Adult Orthodontics

Some people are surprised that adults can undergo orthodontic treatment. In fact around 30% of our patients are adults, and comprise some of our most thrilling cases. There are so many adults, both young and old who would dearly love to makeover their smile.

The reasons older patients enter orthodontic treatment are obviously varied. Maybe treatment was denied to them as kids, or they have seen the wonderful impact of orthodontic treatment on their own children, or often orthodontic treatment is recommended as part of a major mid-life restoration involving extensive restorative treatment and jaw surgery.

Does adult treatment take longer?

A common misconception is that orthodontic treatment takes much longer in adults than kids. Obviously simple treatments to correct alignment problems can be relatively quick at around 6 months. Complex problems involving comprehensive treatment and different specialists will take longer at 20 to 28 months. There are also variations between individual bone biology, and some of the new bone drugs will affect the speed that teeth move. Acceledent is a novel way to speed orthodontic treatment by around 30%, and involves just 20 minutes of daily use.

Adult treatments will be similar to adolescent treatment with regular appointments to adjust appliances, and the long term use of retainers after treatment is an essential commitment on the part of the patient. Adults will need to see their attending dentist, or periodontist regularly. Some adults are less able to adapt readily to appliance therapy, or have busy schedules themselves, and will need to take this into account when considering treatment.

Do I have to have metal braces?

The simple answer is no. Dr Chris Orloff was the first West Australian Orthodontist to introduce Invisalign into routine practice in WA, attending the first Australian Invisalign Accreditation course in 2002. Since then he has maintained his attendance at various meetings around the country. Dr Ash Patel gained his lingual Incognito Accreditation in Europe and has bought these skills with him to WA to become the major submitter of discreet Incognito Lingual Braces in WA.

However, many patients choose to have conventional braces on the outside of their teeth. Damon Clear is an exceptional tooth coloured orthodontic appliance delivering unsurpassed aesthetics with superior comfort and speed of tooth movement.

Dr Chris Orloff spent time in Europe in 2010 to introduce the revolutionary InsigniaCustom Designed Orthodontic system to Class 1 Orthodontics. Insignia's interactive software allows the Orthodontist to design each individuals smile, reducing the number of appointments necessary to complete each case.

Orthodontic treatment later in life can dramatically improve your confidence and self esteem, as well as improving your dental health by making cleaning easier, reducing the tendency for tooth wear to occur, and as part of more complex dental treatments.

Individual solutions

During your examination process we will determine the various options available, and will discuss the details, costs and benefits with you. Most Health Insurers will cover part of the cost of treatment, but you should contact themselves to determine your individual level of cover, once out Treatment Coordinators have explained costs and Health Insurance Item Codes with you.