Your Initial Consultation:

 

Upon booking your initial consultation, we will email you some information including a medical history form to complete prior to your appointment, which you can return via email or bring with you to your consultation. The initial consultation will take around 30 minutes. At this appointment, Dr. Bottoni will assess you and offer treatment options based on your individual Orthodontic needs.

 

 

Fees and Payment Options:

 

The cost of your Orthodontic Treatment will depend on your individual situation. We will discuss this with you before you commence treatment and a comprehensive quotation will be provided.

 

We are pleased to offer interest free payment plans and we accept all major credit cards. For siblings and family members, we do offer a discounted rate, a further discount is offered if the treatment is paid up front and in full. Come in for a Consultation to get a quote!

 

Heald Fund Rebates:

 

Starting your Orthodontic Treatment at the end of the year may be a good idea as most health funds set up their premiums to have a limit on annual maximum rebates that do not roll over to the next year.  We will provide you detailed information with item numbers for your health fund to make the payment process easier.

 

Each health fund has different benefit policies, speak with your health fund once we have provided you with the quote and ask about your entitlements.

 

Before Commencing Treatment:

 

Diagnostic records will be collected prior to starting any treatment. These records consist or an OPG radiograph, a Cephalometric radiograph, a full set of photographs, and a digital scan of your teeth. In certain cases, additional impressions may be needed for removable/functional appliance treatment. The records appointment will take approximately 30 minutes. Dr. Bottoni will set up a treatment plan for your case. If required, by your circumstances, Dr. Bottoni will invite you to attend a treatment plan appointment to discuss additional procedures or if further diagnostics are required. Dr. Bottoni will decide which appliances will be required and respond to any questions that you may have.

 

Starting Treatment:

 

Bonding Brackets for Braces:

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This appointment will usually take around 60 minutes. Initially, Dr. Bottoni will clean and polish your teeth with a special paste, cheek retractors and cheek pads are placed to provide a dry field and make it easier to view the teeth.

 

Your teeth are then air-dried, and a blue conditioner is placed onto the front surfaces of the teeth for around 60 seconds. The conditioner is then rinsed, and the teeth are again dried using suction and air. A primer is applied onto the teeth and a composite resin is applied to the backside of the brackets.

 

Using the Direct Bonding Method, the brackets are bonded one by one. The Indirect Bonding Method involves the brackets being held on a tray and are bonded simultaneously.

 

The brackets are placed in very precise positions onto the front surface of the tooth and the resin is then “cured” by a bright blue light.

 

The cheek retractor is then removed, and the wires are placed together with any coloured or clear modules you have chosen. 

 

If you would like another colour, this will be possible at your next adjustment. Instructions of how to look after your braces, how to brush and floss your teeth, and what to do in case something happens will be provided together with a “goodie bag.”  Your next appointment which will be your first adjustment will be 6-8 weeks later.

 

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Clear Aligners:

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This appointment will usually take around 45 minutes. Clear aligners sometimes require further “grip” and white composite resin attachments of different shapes and sizes that require binding to your teeth. Initially, Dr. Bottoni will clean and polish your teeth with a special paste, cheek retractors and cheek pads are placed to provide a dry field and make it easier to view the teeth. 

 

Your teeth are then air-dried, and a blue conditioner is placed onto the front surfaces of the teeth for around 60 seconds. The conditioner is then rinsed, and the teeth are again dried using suction and air. A primer is applied onto the teeth and a composite resin is inserted into a bonding tray; that tray is clipped onto your teeth and a bright blue light is used to “cure” the composite resin.

 

Dr. Bottoni will insert your first aligner and check its fit. He will then ask you to try and take the aligner out and place it back a few times to allow you to practice.

 

You will be given 3-5 sets of aligners and you will be changing them every fortnight. Instructions of how to look after your aligners and what to do in case something happens will be provided as well as a “goodie bag.” Your next appointment will be 6-10 weeks later as advised by Dr. Bottoni upon the end of your first appointment.

 

 

Finishing Treatment:

 

Braces:

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At your last adjustment appointment, everything should look admirable and you should be happy with the results. You will be asked to book in for a, “final check visit,” which will take around 15 minutes. At this appointment, Dr. Bottoni will check that you’re ready to get your braces off and he will take some impressions. Your retainer wires will then be made in the laboratory and be ready for you at your braces debanding appointment.  

 

Around one week after your “final check visit,” you will come for your “debanding” appointment. This visit will usually take around 60 minutes. Dr. Bottoni will triple check that everything is in order and proceed to bonding your retainer wire on the backside of your front teeth. He will then proceed with the removal of your braces by using special pliers. You will hear a cracking noise coming from the composite resin detaching from your teeth. Do Not Worry! Your Teeth Are Safe!

 

After the brackets are removed, your teeth will then be polished to remove the remainder of the composite resin that did not come off with the brackets. This procedure is generally well tolerated, however, if you do experience sensitivity due to the air-flow, please be sure to let Dr. Bottoni know so that he can make the associated adjustments to best suit.

 

After the polishing, you are almost finished with the “debanding” appointment. If you would like your incisal edges of your teeth reshaped or rebuilt, please let Dr. Bottoni know, otherwise, impressions of your teeth will be taken to get your night time retainers made. You will collect these retainers at a later date as advised by Dr. Bottoni.

 

 

Aligners:

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At your last adjustment appointment, the last set of aligners will be given to you. Your treatment should be on its final stages as you are approaching the end of your treatment. You will be asked to book in for a “final check visit” which will take around 15 minutes. At the “final check visit,” everything should look admirable and you should be happy with the results. Dr. Bottoni will check that you are ready to finish your treatment and he will take some impressions of your teeth. Your retainer wires will be made in the laboratory and be ready for you at your final appointment.

 

Around one week after your “final check visit,” you will come to your “deband” appointment. This will usually take around 45 minutes. Dr. Bottoni will triple check that everything is fine and then, after cleaning your teeth, he will bond your retainer wires to the backside of your front teeth. He will proceed with the removal of your attachments by polishing them off using different polishing burs. This procedure is generally well tolerated, however, if you do experience sensitivity due to the air-flow, please be sure to let Dr. Bottoni know so that he can make the associated adjustments to best suit.

 

If you would like your incisal edges of your teeth reshaped or rebuilt, please let Dr. Bottoni know, otherwise, impressions of your teeth will be taken to get your night time retainers made. You will collect these retainers at a later date as advised by Dr. Bottoni.