Services

What is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is the movement of teeth. So when someone asks us about Orthodontics – it generally means we are looking at straightening your teeth and jaws.

Signs you might need Orthodontics

The most obvious sign is crooked teeth. Everyone knows about this sign and this is generally the reason we get asked whether someone needs braces.

This however, is NOT the only sign. Many other signs do not involve just the alignment of your teeth – but also the alignment of your jaws!

Some examples of orthodontic problems include:

• Crowding or Spacing
• Rotated teeth
• Crossbites
• Overbite or Underbites
• Open bites or Deep bites
• Narrow jaws
• Retruded or Protrusive jaws
• Jaw & mouth muscle imbalance

DO NOT IGNORE any signs of Orthodontic problems you might have. Any sign could be the start of a major problem. In most cases, if the problem is caught early, an early simple fix is all you need. However, if you leave the Orthodontic problem for long enough, this will result in more complex treatment such as Orthodontic Surgery.

Early treatment is key!

Our Orthodontic Philosophy

Orthodontics is not just simply about straightening teeth. Here at Dental at Keys, we aim to create a beautiful full smiles. We pay particular attention to the curvature, width and height of the smile. All of these aspects involve a lot more work than just straight teeth. The last thing we want for you is to have a flat straight smile (ie. Denture smile).

We also pay great attention to the profile of your face. Not only should your smile be full, but your facial profile should match it is as well. There is no point in extracting teeth in a patient who already has a sunken profile. Similarly, patients with lips that are too full should not have this worsen. This is why we say we treat the face, and not just the teeth.

Types of Orthodontic Treatment we offer:

We offer several key options for Orthodontic treatment, depending on the case:

• Early Orthodontics such as expansion, functional therapy and partial braces in a developing child.
• Jaw Expansion with removable or fixed (glued-in) appliances such as Schwartz Expansion Plates or Bonded Hyrax Expanders.
• Functional Appliance Therapy with removable appliances such as Twin Blocks or Angel Aligner A6 Mandibular Advancement Therapy.
• Clear Aligner therapy using Invisalign, Spark or Angel Aligner.
• Partial or Full braces (*please note as of 2022, we only offer braces on selected patients)

Interested in Orthodontic Treatment?

Contact us now on (03) 8899 6331 or check out our other services here.

Need help with your dental payments?

We have a variety of Payment Plans available – giving you the flexibility of paying for your Orthodontic Treatment later.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does Orthodontics cost?
  • Orthodontics can range from simple devices like space maintainers which cost roughly $300 to complex Clear Aligner Therapy involving expansion and functional therapy. The upper end of the scale can cost over $10,000 for a complex case
• Do you need to to refer me to a specialist to do my Orthodontics?
  • Whilst we are able to do most here at Dental at Keys (except braces), we occasionally may need to refer you to an Orthodontist.
• Do I need to wear my retainer?
  • Yes, you must wear your retainer (for life) after your treatment is complete as your teeth WILL move back to their original position.
• How long does Orthodontic treatment take?
  • This can range from a few months for cosmetic or simple cases to several years for complex cases.