Our in-house specialist orthodontist assesses and treats all ages requiring orthodontic care
Orthodontics is a specialist discipline of dentistry. At Forest Lake Dental, we are delighted to offer our patients an in-house specialist orthodontist to assess and treat all ages requiring orthodontic care. This will ensure you or your family members receive exceptional in-house specialised care without having to be inconvenienced and referred to another centre and seen elsewhere. Ask our friendly team for more information or to make an appointment.
Aesthetic or Clear Braces
Many adults who desired a straight smile were somewhat reluctant to proceed with orthodontic treatment due to the appearance metal braces would have on their personal and professional life. Orthodontics has come a long way from the days of heavy steel braces.
The fine braces that are now used are much more comfortable and far less noticeable, with some being clear and almost impossible to detect unless you look very closely. Clear and ceramic braces are translucent and blend with your natural tooth enamel, enabling you to achieve the smile you have always desired without compromising on your appearance.
These new materials and revolutionary techniques can substantially reduce the frequency of dental visits and offer improved treatment times, which in some cases can be as little as six months.
Benefits of orthodontic treatment include:
• Improve tooth alignment and smile appearance
• Correct a “bad bite”, teeth that don’t for together correctly
• Close spaces between teeth and reduce tooth wear
• In preparation for restorative dental implants or bridges
• To help correct jaw size problems in conjunction with surgery
• Improved oral health as straight teeth are easier to keep clean and healthy
Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age. Innovative techniques and appliances enable the Forest Lake Dental team to help you or your child achieve a beautiful straight smile.
The main difference between adult and children’s orthodontics is that teeth and facial growth is still occurring in children making them more responsive to treatment. Therefore depending on your personal circumstance, treatment can vary from 6 – 24 months. .
Invisalign®
The impact metal braces can have on appearance in social and professional situations resulted in many adults who desire a straight smile to forgo orthodontic therapy. Ease of use, comfortable as well as being virtually invisible has made Invisalign® a welcomed orthodontic treatment with adults who wish to straighten their smile.
Invisalign® is a series of custom-made clear aligners created from advanced 3-D computer imaging software. This system enables you to view your entire procedure progression and expected end result on screen prior to beginning any treatment.
You wear your aligners for approximately 2 weeks before exchanging them with the next in the series. Unlike fixed braces Invisalign® aligners can be removed so you can enjoy all your favourite foods and brush and floss normally without having to worry about cleaning around brackets and wires.
To ensure your treatment is progressing as planned, you will need to visit Forest Lake Dental around every 6 weeks. Depending on the position of your teeth, you may need to continue wearing your Invisalign® aligners for 9 – 15 months. Following your assessment appointment, our Orthodontist will be able to give you a more accurate treatment timeframe.
For teenagers who require orthodontic treatment, Invisalign® is a preferred alternative to metal braces. Following an assessment appointment, our Orthodontist can advise if Invisalign® is suitable for your child or can be used in conjunction with fixed braces.
To discover if Invisalign® is right for you, schedule a consultation appointment with the forest Lake Dental team.
Dr Laura Barbagallo -Visiting Orthodontist
BDSc Hons (UQ); MDSc Hons (Orth) (Sydney);
MOrth RCSEd
Our visiting Orthodontist specialises in both children’s and adult orthodontics.
Dr Laura Barbagallo is our visiting Orthodontist, bringing to Forest Lake Dental credentials of the highest standard. Dr Barbagallo completed her Bachelor of Dental Science Degree with First Class Honours at the University of Queensland. She then spent several years of general dental practice in the Royal Australian Air Force and in private practice in England.
Laura completed her Masters of Dental Science Degree in Orthodontics with Honours at the University of Sydney. She has also become a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh, in Orthodontics.
In April 2006 Dr Barbagallo was awarded the Elsdon Storey First Research Prize from the Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO) for the best research thesis of all the 2005 orthodontic graduates throughout Australia. In March 2008 Laura won the Milton R Sims Award from the ASO. This award is bestowed on the most meritorious student in Australia who has completed an Orthodontic Masters programme from 2005 to 2007. The decision was based upon Laura’s outstanding clinical ability, university achievements and published university research. Laura’s research has been published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Feb 2008 and the Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Dec 2007.
Please feel free to visit her website: www.exactorthodontics.com.au