Covid-19 Update 4 November 2022 - Profile Orthodontics

You may be excited about the idea of a brand new smile, but not quite as much about wearing metal brackets and wires in order to get it. Thankfully, the length of time braces stay on for to achieve the beautifully straight and functional smile you have been dreaming about likely won’t be that long at all. In fact, the majority of patients can anticipate achieving their smile goals in about two short years or less – almost no time at all!

Factors that Influence How Long Braces Stay On For

Whether you’ll need to wear your braces for a little more time, or for a little less, will depend on your unique smile needs and the recommendations of your orthodontist. In general, more complex or severe cases are going to require more time for the braces to do their job, and do it effectively enough to last a lifetime (with proper care and maintenance). On the other hand, however, simpler cases might not even take the average two years time to transform your smile. It all depends on what needs to be done, so talk to your orthodontist to see what they think for a more accurate timeframe.

How to Reduce Your Time in Braces

If you want to wear your braces for as little time as possible there are a few things you can do, all of which will likely be discussed with your orthodontist and their team when you first start your treatment. As a general rule, you want to make sure you take your orthodontist’s advice and avoid hard or sticky foods, like chewing gum or taffy, that could damage your braces. Since they’re working hard to move your teeth into the desired position, any damage could set back progress and make the treatment take longer.

Looking to perfect your smile with braces? Book an appointment with Profile Orthodontics in Claremont or Joondalup to discuss your unique treatment plan. 

Getting braces is a relatively normal routine. Believe it or not, it can also be quite exciting, especially if you are self-conscious about your teeth and smile. However, there are a few foods you should avoid while you have braces, so you these may be the foods you should eat before getting braces!

Eat All Your Favourite Hard Candy!

Once you have braces, you have to steer clear of hard, chewy, sticky candy as it can damage and break your braces.  If you love candy, like liquorice, caramels or toffee, pick some up and savour it before going in to have your braces placed on the teeth. If you do choose to indulge in your best sweet treats before your orthodontic treatment begins, try not to overdo it and never forget to brush and floss afterwards.

Other Foods to Eat Before Getting Braces

There are other foods that also do not do well with braces as they risk popping the brackets or bending the wires. In the week before your braces appointment, go ahead and enjoy some of the treats you will need to stay away from during your treatment, such as:

• Popcorn – braces tend to catch popcorn and it can really stick
• Hard lollies and nuts – these are the number one culprits of broken braces wires
• Hard crust pizza
• Bread rolls
• Chewy foods – they can damage the brackets, too
• Crunchy vegetables and fruits such as carrots and whole apples

If you haven’t been doing so, make sure you head to your general dentists for routine checks as well as a scale and clean. Your orthodontist needs your gums and teeth to be in tip-top health before they can fit your braces.

What’s more, make sure you thoroughly brush and floss in the run up to your braces appointment so that your teeth and gums are in the best condition possible on the day the braces are put on.

Always remember to eat sugary foods in moderation!

If you are considering braces, book an appointment at Profile Orthodontics to discuss your individual treatment plan.

If you're an adult who's considering the different treatment choices accessible to help you obtain your dream smile, then you've probably heard the term "lingual braces." Numerous people are discontent with the appearance of their teeth and consider straightening them. However, the thought of wearing noticeable metal braces can put off teens and adults alike. But, for those people, there is another option: to have braces on the inside of the teeth. Metal-made, lingual braces are attached to the back of the teeth, providing a nearly undetectable way of obtaining that ideal smile. Here's what you should know about these braces.

Braces on the Inside

Lingual or "inside" braces are a way of straightening the teeth that have become popular with adults because they're virtually invisible. To maintain a concealed treatment, your dentist will attach the braces to the inside of your teeth instead of the outside, making them undetectable.

They're tailor-made for your teeth. Your orthodontist takes a digital scan or precise impression of your teeth, which he or she then uses to customise bracket position and  transfer trays. The brackets are then attached to the back of the teeth to hold the wire in place. 

What Makes Them Different

These braces are ideal for individuals who wish to straighten their teeth discreetly. This could be an adult or teen who'd prefer for people not to know that they are having treatment. 

They're also popular if you have a big day coming up such as a wedding. The braces are extremely versatile and can treat various malocclusion problems. While braces are certainly worth the investment, lingual braces have unique requirements.

Since they're custom-made, and treatment is usually more time intensive, they can be more costly than other options. A major factor to consider is the technical expertise and training required. This is why not all orthodontists offer braces behind the teeth. 

Having a beautiful smile is worth the cost of braces and temporary inconvenience. However, some people hesitate to invest in them in spite of the difference they make. In this case, lingual braces are a solution to this issue. Whether they're invisible or not, determine the braces that suit you. After all, a stunning smile with straight, healthy teeth is worth the effort!

To discuss the treatment options available to you, book an appointment at Profile Orthodontics in Claremont or Joondalup.

A common reason people postpone treatment for teeth straightening is that they're concerned about how they'll look wearing metal braces. Fortunately, lingual braces provide an almost invisible way of obtaining a straighter smile. With this option, the wires and metal brackets are concealed behind your teeth, so they're extremely hard for peers to notice. They're an effective teeth straightening treatment for adults, working to treat most orthodontic problems. Here's a look at how lingual braces work.

How Lingual Braces Work

Similar to conventional braces, lingual appliances use a bracket and wire system to pull your teeth gradually into the desired position. The main difference is that your orthodontist will attach the brackets on the inside of the teeth where they hidden from view. 

Brackets on the Inside

Fixed braces shift teeth using small metal brackets and wires. Your orthodontist will attach the brackets to the inside of the teeth, where they will stay for the treatment duration. Your orthodontist will typically attach brackets to each tooth. However, if you're looking to straighten the front teeth only, the orthodontist might need to fix the brackets to the front six or eight teeth.

Lingual braces are typically made from gold alloy or stainless steel. Depending on your  treatment plan, the brackets might be standard-sized or customised to fit your teeth. Your orthodontist will attach the brackets using unique dental cement. This will maintain their position for the treatment duration while enabling your orthodontist to take them off easily once they complete their role.

The Arch Wires

Your orthodontist will move your teeth using a series of arch wires that run through the brackets. Using elastic bands or metal ligatures, your orthodontist will join each wire to the brackets. Some brackets comprise clips that maintain the arch wire in place - known as self-ligating brackets.

The arch wires reinforce the teeth by resuming its original shape, the force of the wire brings the teeth along for the ride. Your orthodontist will change the arch wire approximately every 6-8 weeks. They'll use varied wires at different treatment stages. In some instances, you'll require custom-made arch wires, much like the custom brackets.

How Your Teeth Move

The lingual braces work to apply pressure on your teeth, causing your periodontal membrane to compress and stretch, and the teeth to loosen. The formation of new bone will then take place around your teeth. Therefore offering support for the new positions in a process called bone remodelling.

Once the teeth are in their new position and the braces are off, it could take some time for everything to stabilise. This is why retainers are especially significant throughout the first year after braces.

Lingual braces are an excellent option for straightening your teeth discreetly. While they can treat various complaints, your orthodontist will inform you whether you're a suitable candidate.

Book an appointment with Profile Orthodontics to discuss your treatment options.

Lingual braces are a unique type of braces that are fixed to the back of your teeth rather than the front. This makes them virtually invisible and eliminates the stress of unsightly traditional braced.

Do Lingual Braces Hurt?

Patients often shy away from the idea of wearing braces due to the associated discomfort and pain. The discomfort that comes with wearing braces is caused by the pressure placed on the teeth by the tightening wires. All teeth straightening treatments require forces applied to the teeth, and therefore it is probable that you will experience some level of discomfort at some time. 

However, during treatment with lingual braces there is significantly less pressure applied to the teeth, allowing your teeth to move at a slightly slower rate. This makes the entire treatment procedure far more comfortable than traditional braces.

What’s more, less frictional force on the teeth further allows you to go for longer breaks between orthodontic adjustments. It does mean that overall treatment time with lingual braces is longer than that of traditional metal braces. 

Tips to Alleviate Discomfort

If you do experience minimal discomfort during your lingual braces treatment, there are a few things you can do to alleviate it, such as:

• Use salt water – add half a spoonful of salt to a glass of warm water and stir well. Gargle the water to ease the pain.
• Use painkillers – for the first week or two, braces may cause pain on your gums and tongue. Your dentist can prescribe painkillers to use when the pain is extreme.
• Eat soft foods – chewing can be uncomfortable just after getting braces, so stick to a diet of soft foods for a few days, such as pasta, porridge, and soups.
• Eat cold foods – for the first few days after getting braces, consume cold foods to help alleviate pain. Make sure, though, that your teeth aren’t too sensitive to cold temperatures before heading for the ice cream.

Book an appointment with Profile Orthodontics to discuss if lingual braces are a suitable teeth straightening solution for you.

The good news is that virtually invisible braces do exist. There are two kinds: clear aligners - best known as Invisalign - and inside braces. Inside braces, or lingual braces, are applied to the inside of the teeth, so the appliance can't be seen while smiling or talking.

Invisalign on the other hand, is a series of clear trays that fit tightly over the teeth. While they are not completely invisible, they are definitely more discreet than traditional braces. The clear aligners work well for people who do not have significant orthodontic problems. Best of all, they usually require less frequent visits to the orthodontist!

How Long Do Invisible Braces Take?

Treatment times with both kinds of invisible braces can vary. For instance, Invisalign treatment usually requires about 20 to 30 aligners for your upper and lower teeth. Treatment can take an average of 9 to 15 months to complete, which depends on the severity of your misalignment. Likewise, lingual braces placed behind the teeth can take anywhere from 12 to 24 months. Again this depends on the severity of your case.

Are You a Candidate for Invisible Aligners?

Invisible braces may not be the right solution for some types of misalignment or the more complex bite problems. However, orthodontists can use invisible aligners to treat an array of conditions, including:

• Crooked teeth
• Widely spaced teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Overbite

Orthodontists custom design clear aligners for older teenagers and adults, and generally don't recommend their use for children. Younger teenagers and children with orthodontic issues may require traditional metal or ceramic braces with wires and brackets on the front of the teeth. The treatment was designed primarily for adults as it requires rigid and absolute cooperation, since the trays are worn for up to 22 hours a day and should not be lost or forgotten.

However, only your orthodontist can determine if you are a suitable patient for clear aligners or invisible braces.

Are You a Candidate for Invisible Braces

Lingual braces can take slightly longer than both traditional braces and Invisalign aligners. They also require a slightly higher budget, however lingual braces are the most invisible of the invisible braces treatment options. Lingual braces are suitable for mild to moderate bite and misalignment issues, but your orthodontist is the most qualified to advise on whether inside braces are suitable for you.

Invisible Braces: Invisalign vs Lingual Braces

When considering your invisible braces options, it's important to consider your lifestyle and your budget. Book a consultation with Profile Orthodontics in Joondalup and Claremont to discuss the range of treatments available to you.

Profile Orthodontics Wish You a Happy Holiday Season

With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, the team at Profile Orthodontics in Claremont and Joondalup would like to take the opportunity to wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

After a successful year perfecting smiles, we are looking forward to some quality time with family and friends, indulging in festive events and welcoming the New Year.

While we are enjoying some R&R, it’s important you stay on top of your treatment. Our orthodontists, Dr Chris & Dr Shiva, have this holiday advice for patients of braces, Invisalign aligners and SureClear aligners:

Holiday Advice for Orthodontic Patients

• If you are wearing braces, try to avoid particularly hard or chewy foods like candy canes and toffee. These kinds of sweet indulgences are prone to breaking wires, therefore delaying treatment time
• If you are currently undergoing treatment with Invisalign, though it may be tempting to leave your aligner trays out for longer than 2 hours per day. And make sure to use your protective case when eating or drinking
• If you are travelling, take both your previous and next set of Invisalign clear aligners with you, in-case you misplace your current series. Use our app to obtain advice on whether to move forward or back a set.

The Profile Orthodontics clinics in both Claremont and Joondalup will be closed for the holiday period, from 12pm on Friday the 21^st of December, re-opening Monday the 7^th of January.

During this time, we have an emergency only service available. For further info patients can call the practice to hear our message. The service is for Profile Orthodontics patients experiencing an emergency or severe pain only. Patients can also use the MyProfile app to communicate any issues with a hygienist.

From the entire team at Profile Orthodontics, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a joyful New Year. See you in 2019!