FAQs

Why an Orthodontic Specialist ?

In New Zealand, to become a registered dental specialist through the University of Otago, involves undertaking a FULL-TIME three year postgraduate qualification, on top of the undergraduate dental degree. This was formerly a Masters’ degree, but has recently been changed to a ‘Doctor of Clinical Dentistry’. The course not only involves close to 5000 hours of hands-on clinical and teaching time over the three years, but the postgraduate students must also undertake a Doctoral thesis research project.  This ensures that specialists are kept up-to-date with the latest and newest technologies, as well as the best scientific research available.

The combination of clinical sessions, scientific research, and interactive teaching modules, ensure that specialists are the best equipped to diagnose, prevent, and treat any dental or facial abnormalities.

What’s the best age to start orthodontic treatment ?

There is no set age for orthodontic treatment. As everyone is an individual, there are a variety of issues which are all dealt in different ways. There are problems that can be fixed easily at a younger age, whereas there are issues which are best at an older age, or once all the permanent teeth are through.

If you are in any doubt or have any concerns regarding your child’s orthodontic needs, it is best to seek an orthodontic consult with an orthodontic specialist who will be in the best position to advise you if – a) Anything needs to be done, and b) If something needs to be done, what the possible options are, and where you can go from that point. Also, if the child is too young, then the orthodontist will monitor your child regularly until they are a a more appropriate age for orthodontic treatment, should it be needed.

How much does orthodontic treatment cost and how long does it go for ?

The cost of orthodontic treatment depends on the severity of the case and what type of treatment is needed. As mentioned earlier, every patient is an individual and there are many different situations which can be treated in several ways. Not every patient requires full upper and lower braces, and certain issues can be treated at an earlier age using a simple plate, or braces on a section of teeth.

Following a consultation with an orthodontic specialist, they will be able to inform you of the different treatment options, their costs, and their approximate treatment times.

Is orthodontic treatment only for children ?

Not at all. More and more adults are including orthodontic treatment as part of their dental treatment. Indeed, research has found that at least 1 in 5 orthodontic patients is over the age of 18, and in certain clinics, it can be as high as 50-to-60% of the patient base. The large variety of treatment modalities available these days has made orthodontic treatment a lot more acceptable for adults. These include clear ceramic braces; the clear aligner systems such as Invisalign; and lingual braces (or braces at the back of the teeth).

Will the braces interfere with my sports or playing a musical instrument like the flute ?

Once the initial adjustment to wearing the braces has passed, then braces will not interfere with playing sport or playing musical instruments. Once the tongue, lips and cheeks have gotten used to the braces, then you will not even know they are there! We recommend wearing a fitted mouthguard for contact sports to prevent damage to either the braces or the inside of your cheeks