Orthodontics at McKinnon: Braces, Clear Aligners & Retainers

If you have been looking at your own teeth or your child’s teeth and thinking something needs to change, the first step is understanding how orthodontics actually runs from start to finish. This is a plain pathway overview for patients in McKinnon, Bentleigh, Bentleigh East and Ormond, covering assessment, appliance choices, treatment visits and what happens afterwards.

What an orthodontic assessment actually looks at

An orthodontic assessment is not simply a count of crooked teeth. At McKinnon Dental Care we examine the position of every tooth, how the upper and lower teeth meet when you bite, and how the jaw joints are working. We look at the gums, the health of the enamel, and whether there is any active decay. X-rays are taken so we can see the roots, the bone support and the developing teeth underneath. Then we talk about what is realistic. Mild crowding and a severe bite problem are not the same job, and they do not carry the same treatment plan or the same time frame.

Some cases sit comfortably within what a general dental practice can treat with traditional braces or clear aligners. More complex cases, particularly those involving significant jaw discrepancy or impacted teeth, are referred to local orthodontic specialists. The assessment tells us which group you fall into.

When to have an orthodontic evaluation

General dental guidelines suggest an orthodontic evaluation for every child between the ages of 7 and 9. This is not because treatment starts at that age, but because it is the point where we can see how the bite is developing and whether there is a problem that will only worsen. Some children need to be seen sooner. Mouth breathing, persistent thumb sucking, teeth that stick out, teeth that do not bite together properly, or severely crooked teeth are all reasons to book earlier rather than later.

Most orthodontic treatment traditionally starts once all baby teeth are gone, around age 13. By that point most children have largely finished growing, which can make treatment more complex and more likely to involve extractions. Treating earlier when it is indicated can reduce the chance of extractions or surgery later. Early treatment techniques include expanders and myofunctional appliances such as Myobrace.

Crowding is not only genetic. Habits such as thumb sucking and mouth breathing play a part. Parents should watch for airway signs such as regular snoring, teeth grinding or chronic mouth breathing. If you are seeing any of these in your child, that is a conversation worth having at a check-up. For a detailed comparison of teen and adult braces, see our companion article linked in the Read next box.

• Evaluation for every child between 7 and 9.
• Sooner if mouth breathing, thumb sucking, protruding teeth or a poor bite are present.
• Earlier treatment when indicated can reduce the chance of extractions or surgery later.

Appliance choices: braces, clear aligners and early appliances

The two mainstream options at McKinnon Dental Care are traditional braces and clear aligners. Traditional braces mean metal brackets and wires. They are fixed in place, which means they are working every hour of the day, and they are well suited to more complex movements. Clear aligners are removable clear plastic trays worn daily. They are much less noticeable than brackets, but they only work while they are in the mouth. That means aligners suit people who will actually wear them for the required hours each day.

For younger children, early treatment may use an expander to widen a narrow upper jaw, or a myofunctional appliance such as Myobrace to address habits that are influencing how the teeth and jaws develop. These are not the same as full braces. They are targeted at a specific problem at a specific age.

• Traditional braces: metal brackets and wires, fixed, working full time.
• Clear aligners: removable clear plastic trays worn daily, only active while in the mouth.
• Early appliances: expanders and myofunctional appliances such as Myobrace for specific childhood issues.

What happens during treatment

Before any teeth move, the gums need to be healthy and there can be no active decay. Moving teeth through inflamed gums or decayed enamel is asking for trouble. That is why a clean and any necessary dental work come first, and why we sort those out before brackets or trays go anywhere near your teeth.

Once treatment begins, you will come in for adjustment or review visits along the way. With braces, that usually means changing wires and checking that the teeth are tracking as planned. With aligners, it means reviewing progress and issuing the next set of trays. These visits are not just about tightening things. They are how we catch a tooth that is not moving as expected, a bracket that has come loose, or a gum issue before it becomes a bigger problem. Treatment length varies with the complexity of the case, so we do not promise a fixed number of months at the outset.

Cleaning around brackets takes more effort than usual. Food catches easily, and plaque builds up fast around the edges of brackets and under wires. Warm salt water rinses can help soothe irritated gums, and for the tenderness that follows an adjustment most people find paracetamol taken as directed on the packet is enough. Aligners need their own routine: rinse them, clean them properly, and keep them in their case when they are not in your mouth. A clear aligner that has been sitting on a bench or in a pocket is not a clean aligner.

• Healthy gums and no active decay come first.
• Adjustment or review visits track progress and catch problems early.
• Cleaning around brackets and cleaning aligners properly are part of the daily routine.
• Aligners only work while they are in the mouth, so they suit people who will actually wear them.

Retainers: what holds the result afterwards

Teeth have a tendency to drift back toward where they started. That is not a failure of treatment. It is how the mouth works. Something has to hold the teeth in their new position, and that something is a retainer. The two usual forms are a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth, which stays in place full time, and a removable clear plate, which you take out to eat and clean. Your dentist will direct the wear schedule. For most people, retainer wear continues long term rather than stopping at a fixed date.

A retainer that is lost, cracked or no longer seating properly needs to be checked promptly rather than left in a drawer. A retainer that does not fit is not holding anything, and teeth can shift surprisingly quickly. If something feels wrong with your retainer, call us on 03 9957 5199 and book a review.

• Fixed retainer: thin wire bonded behind the front teeth.
• Removable retainer: clear plate, taken out to eat and clean.
• Wear is directed by the dentist and usually continues long term.
• Lost, cracked or poorly seating retainers should be checked promptly.

The free consultation and what to ask

McKinnon Dental Care offers a free orthodontic consultation and an interest-free payment plan for orthodontic patients. The first visit covers an examination of the teeth, bite and jaw and a discussion of what is realistic for your situation. If X-rays or other records are needed to plan properly, we will explain that on the day. You will leave knowing whether treatment is appropriate now, later, or not at all, and whether your case is one we would manage here or refer to a local orthodontic specialist. We are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm, Saturday by appointment, and online booking is available.

If you are in McKinnon, Bentleigh, Bentleigh East or Ormond and you have been putting off a conversation about your teeth, the free consultation is the simplest way to get a clear answer. Bring your questions. Here are some worth asking.

• Is treatment appropriate now, later, or not at all?
• Does my case need a specialist referral?
• What are the appliance options for my specific bite?
• How will we know if progress is on track?
• What does the retainer stage look like for me?
• What does the payment plan cover and how does it work?

This article by McKinnon Dental Care is general information only and not a substitute for personalised dental advice. Please book a consultation for advice specific to you.