FAQs

A dentist takes care of your overall oral health - cleanings, fillings, and general care. An orthodontist is a specialist who qualified as a dentist and then completed three extra years of full-time training focused on tooth and jaw alignment.

If you’re looking to straighten teeth or correct a bite, seeing a qualified orthodontist ensures you’re getting expert care from someone who specialises in this area.

Regular oral health check-ups with your general dentist are important during orthodontic treatment. If you do not have a regular dentist, we can recommend one for you.

We will happily tell you if orthodontic treatment is not necessary for you or would mainly be of aesthetic benefit.

Orthodontic treatment is useful to correct many bite issues including crooked teeth, gaps, bite problems (like overbite, underbite, or crossbite), or if teeth don’t meet properly when the mouth is closed.

In addition to cosmetic benefits and improved confidence, orthodontics can improve oral health, jaw function, and long-term dental stability. Left untreated, most orthodontic problems become worse.

Signs your child might need braces include crowded or crooked teeth, difficulty chewing, breathing through the mouth, early or late loss of baby teeth, or thumb-sucking past age 5. A consultation with an orthodontist is the best way to know for sure.

The Australian Society of Orthodontists recommends a first visit with a Specialist Orthodontist at 7-9 years of age, when the first adult teeth begin to emerge. Professional evaluation and early monitoring, often before baby teeth are lost, allow us to identify any developing issues, guide jaw growth, correct harmful habits, and plan for any required treatment at the optimal time.

See more For Kids

Full treatment with braces or aligners, such as Invisalign® treatment may not start until the teenage years. Earlier, a specialist orthodontic assessment at 7-9 years of age can identify if intervention, such as plates or expansion appliances are needed. This allows the orthodontist to favourably influence growth to avoid more complex problems later.

Much of the development of the face occurs during the growth spurt at puberty. Once the facial bones have finished growing, skeletal corrections which would have been simpler to undertake at an earlier age may instead require surgery.

See more For Kids and For Teens

Yes, we welcome adult patients - healthy teeth can be moved at any age. Studies show that the first thing a person notices about you is your smile, and a beautiful smile can improve self-esteem and confidence.

Our adult assessment consultation will provide you with more information about what to expect, determine if your overall dental health is suitable, and advise whether orthodontic treatment is right for you.

Modern treatment options for braces and clear aligners like Invisalign® treatment are discreet, comfortable, and highly effective at improving both your smile and long-term dental health.

See more For Adults

No, a referral is not required. To make an appointment, just phone us on 08 9300 9975. However, also check with your health fund as some provide additional rebates if you have a dental referral.

Look for a specialist registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and ask friends and family for recommendations. An experienced orthodontist will offer a thorough consultation, explain your options clearly, and make you feel confident in their care.

Early orthodontic treatment (Phase One or interceptive treatment) helps guide the growth of a child’s jaw and incoming teeth. It’s usually recommended for children between ages 7 and 11 if issues like crowding, crossbites, or thumb-sucking habits are detected.

Addressing significant problems early avoids more severe issues later, and means later treatment may be quicker and more effective. This stage may involve treatment with expanders, space maintainers, or plates to guide jaw growth and tooth alignment.

Orthodontic problems can be caused by a mix of genetics and habits. You may inherit crowding, spacing, or jaw alignment issues from family members. Other factors—like thumb-sucking, early loss of baby teeth, or trauma—can also affect how teeth grow in. During your consultation, we’ll assess what’s contributing to your or your child’s smile issues and recommend the best approach to treat them.

Unlike some orthodontists who see the removal of teeth as a common component of orthodontic treatment, we avoid removing teeth unless absolutely necessary. Assisted by our SureSmile 3D planning software, we run simulations to determine if treatment can be completed without extractions.

In some cases, removing one or two teeth may help create space and achieve the best result. We only recommend extractions when necessary and will always explain why it’s needed and what alternatives might be possible.

Braces use fixed brackets and wires to move teeth, while Invisalign® treatment uses a series of clear, removable aligners. Braces are ideal for complex cases, while aligners offer a discreet and flexible option for mild to moderate issues. Your orthodontist will help you choose the best option for your needs.

There are several types of braces, with varying benefits in terms of visibility, comfort, and treatment time:

• Traditional metal braces
• Clear ceramic braces
• Lingual braces (hidden behind the teeth)
• Clear aligners (like Invisalign®)

Clear aligners gradually shift your teeth using a custom-made series of trays worn over your teeth. You’ll wear each set of aligners for about one week before moving to the next. Aligners should be worn 20–22 hours per day and removed only for eating and brushing.

Aligners can provide excellent results and, in fact, may be more suitable than braces for achieving certain movements. Sometimes your orthodontist may recommend braces rather than aligners. In this case, if you insist on aligners, the final result may not be as precise.

Aligners may be less efficient in cases of:

• Skeletal malocclusion which requires the intervention of traditional braces and possible surgical intervention
• Extreme crowding of teeth and severe bite issues
• Very small teeth or severely worn teeth
• Severe rotations of teeth or impacted teeth
• A lot of dental crowns and bridgework

Yes, our orthodontists regularly treat patients with missing teeth, crowns, or dental implants. Your treatment plan will be customised to work with your existing dental work or to help prepare your mouth for future dental restorative work.

Yes, for some patients with minor crowding or small gaps, we can offer fast, targeted treatment options—sometimes in as little as 6–9 months. At your consultation, we’ll assess if a limited treatment plan is suitable or if more comprehensive care is needed for long-term results.

We’ll only recommend appliances that are right for your individual treatment plan and explain exactly how they’ll work for your smile.

Some orthodontic correction in children can be undertaken using an orthodontic appliance, commonly called a plate. These are mostly used in the upper dental arch and may be used to alter the relationship between the upper and lower jaws.

Some plates are removable. Fixed expansion appliances are used when the upper jaw is too narrow. These appliances are attached to the upper first molar teeth and activated gradually to achieve the correct width of the upper dental arch.

It’s normal to experience some tenderness or pressure after getting braces fitted or adjusted, or after starting a new set of aligners. If you do experience pain, don't stress, it just means your teeth are moving! Discomfort should disappear in a few days.

• For minor irritation of cheeks and gums, use orthodontic wax to cover sharp edges.
• Eat soft foods for a few days until your teeth become more comfortable.
• If necessary, use the same pain reliever as you would for a headache.
• If you have custom-made Suresmile wires, try sipping or swirling cold water around your mouth to relax the wires and provide relief.

Appointments are scheduled according to each patient’s needs. The frequency and length of your appointments will vary depending on your stage of treatment.

Our use of remote Dental Monitoring allows us to reduce the number of appointments and only schedule an in-person visit when necessary.

Our practice is open Monday to Friday, 8.10am to 5pm.

Many of our patients are in school, so before and after school appointments are naturally in demand. We schedule these popular times with shorter, frequently occurring appointments to maximise the number of patients we can accommodate.

Longer, one-off appointments for consultations, repairs, and fitting and removing braces or appliances will need to be made from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Arriving 5-10 minutes early for these appointments allows time to use the brushing station, complete any paperwork and address any queries.

A parent or guardian needs to attend the initial consultation and any future consultation appointments. At treatment visits, parents are welcome to make themselves comfortable in our reception lounge. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions at the end of each appointment.

If your child requires additional support, we request that only one parent accompany them in clinical settings.

We can treat patients who live in rural locations or who travel regularly. Dental Monitoring gives us the ability to closely monitor the treatment process and the timing of appointments. Speak to us to see whether we can accommodate your circumstances.

We understand that life can get busy, but it's important to keep your scheduled appointments. When you book with us, we reserve that time just for you and send reminders to help you stay on track.

Missing an appointment not only delays your treatment progress but also affects other patients who could have used that time for their care. Getting a new appointment that fits with your schedule could also become harder to accommodate.

To avoid any inconvenience, we kindly ask that you provide at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. If you cancel too late or don’t attend your appointment, a fee may apply.

Yes, there are car parks and street parking nearby - check the signs for details. All City of Joondalup street parking has parking meters and use the Easypark app. Our Cottesloe practice has free parking in the “Profile Orthodontics” marked bays in Clapham Lane, and free 1-2 hour parking in adjacent carparks.

Retainers are custom-made clear plastic appliances that hold your teeth in their new position once treatment is complete. Without them, teeth can gradually shift back.

At our practice, we provide detailed instructions tailored to your case—usually, this means full-time wear at first, followed by night-time wear long-term to avoid unwanted tooth movement. Wearing your retainer is key to protecting your investment and maintaining your smile for life.

Teeth can shift back if you don’t wear your retainer as directed. This is called relapse, and in some cases it may require more treatment to fix. Consistent retainer wear protects the investment you’ve made in your smile.