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Braces

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BRACES FAQs

"First Impression Last“, your smile is one thing that people will always notice. Smile is infectious. ” Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful” (Quote: Thic Nhat Hanh). But a lot of us are afraid to smile because we are not confident that we have an appealing smile that will attract other people.

There are many ways to improve your smile. The easiest and the cheapest way to quickly improve one’s smile is Whitening. Short term whitening is harmless and can quickly boost one’s confidence with beautiful white teeth.  Secondly, we can also offer cosmetic veneers and crowns to improve your smile. This is usually a more costly option to improve your smile but it can be completed in a few weeks.  The most conservative way to improve your smile is to use orthodontic braces. There are many options for adult braces and teens braces to fit one’s needs.

FAQS

Orthodontic braces are special devices used by an Orthodontist or dentist to move and align your teeth. It can fixed or removable.

A.  Invisalign clear removable braces by Align Technology. This is the most well known clear aligners in the world, used by millions because it is easy, comfortable and almost invisible. You can also take the thin clean aligners off to eat and brush your teeth, how convenient! It is suitable for mild to moderate cases.

B.  Fixed Damon Braces. This is a modern and advanced braces that is self ligating. This technology allows the tooth to move faster and smoother, hence quicker treatment time and less pain. It is relatively smaller, which makes it easier to clean and maintain for the patient. It is suitable for mild to severe crowding and comes in both metal and clear options as well.

C.  Traditional customized IP braces. This braces is customized to fit every individual patient. It is customized in United States (most of the corrections are built into the brackets), hence less visits to the dentist and shorter treatment time as well.

Specialist Orthodontists have post-graduation qualification to practice orthodontics. Some dentists have special interests in Orthodontics and have done extra training to carry out  mild to moderate difficulty cases. Our dentists at Mokoia Road Dental Centre had undergone Master degree training in Germany and continues to attend international orthodontic courses but we are not specialist Orthodontist. We have a special interest in Orthodontics.

For adults, most can see crooked alignment of the teeth in the mirror. If you are  afraid to smile when taking photos or always cover your mouth when talking to your friends, then most of the time you need orthodontic treatment or some cosmetic dental treatment. We can help with both. For your child, parents can usually see the crowding or irregular alignment of the teeth. If you are not sure, you are always welcome to come for a free Orthodontic consultation. Our dentists are happy to give you some useful professional advice.  Just give us a ring at 4809818 or send us an email to make an obligation free appointment.

The recommended age for initial assessment of a child is around 7-8 years old but the treatment usually starts when all permanent teeth erupt into the mouth. There are cases where a child may need to have short term orthodontic treatment of around 3-6 months, have a break, then restart full orthodontic treatment when all permanent teeth erupt. The ideal age to get braces is “just before puberty”. Treatment time can be shortened as the teeth move faster due to higher body’s metabolic rate. For adults, orthodontic treatment can start anytime provided the general oral health is in good condition.

Generally, orthodontic treatment takes around 2 to 2.5 years depending on difficulty level, braces type, compliance and age of the patient. Some minor corrections takes 6 months to 1 year.

The cost of braces ranges from $4000 to $10,000 depending on the difficulty, duration and the type of braces used . On average:

Damon braces/IP braces cost: from $6500 to $8500.

Cost of Invisalign: from $6000 to $10000.

Yes. We are transparent with the price and we offer interest free monthly payments plan or early payment discount to make it more affordable. Call us for a free assessment and our dentist can discuss the cost for your case.

First appointment: The dentist will do a free consultation and give you useful professional advice and an estimate of cost. It is also a time for you to express your concern regarding your teeth and what you want to improve on. If the case is very complicated, the dentist will refer you to a specialist Orthodontist to manage. If you are happy to proceed, during the second appointment, the dentist will take full orthodontic records (xrays, impression of your teeth and photos). After 3-4 weeks, the dentist will discuss your treatment plan, cost and treatment duration with you. Once you are happy with the proposed treatment plan, you can start your braces journey! The dentist will see you once every 4-6 weeks to make some adjustments until the treatment completes.

“Let us always meet each other with SMILE, for the SMILE is the beginning of Love “