Frequently Asked Questions

Adults now account for 25% of orthodontic patients. Treatment can be successful at later ages, even though bones are no longer growing because the biological process involved in tooth movement is the same in adults as in children.

As you prepare to make decisions about orthodontics, it's very important to be armed with the facts.

Here's a series of questions and answers which will give you an insight into the science.

A - Orthodontics can boost a person's self-image as the teeth, jaws and lips become properly aligned, but an attractive smile is just one of the benefits. Alleviating or preventing physical health problems is just as important.

Prominent teeth are easily broken in sport or common accidents. A gum shield should always be worn in any trauma prone sport or activity.
Without treatment, orthodontic problems may make effective tooth cleaning more difficult and time consuming than it needs to be.
A "bad bite" can contribute to tooth loss, chipped teeth and other dental injuries from excessive enamel wear over time.
Impacted (buried) canine teeth occur in one in 50 people and can silently harm nearby teeth if left untreated.

A specialist orthodontic opinion can tell you if any of these problems apply to you. If diagnosed early in life, orthodontic correction can prevent problems later.

A - TThe American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child should get an orthodontic examination no later than age eight, although earlier examination may be required if your general dentist has a reason for recommending it. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected early, rather than waiting until jaw growth has slowed. One third of all children need orthodontics and another one third of children would benefit from orthodontics. Early treatment may mean a patient will avoid surgery or other serious corrections later in life. Most child patients start their main orthodontic treatment between eleven and thirteen years of age. This age gives the patient the best chance of accepting treatment easily and achieving an ideal outcome..

A - No, because healthy teeth can be moved at any age with modern training and techniques. Orthodontics can improve the smile of practically anyone - in fact our oldest patient is sixty four years of age. It is however important to make sure a child with prominent teeth is treated whilst they are still growing, so that braces rather than jaw surgery can correct the problem easily.

A - Certainly not the estimated 1 million adults in the United States who have chosen orthodontic treatment as the route to better oral health and emotional well being.

Adults are discovering that today's high-tech materials are light years away from the "metal mouth" look they may have been familiar with as teenagers.

Some recent innovations include completely invisible (lingual) or clear (ceramic) tooth coloured brackets. There is no longer any need to fear the visual effects of wearing a brace. Sophisticated engineering of the tooth moving wires has resulted in low visibility and invisible braces, which are quicker and less invasive than the old fashioned braces you may remember from childhood.

A - No one can deny the importance of a winning smile. It makes a pleasing appearance, promotes self-esteem and is valuable to social and career success.

Creating beautiful smiles is what orthodontics is all about. And today, orthodontics is so convenient and affordable that individuals from childhood through retirement can reap its important benefits.

Orthodontics is important not only for a great smile and improved self-confidence, but effective tooth cleaning is quicker with straight teeth. Dental health can be protected by moving teeth out of harms way, when they are prominent or impacted.

Braces fit easily into today's active lifestyles. They're comfortable, easy to keep clean and less visible than in the past.

New techniques and materials can extend the period between appointments, saving time and expense.

A - The right age can be any age. Early examination allows us to determine when your child's problem should be treated for maximum improvement - in the least time and at the lowest cost.

Certain treatment techniques provide significant benefits for patients between six to 11 years old. Treatment during these growth stages can achieve results not possible once face and jaw bones have finished growing.

Full orthodontic treatment with braces is generally begun after all the permanent teeth are in place, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.

Adults of any age can have great orthodontic results provided they are motivated to achieve an ideal outcome.

A - These will vary, of course, depending on the nature of the problem. You may be surprised to discover that orthodontics is less expensive than you thought when you consider the benefits can be life long.

David Gale offers various finance plans to help meet individual treatment needs. If payments are made over less than 12 months then there is no interest to pay.

Costs can be spread over the duration of the treatment. You always know what treatment will cost in total before it starts.

Of course, it is important to keep in mind the lifetime value that orthodontics provides, long after the treatment is complete.