Dr Gullotta doesn’t just focus on making teeth straight, treating overcrowding issues, and fixing bad bites. He believes in the importance of managing and enhancing a person’s facial appearance and profile. Our aim is to help patients to achieve the most attractive smile and facial profile possible after treatment, taking into account the growth and ageing changes that occur over a person’s lifetime.
Soon after completing his undergraduate dentistry degree at the University of Queensland in Brisbane in 1979, Dr Gullotta began working as a dentist at Brisbane Children’s Dental Hospital. During his four years at the Children’s dental hospital he was involved in the dental and orthodontic treatment of many children with cleft palate and other cranio-facial problems.
It was this experience that led to his passion for orthodontics and in 1984 he moved to Melbourne to commence his Masters in Orthodontics at Melbourne University, Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.
After his Masters training, Dr Gullotta entered private practice as an orthodontist in Southport, on the Gold Coast. That’s where he has remained and loved creating awesome smiles over the past 30 years.
A highly skilled orthodontist, like Dr Gullotta, can correct crooked teeth, gappy teeth, overbites, underbites, crossbites and other orthodontic issues very subtly and the result can actually improve facial appearance.
In many cases, these facial enhancements are simply one of the side benefits of having the teeth and the bite realigned. However, in some cases, facial profile enhancements are actually part of the treatment objectives and can often be predicted by Dr Gullotta during your initial consultation.
Early treatment for children
It is important to identify orthodontic issues early and, if indicated, treat early – especially if there is a jaw growth problem. We recommend assessment by an orthodontist at the age 8-10 years old. Early orthodontic treatment happens while a child’s jaw bones are still soft. The jaw bones harden in their late teens. Soft bones in a young child are still easily moved, so corrective procedures will generally work quicker and more effectively than it will for teens and adults. Appropriate early treatment can be an effective interception measure that lays the foundation for a healthy and well-functioning mouth in adulthood.
Habit elimination to stop thumb sucking is very important at this age, as thumb and finger sucking can push the teeth forward and drastically change the shape of the developing jaw. Chronic mouth breathing and snoring/sleep apnoea can also impact on developing teeth and jaws, and are often signs that the child would benefit from an early orthodontic assessment.
While Dr Gullotta will always do his best to enhance a child’s face and jaw growth, he will also ensure parents are given realistic expectations as to what can be achieved in this early stage of treatment.
Adolescent treatment
Once teenagers have most of their adult teeth, treatment options such as braces (clear, Lightforce or metal) and Invisalign can be considered when necessary. Dr Gullotta will recommend the type of orthodontic treatment required to achieve ideal dental alignment and facial balance.
Adolescents who have protruding, crooked, crowded or gap teeth are great candidates for Invisalign, which can bring about very subtle changes in the facial profile and restore symmetry whilst simultaneously creating a beautiful smile, without anyone noticing.
Adult treatment
Orthodontic treatment is an option for most adults with crooked teeth or uneven bites, just as it is for children and teenagers.
Most adults have work commitments and can find it difficult to fit orthodontic appointments into their busy schedules. To reduce the number of appointments, Dr Gullotta utilises new technologies like Dental Monitoring (DM), The patient simply uses the Dental Monitoring app on his smart phone to take weekly photos on his/ her smart phone which are automatically send to Dr Gullotta and his team so that they can keep a close eye on treatment progress – this means fewer visits to our office are required. DM is a huge time saver especially for Invisalign treatments.
For severe jaw and facial imbalances, some form of jaw surgery may be required to achieve ideal facial profile balance. In these cases Dr Gullotta will work with other specialists (such as oral and maxillofacial surgeons) and develop a customized combined orthodontics and surgery plan to achieve the best cosmetic and functional improvements
In all cases, Dr Gullotta will always try to recommend treatments that will enhance a patient’s smile and face appearance. The need for any dental extractions or jaw surgery are always carefully considered.
If you are considering treatment for yourself to improve your facial shape, please contact us at (07) 5532 3433, email us, [email protected] or book a free consultant directly. Dr Gullotta and his team will be looking forward to changing your facial shape and smile.
When you have braces, certain foods can cause problems.
Although traditional braces are made from metal, the brackets are thin and the wires are fine. Neither holds up well to extreme stress and they can break, causing inconvenience and discomfort.
No one wants that!
Braces are also full of nooks and crannies that provide a place for food particles to collect so cleaning your teeth and preventing cavities is more challenging.
Sugar and lollies are the obvious concerns, and sugar can be disguised in many prepared foods where you wouldn’t expect it (so always read labels with care). Soft drinks are a double whammy because they contain sugar and acids that damage tooth enamel.
But there are a few other foods that can cause problems when you’re sporting braces. Check out our infographic of foods to avoid when you’re wearing either clear braces or traditional metal braces.
Our top tip is to cut corn off the cob before eating. You can’t eat it off the cob no matter how hard you try. Seriously.
Your teeth can’t get close enough to bite off the corn. Anyone who’s tried this knows that your braces act like a grater and you end up with a lot of corn in your braces, but nothing in your mouth!
The key to keeping healthy with braces is good oral hygiene. You can make this easier by paying proper attention to your diet so you prevent problems with braces.
Even if you choose removable aligners like Invisalign, you should still eat properly for your oral and overall health. Please contact us for questions or to arrange a free consultation.
It’s often easy to ignore small imperfections.
If you have one or two teeth that are just slightly crooked, you may think that it’s not worth seeing an orthodontist. After all, orthodontists can be expensive, and that tiny misalignment seems merely cosmetic.
But that’s not actually true.
You see, even the slightest imperfection can cause a host of problems in your mouth. Here’s what a big effect these small issues can have.
When your teeth are out of alignment, they’re harder to clean. Crooked teeth create unusual gaps and crevices that standard toothbrushes aren’t designed to be able to reach.
Even small imperfections can have a bit impact on your ability to clean your teeth, and you may have difficulty flossing as well.
Why is this a problem? Well, when you can’t clean and floss effectively you can’t effectively remove bacteria.
This might not seem catastrophic, but the more bacteria you have the more likely you are to have serious dental problems. Like gum disease, excess plaque and cavities.
Here’s the bad news. Bacteria is the most likely cause of bad breath.
When it’s harder to clean your teeth, food and bacteria often build up. This can lead to foul odours on your breath, even after you have just brushed.
When you have straight teeth, they’re easier to clean and you’re less likely to have bad breath.
If your teeth aren’t properly aligned, your gums won’t fit around them as snugly as they should. This creates gaps, where bacteria can multiply.
Over time, that bacteria can eat into your gums, causing gingivitis and other gum diseases.
Gum disease doesn’t sound all that bad but it’s a leading cause of tooth loss, and it causes inflammation. Research shows that gum disease is also linked to diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease.
With incorrect alignment, your top and bottom rows of teeth don’t fit together properly. This often leads to uneven wear and tear on the surfaces of your teeth.
The enamel on your teeth can be worn down unequally and age your teeth prematurely. Unusual tooth patterns can also cause you to chew your food inefficiently, leading to even more damage.
The good news is that it’s never too late to have your teeth straightened. Faye Dunaway even had braces at 61!
Even better, advancements in orthodontic technology mean that you are no longer restricted to traditional braces. Clear aligners enable you to get the straight teeth you have always dreamed of without having to spend years with a mouth full of metal.
So make 2018 the year you go straight! ?
Here at Gullotta Orthodontics, we offer a variety of solutions to help straighten your teeth. We even offer your first consultation free, so we can help you review your options and choose the most appropriate method to meet your needs.
Contact us today to schedule your first appointment.
