What orthodontic treatment options are available?

Braces

If your parents had braces, you may have seen pictures of them with their mouths full of metal. Today, braces are much less noticeable. Metal braces are still used, but you might be able to get clear braces or braces that are the same colour as your teeth. There are even braces that go behind your teeth where no one can see them. Dr Mehta and his team of specialists will help you work out which option is the best for you.

Orthodontic treatment involves using braces, plates and other corrective devices to move teeth and jaws into normal alignment. It may involve changing the position of the teeth or modifying the way the jaw grows.

Many orthodontic problems are complex, involving the growth patterns of facial bones and soft tissue facial profiles, as well as alignment of crooked teeth. Treatment of such problems requires the care of an orthodontist with in depth specialist training, a unique understanding of facial growth and many years of experience.

invisalign-for-adults

Invisalign® uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. Invisalign® is made with 3-D computer imaging technology and Dr Mehta is a certified Specialist with Invisalign®.

You wear each set of aligners for approximately 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush and floss.  As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position that Dr Mehta requires.

You will have 6-10 weekly visits with us to ensure your treatment is progressing as planned.  Total treatment time is between 9-18 months and the number of aligners worn during treatment varies depending on your treatment needs.

Each case is unique so treatment time will vary from person to person, and not all orthodontic problems are suited to this treatment option.

Clear braces

Clear or ceramic braces are the most common choice of treatment for adult patients. They are tooth-coloured or clear brackets that blend with your teeth.

Ceramic braces provide the full control and treatment speed of metal braces, with the added benefit of being less visible.

metal brace with colour

Mehta Orthodontics uses state of the art equipment and bracket systems which can provide faster results with fewer appointments and less treatment time. Our nickel titanium alloy orthodontic wires ensure rapid alignment and skilled manual fine tuning to ensure you will receive top quality results in a minimum of time.

These metal braces require a rubber ring to hold the orthodontic wire in place. Those rubber rings can be any colour you wish.

lingual braces

If you would like to have braces that are invisible and not be seen by other people we can place them on the inside of your teeth.  These are lingual or invisible braces. They are individually made for your teeth and even your closest friends will not know you are having orthodontic treatment.

They are more expensive than conventional braces or Invisalign® and may not be suitable for some patients.

Orthopaedic Appliances

Orthopaedic appliances are used to improve the facial appearance and dental function in patients who are still growing and have a jaw discrepancy. The aim of this early treatment is to potentially reduce complex treatment, involving either extractions or jaw surgery, in the future.

Surgical orthodontics incorporates the coordination of an Orthodontist and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon to correct significant bite discrepancies in patients. Although very few orthodontic cases require surgery, a small percentage of cases cannot be fully corrected without surgical movement of the jaws.

Mehta Orthodontics works closely with leading surgeons in this area to ensure that the optimal outcome for the patient is our primary goal.  Dr Mehta can provide referrals to these surgeons.

AcceleDent

AcceleDent® is a new technology that uses tiny vibrations, or micropulses, to speed up bone remodeling, accelerate tooth movement, and reduce treatment time. AcceleDent is always used in conjunction with braces or aligners; not on its own. If you have any questions about AcceleDent®, we would be happy to answer them.

Sonring and Sleep Apnea

Sleep disorders are increasingly being recognised as an important area affecting a patient’s health and quality of life.  We may know someone who snores, struggles to breathe while sleeping or has been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).  Orthodontists play an important role in the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders for both adults and children.

Dr Mehta is a co-inventor of the Somnomed appliance which is now the most widely used oral appliance to treat OSA and snoring worldwide.  Dr Mehta lectures internationally on the benefits of OSA treatment.