Clearly the best teeth straightening

by Helen Blunt orthodontist

When you’re looking to get the smile you or your family has been longing for by getting dental braces for teens or adults, you’ll need to consider a number of factors – not least location, because time is precious.

Location, location

Today we all seem to be in a rush. It’s probably true that we do try to pack more into our lives than was once the case – not least because there’s a lot more to pack in! Add to this the fact that many families have two working parents, school runs and Sydney traffic to juggle with and it’s easy to see how we could get overwhelmed by a sense of being time-poor. With this being the case, trekking across suburbs to attend dental appointments is not how you or your child wants to spend it: ‘I just want to find a good orthodontist near me!’ you say.

Mission possible! Living in Sydney, you’ll find that you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to smile specialists – so your next challenge is to find the best of these by searching for a dental professional that is highly recognised an awarded in their field – information which should be readily available on their website.

Once you have narrowed your search to find a leading orthodontist near to where you live or work on Sydney’s North Shore or CBD, you’ll need to book an appointment for an initial consultation, at which point you’ll be presented with possible teeth straightening options.

Clear braces and almost invisible aligners

You may find that your orthodontist discusses clear braces for adults with you. Made of clear ceramic materials, they are far less visible on your teeth than traditional all-metal braces, making them a more popular choice.

For those who have larger gaps between the teeth that need to be closed, clear ceramic braces provide the necessary strength and support to realign the teeth. These ceramic braces differ to Invisalign, which is another clear alternative to metal braces, and great for those with smaller gaps that need correction.

Invisalign clear braces use a series of transparent, removable and comfortable aligners to move teeth into the correct position – which means you can still smile confidently during treatment. Invisalign uses 3D computer imaging technology to create a series of individual personalised aligners using medical grade plastic.

Initially worn for 2 weeks, 23 hours a day, the aligners are removed only for eating, drinking and brushing. After this, you move onto the next set of aligners and wear them for another 2 weeks, and so on, until you have completed all aligners in the series and your teeth have straightened into their final desired position.

Greater technology, not greater price tag

You may expect superior technology and treatment such as Invisalign to cost more than traditional metal teeth straightening options, but the best orthodontists ensure that Invisalign aligners cost no more than the traditional methods. This means that world-class teeth straightening, without the self-consciousness associated with old fashioned techniques, is now available to more people.