Six Month Smiles

What is a 6-month smile?

A 6-month smile is a form of orthodontic treatment that aims to straighten and align the teeth within a period of sixth months. Of course, this time frame isn’t set in stone, but this revolutionary system can promise to reduce the time of treatment to much less than that of traditional orthodontics. Some older devices – such as metal braces or retainers – can take years to work, but with a 6-month smile you’ll be showing off your new teeth before you know it.

What sort of things can they fix?

A wide variety of dental problems can be treated with a 6 month smile course; if your teeth are crowded an orthodontist can space them out more evenly, or if they have more than enough space between them already, a discreet set of braces can bring them together so they don’t look badly proportioned. Teeth that stick out or that don’t meet properly when chewing or biting can also be fixed with this type of treatment. Complaints like these are common among patients, and dentists at the Pearl Dental Clinic are able to deal with them as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Uneven bites can be a real issue for some people – whether it’s an overbite, a crossbite, or an underbite – and a set of braces can help with this problem, but it’s worth remembering that this course is primarily aimed at patients who have crooked or misaligned teeth, and not severe problems with the jaw.

How does it work?

During your initial consultation, you will have the condition of your teeth assessed, followed by x-rays and photographs – so that your dentist knows what work needs to be done and is fully aware of the changes in your teeth as you undergo treatment. If you are a suitable candidate for a 6-month smile, your dentist will explain exactly the procedures involved and how much it will cost. After your first appointment, you will be fitted with the revolutionary braces that will straighten your teeth, they consist of small white brackets that are fixed to the front of the teeth using dental glue and then joined together with wire. You will probably notice your teeth change position over the next few months and see a difference in the appearance of your mouth – due to bite alteration. It’s fairly typical that the treatment produces results so quickly; it’s designed to do the work in half the time of traditional metal braces.

After about five or six weeks, you should return to your dentist to have your progress reviewed and any adjustments made. Regular check ups are very important to keep the process running smoothly, tell your dentist if you’re having any problems or discomfort with the braces, they won’t be able to help you if you don’t make them aware. The original condition of your teeth will dictate how long your treatment lasts, and you may have to have multiple adjustments made. When the teeth have been repositioned to a satisfactory degree, you will be fitted with a retainers to make sure they don’t revert to their former state, these can either be removable – so that patients can wear them at night, or they are sometimes permanent, in the form of a thin wire that’s fixed to the back of the teeth to keep them straight. If you have a removable retainer it’s very important that you wear it as instructed or all the money and time spent will have been for nothing.

How can it change my teeth in only six months?

A lot of people are sceptical about the short amount of time it takes for the treatment to be completed, probably because so many of us have been subjected to traditional orthodontic methods that can take up to three years to give the same results. Modern technology is a wonderful thing, and medical advances are going on all the time, so it shouldn’t be that hard to believe that using the latest techniques means a faster outcome. Also, the 6-month smile braces are designed for use on just the front teeth that show when you talk or smile, this makes it much easier to plan the treatment and see quicker results.

Are they any good?

Most patients will tell you that the time it took to have their teeth straightened was much less than they anticipated, it’s estimated that the braces can reduce treatment time by up to seventy-five percent – compared to traditional methods. More than that, the brackets and wires that are fixed into the mouth are small and blend in with the surface of the teeth, making them much more discreet and easier to live with. As far as comfort goes, because they are smaller than metal braces they are simpler to clean and they don’t rub or irritate the soft tissues in the mouth.

How much does a 6-month smile cost?

The cost of a treatment like this can vary; although it’s never going to be drastically cheap – getting the perfect smile can be an expensive business. The price range can differ quite substantially and is determined by the amount of treatment you require, for instance, if you need both upper and lower teeth fixing, it will cost you more. The dental surgery you attend can also affect how much you pay – the more experienced and talented the dentist, the higher their price will be.

If you would like to have your teeth straightened using this method, you’re probably looking at a price somewhere between £2000 and £3500, maybe more depending which dentist you employ. That may seem like a high sum, but it’s a complicated procedure that takes skill to perform, if you pay any less than that you won’t get the outcome you’re looking for. You should have the price outlined at your first appointment; if you’re working within a budget there are some dentists that offer monthly payments so that you can spread the cost.