Orthodontics

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Orthodontics refers to alignment of teeth and or correction of dentofacial deformity.

In simple terms, there are three main areas of orthodontic management:

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• Interceptive - performed during developmental years (7-12yrs of age) aimed at early detection and management of conditions that may in the longer term minimize the need for more complicated treatment requirements. This may include the use of removable appliances (plates), early removal of deciduous (baby teeth) and or managing space within the dental arch until such time that all permanent (adult) teeth erupt.

• Comprehensive - primarily refers to the use of fixed appliances (braces) to help detail and coordinate arch form. This phase of treatment typically follows on from interceptive therapy and would usually be performed once all permanent teeth have erupted (12+yrs). In some cases, extraction of adult teeth may be indicated to help satisfy aesthetic and occlusal (bite) requirements, not to mention long-term stability of the final result.

• Surgical Correction – Ortho (straight) gnathic (jaw) surgery is typically reserved for severe dentofacial deformity in adults, once growth is complete. It usually consists of a pre-surgical orthodontic phase to align teeth in their respective jaws, a surgical phase where the jaws are surgically repositioned and plated, and then a post-surgical orthodontic phase to detail and finalise the occlusion. Without such an approach, braces alone would result in a compromised result both aesthetically and functionally with poor long-term stability.

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Dr Lego has undergone postgraduate training in the field of Orthodontics and works in close collaboration with dental specialists in the field.

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Case Studies

Before and after treatment