Frequently Asked Questions
Braces are the most popular fixed orthodontic appliance.
The precision and innovation in the modern braces are often hidden by their small size. In fact, braces are used as a benchmark for all other treatment modalities, with people often asking if a particular appliance works as well as braces. Braces straighten teeth using brackets, bands and arch wires. These deliver a constant gentle force on the teeth to move them into the desired position.
It is preferable to stay with the same orthodontist for the duration of your treatment. This ensures the best outcome for you.
However, if you need to relocate interstate or overseas we can help you find another orthodontist to take over your treatment. It is important that the next orthodontist has all the information necessary to successfully complete your treatment and we ensure that this information is provided to them.
With regards to finances, changing orthodontists midway is like changing builders during a build project. Invariably it costs more to finish the treatment and in Australia, we use a formula to work out what portion of the fee should have been paid, and how much treatment will be required. This protects you as a patient should you move to another state or country.
Yes, once the teeth have been moved to their ideal positions, and the braces have been removed, you will need to wear retainers. The retainers are usually removable, thin mouth guards made of tough, transparent plastic. They will need to be worn every night for 2 years and after that time, gradually scaled back to 1 or 2 nights per week.
Caring for your braces is very important to avoid damage to the teeth and gums during your treatment. As a rule, you should aim to brush your teeth after every main meal, and floss each night before bed time. You also need to avoid hard or sticky foods that might bend or break your braces. We don’t mind if you chew gum every now again as long as it is sugar free.
Soft drinks and cordials should be consumed infrequently and if possible through a straw. Full instructions on how to care for your braces will be given to you on the day the braces are fitted. Special brushes for cleaning around the braces and specially designed floss will be given to you when you get your braces and you will be shown how to use them.
Your braces will need to be tightened every 4-8 weeks. Sometimes we may need to see you more frequently, depending on what type of orthodontic treatment you are having.
There are many different types of orthodontic treatments available. We take great care in tailoring your treatment to your needs and explaining all the options to you so that you can make an informed decision regarding your care.
We are experts in a number of different orthodontic systems. We take great care in helping you decide which is the best system for you.
We have metallic braces, porcelain braces, lingual braces, and Invisalign options for our patients.
When wearing braces or orthodontic appliances, we ask you to avoid eating very hard or sticky foods such as hard lollies, toffee and muesli bars.
Hard foods such as carrots, apples and meat on the bone should be cut up and chewed on the back teeth. If you think the food will be hard, please cut it into small pieces rather than biting into it.
Sticky foods include Roll-ups, redskins, minties and toffees or anything that can pull wires out of place or get stuck in the braces should be avoided.
Soft foods are preferable when you are wearing braces.
Any breakages should be attended to as soon as possible. Please call our office and speak with our staff to arrange an appointment as soon as possible.
It is normal to have some discomfort when your braces are first put on. This can last a few days whilst your teeth and lips are getting used to the braces. You will be given special orthodontic wax to help during this period. Eating a soft diet will also help reduce discomfort for the first few days. Sometimes mild painkillers such as panadol may be needed for the first day or so.
Each time your braces are adjusted, there will be some tenderness of your teeth. Once again, eating soft foods will help reduce discomfort whilst your teeth get used to their new position.
If you are experiencing more serious pain or you feel that something is out of place, please contact us immediately.
Having braces means that you will need to avoid certain hard and sticky foods that may damage your braces. During the first few days after your braces are fitted, your teeth and cheeks may be tender. You may also experience some tenderness of the teeth after each adjustment visit.If you play contact sports that normally require a mouthguard, then you will need to have a new mouthguard fitted over your braces. Otherwise, life can go on as usual with braces.
Each persons treatment is different and changes will be seen at various stages depending on what type of treatment is being done.
Create a good bite and a perfect smile. During childhood, bones are softer and jaws can be manipulated with various appliances so that they grow in the correct way.
Once the jaws stop growing, the only way to make changes is to surgically re-align them to create a correct bite. Jaw surgery is performed by specialist Oral Surgeons in conjunction with orthodontic treatment.
Please see our gallery for some examples of treatments involving jaw surgery. It is a lot more common than most people think. Utilizing jaw surgery during orthodontic treatment requires thorough diagnosis to make sure that jaw surgery is required, and that other options cannot deliver a similar result.
The decision to have jaw surgery as part of orthodontic treatment is often the most difficult decision and we make sure that your journey is as easy as possible. It is also important for the patient to see the likely changes to their bite and their facial appearance, and at Dr Alex Yusupov Specialist Orthodontists we go to great lengths to simulate the surgery-induced changes so that the only surprise at the end of treatment is how great the smile and the face look.
At your first appointment with us, we’ll start by reviewing your general medical, dental and orthodontic history so that we understand why you have come to see us or why your dentist referred you for an orthodontic assessment. We then carry out a 40 point orthodontic examination, checking your teeth, jaw joints, smile aesthetics, facial proportions and symmetry, as well as speech, habits or function.
This allows us to create a tentative treatment plan which we explain to you.
At that stage you may decide to proceed with measurements, where we take facial and mouth photographs, as well as a 3D scan of your teeth (no messy, uncomfortable moulds). X-rays will also be ordered if necessary. These records, along with the clinical examination, allow us to complete the diagnosis.
At your next appointment, we present you with a detailed, customised treatment plan containing information on the types of treatment available to you, (braces, invisalign or other), whether any extractions or dental treatment will be required, the costs and the optimal timing of your treatment. We consider how your work, social or family life will be affected during your treatment. This will be discussed with you in detail to determine the best course of treatment for you.
No, unlike medical specialists, who require a referral from general doctors, the dental specialists can be seen directly without a referral. We do prefer a referral as this allows us to access any recent x-rays that might be useful for your treatment planning. Also, sometimes the general dentist has specific requests that need to be completed during your treatment. Whenever possible, we communicate with your general dentist to make sure they are informed of the progress of your treatment.
We take great care in listening to your concerns and conducting a thorough orthodontic assessment. During our orthodontic assessment, we will take note of your facial proportions, symmetry, positions of the teeth and your bite before discussing our findings with you.
In recommending any orthodontic treatment, we always make sure that the treatment will:
1. Address your concerns
2. Achieve the best possible bite
3. Enhance your facial appearance
4. Have the greatest long-term benefit to your health
5. Has the lowest risk and cost
We take great care to explain the different treatment options available so that YOU can make the decision about which treatment is right for you.
Payment for you orthodontic treatment can be made by:
Credit cards – we accept Visa, Mastercard and Amex.
Personal cheques and cash.
Direct bank transfers can be arranged on a regular basis to simplify the payment process.
Payment plans can be arranged at our discretion if necessary.
We are open Monday 8.50am – 6pm
Tuesday 8am – 6pm
Wednesday 8.50am – 7pm
Thursday 8.50am – 6pm
Friday 8am – 2pm
Tuesdays and Fridays are mainly reserved for new patient consultations. Please ask our receptionists for the most suitable appointment time for you.
Surgical orthodontics are needed when the lower jaw is too small or too big for the upper jaw. An orthodontic assessment is the best way of working out if this applies to you. During our orthodontic assessment, we will take note of your facial proportions, symmetry, positions of the teeth and requirements of the bite before recommending jaw surgery as part of your orthodontic treatment. In many instances, especially in growing patients, we can avoid jaw surgery by using special appliances to encourage the jaw to grow correctly.
Depending on the type of treatment you need, some long term maintenance is necessary. Retainers are usually needed to keep your teeth in their new position. You will be instructed on how often and for how long you should wear retainers.
Please call our office or the emergency mobile phone number you have been given as soon as you are aware of a problem with your appliance or braces. Our staff will assist you in deciding the best course of action for your problem.
Please call our office or the emergency mobile phone number you have been given as soon as you are aware of a problem with your appliance or braces. Our staff will assist you in deciding the best course of action for your problem.
An orthodontist should be suitably qualified and experienced in all aspects of orthodontic treatment. It is important that you understand the treatment that is being suggested to you and that all other possible options have been explored with you and explained thoroughly.
You should feel comfortable asking your orthodontist and their team any questions at any time and be satisfied with all of their answers.
A registered orthodontist is a fully qualified dentist who has studied for an additional three years of a full time Masters Degree in orthodontics. This qualifies them to diagnose and treat disorders concerning straightening of the teeth and the alignment of the jaws.
Yes. Regardless of which appliances we used to correct your smile – either braces or Invisalign, the new position of the teeth needs to be maintained with retainers. For Invisalign patients, the retainers are similar to the clear plastic aligners that were used to move the teeth. The only difference is that the retainers will be worn nights only.
The usual retention period is to wear your retainers every night for 2 years, and then gradually scale down to 1 or 2 nights per week.
Yes. Regardless of which appliances we used to correct your smile – either braces or Invisalign, the new position of the teeth needs to be maintained with retainers. For Invisalign patients, the retainers are similar to the clear plastic aligners that were used to move the teeth. The only difference is that the retainers will be worn nights only.
The usual retention period is to wear your retainers every night for 2 years, and then gradually scale down to 1 or 2 nights per week.
Caring for aligners during your treatment is simple. Remove the aligners to eat and drink. Brush your teeth before placing the aligners back in the mouth.
Clean the aligners with cold water, tooth brush and plain soap before placing them back in your mouth. Do not use hot water, do not boil your aligners or wash them in the dishwasher as the they will distort with heat. Once a week you can soak the aligners in diluted white vinegar for 20 minutes to remove any hard deposits. Make sure you give them a thorough rinse with cold water before placing them back in your mouth.
Lastly, always store your aligners in the protective case when they are out of your mouth to avoid losing or breaking them.
A customised dental movement treatment plan is designed by your orthodontists. From this plan aligners are made that are programmed with the tooth movement required. Each aligner is worn for 1-2 weeks and then swapped for the next one in the series to gradually move the teeth. Once that position has been achieved, the treatment is completed. Of course, as with any orthodontic treatment, retainers must be worn for a period of time afterwards to keep the teeth in place.
Whenever the teeth are moved for the first time, it is common for patients to experience some discomfort with their teeth. The teeth may feel “soft” and may be tender on chewing. The tongue and cheeks also need to get used to having appliances on your teeth. For most patients, this discomfort usually passes within the first 2-4 days.
Every time the braces are adjusted or new aligners are fitted, there will be a return of the discomfort, usually for approximately 24 hours. Most patients cope well with this level of discomfort without the use of painkillers like Panadol or Nurofen.
The cost of othodontic treatment varies greatly depending on the type of treatment and how simple or complicated it may be.
Invisalign aligners are made of a thin hard clear plastic. During your Invisalign treatment, you may need to have “buttons” glued onto your teeth to help with some tooth movements. These are made of tooth-coloured composite resin, usually 2-3 mm wide, which are removed at the end of your treatment.
Orthodontic treatment can vary greatly in length, depending on your needs. Some simple treatments can take only a few months, whilst other more complicated treatments, particularly those involving surgical orthodontics can take 2 years to complete.
When aligners are first introduced, they can take a little getting used to. Typically, there is a slight lisp when speaking with the aligners in. It usually takes a couple of days to get used to the aligners and learn how to speak without lisping. The more you practice talking with the aligners, the quicker you will adapt to them.
