Braces
Braces are one of the most efficient ways to move teeth. Brackets are positioned on the teeth and flexible wires are tied to the brackets, providing a gentle push to start the teeth moving into a straight line.
Braces can be placed on the outside or the inside of the teeth. They come in many different sizes and colours.
At Croydon Orthodontics we use very small, low profile brackets which provide maximum comfort and allows our patients to more easily clean between the teeth.
Clear (or invisible) braces and lingual (or inside) braces are also offered. However, not every case may be suitable for clear or lingual braces.
Metal braces are the most common option for teenage patients and can be personalised at each visit with multiple colours, or none at all, depending on their preference.
SureSmile
Suresmile is technology that allows our orthodontists to custom design your orthodontic wires.
Using a 3D scan of your teeth in treatment, your ideal smile is digitally designed by your orthodontist.
From this, a precise set of customised wires is then bent by a robot, with multiple individual bends moving your teeth precisely into place. This system acts as an alternative to your orthodontist placing individual bends in your wires over a series of appointments.
In some cases this technology can reduce the number of wire changes needed during your treatment, reducing the number of appointments needed and your overall time in treatment.
It is important to remember that a number of factors can affect your overall treatment time. Your orthodontist will determine if this treatment option is suitable for you.
Impression Free Clinic
No more messy impressions!
At Croydon orthodontics our favourite new technology means we no longer need to take ‘moulds’ for your orthodontic treatment.
Our 3D intra-oral scanners are able to create digital printed models of your teeth without all the usual gooey, messy fuss of a traditional dental impression.
A 3D scan is super quick and non-invasive and is well tolerated by everyone, including our smallest and most anxious of patients.
The high level of accuracy of these scans allows them to be utilised in many areas of orthodontic treatment including for Invisalign, Suresmile wires, custom retainers after treatment and for all our early treatment appliances.
Invisalign
For many, one of the biggest reasons for avoiding the first step towards a great smile is dealing with unwanted attention to traditional braces while you’re undergoing treatment.
Invisalign uses a series of comfortable, almost invisible aligners to move teeth. The aligners are worn for a period of at least 22 hours a day, but have the added benefit of being able to be removed for meals, cleaning or the occasional special event.
Aligners are changed every two weeks, with each aligner achieving a small amount to improvement to the straightness of your smile. Worn well, Invisalign can be an effective alternative to traditional braces.
In some cases small, tooth coloured attachments may need to be added to particular teeth to control tooth movements.
Croydon Orthodontics are Platinum providers of Invisalign
- No brackets and no wires
- No food restrictions
- Clear aligners that are almost invisible
- Smooth and comfortable
- Aligners can be removed for easy cleaning
Retainers
Orthodontic treatment with braces or clear aligners will create a beautiful smile, but wearing retainers afterwards is what maintains and safeguards your new smile for the future.
Retention is a very important part of your orthodontic treatment, as we continue to grow and also age teeth will always have a tendency to move regardless of whether orthodontic treatment has been completed.
Retainers are key to maintaining the success of your orthodontic treatment over the long term. In fact,wearing retainers is equally as important as the orthodontic treatment itself!
At the end of active orthodontic treatment, you will be given retainers to wear. Your retainer is designed by your orthodontist to hold your teeth in the position your braces or clear aligner treatment moved them to.
To ensure no unwanted tooth movement occurs, they must be worn according to the guidelines set by your orthodontist. If they are not worn as instructed by your orthodontist, your teeth will quickly begin to go crooked again.
Over the next 2- 3 years after you have completed your orthodontic treatment, you will continue to have regular appointments with your orthodontist so that the stability of your new smile can continue to be monitored. Immediately after your braces are removed, it is important to wear your retainers at all times.
The only time your retainer is not worn is when brushing your teeth, eating, drinking anything that is not water, or during contact sports, where a professional fit mouthguard is recommended.
Over time your retainer wear will be reduced. This will be done by your orthodontist at your review appointments. To ensure that your plates are doing their job ensure you bring them to every review appointment.
What type and for how long?
There are two types of orthodontic retainers – removable (plates) retainers and bonded retainers and as every person is unique, only your orthodontist will be able to advise which type of retainer is right for you, how often and for how long you should be wearing them.
A Bonded Retainer is a specific type of retainer that may be placed in addition to your removable retainer. This wire is designed to act as extra support and is typically placed behind your lower front teeth. This wire is glued on and will ideally be in place for an indefinite period of time.
This wire is not designed to replace your removable retainer, rather to be used in addition to your removable retainer. It is important that you keep the wire clean by brushing it, and making sure you floss the area.
Although it can be tempting to neglect your retainers and these final appointments with your orthodontist, are a crucial part of your orthodontic treatment. Both you and your orthodontist put a lot of hard work into achieving your beautiful new smile, wearing your retainers and caring for them correctly will ensure you keep your beautiful straight smile for life!
Early childhood treatment
Depending on the problem, the optimum time to begin orthodontic treatment will vary. Some specific problems are best addressed early, before all the adult teeth are present, to simplify or eliminate the need for further orthodontic treatment.
Timely intervention can also reduce the need for extractions in crowded cases.
At Croydon Orthodontics we do not subscribe to the one-size-fits-all method of treatment. Everyapproach we use is custom designed for your child, taking in to account their personality, their maturity, and their particular needs to increase the likelihood of a successful outcome.
We also work hard to keep phases of treatment with our younger patients as short and cost-effective as possible.
Several orthodontic conditions can benefit from early intervention:
- Deep bites – If your child’s lower front teeth are biting up onto the roof of their mouth
- Posterior or anterior cross-bites of individual teeth or groups of teeth
- Thumb or finger sucking habits
- Large overjets (commonly called “overbites”) or reverse bites
- Teeth that appear to be heading ‘off track’ or have failed to erupt on time
- Problems with the position of the jaws. Early assessment is recommended for problems with the position of the top or bottom jaw
- Tongue issues such as tongue thrust, tongue tie or speech issues which are related to the
upper front teeth - Airway related issues – Snoring related to jaw size or position, adenoid or tonsil inflammation. If these issues are identified, you may be offered a referral to discuss these issues with a qualified ENT doctor
If you think your child may require early treatment, or you are unsure and would like toarrange an initial assessment, contact us. Even if it is too early to address your child’s orthodontic needs, an early assessment can help you to plan for the future.
Once your child has been assessed, they will be reviewed periodically at no cost until treatment begins. Regular monitoring has several benefits:
- It allows your child to build a relationship with us before starting treatment
- Your child’s growth pattern can be better assessed over multiple visits
- It allows us to start treatment with your child at the appropriate time
While there is a fee for an initial assessment, we do not charge for any of our review appointments.
Payment plans for early treatment are usually available
Adult treatment
If you are an adult considering orthodontic treatment, congratulations on taking the first step towards improving your teeth and smile. Many of you tell us you have been considering orthodontic treatment for several years. We understand your particular concerns as an adult, and will try to make the journey as easy as possible for you.
For us, treating adults is often a welcome change of pace. As a general rule, Adult patients are often more motivated, more considerate of their hygiene and more diligent following instruction. For these reasons we have found the average treatment time of our adults to often be equal or less than that of our junior patients.
If you are an adult seeking treatment you may have heard of:
- Invisalign
- Lingual braces
- Clear braces
All of which are alternative options to traditional braces that can be discussed. Not everyone is suitable for every option, but we will endeavour to find a solution that you will be comfortable with.
Combined treatment
Sometimes a team approach is required to achieve your best smile.
At Croydon Orthodontics we work closely with your own General Dentist and a trusted group of Periodontists, Prosthodontists, Paedodontists, Endodontists, Oral-Maxillofacial and ENT surgeons.
At your first appointment we will carefully assess you to try to identify any problem areas that may require attention, in addition to your orthodontic treatment.
We will then discuss all your options with you in simple terms. Following your consult we will communicate with your dentist, to coordinate your treatment for your best possible outcome.
You may require a combined approach if:
- You have teeth that have failed to erupt
- You have small teeth, misshaped teeth or missing teeth
- You have stained or multiple fillings at the front of your mouth
- You have severe wear to the edges of your teeth or the gum lines are very uneven
- You have or have previously had gum disease
- You are considering multiple veneers or crowns at the end of treatment
- You grind your teeth
- You have problems with your jaw joints locking or clicking
- You suspect or know you have sleep apnea
- You require a change to the position of your jaws, for better facial balance or function (see facial change)
In some cases it is better to delay some forms of dental work aimed at improving theappearance of your teeth, for example, crowns, veneers and bridges. Often A better result can often be achieved after your orthodontic treatment.
Wherever possible, we try to minimise the amount of additional treatment you require. The details of any planned additional treatment will be discussed again with you and your dentist or specialist as we progress through your orthodontic treatment.
Facial change
In some instances, orthodontic treatment alone can not achieve the result you deserve.
Orthognathic surgery is a combined orthodontic and surgical approach that is used to correct bite problems that are due to an imbalance in the proportions of the face and facial skeleton, to address sleep apnea and other problems that cannot be treated with braces alone.
You may be best treated with this approach if :
- Movement of your teeth alone will not correct your bite
- Movement of your teeth to correct the bite will have a negative impact on your facial appearance or the long term health of your teeth
- Movement of the jaws will create a more harmonious facial profile
We understand that being told you may need ‘jaw surgery’ can be a daunting prospect. It is not a diagnosis made lightly by your orthodontist, but one made after considering the long term health of your teeth and the stability of your treatment outcome.
If orthognathic surgery is being considered as a treatment option, planning your treatment will also involve a consultation with a trusted Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. At this appointment, your surgeon will carefully assess you and go through the procedure, in detail including what to expect, your hospital stay, your recovery and the appropriate level of insurance cover.
As a general rule, most of our patients return to school or work in under 2 weeks. For your convenience, your surgeon often performs any necessary removal of wisdom teeth at the same time as your surgery.
This type of treatment is generally performed in non-growing patients. Braces are also always required. Braces are used to position the teeth so that they will bite together correctly following the surgery. While there is more planning involved with this approach, your treatment time will usually be of similar length to that of our routine braces case.
