6 Month Smiles

One of the main put-off's for those considering orthodontic treatment is the length of time you're required to wear a brace during treatment. This can range from one to three years depending on the brace you opt for and until recently there wasn't a great deal of alternatives available. Fortunately, there have been rapid innovations in dental technology and patients who are looking for a quick fix for their dental issues can now benefit from the 6-Month Smiles method.

What is the 6-Month Smiles treatment?

6-Month Smiles are a type of discreet brace which makes use of very thin wires which are coloured to the same shade as your teeth. In the 6-Months Smiles method the teeth are moved very gradually with low amounts of force, this means that effective results are delivered and the patient experiences minimal discomfort throughout the treatment period. The 6-Months method uses cutting edge dental technology to maneuver your teeth quickly and effectively. Nickel titanium wires are used to focus on the teeth that show when you smile rather than concentrating only on the position of your bite. 6-Month smiles can be used to treat a number of orthodontic issues such as over or underbite, teeth which stick out, gaps or crowding.

How does the 6-Months Smiles treatment work?

At your initial visit your dentist will perform a thorough examination by taking some photographs and X-rays of your teeth and looking at your smile in detail. You will then be fitted with the 6-Month braces, whilst not as discreet as the Invisalign system, these braces are hard to see unless up close and perform the correction in a fraction of the time. After you have been fitted with the 6-months braces you'll need to have follow up visits every month or so in order to monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed. Although patients often experience some discomfort at the beginning of the treatment, as time progresses your teeth will adapt to the pressure and there should be very little pain. Over-the-counter medicines such as Ibuprofen or paracetamol should be sufficient to deal with any discomfort you experience in the early stages of treatment. You may find that your speech is affected for a few days after your braces are fitted. You may also experience an excess of salivating but these symptoms are only temporary and you should return to normal quickly. Following treatment you will need to wear a retainer in order to prevent your teeth moving back to their former position. Your dentist will assign you a removable retainer to wear at night or you can opt to have a permanent bond fitted on the back surface of your teeth.

What results can I expect?

The 6-months Smile system focuses on the teeth which show when you smile rather than trying to correct the position of all your teeth. So as long as you don't need a major bite alteration and are over the age of 15 then treatment with 6-months braces should be highly effective. And you should see a noticeable difference in the aesthetics of your teeth at the end of treatment.