Orthodontics

An orthodontist is a qualified dentist who has received further specialist training for 3 to 6 years in Orthodontics. Please click here to see details of Dr Worth's dental and orthodontic training.

For children, the best age to get assessed for orthodontic problems is about 9 years old. This allows the orthodontist to check your growth and development. Some problems can be spotted early and eased at this age. Any time is good for adult to seek orthodontic assessment.

For children the the best age is when the adult teeth have all come through. This is usually between 10 and 13 years old. Certain problems are easier to treat at this age while the patient is still growing.

For non-growing adult patients the age is not important. People of any age can benefit from orthodontics! Adult orthodontics is very popular in our practice. Excellent 'life changing' results can be achieved for patients who need treatment whatever the age.

Costs depend on the complexity of the problem, how long treatment will take and the type of braces chosen. Tax relief is available and we can print out the forms so you can claim 20% back from the government. Our quotes are always inclusive; meaning that the fee will remain the same even if you need extra visits or a longer treatment for some reason. We will always see you as soon as possible, and at no extra cost, if your appliance breaks or a wire comes loose. Some orthodontists will charge for broken braces!

Yes. All patients who have had orthodontics will need retainers to maintain
the desired result. As time goes by the retainers will be needed less and less. Some patients will need retainers indefinitely.
Teeth move naturally throughout life for all people. Orthodontic treatment does not stop this natural movement. Good wear of retainers will limit further tooth movement and maintain the result.

Most braces (orthodontic appliances) are made of small pieces of metal (brackets) glued to the teeth. A very fine wire is threaded through the brackets to pull the teeth straight with very gentle forces. The brackets are very small and smooth nowadays and are tolerated very well. Our braces are called Damon braces and are especially good at moving teeth with very little pain or pressure. We also use 'tip-edge' brackets that have similar advantages.
Adult patients can select 'clear' ceramic brackets which are a little more
discreet. Sometimes we fit removable appliances for certain specific problems. This will all be explained at your consultation.

It is possible for most adult cases to have an option to choose 'clear' ceramic braces for the front teeth. In this instance the brackets are made of a clear or tooth colored ceramic material. Ceramic braces are generally a bit more expensive than the purely metal variety. Though not completely invisible, they look a lot less obvious than metal brackets.

Orthodontic treatment with regular braces usually takes between 15-21 months to complete. Some treatments are more complex and take longer - over two years. Some treatments are simpler and last for about one year. Every case is different and exact predictions are impossible to make. Adjustments are required at regular intervals to keep the treatment progressing at the right pace. Initially this is every 8 or 10 weeks with appointments getting closer together as the treatment nears completion.

Braces can make teeth feel a bit tight for a few days after placement or adjustment. Other then that, treatment should be a very comfortable experience. We use the lightest forces we possibly can to minimise the pressure on the teeth. Many patients feel absolutely no pain throughout the entire treatment. We do everything possible to make your treatment as easy and comfortable as we can.