Orthodontic FAQs

Orthodontics is a specialist branch of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of irregularities of the teeth and jaws.

After qualification as a dentist, a Specialist Orthodontist completes an additional two to three years of specialist training in a recognised university program. This training will teach them how to straighten your smile with solutions like braces and Invisalign® clear aligners.

Invisalign

We won’t know for sure until you visit our practice for a free consultation. During your consultation, we will assess your smile to see if you could benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Some things that may indicate you need orthodontic treatment are:

• Front teeth that stick out
• Upper teeth that cover your lower teeth
• A gap between your upper and lower front teeth when you bite together
• Crowding or spacing
• Misaligned centre of smile
• Difficulty chewing or speaking

We recommend that children come in for an orthodontic assessment by the age of 7 years old. This will help us avoid potential issues down the line by guiding their jaw growth and development.

We will usually start treatment with braces after your child has lost all of their baby teeth. And, it’s never too late to begin treatment with braces or aligners.

The length of treatment varies greatly depending on the severity of your malocclusion and the type of appliance used in your treatment. Usually, comprehensive treatment takes between 1-3 years.

Orthodontic treatment shouldn’t hurt, but your teeth may be sensitive after adjustment and when first fitted with your appliance. This discomfort should be milk and can be managed with over the counter pain relief for a couple days until it subsides.

As long as your teeth and gums are healthy, you’re never too old to start orthodontic treatment.

Each patient is unique, and so is there treatment cost. You can see an estimate on our costs page, but we will give you a custom quote for your bespoke treatment plan after your free consultation with us.

Yes. The health of your teeth is especially important during orthodontic treatment. We always recommend that you continue to schedule your regular dental cleanings during treatment with braces or aligners.

Most patients are candidates for Invisalign® treatment, but we won’t know for sure until you come in for your free consultation at SmileLux. Dr Hirani uses his experience to treat even complex cases with Invisalign® clear aligners.

If you lose a set of you aligners, please contact us immediately. We will let you know if you should schedule an appointment with us, or if it is safe to move to your next set of Invisalign® clear aligners ahead of schedule.

Retention is the most important phase of any orthodontic treatment. If you do not wear your retainer as instructed by your Specialist Orthodontist, your teeth could shift back to their original pre-treatment positions.