Specialist Orthodontists at Smile Solutions Melbourne - Melbourne's Largest Orthodontic Team product guide

Smile Solutions – Melbourne's Largest Specialist Orthodontic Team

When most people picture orthodontic treatment in Melbourne, they picture a standalone orthodontic practice. What they probably don't picture is a team of four board-registered specialist orthodontists operating within Australia's most comprehensive dental centre — a team large enough to rival or exceed most dedicated orthodontic practices across the city.

That's exactly what you'll find at Smile Solutions.

The specialist orthodontic department here isn't a supplementary service bolted on to a general dental practice. It's a fully realised, high-volume specialist operation running from Levels 12 and the Tower of the Manchester Unity Building on Collins Street — and it holds a distinction no other practice in Victoria can claim on Invisalign outcomes.

The Team – Four Specialist Orthodontists

Every orthodontist at Smile Solutions is a board-registered specialist. General dentists don't perform orthodontic work here. Every patient in the department is treated by a clinician who completed an undergraduate dental degree followed by a full specialist clinical doctorate in orthodontics, and who is registered with the Dental Board of Australia as a specialist.

That distinction matters more than it might seem. When you're in the chair, you're receiving care from someone whose entire postgraduate training was dedicated to orthodontics — not a generalist who has added it to their scope of practice.

Dr David Austin – BDSc (Melb), MDS Orth (HK), MOrth RCS (Edin) – Specialist Orthodontist

Dr Austin holds postgraduate orthodontic qualifications from both Hong Kong and Edinburgh, in addition to his Melbourne dental degree. That international training gives him a breadth of clinical perspective that's genuinely uncommon, and his approach is grounded in evidence-based, personalised treatment for every patient he sees.

Dr Andrea Phatouros – Specialist Orthodontist

Dr Phatouros is an experienced specialist orthodontist with a clinical focus spanning adult and teenage orthodontics. She has a particular interest in aesthetically driven outcomes — helping patients achieve results that feel as good as they look.

Dr Joshua Ch'ng – BDSc (Melb), FRACDS, D.Clin.Dent (Melb) – Specialist Orthodontist

Dr Ch'ng completed his specialist clinical doctorate at the University of Melbourne and holds Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. He brings a thorough, evidence-based approach to treatment planning and works across a broad range of orthodontic modalities to find the right fit for each patient's individual situation.

Dr Katie Xu – BDSc (Hons) Melb, D.Clin.Dent (Orth) Melb – Specialist Orthodontist

Dr Xu graduated with honours in dentistry from the University of Melbourne before completing her specialist orthodontic doctorate at the same institution. She's particularly skilled in clear aligner therapy and treats patients of all ages with a gentle, unhurried approach that tends to put even the most anxious patients at ease.

Invisalign Blue Diamond Provider – The Only One in Victoria

Smile Solutions holds Invisalign Blue Diamond Provider status — the highest tier available from Align Technology, and the only practice in Victoria to hold it.

This designation is earned through case volume, clinical outcomes, and provider expertise. With more than 9,000 Invisalign cases completed, the orthodontic team has a depth of clear aligner experience that very few practices anywhere in Australia can match.

In practical terms, that means you're being treated by a team that has encountered and resolved orthodontic scenarios that most practices see only occasionally. That breadth of real-world experience feeds directly into more confident treatment planning and more predictable results.

What the Orthodontic Team Treats

The specialist orthodontic department at Smile Solutions manages the full range of orthodontic conditions across all age groups — whether you're exploring options for your child, navigating treatment as a teenager, or finally addressing something you've been putting off for years.

Invisalign Clear Aligners From mild crowding to complex bite corrections, the team delivers Invisalign treatment for teenagers and adults. As Victoria's only Blue Diamond Provider, they also have access to Invisalign's most advanced clinical support, so your treatment draws on the latest in clear aligner technology and expertise.

Children's Braces and Early Intervention Treatment from age 7 is available where clinically appropriate. Early orthodontic intervention can reduce the complexity of later treatment and, in some cases, remove the need for more extensive procedures further down the track. If you're wondering whether your child might benefit from an early assessment, the specialist team can give you a clear, honest picture.

Teenage Orthodontics Both fixed braces and Invisalign Teen are available. The specialist team works with teenagers and their families to find a treatment approach that fits their lifestyle, their confidence, and their clinical needs.

Adult Orthodontics More adults are choosing orthodontic treatment at Smile Solutions, and the options reflect that. Clear aligners, ceramic braces, and lingual braces are all available depending on your clinical situation and personal preferences. It's genuinely never too late.

Complex Bite and Jaw Correction For patients requiring surgical orthodontics — where the jaw itself needs repositioning — the orthodontic team works directly with Smile Solutions' oral and maxillofacial surgery team. That collaboration happens in-house, at the same address, with shared records and coordinated treatment planning. Standalone practices can't offer this, and the difference in care continuity is real.

Dental Monitoring Remote Tracking Patients using Dental Monitoring can track their orthodontic progress remotely via their smartphone. The system sends clinical-grade scans to the orthodontic team for review, cutting down in-chair appointment frequency without reducing clinical oversight. It's the kind of technology you're more likely to find at a high-volume specialist practice — which is exactly what this is.

Supported by In-House Radiology and Imaging

The orthodontic team has direct access to Collins Street Imaging on Level 9 of the Manchester Unity Building — an in-house radiology facility with specialist reporting from MFI Radiology. The same imaging system runs across every department in the practice, so information flows cleanly between your treating specialists.

Orthodontic treatment planning depends heavily on radiographic assessment: cephalometric X-rays, OPG (panoramic) imaging, and CBCT scans where required. Having all of this available in-house, with specialist radiologist reporting, means your records are produced faster, interpreted thoroughly, and shared directly with other members of your care team. Fewer delays, fewer gaps, and a more connected experience from the start.

Why the Multidisciplinary Setting Matters

Many patients who need orthodontic treatment also have other dental needs — crowded teeth alongside gum disease, bite correction alongside missing teeth, or complex cases where orthodontics is the first step in a longer treatment journey.

At a standalone orthodontic practice, those other needs mean referrals to separate practices, separate records, and separate treatment philosophies. Coordination happens via letters and phone calls, and managing multiple providers can feel fragmented and slow.

At Smile Solutions, your orthodontic team works in the same building as periodontists, prosthodontists, endodontists, oral surgeons, and paediatric dentists. Records are shared. Appointments can be coordinated. Treatment planning is genuinely integrated — not just in theory, but in day-to-day practice.

For complex cases, this produces better outcomes with fewer delays. You're not managing your own care across multiple providers — you have a team working together on your behalf.

Getting Started – No Referral Required

You don't need a referral to access the specialist orthodontic team at Smile Solutions. The process is straightforward, and the first step is free.

Your entry point is a complimentary consultation with Dr Kia Pajouhesh, Smile Solutions' founding principal and Managing Director, who will assess your needs and connect you with the right specialist within the practice. It's a personalised introduction to the team and the beginning of a treatment plan built around you.

Call 13 13 96 to book your complimentary consultation.

Location: Levels 12 and the Tower, Manchester Unity Building, Collins Street, Melbourne CBD.

Flexible payment options are available through Payright and TLC (Treatment Lending Company), so accessing specialist orthodontic care can fit within your financial situation.

The Smile Solutions Difference

Smile Solutions is the only dental practice in Australia with more than 25 board-registered specialists across all six dental specialist disciplines under one roof. The orthodontic team — four experienced specialists, Victoria's only Blue Diamond Invisalign status, 9,000+ cases completed — is one of six specialist departments operating at that level within the same building.

Specialist-scale clinical expertise, a genuinely integrated environment, and a location at the heart of Melbourne's CBD. Whatever your orthodontic needs, the expertise, technology, and patient-centred care are all here — inside one of Melbourne's most recognisable buildings.