No, we do not require a referral from your dentist or your doctor to schedule an appointment for you.

Usually for children under the age of 18, there is no charge unless otherwise stated by the Orthodontist. However, for adults there is a $110 fee that can be completely claimed back by health insurance. Any consultations after the initial consultation is free of charge if you have already paid the initial $110 fee.

At Footscray Orthodontics we create treatment plans suited to each individual patient. We recommend that the best time for an initial check up would be for a child around the age of 7. However, in some cases some children are seen at younger ages if there is an abnormality developing and monitoring is required.

We normally wait until all the baby teeth have fallen out and the adult teeth are present. However, some adult teeth become stuck and require braces to be able to create enough space to allow the teeth to come through. We even give limited braces to some younger children in the interim to help correct certain problems and makes any future orthodontic treatment smoother.

When getting braces, the separators are first placed. These are rubber rings wedged between your back molars to create a small space so when the bands are fitted it is comfortable for you and easy for the doctor. The separators feel as though there is food stuck between your teeth and for some individuals can be the most uncomfortable procedure. The fitting of the braces itself, is a painless process as the orthodontist places the braces on the surface of the teeth. It is only after when the wires are fitted and given enough time to begin to work is there an uncomfortable sensation. Your teeth may feel tender and unstable. This is normal. Your teeth are beginning to move and will begin to settle after a couple of days and the sensation will completely disappear until your next adjustment.

Any time there is a problem or if you feel as though there is something uncomfortable inside your mouth during your orthodontic treatment please call us to let us know as soon as possible. We will then book you in for an emergency appointment to help alleviate any pain and fix anything to continue the progress of your treatment.

Yes please, even though you may have an appointment coming up we might need to adjust the appointment to ensure there is enough time to fix any problems you may have. A short adjustment may not give us enough time.

Most definitely yes, after your orthodontic treatment we will make retainers for you to wear. It is important that you wear the retainers as the orthodontist has instructed. Teeth are still susceptible to moving especially having been moved around for the past 2-3 years during your orthodontic treatment. The retainers will act as a holding plate and ensure that your teeth do not move to enable it to settle.