Frequently Asked Questions

Orthodontics is the specialist area of dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of the irregular alignment of teeth, jaws and the face. Orthodontists use a variety of braces to naturally improve the alignment, function and aesthetics of the teeth. Good structure of the teeth produces the most stable, healthy, well-balanced and attractive outcome, improving your bite, chewing, overall oral health and self-esteem.

After graduating as a Dentist, a Specialist Orthodontist undertakes a minimum of 3-5 years in various dental specialities followed by 3-5 years of extra full-time training and study in Orthodontics. During this time they undertake a Masters Degree and must gain entry to one of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons in the UK by way of critical examination of knowledge and scrutiny of the standard of their treated cases (MOrth). This ensures they have had the highest standard of training. As their career is focused on this speciality, they are in the best position to advise on appropriate treatment, backed by scientific evidence and research and are at the forefront of the latest techniques.

The ideal time to commence orthodontic treatment is in the early teenage years when there is rapid growth and time to intercept issues. If you or your child is approaching this age, we would be happy to hear from you. However, orthodontic treatment can be carried out successfully at any age, there is never an age considered too old to improve your smile.

As long as your oral health is good, then anyone regardless of age, sex or racial background can be treated with orthodontic techniques. If there is a need for cosmetic or restorative treatment in addition to orthodontics, we can discuss this with you. We are always happy to work in conjunction with your general dentist to provide a holistic treatment plan.

The fitting of braces is a painless procedure, but you may experience some discomfort for a few days afterwards. If you need to, we advise a mild painkiller such as paracetamol to relieve any discomfort. There may also be some soreness of the cheeks or tongue. Usually, all the discomfort will subside after the first week, once you have become used to the treatment.

As long as you follow our detailed instructions there are very few limitations to what you can eat. We always recommend a healthy, balanced, low-sugar diet and will make sure you have all the help you need when it comes to hygiene routines. If you've been fitted with Invisalign®, you must remove these for eating and brushing but remember to pop them back in once done.

Depending on the appliance you have, you may experience a slight alteration to your speech. However, this by no means affects everyone and is usually short-lived. This would rarely continue after a couple of weeks.

Yes, we do and it's one of our most popular treatment options. In fact, we are a Platinum Elite Provider of Invisalign®, meaning we have helped hundreds of patients with it! You can find out more about this nearly invisible and removable orthodontic treatment option on our Invisalign® information pages.

We offer a range of payment plans to help with the cost of orthodontic treatment. Our prices are competitive and include all aspects of treatment so there are no surprises. You can find out more about our payment plans and the cost of our treatment options in our Costs section.

We try to avoid extractions where possible, or at least keep them to an absolute minimum. Some corrections are impossible without dental extractions where a lot of space is required to align the remaining teeth. Unless specifically planned for, we never leave space where teeth have been removed and it will be virtually impossible for anyone to tell if this has been done.

This depends on the complexity of your treatment plan and the appliance you have chosen. Orthodontic treatment may only take a few months for mild cases (fast braces) and up to two years for the more complicated cases. In general, most cases take 12-18 months for a full and comprehensive correction.

Appointment intervals are usually between 6-8 weeks and tend to be 15-30 minutes in duration. However, if you are having Invisalign® treatment, paired with Dental Monitoring, this could vary as this treatment has remote options. Find out more in your free consultation.

After any form of orthodontic treatment, we recommend wearing retainers to prevent teeth from moving back towards their original position. We provide both fixed and removable retainers in most cases to guarantee you retain your straight smile forever.