Orthodontics is a specialist area of dentistry that focuses on straightening teeth and aligning jaws. Orthodontic treatment is designed to improve the way that you smile, which can help boost your self-esteem and can make you feel more confident. Orthodontic treatment can also make it easier to eat and improve your mouth’s function and your oral health.

An orthodontist specialises in straightening teeth, making them bite together properly and creating a great smile. We make sure your teeth look right and your mouth functions as it should. We are the specialists in this work because we work exclusively with braces and other orthodontic procedures every day.

An orthodontist is a qualified dentist who has chosen to specialise in this area of dentistry by completing a further three years of postgraduate university-based training. An orthodontist focuses mainly on correcting the position of your teeth and jaw, rather than day-to-day maintenance such as fillings, crowns and wisdom teeth removal.

Just as there are specialists in medicine (such as cardiologists, gastroenterologists, neurologists, etc.), there are specialists in dentistry. Just like you’re best to get a cardiologist to perform your heart surgery, you’re also best to choose an orthodontist for your orthodontic treatment.

Your family dentist is the expert in maintaining the health of your teeth and gums.  A specialist orthodontist like Randal is an expert in maintaining the structure that supports your teeth – making sure that your teeth are in the right place and are firmly in your jaw.

Because of Randal’s expertise, and the extra training that he’s done, you’re best to choose Randal, because he’s a specialist orthodontist for your orthodontic treatment.

The New Zealand Association of Orthodontists maintains a current list of specialist orthodontists. Make sure the person you choose to do your orthodontic treatment is aspecialist orthodontist and a member of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists. A list of members can be found here.

Not necessarily. Dentists will only be able to treat your orthodontic needs to a limited extent, they may use “one-type-fits-all” treatments for patients, or attempt to rush treatment using approaches not endorsed by the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists.

In some cases patients may end up with unstable or unsatisfactory outcomes, which require re-treatment at an additional full cost, and will need to be referred to a specialist orthodontist due to problems encountered by a dentist attempting orthodontic treatment without specialist training.

Only a specialist orthodontist can provide comprehensive treatment as they have had three additional years of extensive postgraduate University education which dentists do not receive. They are experts in diagnosis, treatment planning andmanagement of orthodontics, and are recognised as orthodontic specialists by the Dental Council of New Zealand.

Make sure the person you choose to do your orthodontic treatment is a specialist orthodontist and a member of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists. A list of members can be found here.

No, you don’t! While many patients are referred, you are also able to refer yourself.

While many patients are referred to our practice by their dentist or school dental therapists, you may self-refer and make an appointment to Randal without a referral.  We also get many direct referrals from family and friends of our happy patients.

If you’re concerned about the appearance and function of your teeth and jaws, or you don’t have the confidence to fully smile, then orthodontic treatment is something you might want to consider – no matter how old you are.

A great time to get an orthodontic opinion for your child is when the upper front baby teeth have fallen out and the adult replacement teeth have come through.

However, most orthodontic treatment is undertaken once all of the permanent teeth are through and the person is growing rapidly. This tends to be during the intermediate and early secondary school years. But no one is too old for treatment and Randal treats both children and adults at his practice.

Anyone, of any age can have orthodontic treatment. Randal uses his extensive skills and experience to manage orthodontic problems in both children and adults of any age.

A great time to get an orthodontic opinion for your child is when the upper front baby teeth have fallen out and the adult replacement teeth have come through.  We recommend an initial orthodontic examination, if required, around the age of seven or eight years old but most treatment should not start at this time. Randal will then follow a child through growth and determine when and if there is a need for treatment to commence.

If you’re an adult and you’d like to improve the appearance of, your confidence in of the health of your smile, you can get in touch with Randal just whenever you are ready.

You might be secretly wishing that you could do something about your smile so that you could smile without worrying about how your teeth look or how that photo will come out.

Orthodontic treatment can change not only how you eat, talk and smile but also how you look and how confident you are.

We often fit braces and Invisalign® clear alignersnot only to improve the attractiveness of your smile, but also because braces and Invisalign can correct improper alignment of teeth that can lead to gum disease and early tooth loss.

Properly aligned teeth also make it easier to chew all types of food and eliminate headaches and pain caused by uneven chewing. Having straighter teeth also means that it is easier to maintain good oral health in the long-term.

Randal uses corrective appliances to bring the teeth and jaws into the best possible relationship.  Corrective appliances and orthodontic treatment can include:

1. 1. removable plates for very simple problems
   2. braces or Invisalign® clear aligners for more complex problems
   3. surgery in severe cases
   4. additional appliances such as headgear and temporary anchorage devices

There are several different types of braces and metal or ceramic braces and Invisalign® are our most common forms of treatment.  Checkout our braces treatment options and our Invisalign treatment options.

Fixed appliances are more commonly known as “braces”. They are made of stainless steel or clear (porcelain). They are glued onto the teeth and once wires are threaded into tiny slots in them, they act as handle, allowing the teeth to be moved into their ideal positions.

Also known as “plates”, removable appliances are used to either correct the positions of small numbers of teeth that require simple movements or as a plate to retain the teeth at the end of treatment.

For your first appointment when you have your braces put on or your Invisalign® clear aligners fitted, it usually takes between one to two hours.

After that, we like to see you at regular intervals for adjustments, every six to eight weeks. These appointment usually take just 15 to 20 minutes.

During your first visit to see Randal an initial consultation fee will apply to cover the cost of your first visit only.  Your initial consultation fee is usually $130 and you’ll be advised of the cost when arranging your appointment with Randal.   If you need any x-ray’s taken at the time of your consultation, this will cost an additional $110.

The cost of orthodontic treatment depends on the type of treatment that’s being recommended for you (for instance braces versus Invisalign®), the severity of the problem and the proposed treatment time.

You will be provided with a written treatment plan and quote for treatment prior to the commencing treatment.

We also have payment plans which we hope helps to make orthodontic treatment as affordable to everyone as possible.  Our payment plans or instalments are interest free and we have a series of flexible payments which can be tailored to your individual requirements and situation.

To give you an idea, the average cost of orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign typically ranges between approximately $7,000 and $9,000.

Yes that’s right, but unfortunately that does not include specialised orthodontic treatment.

If your child has a bite or teeth alignment issues, you’ll need to know all of the treatment options that are available and you’ll need to under the best possible care of a specialist orthodontist.

Randal provides a range of different payment options to including upfront payment discount, family discount and instalment plans to spread payments as to make it as easy as possible for you to have orthodontic treatment.

Upfront payment discount means if you pay for your treatment in full, right at the beginning of your treatment, we’ll give you a discount.

Family discounts apply when there’s more than one person in the family being treated by Randal.  We see lots of families not only with more than one child being treated by Randal, but also families with a parent and a child both being treated!

We offer a variety of payment options to make it as easy for you as possible. Our practice accepts payments by cash, EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard, and direct online bank transfer.

Depending on the severity of the problem, growth during treatment and how well you follow instructions, treatment times can vary greatly. The average treatment time for an adolescent is around 24 months and Adult treatments generally take a little longer and average between 24 and 30 months.  Invisalign treatment times are generally shorter for both adolescent and adults.

Absolutely Not! – not if we can avoid it.

The decision as to whether teeth need to be removed, or not, comes after a full consultation with the patient and a thorough assessment of the pre-treatment records (models, photos and x-rays).

Sometimes teeth do need to be removed to treat cases with excessive crowding, very prominent teeth or teeth with very poor prognosis. We do not like removing teeth and if there is a possibility of a healthy, attractive and confident smile without removing teeth we will begin without removing them and reassess treatment response before making a final decision.

The Invisalign® system is a virtually invisible and hygienic orthodontic treatment that uses an innovative approach to effectively straighten teeth.

The Invisalign system uses a series of custom-made removable aligners created for you and only you. These aligners are made of a virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth to gradually move them to the ideal position.

Most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them, allowing you to keep your lifestyle during treatment.

If Invisalign treatment is right for you, Randal will take photos, X-rays, and a scan of your teeth using a digital scanner – the latest in digital scanning equipment.

These records will be used to make a 3D treatment plan, referred to as the ClinCheck treatment plan, which will be used to design your custom-made Invisalign aligners.

This 3D treatment plan will also show your likely final tooth position at the end of the treatment. Your custom-made Invisalign aligners will be produced and then shipped to Randal, and he’ll then give you a series of aligners, typically 3 to 4 sets at a time.

You’ll replace each one approximately every 1 – 2 weeks until the final position of your teeth is reached.

Invisalign® aligners look similar to clear retainers, teeth-whitening trays, or gum shields. A series of Invisalign aligners are custom-made for you and each aligner will contain the patient identification number (PID number) and the Invisalign logo.

Invisalign® clear aligners can usually be used to treat the majority of cases, but it’s over to the Randal to recommend the type of orthodontic treatment you will most benefit from.  As a Platinum Provider, Randal is a very experienced Invisalign practitioner, and he’s confident in treating a broad range of cases using Invisalign.

What’s an Invisalign Platinum Provider?

Randal has been granted Invisalign® Platinum Elite Provider status, due to the extensive experience he has and the large number of cases that he has treated.

As a Platinum Elite Provider, Randal’s a very experienced Invisalign practitioner, he’s confident in treating a broad range of cases using Invisalign and continues to regularly attend Invisalign trainings and conferences both here in New Zealand and abroad.

Randal incorporates his 22+ years of orthodontic experience into the Invisalign treatment that he provides for his patients and the smiles that he transforms.

When choosing an Invisalign Platinum Elite Provider, you’re choosing a much more experienced provider of Invisalign treatment.  Here’s why that’s important:

• Invisalign Platinum Elite Providers have received the best training from Invisalign
• With their vast experience, they’ll be able to treat a wider variety of orthodontic cases with Invisalign.
• They’ll be able to treat much more complex orthodontic cases.
• You’ll be able to see the successful results that other patients have achieved through their treatment.

Invisalign treatment can cost anywhere between $3,000 to $9,500 depending on your treatment needs like the complexity of your treatment and how long you’ll need treatment for.

Best thing to do is make an appointment to see Randal to see where in that range your orthodontic treatment may sit.

Most people experience minor discomfort for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is normal and is typically described as a feeling of pressure. It is a sign that the Invisalign aligners are working sequentially to move your teeth to their final destination. This discomfort typically goes away after a couple of days.

Like all orthodontic treatments, aligners may temporarily affect speech for some people and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two as you get used to the aligners. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any lisp or minor speech impediment caused by the aligners should disappear.

Aligners should be worn all day, except when eating, brushing and flossing.

Wear your Invisalign clear aligners 20 to 22 hours a day for best results.  Parents, your teen’s aligners will have blue compliance indicators to assure you they’re wearing them enough.

Orthodontic treatment is for everyone – children, teenagers and adults.  At Randal McAlister Orthodontics, we have teeth straightening treatment options that are suitable, whatever your age.

We really do believe no-one is too old for orthodontic treatment so it’s best to chat to Randal about whether Invisalign is an option for you.

All you need to do is rinse your aligners every night and brush them gently with your toothbrush to keep them fresh and clean and you can use the Invisalign cleaning system to keep your aligners clear.

No at all!  Because you take your aligners out when you eat – it means you can keep eating all your favourite foods and you don’t have to worry about what you eat whilst having Invisalign treatment – cool hey?!

Not only that, you’ll even likely experience fewer emergency visits, without the hassle of brackets and wires breaking.

And most importantly, your Invisalign clear aligners are virtually invisible, so people may not even notice you’re wearing them!

Yes absolutely!  We recommend you continue to see your dentist for your regular check-ups once a year while receiving Invisalign® treatment. This will help to ensure your teeth remain clean and healthy throughout your treatment. 

Not at all!  With Invisalign® treatment you can keep living your normal life!

You can keep eating all your favourite foods, stay active in all the sports and activites you love, and you’ll even likely experience fewer emergency visits, without the hassle of brackets and wires breaking.

Most importantly, your Invisalign clear aligners are virtually invisible, so people may not even notice you’re wearing them!

After you’ve finished your Invisalign® treatment it’sessential that your teeth are held while the teeth “set” in their new positions and in the longer term to avoid small unwanted changes.

Because we now understand that, like the rest of your body, with wear and age some tooth movement is expected, retainers need to be worn from time to time to avoid any unwanted changes.

We will monitor your retention for up to 2 years after you’ve finished your treatment and we’ll advise you about any problems you may have with eruption of the wisdom teeth.

This can happy often so don’t worry if this happens to you – Randal’s well used to dealing with this situation.

Your treatment can be transferred to another orthodontist, preferably one who uses the same appliances. You will be provided with your records and a transfer letter for your new orthodontist detailing where you are in your treatment.

Your treatment fee would be reassessed using a national formula provided by NZAO – adjusting the fee for the amount of treatment undergone and that’s still remaining and will be worked out between Randal and your new orthodontist.

If you’ve transfer from outside of New Zealand to Randal you’ll be treated as a new patients to ensure continuity of care and to ensure that you receive the very best possible outcome for you and your smile.

It is practice policy to start a new Invisalign® treatment plan to make sure your treatment is coherent with our practice and in line with best practice guidelines in New Zealand.

No, braces don’t hurt. When they are first placed, and during your treatment when they are tightened, this can cause your teeth to become tender and slightly uncomfortable, but this bruised feeling will only last for a day or two and you may feel like a softer diet and some pain relief.

Yes, orthodontic treatment is for everyone – children, teenagers and adults. And at Randal McAlister Orthodontics, we have teeth straightening treatment options that are suitable, whatever your age. We really do believe no-one is too old for orthodontic treatment.

It is very important that you keep your teeth very clean. The glue we use to put the braces on with is very weak (so we can take them off easily at the end of your treatment) so you will have to cut up any hard foods you choose to eat.

We ask that you avoid energy or sports drinks and only soft drinks as a treat! These types of drinks are very acidic and sugary and will make holes in your teeth in no time (whether you have braces on or not).

We’ll provide you with lots of information at the time your treatment starts. Seeing us regularly does NOT mean you don’t need to see your dentist regularly during treatment and extra dental hygiene visits to care for your teeth during treatment may also be recommended.

Yes, and it is very important that you do so. If your teeth are not kept in the best possible condition this can affect your treatment. Checkout our braces care section on how to keep your teeth and braces clean during treatment. It’s super easy!

There are some foods you’ll need to avoid when wearing braces but on the whole, your diet isn’t likely to change very much while you’re wearing braces. The main thing to remember is that if you damage your braces, this can affect the length of your treatment time. When we fit you with braces, we’ll let you know what is best to eat and what you should avoid, like hard boiled sweets, chewing gum and sugary drinks!

Yes absolutely!  We recommend you continue to see your dentist for your regular check-ups once a year while receiving orthodontic treatment. This will help to ensure your teeth remain clean and healthy throughout your treatment.

You should be able to play just about any sport or activity. We do however strongly recommend that you wear a mouth guard in contact sports, or for any other sports where there is a chance that you can get hit in the face.

After the braces have been removed it is essential that your teeth are held while the teeth “set” in their new positions and in the longer term to avoid small unwanted changes.

This can be achieved with the use of an upper removable plate and a fixed wire bonded behind the lower front teeth. You will wear the plate full time to begin with and then gradually reduce the amount of wear.

Because we now understand that, like the rest of your body, with wear and age some tooth movement is expected, retainers need to be worn from time to time to avoid any unwanted changes.

We will monitor you retention for up to 2 years after the braces have been removed and will advise you about any problems you may have with eruption of the wisdom teeth.

This can happy often so don’t worry if this happens to you – Randal’s well used to dealing with this situation.

Your treatment can be transferred to another orthodontist, preferably one who uses the same appliances. You will be provided with your records and a transfer letter for your new orthodontist detailing where you are in your treatment.

Your treatment fee would be reassessed using a national formula provided by NZAO – adjusting the fee for the amount of treatment undergone and that’s still remaining and will be worked out between Randal and your new orthodontist.

If you’ve transfer from outside of New Zealand to Randal you’ll be treated as a new patient to ensure continuity of care and to ensure that you receive the very best possible outcome for you and your smile.

It is practice policy to remove all braces placed by any overseas orthodontist to ensure that the treatment plan and the materials used are coherent with our practice and in line with best practice guidelines in New Zealand.