“Cosmetic dentistry covers a number of areas” begins Dr Keith Mountain, orthodontist at Tuggeranong Orthodontic Centre.
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“From the orthodontic point of view it’s moving teeth into the correct positions, both for appearance and function.
“A general dentist may think of cosmetic dentistry from the point of view of the shapes of the teeth, the colour of the teeth and things of that nature.”
In this article we will be focusing on the orthodontic treatments that are now available.
“Orthodontics is done by a number of techniques” Dr Mountain continues.
“Most people are familiar with conventional braces; they are on the outside of the teeth and come in two forms, stainless steel attachment or clear brackets.”
Orthodontic technology has continuously evolved though, with the development of treatments such as clear aligners. Invisalign is a well-known example.
“If you are concerned with the cosmetic look of braces, we also place braces on the inside of the teeth – called lingual orthodontics - which solves the visual concerns a patient may have.
“However, it is more expensive and sometimes takes a little longer to straighten the teeth.”
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Whichever newer treatment you choose, your expectations can also be much higher than they would have been in the past.
“Certainly the quality of results that can be achieved now is so much better than it was even 10 years ago, but certainly better than it was a generation ago.
“It’s more comfortable, the appliances that we use look a lot nicer, and from the patient’s point of view – they are easy to clean and care for with wonderful results.”
In terms of who would recieve any of these treatments, it covers anyone who has their adult teeth but they are aren’t in the correct positions.
“We are seeing a growth in the age groups who are seeking orthodontic treatment with these new techniques and advancements.
“Traditionally, our average patients were in their early teens but we have seen an increase in adults in their 20s and 30s.
“We also see patients aged 7-10. This age group receive services for functional or health reasons.”
Dr Mountain has also noticed that adult patients “tend to utilise the clear aligner treatments or the lingual orthodontics option.”
That’s not exclusively the case though. “We still have a number of patients opting for conventional braces with beautiful results.”
In terms of the time frame for adults, “treatments take about the same length of time as teenagers”.
As a gauge, “an average treatment is probably about 18 months but that can vary greatly depending on the severity of the problem.”
An experienced orthodontist can judge how long it might take for you “with a fair degree of accuracy”, and “the easier ones take less time than the complicated ones, obviously.”
