Starting Orthodontic Treatment Melbourne

Your journey towards your perfect smile will start as soon as you and your orthodontist have agreed on the best treatment method for your teeth and lifestyle.

Treatment will vary according to the type of braces or retainer you are going to need but here are three brief examples of what to expect when getting metal braces, Invisalign and appliances fitted. Please note that you will be contacted by our treatment coordinator about a week before your treatment starts to take a deposit. This will be deducted from your overall treatment fee.

When you arrive at iSmile for the start of your treatment, we will go over your financial options and collect your consent forms. Any patient below the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Metal Braces

The appointment for fitting you with metal braces is often scheduled during business hours because it can take some time. However, it is a painless experience and a simple procedure to complete.

Each metal bracket is attached to your individual teeth using a special glue. Once the brackets are all in place, they are secured together with a wire. It is the tightening of this which, over time, will move your teeth into their correct positions. The initial placing of the brackets doesn’t hurt but over the next few days your teeth may feel a little tender so it is best to follow a soft diet. You can drink iced water to help numb your mouth but make sure not to bite on the ice because this can damage your teeth and dislodge the new brackets.

Your orthodontist will show you how best to brush your teeth with your braces on and give you tips for flossing and dislodging stuck particles of food at this time. It is important to maintain good oral hygiene practices while you have your braces on as your teeth can experience decay and discolouration if you do not clean correctly around the brackets.

In recent years, orthodontic developments have created smaller, smoother and less aggravating metal braces. However, we understand it can still feel a little uncomfortable to have this new metal in your mouth. We will provide you with some orthodontic wax which can be used to put on any sharp or irritating piece of metal until your mouth has become accustomed to its presence.

Once your braces are in place, you will return to iSmile about once every 6 to 10 weeks to have adjustments made.

Invisalign

Made with 3D computer imaging technology, Invisalign uses a series of invisible, removable and comfortable aligners to correct your teeth. iSmile Orthodontics is a Platinum Elite Invisalign Provider, whilst Doctor Ramya is also registered with Invisalign Australia.

For patients who choose Invisalign, their treatment begins with a 3D scan of your teeth, this process usually takes 15 minutes. Our orthodontists will gather your records and send them to Align Technology Inc, the people who make the aligners. This combined information alongside your orthodontist’s notes enables Align Technology to create a series of retainers which are not only comfortable but also designed to gently coax your teeth into position.

It will take about 6 to 8 weeks to receive your retainers from Align Technology, at which point you will need to come back for another appointment. You will receive numerous sets of aligners at once from iSmile so you don’t have to visit us every time you need to switch to the next stage. The appointment to glue the tooth coloured attachments to your teeth is the longest one you will experience for Invisalign, and subsequent check-ups are just to confirm that your treatment is progressing as expected. Invisalign is a great choice for adults with busy lives.

Appliances

iSmile can offer a number of appliances which can be used independently or in conjunction with other orthodontic treatments to help us achieve your treatment goal. Here are the most common styles.

• Retainers
• Maxillary Expansion Appliances
• Separators
• Temporary Anchorage Devices
• Functional Appliances/Bite Correcting Appliances
  – Clark Twin Appliance
  – Herbst Hank
  – Forsus Fixed Class II Correcting Springs
  – Orthodontic Elastics

Some More Information

After your first appointment, you may feel some level of discomfort and pain as your teeth begin to move. There are various ways in which you can mitigate this including eating a soft food diet, using orthodontic wax and drinking iced water. For more advice on this and other tips for taking care of your orthodontic journey, sign up to our newsletter, follow us on our social channels (Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn) or keep up to date via our blog.