Dunedin Orthodontist | Pitt Street Dental

Dunedin Orthodontist | Pitt Street Dental

Pitt Street Dental Dunedin now offers a specialist orthodontic service. You can completely transform your smile with braces or invisalign with our Dunedin orthodontists. We're now open for bookings on Saturday!

Orthodontic treatments, like traditional braces and Invisalign®, have revolutionised the options for people with crowded or crooked teeth. Straight teeth help you gain confidence and improve your overall oral health.

Overview

Our Dunedin Orthodontic specialist will recommend the best option for you, after assessing your teeth. Your treatment options vary from fixed braces to retainers, to Invisalign treatments and more. We offer orthodontic treatment for both adults and children.

Braces

You will have likely heard of braces. They're traditionally a metal device used to straighten your teeth and are a popular method for straightening teeth in both children and adults. There are a range of different braces options available.

Fixed braces

These are the more traditional and common type of braces. Small brackets are bonded to the front of the teeth surfaces and a wire is run through them and held in place with a small coloured elastic band. You can have the choice of either plastic or metal brackets.

Invisalign®

Invisalign® is a modern form of orthodontic treatment. Invisalign treatment involves wearing a series of clear thin aligners, which are a bit like a very thin mouthguard, or tray. Each aligner is worn for two weeks and then the next one in the series is used. Because they are removable, they can be taken out for eating, drinking and sport.  

About Orthodontist Treatment

Braces have been around for thousands of years. They were first invented in the early 1800s and have changed dramatically since then. They're used to fix crooked teeth by straightening them, to help you achieve that perfect straight smile, for life.

Invisalign is a modern and virtually invisible way to straighten your teeth. Since 1997, Invisalign has gone on to transform millions of smile worldwide.

Apart from making your teeth look great, there are also many important functional reasons for straightening teeth:

  • Crowded and crooked teeth are hard to clean which can, in turn, cause a range of problems in the future
  • Too much space between the teeth, caused by the jaw being too big for the teeth or missing teeth
  • If the upper and lower jaws are misaligned or there's an underbite or overbite
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Next steps

Ready to transform your smile? Book online now and get instant confirmation.

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Dr Peter Mei Dunedin Orthodontist

Peter completed his postgraduate study at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands and West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University. He worked for four years in the Netherlands before relocating to Dunedin in 2011. He is also an Associate Professor  and Clinical Supervisor for postgraduate and undergraduate students at the University of Otago. 

Peter is a member of several international professional organizations, including the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists, the New Zealand Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontists, the European Orthodontic Society, and the World Federation of Orthodontists. 

Peter has published extensively in peer-reviewed international journals and serves as a reviewer for various international journals. He has been the recipient of several national and international awards, such as the European Orthodontic Society Awards.

Peter has been practising orthodontics for more than fifteen years and is an authorized specialist by Invisalign and Incognito. He provides traditional braces, clear aesthetic braces, Invisalign clear aligners and customized Incognito hidden braces for children as well as adults.

Pitt Street Peter Mei

Have questions?

The cost of orthodontic work depends on the type of treatment and how long you will need it for. Generally, the cost relates to the complexity of the treatment and the length of time required for treatment. Many practices offer payment terms or other discounts. The practice will advise you about the cost and payment options at your consultation visit.

Our orthodontists and dentists are highly trained and skilled at making the whole process of getting orthodontic treatment as easy and painless as possible.

Getting braces put on isn’t a painful procedure. However, most patients will feel some discomfort or mild pain when the braces are first put on and they get used to having them. When braces are adjusted, every six to eight weeks, they may also be a bit uncomfortable for a day or two, until you adjust to them. 

With Invisalign® treatment you may experience some discomfort or pressure for a few days with each change of aligners. This is completely normal and is a sign that Invisalign is doing its job – moving your teeth to their new, straighter position. 

The length of your treatment will depend on the movement you require and can only be determined by your orthodontist specialist or dentist. The length of time needed for adolescent patients may vary.

Orthodontics is the specialist field of dentistry focused on the diagnosis and treatment of issues developing from alignment problems with the teeth and jaws. While orthodontist specialists have extra qualifications and focus purely on orthodontic treatment, general dentists with a special interest in orthodontics typically also offer general dental services.