get braces only on the top or bottom teeth.

According to some informal research, most people begin see changes in their teeth in the first 2 to 6 weeks of treatment.

Of course you’re self-conscious because it is YOUR mouth, but frankly most people don’t give a hoot! Your braces are a conversation piece for about 3 minutes, after that nobody pays much attention. And most people DO NOT think you look nerdy! In fact, they probably think you look cute or applaud that you are doing something positive to improve your appearance and your dental health. Whenever you become self-conscious about your braces, think about how great you’ll look after they come off!

Most dental plans cover children up to age 18, however do not cover adult orthodontics. If your plan covers adult braces, consider yourself in the lucky minority.

Remember, most dental plans do not cover treatment that is already in progress. So, if you are going to sign up for a dental plan, do it before any treatment begins. Also, beware of any waiting periods your dental plan may enforce. Jaw surgery or extraction is sometimes covered under your medical plan, so be sure to look into this too.

It depends on your specific case. If you are young and your jaw is still growing, we can work with your growth to straighten teeth, often without the need for extraction. If you are an adult, we are a little more limited. Extraction may be the only way to successfully straighten your teeth and correct your bite, however it will depend on your individual case.

The decision for extractions must consider a number of factors and it is vital to achieve a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. At The Ortho Practice we aim to keep as many teeth as we can and therefore do not take the extraction decision lightly. We will often arrange a separate consultation to discuss the reasons for the need of extraction(s). If we cannot logically explain the need for the extractions in straight forward terms then we have not done our job in communicating, because at The Ortho Practice we don’t hide behind our degrees to confuse and bewilder!

That depends on your unique body type. Gaps in teeth on the lower jaw tend to close slower than on the upper jaw. It can take anywhere from a few months to a year to close extraction gaps.

That depends on your specific case. Invisalign® braces are usually not recommended for very complicated cases, or cases that involve certain extractions. Only a qualified dental professional who has examined your mouth can decide whether Invisalign® is right for you.

Yes you do, to some extent. At first your teeth will hurt and you will not be able to bite into hard foods, big sandwiches, or anything too chewy or crunchy. It is best to stick to soft foods until your teeth begin to feel better, usually in a week or so.

Yes, it is more common than you think. The teeth are actually more dynamic than you’d expect. Often your bite can change in adulthood as teeth move throughout life. A number of adults are in braces for a second time, to get back that perfect smile.

Sometimes there isn’t enough space between certain teeth to insert a metal band or other appliance. Spacers help move the teeth slightly, to create space that is needed for your treatment.

In a nutshell, the supporting soft tissue ligament surrounding the teeth is loosened, allowing the teeth to move.

Well not really, it’s more like an ache. This is because your teeth are not used to the pressure and your cheeks are not used to the metal or ceramic rubbing against them.

After wearing braces for a week or so, the pain and discomfort begins to diminish. You can use dental wax and topical anaesthetic to help create a barrier between the braces and any sores that develop on your gums (the sores usually heal within a few days).

In a week or two the pain generally goes away. You sometimes even forget that you’re wearing braces! Your teeth may also hurt again for several days after your adjustment, however by then you are used to it and it does not bother you as much.

This is where the elastic modules (ligatures) are changed and sometimes the arch wire is also changed or adjusted to reposition the teeth. Elastic chain can also be added to help with space closure. The adjustment is also a time to monitor progress with headgear wear or elastic wear. It is designed to be a short visit to accommodate the after school times.

The arch wire is the metal wire that goes across your braces, from one end of your mouth to the other. You have two arch wires – one on the top teeth and one on the bottom teeth. The pressure from the arch wire is what helps to move your teeth.

A module (ligature, also called an o-ring) is a tiny elastic that holds the arch wire onto each bracket of your braces. Modules (ligatures) come in a variety of colours. Some brackets are self-ligating, which means that they do not need the little elastics to hold the arch wire onto the brackets.

Yes and no. You can use a regular soft toothbrush, however we recommend an orthodontic-cut toothbrush, where the bristles in the middle are lower than the bristles on the edges. You can also use any electric toothbrush.

You might also want to get a small spiral dental brush or a rubber-tipped stimulator to help clean food debris out from between the brackets before you brush.

And finally, you will need some dental wax because inevitably, the brackets will irritate the insides of your cheeks at first.

The periodontal ligament which helps to hold your teeth in place is loosening up. Yes, this is perfectly normal, although it is very disconcerting. The teeth should stop feeling loose after a few weeks. If you’re very concerned about it, or if the teeth feel loose for months on end, talk to us about it.

Wax helps to create a barrier between the bracket and the inside of your cheek. This is helpful if the bracket is irritating your cheek or gums.

To use dental wax, break off a tiny bit of wax from the container, squeeze it with your fingers a bit to mould it, and then place it directly on the bracket that is causing the irritation. Dental wax is non-toxic, so it’s ok if you swallow it. Wax tends to break down over time, so you will probably have to apply more after eating a meal. Take off the wax before you brush your teeth, or it will gunk up your toothbrush.

Usually your orthodontist gives you some dental wax after you get your braces put on. Most pharmacies carry dental wax.

It’s a little tricky at first. You must thread the floss under the arch wire between each tooth, floss and then remove it. Repeat for each tooth. You can use any type of floss that is comfortable. Most people attach the floss to a plastic needle called a floss threader, or use floss that has a stiff end.

Excess saliva is actually very common. Apparently your mouth mistakes the feeling of the brackets on the inside of your cheeks for food and sometimes produces extra saliva to help digest it. This generally diminishes with time.

It is very common for your teeth to shift and develop gaps while treatment is underway. Your bite will change many times during your treatment. Remember that any strange gaps or bite problems will be resolved by the time your treatment is finished. If you are really concerned, mention it to The Ortho Practice on your next visit.

Yes you should, because depending on what you eat, food gets stuck in and around the brackets. Besides looking gross, it causes tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. It also feels yucky. Some people can’t stand the feeling of food stuck in their brackets. You wouldn’t believe how much food can get stuck, often more than you’d imagine!

The Ortho Practice provides you with a kit at the start of your treatment to allow brushing at home, at school or work, or on holidays.

And you can’t brush in 30 seconds or ‘just rinse’ your mouth. It needs a good three minutes to brush each surface of each tooth and make sure that there is no food debris and plaque left behind. We provide an egg timer to help you as well.

The night time brush is the most important one. Imagine having dinner and then leaving your plate with the food scraps on the kitchen sink until the next morning, this is what is inside your mouth if you haven’t brushed. We also recommend a nightly fluoride mouth rinse after you have brushed.

Nobody likes to wear headgear, however it serves a specific purpose in your treatment. If you don’t wear it for as many hours as your orthodontist recommends, your treatment won’t progress as fast and you might wind up wearing the headgear for many additional months. It’s best to just go along with what your orthodontist recommends and get it over with sooner.

Elastics help fine-tune the alignment of your teeth and your bite. There are many different ways that you can wear elastics for specific reasons. You should wear the elastics for the number of hours that your orthodontist recommends, to help your treatment progress properly. Wearing them ‘double time’ or ‘double strength’ to make up for time you spent without them is NOT advisable as it could harm your teeth. Most people take elastics out before a meal, then brush and replace them after a meal.

This is always an annoying and tricky situation. If possible, put a ball of dental wax at the end of the wire to stop it from poking you. You can also try a bit of cotton. Call us at The Ortho Practice and ask to come in ASAP, so we can clip the wire.

The wire pokes you because your teeth have moved, displacing the end of the arch wire. Although this is annoying, it’s a good sign that your treatment is progressing!

The brackets themselves usually do not stain. It’s the elastic modules (ligatures )that hold the arch wire to the bracket that stains. These are changed at each adjustment when you get fresh clean ones. So, if your modules (ligatures) or power chains stain, you’ll only have to live with it for a short time.

Foods like curry, mustard, black coffee and red wine create the worst stains.

Clear or white modules (ligatures) show yellow stains the worst. The best colours are smoke, pearlescent, glow-in-the-dark and any dark vibrant colours. Light blue turns a pleasant teal colour when stained by curry (ie blue modules plus yellow curry make greenish blue modules).

It’s probably best not to use whitening toothpastes until after your braces come off. If you use whitening toothpaste on a daily basis, the teeth underneath the brackets may not be as white as the rest of your teeth when your braces come off!

Yes, you can smoke tobacco in cigarettes, cigars or pipes, however all these activities will stain your modules (ligatures) and may possibly stain ceramic brackets.

Yes, many pregnant women have had orthodontic treatment. Your teeth may be a bit looser than average because of the hormonal changes and the effect on your periodontal ligaments. However, as long as you maintain good periodontal health, it shouldn’t be a problem to wear braces if you’re pregnant.

Yes, you can. It is probably best to have the braces on for a few months before snorkeling or scuba diving, so you can get used to the extra hardware in your mouth.

Yes, you can. Several companies make mouth guards specifically for this purpose. Ask your orthodontist for one that he/she recommends.

Most people who have braces carry a little dental kit to help them in such situations. A dental kit should contain a dental pick, some floss and floss threaders, a toothbrush and some toothpaste.

A travel cup is also a good idea.

There are many ways to cope with ulcers. If the sore is near a bracket, you can put some dental wax or dental silicone on the bracket to create a barrier, and then apply some ulcer medication to the sore area. Ulcers usually resolve in 7-10 days, if not then come back and see us in case there is more specific cause.

To retain means to keep in place, therefore an orthodontic retainer is used to keep your teeth in their new positions after your braces come off. Most orthodontists use one of the following three types of retainers:

A clear plastic retainer (also called a trutain) is sometimes placed on the upper teeth one or two days after the braces are removed. It resembles the Invisalign® appliance. It is normally worn only at night and lasts an average of 24 months. After it wears out, the orthodontist may replace it with a traditional wire retainer. Some people have commented that this type of retainer can be uncomfortable.

A bonded retainer is normally placed behind the lower teeth after the braces are removed. It is a wire ‘permanently’ bonded to the teeth with composite material. Sometimes this type of retainer is used for the upper teeth, however usually this is not possible because it would interfere with your bite. A bonded retainer will remain in place for several years.

A wire retainer (also called a Hawley Retainer) is the type of retainer that has the added benefit of being adjustable so that minor tooth movement is possible.

It takes many months for your periodontal ligaments and bone to ‘remember’ the new position of your teeth and keep them in place. The retainer helps keep them in their proper new positions. It’s important to wear the retainer exactly as your orthodontist recommends otherwise your teeth may shift.

You should brush your retainer each night as directed by your orthodontist. You can also use a retainer cleaner, or even denture cleaner (on a Hawley retainer), to keep it extra clean.