Six Month Smiles: Straighten Your Teeth in Less Time

Six Month Smiles is an orthodontic correction created from bracket and wires. It is designed to straighten your upper and lower teeth in about six months. Treatment time can be different based on your specific misalignment issues.

Understanding Six Month Smiles

With the use of clear brackets and tooth-colored archwires, many orthodontic problems can be treated. The shortened treatment time combined with low-movement forces can increase comfort and oral hygiene of patients. This makes Six Month Smiles an option for those who desire the straightening benefits of braces but do not need or want more complex orthodontic corrections for their teeth.

The candidates for the procedure

Six Month Smiles is ideal for people who have normal misalignment problems. This can include intrusions and tipping, extrusions and rotations. It may also be a good option for specific problems causing cosmetic dental issues occurring in the front teeth. These issues can include overbites and open bites, crowding teeth that overlap, diastemas, asymmetrical and canted midlines and reversed smile lines.

Dentists may recommend this treatment after performing a detailed examination of gums, teeth and the oral health of the patient. New impressions of the teeth are made.

The procedure and what to expect

The patient will be fitted with archwires and brackets based on models created from the impressions. This will calculate the tooth movement necessary to straighten the front teeth. It also provides guidelines for positioning the wires and clear brackets. The dentist will fuse these brackets to the patient’s teeth. Then they use an applied bonding adhesive that goes on the surface enamel as well as the brackets. These new brackets will come positioned in a custom-created tray.

After applying the adhesive bonding agent, the dentist will place the custom tray on the patient’s teeth. It will be held in place to make sure of proper placement of the brackets. Once the brackets are set, the dentist will remove the tray and use a special light to harden the adhesive. The wires will be attached and adjusted to promote the proper tooth movement.

The tightening and adjustment appointments

Every four to five weeks, it will be necessary to visit the dentist for tightening and adjustment of the wires. Once the full dental treatment is finished, the wires and brackets will be taken off. Though six months is normal for treatment, it can vary between four months and nine months. The dentist will determine the actual treatment time.

The recovery and aftercare time

When the brackets and wires are first placed and then later adjusted, it is expected to have some tightness and discomfort for four to six hours. This comes from the tightening of the archwires that are forcing the teeth into a natural position.

Once the dental treatment has been completed, patients will need to wear a new retainer at night. Sometimes it is necessary for a permanent retainer on the back of the teeth to prevent relapse.

Ready for Six Month Smiles?

If you believe Six Month Smiles may be the right decision for you and your teeth straightening goals, then consult with a dentist. They can help determine if you are a candidate for this treatment.

Are you considering Six Month Smiles in the Brandon area? Get more information at http://www.drsarahlangston.com.

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