Achieve a beautiful smile and good dental health with our Central Coast orthodontics team
Want to have the perfect smile? We’re here to help with advanced technology and the latest orthodontic treatments. Our dentists have spent many hours training in the art and dental science of orthodontics so we can effectively treat children and adults with all dental problems and concerns.
Our Central Coast orthodontics team can assess your oral health and the current positioning of your teeth and jaws and then provide educated recommendations about the best treatment option.
Using state-of-the-art technologies, we will take x-rays and photographs of your teeth and jaws and track your treatment progress over time. We can also adjust your treatment to ensure we achieve your cosmetic goal.
Let’s create the smile you’ve always wanted. Book an orthodontic assessment online now, and we’ll discuss the right treatments to improve the look and health of your smile.
What is an orthodontist, and what do they do?
An orthodontist is a dentist with additional master’s degree training in diagnosing, preventing, and treating dental and facial irregularities, including misaligned teeth, uneven chewing, under or overbite, and jaw pain. Orthodontists also specialise in facial growth, development, biology, and biomechanics.
Orthodontics is an overarching term for the treatment of dental or facial irregularities. A dentist may be able to perform some orthodontic procedures, but they are not classed as an orthodontist.
In Australia, there are two different types of dentists who may carry out orthodontic diagnoses, planning, and treatments:
- Specialist orthodontists are dentists who have completed additional university master’s level training specialising in orthodontics. This full-time course, completed over several years, equips with the broadest and deepest knowledge and training in orthodontics, allowing them to treat a wide range of complex orthodontic problems.In our practice, the most difficult orthodontic conditions are often referred to orthodontists because of their superior experience in treating difficult cases.
- General dentists can also gain orthodontic qualifications through training, from one-weekend to multi-year part-time courses.
Among our Central Coast orthodontics team, our dentists have completed countless hours of postgraduate orthodontics training, each having completed one of the most world-renowned training programmes available to general dentists: a two-year part-time programme with extensive theoretical and practical training.
This training, with continual updates and shorter training courses, allows us to treat most orthodontic problems. We also have a great working relationship with local specialist orthodontists and often refer patients with complex or difficult treatment needs outside our scope to them for specialist treatment.
Do I need a dentist or an orthodontist?
Specialists and dentists with orthodontic training can provide orthodontic services. The professional you see will depend on the complexity of your case and your personal preferences.
At Advance Family Dental, we’ll help you make an informed choice by determining what type of orthodontic condition you have based on your dental health and whether our orthodontic team can help. If your condition is too complex, we will immediately refer you to a specialist orthodontist for advanced dental treatments. This is a relatively rare occurrence.
If we can treat your condition, you can choose who on our team will complete the treatment. Some patients feel more comfortable with their regular dentist than an unknown specialist. After all, we often work with our patients for years, developing a strong rapport and trust.
Treatment at our clinic is also often more convenient location-wise (just outside Lake Haven Shopping Centre) and can be less costly, simply because an orthodontist’s fees are usually significantly higher than those of a general dentist.
Some patients also prefer to have their treatment performed by a specialist orthodontist. We completely respect each patient’s right to choose.
Are you unsure about what level of orthodontic treatment is required? Call us to make an appointment today. No referral is required.
