Most people associate orthodontics with children and teens. While the majority of orthodontic patients are under the age of 18, that doesn’t mean that adults can’t benefit from smile-straightening treatments too. Unfortunately, many adults shy away from orthodontics due to the time and effort that traditional braces demand. As a working adult or busy parent, spending years in braces may simply not be feasible or desirable. That’s why Six Month Smiles has become one of the most preferred orthodontic treatment options for adult patients.
There are many reasons why adults need this type of short-term orthodontics. Maybe you had braces as a child and your teeth have migrated out of place, or perhaps your family could never afford the orthodontic treatment you needed in your younger years. Regardless of how or why your teeth are not attractively aligned, Six Month Smiles can help.
What is Six Month Smiles
True to its name, Six Month Smiles aims to correct your teeth in as little as six months. To further boost patient satisfaction, this system also relies on tooth-colored wires and clear brackets that blend discreetly into the teeth, making them barely noticeable to others. Six Month Smiles can correct gapped, crooked and crowded teeth in the front of your smile. For this reason, they are primarily considered as cosmetic but you’ll reap the valued benefits towards your oral health when your teeth are aligned properly and easier to clean.
Six Month Smiles Vs Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment
Comprehensive orthodontic treatment typically involves wearing traditional metal braces for 12 to 18 months on average. This is mainly due to the fact that the position of both the front and the back teeth need to be corrected or moved. Comprehensive orthodontic treatment addresses the entire bite, or the way your teeth fit together when closing your jaw.
Six Month Smiles, on the other hand, only focuses on the front teeth. This makes it an ideal solution for adults who are only concerned with the appearance of their smile rather than their bite. Therefore, most patients can achieve their teeth straightening goals in a much shorter time period.
How Do Six Month Smiles Work?
Six Month Smiles uses clear brackets and a special memory wire to shift only the front teeth that become visible when you smile. As a cosmetic orthodontic treatment, it is more comfortable and much less involved than traditional braces. The memory wire puts continuous force to the teeth and shifts them into proper alignment throughout the course of the treatment, which requires six months on average.
What Can Six Month Smiles Fix?
There are a wide range of smile imperfections caused by the position of the front teeth. Fortunately, Six Month Smiles is a highly versatile treatment option to address these issues. If you have the following orthodontic concerns (in the front of your smile), Six Month Smiles can be a welcome solution:
- Overcrowded or overlapped teeth.
- Uneven spaces or gaps in between the teeth.
- Over and underbite.
- Protruding front teeth.
When Six Month Smiles is Not Best
For adults with complex orthodontic conditions or those that involve the bite or jaw, Six Month Smiles may not be the right choice. These are concerns that should involve a more comprehensive treatment where the back teeth are shifted into better position. A dentist can evaluate your concerns to determine which treatment can help you achieve your smile straightening goals. In some cases, simply moving the front teeth and ignoring the overall bite alignment can be detrimental to your dental function and jaw health.
Ready to Learn More?
Are you an adult who is embarrassed of your crooked or gapped front teeth? Stop hiding your smile. Straighter teeth are not only more attractive, but they are easier to keep clean. Many adults look younger and even discover greater success at work at the conclusion of their Six Month Smiles treatment. Call a Six Month Smiles provider at Grateful Dental in Marietta today. If you qualify for this preferred solution in short-term orthodontics, you’ll be showing off a more confident smile in as little as six months!
