Orthodontic FAQs
Do you have a question about orthodontics? You’re not alone. All of our patients do. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get here at Helix House Orthodontics, and the answers we give. We hope these help to fill in a few gaps.
Orthodontics is a specialist arm of dentistry that looks at a patient’s overall facial profile and how their teeth and jaw align. The goal of orthodontic work is to straighten teeth and improve the alignment of jaws, which greatly benefits oral and digestive health, as well as a patient’s self-esteem.
An orthodontist first embarks on a five-year dental degree, just like your family dentist will have. However, an orthodontist then goes on to specialise in this field of dentistry which requires another two-to-three years of postgraduate study in orthodontics. At Helix House, our doctors are Specialist Orthodontists so you’re in the best possible hands.
No, orthodontic treatment doesn’t hurt but it can be a little uncomfortable at times. This discomfort usually arises after your appointments when our orthodontists have tightened your braces or changed your aligner. Some mild over-the-counter pain relief can ease this discomfort, which only lasts a couple of days.
If you have crowded teeth, gaps between your teeth or problems with the alignment of your jaw, you could most likely benefit from orthodontic treatment. Your family dentist can refer you to an orthodontist, or else you can book a free consultation with us to find out if orthodontic treatment is suitable for you.
Let’s put it this way, orthodontic treatment isn’t cheap but there's a good reason for this. Our orthodontists are exceptionally well qualified, which means they’re specialists in what they do. However, at Helix House Orthodontics we want to ensure orthodontic treatment is affordable for everyone, so you can talk to our treatment coordinator about payment plans to help spread the cost of treatment.
We offer an extensive range of braces which you can see in our treatments section. This includes traditional braces as well as the more discreet options, such as ceramic braces and Invisalign®.
Yes! Orthodontic treatment is suitable for patients of all ages, from children and teenagers up to adults.
This depends entirely on your orthodontic problem. Some cases only need minor treatment and teeth could be corrected in as little as three months with some of our fast treatments; other cases might be a bit more complex and take two or three years. We’ll give you a timeline for your treatment at your free consultation so you’ll know exactly how long your treatment will take.
Yes, at Helix House we use dental monitoring in conjunction with Invisalign®. Dental monitoringis orthodontic software that enables us to monitor the progress of your treatment from selfies you upload to an app on your smartphone. This means you have fewer check-up appointments to fit into your diary!
We are an independent practice providing only private treatment. However, the range of treatments we offer is wider than that available on the NHS and waiting times are generally much shorter. And, you might be surprised at how affordable first class healthcare can be.
Oral hygiene is all about keeping your teeth, gums, tongue and mouth clean. As well as regular and proficient brushing you will probably need a regular thorough clean by our hygienist to remove hard tartar and staining caused by such things as tea, coffee, spices, red wine and tobacco.
If your gums regularly bleed while brushing your teeth, you may have gum disease. It is important that this is treated before it leads to loose or lost teeth. At Helix House Orthodontics we treat patients with gum disease all the time and have quick and effective treatments which can help you.
Our address is 214 Musters Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7DR. The practice is located on the corner of Musters Road and Eton Road. There is a dedicated car park with separate disabled and charging point bays and we are on a regular bus route. Get further directions on our find us page.