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.
It’s important you choose wisely.
After all an orthodontist is going to have a big impact on your life, and the lives of your children. Not only are they going to change the way they look, they’re also going to have a big impact on their health.
And then there’s the relationship to consider.
If you choose well, you’ll form a positive, healthy relationship that may last years (if you have several family members who need help). But if not, you may find yourself having to virtually drag your children along to appointments.
No one wants that.
So here are some mistakes we’ve seen people make when they’re choosing an orthodontist so that you can avoid them.
You don’t need a referral to see an orthodontist, and this means two things. First, that you can contact an orthodontist for an appointment whenever you need to and second, you can change orthodontists too.
It’s worth ensuring you have the right person for you and your family, so don’t settle for second best.
Please don’t hesitate to call us if you’d like to make an appointment. We offer your first consultation free, so we can get to know you, and establish the best course of treatment for you.
It’s true that orthodontists can be expensive.
I mean, they’re specialists. They’ve finished dental school (which takes at least 5 years) and then spent another three years in post-graduate training.
So, a dentist is a bit like a GP who can treat common health complaints. Whereas, an orthodontist is like an eye specialist or a surgeon, who can tailor treatment to a specific problem.
Orthodontists can straighten teeth, but they do more than that. They get to the cause of the misalignment and correct the problem.
So orthodontic treatment can be costly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t afford it.
We’ve put together a short guide to help ensure you find an orthodontist you can afford, but who’ll still give you great results.
Choose an orthodontist who offers an initial consultation free of charge. You need to get to know each other and decide if you’re a good match.
You need to be able to ask questions before you commit to an ongoing health care relationship. So look for an orthodontist who offers the first appointment free to help you understand:
Your orthodontist should also give you information on living with Invisalign or braces.
Look for an orthodontist that helps you get straight teeth with fewer appointments. Sounds almost unbelievable, doesn’t it?
But if your orthodontist is staying up to date with technology, they should be offering dental monitoring services.
This is a way of using your smartphone as a remote monitoring device, to help your orthodontic treatment, and to help straighten your teeth.
Dental monitoring allows you to take a video or photos of your teeth using a smartphone. These are then analysed by the dental monitoring algorithms and the results are delivered directly to your orthodontist.
So, your orthodontist can see the changes right from the photos, which means you don’t need to come into the office for a check-up unless you need new aligners. Pretty cool, huh?
Straight teeth don’t just look good, they function better. They help you chew and digest your food effectively, prevent or relieve pain, and decrease bacteria (helping to prevent gum disease).
In fact, even small alignment issues can have a major impact on your dental health.
So, having crooked or misaligned teeth is a risk, whether you’re a child or an adult. You owe it to yourself and your family to prevent health problems.
Your orthodontic treatment plan should be tailored to your unique needs, because no two people are the same. Your orthodontist should also be able to tailor a payment plan that fits your budget.
You should expect to make an initial deposit and regular payments, but they should be affordable. A great orthodontic practice can help you work out a plan that will work for both of you.
And that’s what you want. Someone who’ll work with you. Someone to partner with you during this journey.
That’s what we do at Gullotta Orthodontics because our dream is to make you smile!
Are you ready for a revolution?
I don’t mean we’re going to overthrow the government. I mean a revolution in dentistry.
Don’t roll your eyes until you hear more! This is seriously amazing stuff.
You see, at Gullotta Orthodontics we like to stay at the forefront of technology. We like to offer our patients the very best.
And that’s why we’re excited to announce that we now offer dental monitoring services.
Wondering what that is? Well, it’s a way of transforming your smartphone into a remote monitoring device, to help your orthodontic treatment, and to help straighten your teeth.
Amazing, huh? That’s right, there’s an app for that!
Dental monitoring is innovative new technology that makes it easier than ever to achieve beautiful, straight teeth. Here’s what you need to know.
Dental monitoring allows you to take a video (or photos) of your teeth using your Apple or Android smartphone. The scans are then analysed by the dental monitoring algorithms.
Results are delivered directly to your orthodontist who can make adjustments to your treatment according to the movement of your teeth. That’s right, we can see the changes right from the photos, so there is no need to come into the office for a check-up. Simply snap a photo and you’re good to go!
At your first appointment with your orthodontist, they will create a digital 3-D model of your teeth. Then, when you send in photos using the app, the system matches those photos to your model, adjusting it as your teeth move.
The system can also detect the fit of your aligners and whether you can change into the next clear aligner. This means you’ll change the aligner at the optimal time, and that reduces your treatment time.
We get it: getting to orthodontic appointments can be inconvenient. You have a lot of priorities.
With dental monitoring, you’ll have fewer appointments, freeing you up for the other important things in your life. Like spending time with your friends and family.
Fewer appointments also means less expense for you, as you won’t need to pay for as many visits.
Your treatment will also be more efficient, as we can monitor the changes in your mouth in real time. This enables you to get your teeth straightened as quickly as possible.
We are proud to be among the first orthodontists in Australia to offer dental monitoring services. Because this technology is so new, we’re sure you’ve got plenty of questions.
We welcome you to get in touch with us or schedule a free consultation to learn more. Call us today to book your appointment.
Like a little brain teaser?
What you know (or think you know) can make a difference when you’re making a decision about braces. Misconceptions about braces or dentistry can affect your health.
Try our quiz, to test your knowledge of orthodontics.
False: While it’s true that people vary when it comes to their teeth, no one is born with perfectly straight teeth.
Even if you are born with reasonably straight teeth, you could still have an overbite or underbite. And an orthodontist can correct that.
False: While it’s ideal to have braces to correct your bite or straighten your teeth at a young age, it’s not mandatory.
Many Australian orthodontists report that 25 to 30 percent of their patients are adults. Some are even going back for braces a second time after having them as a child.
False: There is evidence of braces in ancient Egypt. Archeologists have found mummies with metal bands and braces that are roughly similar to what we use.
True orthodontics began in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1728 a French dentist by the name of Pierre Fauchard used a metal device to expand the arch of his patients.
False: Braces do have a cost. Luckily, most orthodontists offer payment plans and some costs may be covered by insurance.
You can also save up ahead of time. In fact, forgoing braces may mean much more expensive dental work in later years because the straighter your teeth, the easier they are to clean.
False: Some of the DIY methods going around might straighten teeth. However, they won’t correct an overbite or underbite.
What’s more, you run the risk of damaging your teeth and gums.
False: When your braces come off, your teeth are in alignment with your mouth.
However, it takes time for them to stabilise and they will start to shift again once they speciality in position by braces. You need to wear a retainer for an absolute minimum of one year or as long as your orthodontist recommends.
False: Of all the items on this list, this one may be the most important misconception.
Braces improve the health of your teeth and jaw. Orthodontists decrease the risk of tooth decay, receding gums, uneven wear and jaw pain.
If you or your child need braces, you should find a qualified orthodontist – it’s a dental specialty. Please contact us for an appointment and assessment.
Don’t let misconceptions stop you from improving your oral health and appearance.
