Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

What are the benefits of orthodontic treatment for adults in Glen Iris?

The Importance of Straight Teeth for Oral Health

It may seem that straight teeth are only important for improving your smile, but they play a much bigger role in maintaining overall oral health. Well-aligned teeth are easier to clean and help prevent a variety of dental problems.

How Crooked or Tipped Teeth Affect Oral Health

Crooked or crowded teeth often create small spaces where food particles become trapped. These areas are difficult to clean properly, which can lead to cavities and gum disease.

When a tooth is lost, the surrounding teeth can shift into the empty space and the opposite teeth may over-erupt. These changes can cause discomfort, misalignment of the bite, and difficulty chewing.

How Orthodontic Treatment Can Help

Orthodontic treatment can reposition your teeth, close gaps, and correct misalignment. Straightening the teeth prevents food traps, reduces the risk of decay, and makes cleaning more effective.

Depending on your individual needs, teeth can be moved with traditional braces or modern clear aligners. In some cases, orthodontic movement can even shift a tooth into a vacant space to replace a missing one naturally.

If a tooth is badly broken, orthodontics can utilise the natural eruption process to expose the healthy part of the tooth, allowing it to be restored and preserved.

Adult Orthodontics and Long-Term Benefits

Straightening teeth isn’t just for children or teenagers. It’s common for adults to seek orthodontic care to improve both the health and appearance of their smile. Orthodontic treatment can:

  • Improve chewing and speech function

  • Prevent uneven tooth wear

  • Support long-term gum and bone health

  • Enhance facial balance and confidence

If you want to know how tooth alignment can benefit your oral health, please click here to make an appointment with Dr. Kaufman in Glen Iris. Dr. Kaufman will examine your teeth and explain how treating overcrowding, tipping, or worn-down teeth can help you maintain a healthy, functional smile.

Fast orthodontic treatment with aligners in Glen Iris

Achieve a Beautiful Smile Faster with Clear Aligners

It’s an amazing feeling to enjoy a straight, confident smile — and it’s even better when it happens faster. Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, can help you achieve beautifully straight teeth more quickly than traditional braces.

How Clear Aligners Save Time

Clear aligners can shorten orthodontic treatment in several ways compared to conventional braces:

  1. No need for initial wire alignment
    Traditional braces rely on metal wires, which require all teeth to be aligned on the same plane before treatment can properly begin. Aligners, on the other hand, can move teeth efficiently even when they start at different levels, reducing the initial alignment phase.

  2. Early use of elastics (rubber bands)
    With braces, rubber bands can only be introduced after the wire gains enough strength. Aligners allow elastics to be used from the beginning of treatment, helping speed up bite correction.

  3. Advanced acceleration technology
    Clear aligners can be paired with modern vibration-based devices that stimulate faster tooth movement. Research has shown that these systems can reduce total treatment time by more than 50 percent compared to Invisalign treatment alone.

Why Choose Clear Aligners

Clear aligners not only straighten teeth faster but also offer a comfortable, discreet, and removable solution. They make maintaining oral hygiene easier and allow you to enjoy your favourite foods throughout treatment.

To begin your journey to a confident, radiant smile, please click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kaufman in Glen Iris. Dr. Kaufman holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Clear Aligner Therapy and has extensive experience helping patients achieve stunning results through personalised aligner treatment.

Treatment for protruding teeth in Children in Glen Iris

Sticking out teeth, or an increased overjet, is a common issue affecting many children. This condition can arise due to pressure from the tongue pushing forward, habitual behaviors, or the way the jaws have grown.

Children with protruding front teeth face a higher risk of accidental fractures. A comprehensive European study found that children with an overjet larger than 3 mm are about twice as likely to experience dental injuries compared to those with smaller overjets. Hence, early correction is essential to protect teeth and improve function.

Treatment options include traditional braces and clear aligners. The choice depends on factors such as:

  • Cost: Braces often cost less than aligners.

  • Hygiene: Aligners are removable for better cleaning, whereas braces require more detailed oral hygiene.

  • Complexity: Braces are preferred for more complex cases.

  • Aesthetics: Aligners are virtually invisible; braces are more noticeable.

  • User habits: Aligners can be lost if removed frequently; braces are fixed.

  • Eating: Aligners must be removed before meals.

Once treatment is planned, protruding teeth are gently repositioned to correct alignment. If your child has sticking out teeth, please make an appointment with Dr. Kaufman in Glen Iris to evaluate and start timely treatment.

When is the best time to start orthodontic treatment?

It’s a good idea to get an orthodontic evaluation by the time a child is 7 years old. Dr. Kaufman is a dentist with additional training, in aligning and straightening teeth. In his orthodontic evaluation Dr. Kaufman will examine the position of the upper and lower jaws, the way the teeth function and if there are any abnormalities. An early orthodontic assessment doesn’t mean your child will get braces right away. It just means that Dr. Kaufman will be able to find problems and decide the best time to start treatment. Since the best time to start an orthodontic treatment depends on the severity and the cause of the misalignment of your child’s teeth. In general there are three developmental stages orthodontic treatment can be started at:

Early Treatment or orthopaedic treatment:Open bite

Early interceptive treatment, referred to as Phase 1, is performed before all of the permanent teeth have erupted—often between the ages of 7 and 10. The main advantage of the early treatment is the opportunity to guide the development of the jaws as your child is growing. If this opportunity is missed, the only way to make these changes later on are with orthognathic surgery. Many times the early assessment can detect problems that happen after losing baby teeth too soon, accidents, or habits like thumb sucking. The early detection call allow for an interceptive treatment that will prevent the transition of the malocclusion to the permanent dentition.

Orthodontic treatment for Teens:

Adolescents typically start full orthodontic treatment between the ages of 12 and 16 once most of their permanent teeth have erupted. This treatment is referred to, as Phase 2 if they received early treatment. During the phase 2 treatment all the permanent teeth will be brought into the correct position to maximize their appearance and function.

Adult Treatment:

Orthodontic treatment can be done during adulthood. It can help solve problems that relate to crowding and difficulty to maintain good oral hygiene, it can dramatically improve your personal appearance and confidence. For adults there are several treatment options including discrete treatment with aligners, treatment with traditional braces or a combination of the two.

If  you have some questions and concerns about braces, clear aligners or orthodontic treatment please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Are Aligners or Braces better to straighten my teeth.

Braces vs. Clear Aligners: Which Orthodontic Option Suits You Best?

Today’s orthodontic options offer more choice than ever! Patients can now select between braces and clear aligners (like Invisalign). Here’s a detailed overview to help you understand when each option is most suitable and what sets traditional braces apart from aligners.

The differences between traditional braces and aligners

  • Unlike metal braces, aligners are made from clear plastic and do not involve any wires. The obvious benefit of aligners is that they are less noticeable than standard braces. Aligners can only be seen close-up and are often undetectable in photos.
  • Aligners are removable, and each set is worn for around two weeks before being replaced by the next set. While braces are stuck to the teeth. The aligners allow the freedom of being able to take them out for a short while. Allowing you to eat crunchy, sticky or hard food that may damage braces.
  • When metal braces are attached to the teeth, they trap food and bacteria around them, making cleaning your teeth hard. If the oral hygiene is not good while wearing braces, one could finish the orthodontic treatment to find he or she have white or brown spots on the teeth. These spots are either permanent or need cosmetic treatment to remove or make them less visible.
  • While it is vital for all orthodontic patients to adopt good teeth brushing habits, clear aligners will be more forgiving. Since the aligners can be removed while brushing, oral hygiene habits are the same as for those without orthodontic treatment. But if the teeth are not cleaned, the aligners can cause the same white or brown spots on the teeth and there will be a need for restorative treatment after the orthodontic treatment is concluded.
  • Braces and wires can move teeth into the desired position faster than aligners. Since the aligners trays are swapped out every two weeks, the changes between steps can only be minor. Braces can close large gaps and align teeth more efficiently.
  • Everyone has different teeth. Therefore, some have multiple issues that require attention during their treatment while others are simple and straightforward. Aligners work well for those with mild discrepancies, but for more complicated cases, the braces are needed to bring teeth into position and correct bites

Which Option is Best for You?

It is difficult to choose what is the best way to achieve your goal of straight teeth. To help you decide, Dr. Kaufman will perform a thorough examination and consider the right way to achieve your goals. He will go through with you and explain each option and why it is suitable or not for you. Once you have all the information, It’s up to you to decide which option you prefer.

If you would like to know if you are a candidate for braces or clear aligners, please book an obligation-free appointment to discuss your options by calling 98227006 or contact us online.

Braces: How Modern Metal Brackets Move Your Teeth Efficiently in Glen Iris?

Traditional braces use small metal brackets attached to the teeth, connected by wires that guide teeth into the preferred position. In the past, brackets were fixed to teeth with large metal bands; today’s brackets are much smaller and are simply bonded to the tooth surface—eliminating the need for bands and making braces more comfortable and discreet.

Wire technology has also changed! Old wires were stiff and could be uncomfortable, but now heat-activated archwires use your natural body heat to help teeth move more quickly and gently—reducing pain and speeding up treatment.

Want to know which is best for you, braces or clear aligners? Dr. Kaufman is happy to discuss your options and recommend a personalized treatment for your smile.