What is Orthodontics?
Professor Johal defines Orthodontics as ‘the art of achieving beautiful smiles naturally...’
Orthodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry, which helps correct the position of your teeth and jaws, with aim of establishing a beautifully balanced smile, normal bite and improved self-esteem & confidence.
Who should have Orthodontics?
Treatment can be provided at ANY age from childhood to adulthood, using a range modern brace systems.
Orthodontics in CHILDREN is designed to treat a wide range of problems from: Crooked teeth; Protruding front teeth, Reverse bites, Missing teeth and unattractive Gaps between the teeth.
Orthodontics in ADULTS can be used to treat the same range of problems seen in children, with increasing numbers of adults now seeking treatment as the benefits of braces in achieving beautiful natural smiles is becoming more evident. With his specialist level of training, Ama can work with your dentist, periodontist, implantologist for a smile that looks and feels great.
What type of braces can be provided?
The choice of brace can be dependent on the severity of the presenting problem and the bite. Professor Johal will spend time at the Consultation appointment to advise you on the most appropriate type of brace to achieve optimal results in the shortest time permissible. He will provide you with an honest appraisal of the relative advantages and disadvantages of a range of modern brace systems available, including their relative costs. Professor Johal will translate these benefits and limitations on a rating scale basis [out of 10], thus assisting you in your choice of brace in his subsequent report to you after the consultation as well. Professor Johal is certified and trained to offer a range of cosmetic braces, which include:
Clear removable aligner Braces
Professor Johal uses a range of these and includes Invisalign©, and Smilelign©, which both use a series of clear removable braces to straighten the teeth, in a very gradual and progressive manner.
Such removable clear aligners have been successfully used to treat thousands of patients world-wide. Professor Johal reports these braces offer a very cosmetic solution, being barely visible in their simplest design. However, it is important to recognize they are not suited to all patients and their bites. They can be limited in the type of tooth movements that can be achieved and as a result, most manufacturers now incorporate a number of white attachments, which are glued to the teeth, in order to improve the quality of tooth movement achievable. This has reduced their cosmetic appearance slightly. It is also worth bearing in mind that this type of brace is removable and therefore, patients are inclined to remove them in some instances more than required, which in turn can slow the treatment progression. They are associated with minimal discomfort and rubbing but can affect speech slightly whilst the patient learns to adapt to them [1-5 days].
Inside [Lingual] Fixed Braces
Professor Johal uses a range of these inside fixed braces, which include Incognito,© and MTM,© and they can be are either custom-made or chairside-made.
They work on the same principle of outside traditional fixed braces and use a series of wires to straighten the teeth, in a gradual, controlled and progressive manner.
Such inside [lingual] braces have been successfully used to treat thousands of patients world-wide and require a high level of skill.
Professor Johal reports these braces offer the most OPTIAML cosmetic solution, being truly invisible. However, it is important to recognise they are not suited to all patients and their bites but offer greater control over individual tooth movements than the removable aligners and as such are more versatile in the type of tooth movements that can be achieved. Professor Johal limits their use in the bottom jaw to situations in which just the front bottom teeth need straightening. In situations where the whole lower jaw requires treatment, then Professor Johal avoids these braces for 2 principle reasons firstly, they are immediately visible on mouth opening, which defeats the object of choosing an invisible brace. Secondly, the can be very uncomfortable to the tongue, with consequent negative speech and eating implications. Used on the inside of the top jaw and bottom front teeth, they are associated with minimal discomfort and rubbing but can affect speech slightly whilst the patient learns to adapt to them [1-5 days].
Shown in the pictures below is a patient smiling, wearing such a brace! Visit the Incognito website and watch the video below for further information: www.hiddenbraces.co.uk
Clear Fixed Outside Braces
Professor Johal uses ceramic clear outside fixed braces, which include Clarity,© braces. They work on exactly the same principle of outside traditional metal fixed braces and use a series of wires to straighten the teeth, in a gradual, controlled and progressive manner.
Professor Johal further improves the look of the brace by using tooth-coloured wires and elastics [used to hold the wires in place].They remain the most common form of fixed brace to be used in adults and have been successfully used to treat thousands of patients world-wide. Professor Johal reports these braces offer the most OPTIMAL result, with greater control over individual tooth movements, in contrast to both removable clear aligner and inside fixed braces. As such, these ceramic [clear] outside fixed braces remain the most versatile brace in the type of tooth movement and bite corrections that can be achieved.
They have no negative effects on speech and as they are fixed to the teeth, achieve the shortest treatment times. They are associated with minimal discomfort and rubbing, whilst the patient learns to adapt to them [1-3 days]. Again, Professor Johal will make every effort to minimise these effects and advise you accordingly.
‘Orthodontics is for ANYONE unhappy with the appearance of their teeth or bite - offering a natural solution’.
How do I get brace treatment?
In the first instance, you will require a consultation appointment with Professor Johal, to discuss the options for treatment that are available, the timeframe involved and relative costs.
Following this, brace treatment can be easily organised. A range of appointment times (late evening and Saturdays) are available to suit children & adults alike.