Our Services
What do Orthodontists fix?
Orthodontists train first as general dentists and then undertake a further three years of full time specialist training. They are specifically qualified to treat irregularities in the teeth and jaws. Below are the most common orthodontic problems we fix.
Crowding
crowding usually has the appearance of overlapping or misaligned teeth. Crowding is common, and happens when there isn’t enough room for the teeth within the jaw. Teeth can rotate or overlap, or in rare cases not come through at all due to the lack of space. It also makes cleaning in-between the teeth more challenging.
Spacing
spacing usually has the appearance of gaps between teeth, sometimes called a diastema. Spacing can be a result of missing teeth, undersized teeth, oversized jaws, or a combination. With similar issues to crowding, spacing can create areas where food can get stuck and cause issues.
Deep-bite/Overbite
a deep bite or overbite occurs when the top teeth significantly overlap the bottom teeth. The upper front teeth should overlap the lower front teeth only slightly. With a deep bite,the front teeth overlap too much. Over time this can cause wear and tear to teeth, and damage to the gums.
Open bite
an open bite or anterior open bite is when the upper front teeth and lower front teeth don’t touch when the mouth is shut. This is very common for thumb and finger suckers, but can also be caused by imbalance in the growing jaws. This can cause a number of chewing problems and many major issues with the back teeth in later life.
Crossbite
a crossbite is when the bottom teeth sit in front of the top teeth when the mouth is shut. Top teeth should bite outside the bottom teeth like a lid on a box. A crossbite happens when one (or more) of the top front teeth bite on the wrong side of the bottom ones. If left untreated it can lead to gum recession, wear and tear of the teeth and sliding of the jaw.
Protrusive teeth
protrusive teeth stick out forward and are technically termed an increased overjet. An increased overjet is commonly known as “buck teeth” or “rabbit teeth”, this happens when the top front teeth or jaw are too far forward, or when the bottom jaw is too small and the lower lip becomes trapped behind the upper front teeth. This increases the risk of dental trauma and is particularly risky for kids that play sport.
Underbite
an underbite is when jaw misalignments cause the lower teeth to protrude beyond the upper when the mouth is shut. This is the opposite of the increased overjet or “rabbit teeth”. The reverse overjet is less common and is usually a result of an over developed lower jaw, an under developed upper jaw, or both.
Impacted teeth
a tooth is called “impacted” when it remains stuck in the gum or bone. Similar to crowding, if teeth don’t have enough room to grow, they can develop in the wrong position and become stuck, sometimes underneath the gums. This creates a significant problem and often requires treatment to correct.
Missing teeth
teeth can be missing or sometimes they can be buried in the gum and not visible. In some instances adult teeth do not develop at all. This can run in families, or be random, but the good news is, there are many options available to help get that perfect smile.
Thumb/finger sucking
thumb or finger sucking is common for kids, but once adult teeth have come through, this can move the teeth and jaw bones creating a longer-term problem. It is sensible to address this at an early age.
Nighttime grinding
also called bruxism, tooth grinding can happen day or night. Grinding at night can apply a lot of force to the teeth and jaws when people are asleep. This can cause dental problems, jaw pain and sometimes headaches.
Our Services
We offer a comprehensive range of all contemporary orthodontic services and types of orthodontic treatment options. We offer orthodontic treatment for adults and children alike. We see patients of all ages, with the full spectrum of orthodontic problems. If you are unsure if your child is old enough to be seen, get in touch and we can answer any questions you may have.
Monitoring & Early Intervention
The best age to start orthodontic treatment varies depending on each patient’s individual orthodontic problems and needs. Everybody grows and develops at different rates and the same applies to the teeth and jaws. Sometimes children are too young to start treatment if we need to wait for all of their adult teeth to come through or for a certain phase of growth in their jaws. In these situations we would see your child for regular visits to closely monitor things. This gives us the ability to intervene at the most appropriate time for the best possible outcome. Sometimes small interventions at a young age can give rise to major improvements and make orthodontic treatment a lot simpler and faster.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a brand of clear aligner that fits over your teeth and works like braces to move them into place slowly over time. These come in a series, are removable and need to be changed regularly until treatment is complete. Because the aligners are clear they look great and most people won’t notice you’re wearing them. They can also be removed for sports or when you eat. Once treatment is completed you may need to wear a clear retainer at night.
Clear Braces
Popular among both adults and teenage patients, clear braces offer the same treatment as metal braces but are made from a more discrete tooth-coloured ceramic, instead of the traditional stainless steel. To complete the discreet look we use white coated wires with ceramic braces. They are a good choice if you want your braces to be subtle, but we equally love the statement you can make with different coloured metal braces too. The choice is yours.
Coloured Braces
Coloured or metal braces are one of the most commonly used treatment options. They are used to both straighten teeth and correct bites using metal brackets, thin metal wires and sometimes orthodontic elastics. You can choose what colours you want to go over the brackets and you can change colours each visit if you want to keep things fresh and fun. These are by far the most popular treatment option chosen by teenagers.
Adult Treatment
Adult orthodontics is very common these days. Many people worry that they are too old for orthodontic treatment as adults but this is not the case, we treat adults for a range of reasons. Many adults wanted orthodontic treatment when they were younger, but never had it and some adults had orthodontic treatment as children but require it again. Teeth will naturally shift and change their position as we age and for adults who have already had orthodontic treatment sometimes teeth may have moved for a range or reasons. This could be from not wearing retainers as recommended, habits such as grinding or clenching, accidents and trauma, or tooth loss due to decay or gum disease. It’s never too late to achieve your best smile.
Other Services
We offer a range of other services for both children and adults beyond traditional orthodontics. We offer tooth whitening to freshen up that perfect smile and custom made mouth guards to protect it while playing sports. We can also help with jaw problems, grinding and clenching (bruxism) and we make a full complement of splints and different types of dental plates to help with a range of issues. You can also visit it to discuss snoring devices called mandibular advancement splints.
We can help you with all sorts of orthodontic problems
