In Toowoomba, orthodontics can completely transform your smile! To achieve a perfect bite, straighten your teeth. Rely on the Skilled Orthodontists We Have. Plan a consultation today!

Our team of dental professionals at Oral Experts Group in Toowoomba are committed to providing the best in oral health care to both children and adults. We can fit, remove and provide regular check ups for Invisalign and braces, making sure the treatments are straightening your teeth correctly during the process.

Crooked teeth are a common problem among adults and children. Studies report that up to 70% of people could be helped by orthodontics in some way. Orthodontics helps with the appearance of your teeth as well as their function. A nice smile helps us all socially while a good bite helps prevent broken teeth, grinding of the teeth, gum disease and wear on the jaw joints (Tempromandibular joints or TMJ’s). Our Dentists are highly experienced in orthodontics but are not registered specialists. This allows us to offer treatment at a lower cost.

How to Get Straight Teeth

Treatment involves applying small amounts of pressure to teeth to move them through the bone to a better position. This is achieved by the use of fixed or removable appliances which are custom designed and made for each patient. Some mild discomfort can be experienced for a short time after adjustments are made, but because of the light forces used with modern orthodontic techniques, this discomfort is minimal.

Your dentist will need to establish that no other dental problems exist that could interfere with your treatment. They will also advise you on what you need to do to care for your orthodontic appliance. While side effects are not common your dentist or the specialist orthodontist you have been referred to, can supply you with a more comprehensive list of possible side effects and complications. This is important so that you can make an informed decision about whether to proceed with orthodontic work, after considering all the facts that are reasonably available.

To start the process, your dentist will need to do an examination and take x-rays and models of your teeth. They will talk to you about your problems and expectations and what treatments may be available to help achieve you goals. Time frames for treatment and the costs involved need to be discussed. The role of retainers after treatment is paramount in achieving long-term stability of the orthodontic work and how this will be done needs to be determined.

Types of appliances used include:
Braces, Invisalign, expansion devices, retention devices, age and orthodontics.

BRACES
This is the most efficient and accurate way of moving teeth.

There are 3 parts to this method:

1) The bracket which allows the dentist to grip the tooth. These are made from metal or ceramic and are stuck onto the teeth using an adhesive.

2) The wire is used to apply the force to move the teeth. Different sizes and strengths are used throughout the treatment. They are always made of metal.

3) Modules are very small elastic bands often used to hold the wire into the bracket. These can be clear but also come in a range of colours so you can have some decorating fun!

INVISALIGN
Have you ever been self conscious about your less than perfect smile but thought you would be worse off with a mouth full of metal? Then Invisalign may be the answer for you.

Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten teeth using a series of custom-made, nearly undetectable aligners. In fact they are so subtle they have been called contact lenses for your teeth. Whether your teeth are crowded, crooked, gapped, buck or have shifted since wearing braces, Invisalign is likely to improve your smile.

Invisalign aligners are made from strong yet very thin medical-grade plastic that makes them virtually invisible when worn. Not only are Invisalign aligners clear, they are also removable although it is recommended to wear them 22 hours a day. You take them out to eat dinner. There’s no need for hours of treatment in the dental chair – just quick in and out check-ups approximately every six weeks

FOUR STEPS TO BEAUTIFUL STRAIGHT TEETH:
Upon an initial consultation, your accredited Oral Experts Group dentist decides if Invisalign is right for you.

Click here for more information on Invisalign

The Oral Experts Group Dentist will then write a treatment plan and take an impression of your teeth for Invisalign.

Using the latest advances in 3-D computer technology, Invisalign carefully translates the instructions from the dentist into a series of precisely customised aligners. We then show you your crowded, crooked or gapped teeth on our computer and every movement needed to straighten your teeth.

You then wear each set of aligners for two to three weeks, during which time your teeth will move gradually, week by week, millimetre by millimetre–until you’ve achieved straighter teeth.

You only need to visit us every 6-8 weeks. Generally, you visit The Oral Experts Group no more than you would with braces and the length of treatment is about the same. In many cases it takes less time than braces. Also, your teeth look great over the entire treatment course as they gradually become straighter.

EXPANSION DEVICES
If a child has a very narrow palate, which can lead to crowding of the front teeth, and an incorrect bite, expansion devices can be used to move both teeth and bone into the correct position. These can be either removable or fixed.

• Functional appliances
  To help overcome certain skeletal discrepancies, removable appliances can be made which enable a person to bite in a way that guides bone development to help overcome bite problems.
• Removable Appliances
  This describes a large range of devices that are used to rectify relatively simple problems with the bite or alignment of the teeth. These have several components depending on the treatment goals.

RETENTION DEVICES
These are used at the completion of treatment to maintain the position of the teeth. This is vital for the long-term stability of the corrected problem. Some devices are fixed and some are removable, depending on the case requirements.

Full treatment can often take 18 to 24 months though some problems are fixed in a much shorter time. You can discuss this with your dentist.

The cost can vary quite a lot depending on the difficulty of the case. Simpler cases can be as little as $1500 with more complex cases costing $8,000 or more. The cost and when and how payments are expected should be discussed with your dentist.

AGE AND ORTHODONTICS
There is no age limit to orthodontics. Adults can easily have the benefits of straight teeth and a better bite.

In fact, orthodontics in association with a little cosmetic dentistry can often give you that movie star smile you’ve always wanted.

If you feel that your teeth could be straighter or that you would like to discuss functional issues that might apply to you, speak to your dentist at your next check-up.