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Adults
Will
braces affect my life style?
No, in that you can still do everything you could do before.
Your diet may be somewhat restricted but not to the point
of imposition. However, adults may take a little longer
than children to become accustomed to the slight roughness
of braces.
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Will
braces be uncomfortable?
Braces will be uncomfortable for a few days after they are
initially affixed and for a day or so each time they are
adjusted. Otherwise they will not be uncomfortable and will
not be noticeable to the wearer.
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What
are the other alternatives to traditional braces?
One could utilise partial braces, plates, aesthetic (Ceramic)
braces, lingual braces or Invisalign.
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Should
I take out health insurance cover?
We are unable to give specific advice in this area as there
exists substantial variation between the cover offered by
the different funds and this constantly changes. However,
we find that taking out insurance specifically for orthodontic
treatment is often inadvisable due to the waiting periods
and other conditions precedent. We would suggest that you
seek out information from the different funds before making
the decision.
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Am
I too old to have braces?
Teeth move throughout a person's life and thus, theoretically
no one is too old for braces. However, one needs to be cautionary
of the possibility of gum disease in older people and aware
of the fact that teeth move slower in older people.
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Children
How
are teeth Straightened?
Teeth are straightened by the use of appliances, which are
custom-made to suit each patient. They may be fixed to the
teeth (braces) or may be removable (plate) but either way
they apply gentle force to the teeth to move them to the
desired position through their supporting bone.
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What
is the best age to see an orthodontist?
Healthy
teeth can be moved at any age. However, it is recommended
that all children have an orthodontic check up no later
than age 7 as orthodontic treatment is most successful and
efficient if the growth and development of the teeth and
jaw are monitored from about the age of 7. In fact waiting
until all the permanent teeth come in may make the treatment
of some problems more difficult.
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Will
orthodontics be uncomfortable?
The patient may be uncomfortable for about 24 hours after
an appliance, be it braces or a removable appliance is placed
on their teeth or after adjustments to the appliance. However
this discomfort is usually short lived. It will not prevent
the patient from eating and can be treated in the same way
one would a headache.
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How
long does treatment take?
Treatment using full braces usually takes between 18 and
24 months but in some cases as much as 30 to 36 months.
The length of treatment is dependent partially on the co-operation
of the patient. The expediency of the treatment is usually
increased with a co-operative and diligent patient.
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How
much will it cost?
The cost of treatment usually depends on the duration and
thus complexity of the treatment. A fixed quote is ordinarily
provided after appropriate records are taken and prior to
commencement of treatment. This fee usually includes an
active phase of treatment as well as the maintenance of
the result for a period of up to two years after braces
have been removed.
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Should
I take out health insurance cover?
The cost of Orthodontics is partially covered by most medical
insurance companies, depending on your level of cover. However,
there is usually a 'waiting period' of up to a year for
certain services including orthodontics and we would suggest
that you speak to the different funds to ascertain what
would be the best thing for you do. Ordinarily it is not
recommended that you take out cover specifically for this
purpose and only to do so if you have other medical needs
as well.
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Can
I get all my appointments scheduled after school?
Not all appointments can be scheduled after school as it
is our desire to meet the needs of all our patients and
there are just not enough hours after school to do this.
Some appointments require a longer time and they tend to
be scheduled during the day with shorter, check-up appointments
being scheduled after school. We will attempt to accommodate
you but not all appointments can be made after school.
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What
is Recaldent™ and when do I use it?
It is
a product which builds a protective film and strengthens
the enamel. It can also be used to repair damage caused
by plaque, such as white spots on the teeth. This product
is ideally used in combination with Fluoride when it adds
additional protection to the enamel.
Recommended
use of Recaldent™.
1.We
recommend using Recaldent once a day.
2.The best time to use this material is at night after brushing
and rinsing with fluoride.
3.Squeeze a pea sized amount of paste on to your finger
or a small toothbrush. An electric tooth brush is ideal.
4.Either wipe the paste on to the teeth or use a brush.
5.There is no need to rinse out after using the paste.
If
you are allergic to milk or milk products you cannot use
this paste
If you
are interested you can read more about it at www.recaldent.com
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Clinical
What
Sterilisation protocol do you follow?
Our
instruments are auto-claved to ensure that they are properly
sterilised. We also use disposable supplies where appropriate.
Our staff all use disposable gloves at all times and change
them after the handling of any contaminated instruments.
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