FAQs

Orthodontics is a specialist area of dentistry dedicated to the straightening of teeth. Often the placement of your facial bones can contribute to poorly positioned teeth. Orthodontics influences these bone structures to ensure your teeth and jaws align with your facial profile.

Traditional metal braces are made up of three parts. Each plays an important role in ensuring this appliance moves your teeth into the desired position.

When we fit your braces we'll begin by attaching small metal brackets to the front surface of your teeth. This is done using an orthodontic glue.

Once each tooth has a bracket on it, we'll then get two thin wires, known as an archwire, and connect all the brackets together. One archwire connects the brackets on the top teeth; the other archwire connects the brackets on the bottom teeth.

Throughout the course of treatment, this wire will be adjusted and tightened as this is what helps to guide your teeth into position.

Finally, we'll fit the elastic bands, or ligatures. These hook over the top and bottom brackets, usually on teeth towards the back of your mouth. The role of elastics is to provide gentle force to help move your teeth.

Elastics, also known as ligatures, are small rubber bands which are used to apply a constant force to move your teeth. They hook over the brackets on your top and bottom teeth and are worn in various positions, depending on the direction of movement required.

You must wear the elastics all the time as directed by your orthodontist. Failure to do so will prolong your treatment time and may affect the final result. The only time your elastics should be removed is when you clean your teeth.

You will find that elastics tend to break at odd times so carry some wherever you go. To ensure you don't run out of elastics, ask us for more at each appointment.

Straight Smile Centre is skilled at treating orthodontic issues from simple to complex. Here are just a few of the issues we can treat here at our practice.

Crowding

If your teeth are crooked or overlapping each other, this is known as crowding. Crowding can make it difficult to brush your teeth properly, which puts you at risk for cavities. Orthodontics can help you achieve a straighter, healthier smile.

Spacing

Do you have big gaps between your teeth? Spacing can be closed through orthodontic treatment. This will not only help prevent food from getting stuck between your teeth, it can also give your smile an even, symmetrical look.

Deep bite

Do your top teeth jut out far in front of your bottom teeth when you bite? This is known as a deep bite or overbite. An overbite makes your teeth more prone to injury, and can cause chewing and digestive issues. Luckily, it’s something we can easily fix with orthodontics.

Underbite

An underbite is when your bottom teeth sit out in front of your top teeth. This is one of the most common orthodontic issues we see, and one we can treat with great results.

Open bite

If your upper and lower teeth don’t meet in the middle when you bite together, this is called an open bite. Open bites can be fixed with braces, aligners or surgery, and your Specialist Orthodontist will recommend the best course of action for your smile.

Cross bite

A crossbite is when some of your lower teeth are in front of your top teeth, and some are behind - in other words, they cross over each other. We can treat crossbites successfully with both braces and aligners.

Orthodontists are experts in the movement of teeth, and specialise only in this area. They have three to four years of additional university training which dentists don’t, providing them with a total of eight years of study.

A general dentist spends four years studying. General dentists treat patients for fillings, cleaning, caps etc. They are not specialists in the area of orthodontics.

Our Specialist Orthodontists are the most experienced orthodontists in Australia and South East Asia and, as shown in your consult, have proven results. We are also a Blue Diamond Invisalign® provider, a status given to us in recognition of our experience using the Invisalign® method.

Your smile is unique, and so is the cost of your custom treatment. We won’t know the exact cost until your free consultation, but you can look at our treatment costs chart for an idea.

At the Straight Smile Centre, we pride ourselves on the quality of the outcome of your treatment and we offer no-deposit, interest-free payment plans to fit all budgets.

Invisalign® recognises orthodontic clinics for their experience using the method’s virtually invisible aligners. This recognition is based on the number of cases that have been treated in the practice. To be a Blue Diamond Invisalign® provider, we treat in excess of 750 patients with Invisalign® clear aligners every year.

Straight Smile Centre is the only orthodontic clinic in Adelaide which is a Blue Diamond Status Invisalign® Provider.

*This product is not available for purchase by the general public. Always follow the directions for use.

The reasons vary from person to person, but most orthodontic treatment is conducted for health and appearance reasons. By straightening teeth, you can also correct speech difficulties, assist with tooth cleaning, avoid injury if teeth are protruding, and improve your bite.

The Australian Association of Orthodontists recommends children have an orthodontic assessment when their baby teeth begin to fall out. For preventative measures, at the Straight Smile Centre, we encourage people to bring their children when they reach the age of 6 or 7.

By doing this we find we can prevent a simple problem from developing into a major problem, inevitably resulting in braces or other corrective measures when they become teenagers.

Some problems are best managed in earlier years to avoid having long and sometimes expensive treatment later on in life. If you think your child or teenager needs orthodontic treatment, you should have them seen to, the earlier the better. Prevention is the best medicine.

No one is too old for orthodontic treatment. At the Straight Smile Centre, our patients are all ages. If you want straighter teeth, come and talk to us about your options. No referral is necessary and technology has come a long way.

When you come to us wanting to straighten your teeth, your first appointment is free. If you decide to start treatment, records of your teeth are collated and X-rays and impressions are taken. Using this information, our orthodontists will tailor a treatment to suit your specific case.

If you suffer from an orthodontic problem, leaving it won't make it go away. In fact, it can get worse over time. An untreated orthodontic problem can potentially lead to tooth decay or gingivitis. It can also lead to digestive and other health issues.

The length of treatment time depends on a number of variables, from the difficulty/severity of the initial problem to how well you care for your teeth and appliance during treatment. Everyone has different teeth, which is why we create individual treatment plans.

No, they don’t! When you first get your braces you may find they are uncomfortable or tight in your mouth. This feeling generally lasts around 48 hours and will feel like you have food stuck between your teeth.

Eating soft food is a great help and you can take Aspirin or Panadol if necessary. Your teeth will quickly settle down and return to normal.

Sometimes when adjustments are made this soreness is repeated but certainly not at every visit – in fact the fewer adjustments that are made, the less sore you will be.

Invisalign® treatment is an innovative orthodontic method which uses clear plastic aligners, as opposed to braces, to move teeth into position. Invisalign® treatment can be used for both major and minor cases and here at the Straight Smile Centre.

*This product is not available for purchase by the general public. Always follow the directions for use.

Yes, you can still enjoy playing sport. Braces really don't impact your lifestyle. We will provide you with a mouthguard if you are involved in contact sport to avoid breakages or damage to the braces and your lips and cheeks.

You do not need a referral to come to us for treatment. However, it is usual for your dentist to give you a letter of referral to bring with you to your appointment that outlines their concerns.

Yes, we offer an extensive range of payment plans. We strive to suit your requirements; however, once the plan has been agreed upon, it is expected that payments will be made in accordance with the plan to ensure continuation of treatment.