FAQ

There are quite a few benefits to straightening your teeth. When your teeth are crowded and crooked, they can be harder to clean, making them more vulnerable to decay, gum disease and, eventually, tooth loss.

At Oasis Orthodontics, we offer treatments for just about any problem, including overjet, overbite and underbite. Treatments can be adjusted and customised to make sure you get exactly what you need.

Most people will complete treatment in 18 to 36 months depending on the extent of the problem, the type of treatment and personal compliance.

You might. Some foods, such as popcorn and caramels, can damage brackets and wires, so if you’re wearing braces, you’ll need to avoid them. However, with clear aligner systems, you can continue to eat everything you love by simply removing your aligners before meals. You will also need to make sure you’re cleaning your teeth as recommended after meals.

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on malocclusion, which pertains to the condition where teeth are not aligned or positioned correctly in the mouth. Your orthodontist here at Oasis Orthodontics will examine your bite and create the most suitable treatment plan for you.

We provide the best teeth straightening services for adults, kids, and teens, including:

• Conventional (metal) braces
• Clear aligners or Invisalign
• Incognito (or hidden) braces
• Retainers

Orthodontists are trained to help prevent, diagnose, and treat dental and facial anomalies. If left untreated, these irregularities can impede basic functions, including eating, chewing, and speaking. Some dental issues can also result in constant pain, which can become intolerable over time.

If you or your child is dealing with an improper bite, schedule an appointment with Oasis Orthodontics immediately.

It is often hard to know whether you will need orthodontic treatment. At Oasis Orthodontics, we offer a comprehensive orthodontic assessment and can advise you if further treatment is required. Alternatively, your family dentist or school dentist may refer you if they feel orthodontic intervention would be beneficial.

The Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO) recommends that kids should visit a specialist orthodontist at an early age, usually around seven to 10 years. Around this age, the orthodontist can evaluate the needs of the child and also figure out the best treatment possible. An orthodontist can team up with the dentist to ensure that good oral care is maintained.

Visiting an orthodontist is more than just for aesthetics. Yes, your smile is one of your most important features. After all, it’s probably one of the primary assets you present. So, you want to make sure that you leave the job of taking care of your smile to a fully trained orthodontist.

Straightening crooked teeth is not only for looking and smiling more confidently. It also has other benefits, including improved oral health – and even your overall physical health. Misaligned teeth can be difficult to clean and can also cause jaw issues.

If you have any bite problems, such as crooked, crowded, or impacted teeth, you should see an orthodontist right away.

It is best to avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods, as they pose a risk of breaking the appliance and slowing down treatment. For example:

• Nuts
• Popcorn
• Crunchy vegetables or fruit
• Hard or sticky lollies
• Corn on the cob

You may experience a slight discomfort for the first 3-5 days of treatment application. Over the counter analgesics like paracetamol/Panadol will certainly help ease the discomfort though.

It may be recommended to you as part of your Orthodontic treatment to have some teeth removed. This is usually because your mouth can not accommodate all your teeth, and can be the reason for an uneven smile.

An orthodontist is a dentist who has specialised in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. Following a full dental assessment, orthodontists can provide a detailed treatment plan to help correctly align and straighten teeth, bites, and jaws.

Often, you can have a new course of treatment to get your teeth back to the way they were – whether this is with braces or Invisalign.

This depends on a variety of factors. On average a course of orthodontic treatment can last roughly eighteen months. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more.

At Oasis Orthodontics we recommend follow-up appointments every six to eight weeks. This allows us to accurately monitor your treatment.

The most common risks of treatment are damage to enamel and gum problems – which are all due to poor dental hygiene (not flossing or brushing teeth correctly).

At your orthodontic assessment, Oasis Orthodontics will assess your oral hygiene and identify any risk factors. This will minimise any complications that may occur during treatment.

Fees with orthodontic treatment are hugely variable depending on the treatment recommended. To make orthodontic treatment available to all, we offer a variety of payment methods, including payment plans which can spread the cost over the duration of your treatment.

For example, a standard course of fixed appliance treatment can be covered by paying just $75 a week. Private Health Insurance rebates are available depending on your private health cover.

Costs can vary, but your private insurance may cover some or the majority of your expenses.

It’s a dreaded fear of every parent…. “Your child needs braces”!

If you had braces as a child you might have memories of painful tightening appointments, headgear, stuck food and that awful silver smile that made you feel so self-conscious!

Now as a parent it’s the cost that strikes fear into our hearts. It is true that the Invisalign cost is generally more than braces. This is because it is a bespoke appliance designed for each individual, and it is almost invisible. Surprisingly, in some patients they may even cost less depending on the treatment required.

The good news is that whether you opt for metal, ceramic or invisible braces, things have changed. With the choices now available, braces are now far less noticeable as they blend in with the tooth’s natural colour. Invisalign is a system that works through a series of clear and removable plastic aligners. Using innovative technology, it is a convenient alternative to fixed braces. And then there’s ‘Incognito’, which is a brace that sits on the inside of the teeth. All options are more comfortable, less intrusive and – yes – we can even make them affordable!

Some people are not aware that Orthodontists are registered, dental specialists. Not only have orthodontists completed a five-year undergraduate dentistry programme, but they have also studied full time at a university postgraduate masters level for an additional three years. Each orthodontic course will vary in structure and content, but in essence, Orthodontists are experts in facial growth and development, tooth development and biology and biomechanics of tooth movement. An orthodontist is the most qualified person in the dental field to diagnose and treat crooked teeth, abnormal bites and misaligned jaws. Plus they are the dental specialists you need to consult with to straighten your teeth or if you have children, their teeth.

One of the questions that patients often ask orthodontists, particularly those with children, is, will Medicare cover the cost of me or my child getting braces?

The answer is unfortunately no. Medicare does not generally cover dental treatment unless dental care is needed to improve an individual’s overall health. In eligible children Medicare does provide the Child Benefits Dental Scheme, where those children can claim $1000 over two years for a variety of dental treatments. Unfortunately, orthodontic treatment is not included in this.

So, if you can’t use Medicare for your or your child’s braces, what are your options?

Your first source is, of course, to look at any private health insurance plans you or your spouse has. Although they will rarely cover all the expenses of braces, which typically run from $5,000 and up for an 18-month treatment plan, every little bit helps.

Consult with your current insurance carrier to determine precisely what they will and will not cover in the area of orthodontics.

Another strategy is to start up a new policy that does offer orthodontics and wait for a while before starting treatment. This may be the best option for those with policies that don’t cover or barely cover orthodontics. Be aware, however, that most policies have a waiting period of at least 12 months before you can claim orthodontics expenses and also, be mindful of any annual caps on claims, so shop carefully.

Consult with your orthodontist about a payment plan.

Orthodontists are aware braces are expensive and are also mindful of the limits of insurance plans. Therefore, they often offer monthly payment plans, and at Oasis Orthodontics their payment plans are interest free. Consult with your orthodontist and see if you can’t come up with an affordable plan, which may be even cheaper than paying up to $1500 a year to add orthodontics to an insurance policy.

Private health insurance policies vary. It is best to contact your insurer to find out how your cover will work. Outside of your wait period, your private health insurance will usually pay a contribution towards the treatment cost – but there can be a gap to pay.

Unfortunately, we are unable to issue refunds for treatment costs. We will be happy to recommend and liaise with your new orthodontist regarding your treatment plans and progress.

Braces are still the most popular teeth straightening solution. They have proven to be very effective over the years. You now also have the choice of ceramic braces, which are much less noticeable and blend in with the tooth’s natural colour.

When it comes to cost – each case is very different depending on the diagnosis of exactly what is being corrected. Treatment plans can be organised for as little as $75 a week AND Private Health Insurance rebates can chip in to reduce that further.

The good news is that you can book a initial orthodontic assessment without even needing a referral from a dentist. You can then get a quote and a plan drawn up, usually on the same day.

Just as effective as braces in most situations but removable and virtually invisible, Invisalign is a convenient alternative to fixed braces.

Payment plans can spread the cost over the duration of the treatment and, depending on the treatment plan they can even sometimes work out more affordable than braces!

Your Private Health Insurance will usually pay a contribution towards the treatment cost – but there can be a gap to pay. Give us a quick call and we can let you know if you are covered.

Incognito braces deliver an amazing final result, but will cost a little more due to the fact that they are fully customised for each individual’s treatment plan.

Private Health will again kick in. First you will need to come in to our orthodontist clinic for an initial orthodontic assessment where we will come up with a treatment plan to take to your insurer. They can then explain exactly how your cover will work within your policy and how much they will contribute. We can then work out a payment plan to cover what’s left.

Remember, you don’t need a referral, you can book straight in to get an idea of costs by phone 08 6169 1699 or book online for a assessment with our family orthodontist.