No. Referral letters from your dentist are welcome, but not necessary to see an orthodontist.
Please contact us if you would like to schedule your appointment.

Braces are not essential in life, but they can improve the quality of life for some people, giving them a proper bite, and building self-confidence. It’s one less thing to worry about !

Orthodontic treatment also helps to lay the foundation for healthy teeth and gums for the rest of your life, helping to avoid many long-term dental problems that may arise from crooked teeth, such as gum damage and tooth wear.

Modern braces, as we know it, have been around since the end of the 19th century and are still the best and most reliable way to achieve straight teeth.

The length of treatment depends upon many factors, but a general comprehensive orthodontic treatment (full upper and lower braces) would take around eighteen to twenty-four (18-24) months in active treatment. Some lucky (diligent) individuals may experience faster rates of tooth movement and straightening.

The cost of treatment can vary according to the type of treatment, the severity of the orthodontic problem, the type of braces chosen, whether additional appliances (such as an expander) is required, and whether there are alternatives to braces.

A detailed quotation is given at the Consultation visit. The treatment fee is usually spread out over the duration of the active treatment for your convenience.

We welcome any discussions regarding alternative treatment fee schedules.

For a rough guide on pricing, please don’t hesitate to contact us with your enquiry.

There are many types of braces available today. The most common being the stainless steel braces which you can customise with different coloured rings.

There are ceramic braces (tooth-coloured), lingual braces (“hidden” behind the teeth) and Invisalign^TM (clear customised ‘aligners’).

There are advantages and disadvantages to each of them. Dr Fong will outline the differences to you during your visit. For more information on types of braces, click here.

Invisalign^TM is an alternative to braces that could also help you to straighten your teeth.

Dr Justin Fong is an accredited Invisalign Orthodontist. Speak to Dr Fong to see if you are suitable for Invisalign^TM treatment.

Click here for more information about Invisalign^TM.

Invisalign^TM is a system of using a series of custom-made, clear, removable plastic aligner ‘plates’ to gradually move teeth.

For more information, click here.

The first week of orthodontic  braces is somewhat uncomfortable, but after a short period of acclimatisation, the discomfort passes and people start to forget they have braces on!

After each orthodontic adjustment  visit, you may also experience one or two (1-2) days of mild discomfort, which will quickly pass.

In most cases, orthodontic treatment does not require any teeth taken out. However, there are a small number of cases which would be best treated together with dental extractions.

Dr Justin Fong will give you his recommendations and rationale after examining your teeth, bite, smile and face

The ‘glue’ used to stick on orthodontic braces to teeth is designed to be weak so that the braces can be removed at the end of the treatment. It is important  to avoid hard, crunchy or sticky foods whilst in braces, to avoid breakages that may slow down your progress in the treatment.

We recommend that you try to stay away from hard things (e.g ice cubes, pork crackling, some hard biscuits or cookies, pens and pencils, and fingernails), as well as sticky things (e.g Minties, toffees, Fantails, rollups, Redskins, ChupaChups and lollipops).

All other foods need to be portioned into smaller sizes (e.g strip off meat from bones, and cut them up into small bite sizes, cut up fruits into small pieces and cut corn kernels from the cob.

Once the braces have been fitted, most adjustment visits are scheduled around six to eight (6-8) weeks apart. The adjustment visits are required regularly, but are short visits only, usually only 10 mins long.

Orthodontic treatment does not pose any problems with participation in sports. Dr Justin Fong recommends mouthguard wear for all sports (not just for contact sports). Please let us know if you play sports and we can help mould one for you.

At the beginning of braces treatment, there will be a period of time where patients will experience some discomfort and a little difficulty when playing some musical instruments that require them to use their mouth and/or lips.

Patients should get used to playing their instruments with braces after a few weeks, when the discomfort passes and they become accustomed to the braces.

Speech may be mildly affected by some orthodontic appliances (expanders or habit-breaking appliances). There may be a slight lisp for a few days, which disappears when the tongue readjusts to the prescence of orthodontic appliances. Most people’s speech is unaffected by orthodontic braces.

There’s no need to panic. Contact Just Orthodontics to arrange an appointment  as soon as possible so that orthodontic problems can be fixed. In the meantime, you may try using some wax to cover any annoying parts of your braces.

Yes. There are two types of retainers, fixed ‘glued on’ retainers, and removable retainer ‘plates’. Without orthodontic retainers, you teeth will not stay straight for long. It is important to use your retainers as directed, to maintain your results.

Yes. It is recommended that you keep your regualr check-up appointments with your dentist for your general dental care. Being a specialist orthodontist, Dr Justin Fong is only able to provide you with your orthodontic care.