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6 Month Smiles - orthodontic treatment in six months

Reviewed by: Dr Kalpesh Bohara & Dr Ryan Swain

Have you considered orthodontic or teeth straightening treatment but have been put off by wearing braces or aligners every day for up to 3 years? Now there is an answer for those wanting a quick fix for their crooked smile – the revolutionary 6-Month Smiles treatment.

Six Month Smiles can be used to treat a wide variety of orthodontic complaints including:

Crowding - teeth are too close together

Spacing - gaps between teeth

Overbite - teeth overlap too much

Overjet - front teeth stick out

Underbite - lower teeth stick out

Crossbite - teeth bite on the wrong side of each other

Openbite - your teeth do not meet when you bite

Misplaced midline - centre lines of upper and lower teeth don't align

The girl in the photo above (kindly donated by Dr Ryan Swain) is wearing the virtually invisible Six Month Smiles Braces.

The main benefits of the 6 Month Smiles system are:

The wires are discrete being small and tooth-coloured
Treatment time is reduced by up to 75%
Discomfort is kept to a minimum since the teeth are gently repositioned
Cost is around half that of traditional braces or Invisalign


Before 6 Month Smiles treatment	After 6 Month Smiles treatment
The photographs above were kindly donated by Dr Ryan Swain

What does the treatment involve?

During your first visit you will be fully assessed and your dentist will take some photographs, X-rays and examine your smile. Your dentist will also give you an indication as to if the 6 Month Smiles is suitable for you and the likely treatment time and costs involved.

Following this you will be fitted with the special 6 Month Smiles Braces which are small white brackets and special wires that come directly from the 6 Month Smiles laboratory in the United States.

After your first fitting you will visit your dentist every 4-5 weeks for short 10-15 minute appointments for regular adjustments of your braces until the end of your treatment.

If the 6 Month Smiles is a new treatment how do I know it will work for me?

In the UK, 6 Month Smiles is a new technique, but in the US 100s of patients have undergone the Six Month Smiles program of treatment with fantastic success. This is an exciting new treatment in the UK, which could be a perfect solution to correcting crooked teeth before a wedding, for example.


Before 6 Month Smiles treatment	After 6 Month Smiles treatment
The photographs above were kindly donated by Dr Ryan Swain

How is it possible for teeth to be straightened in six months if other braces take 2-3 years ?

Six Month Smiles utilises the latest technology and techniques in orthodontic dentistry to move your teeth in a manner that is both quick and safe. The treatment focuses on moving the teeth that show when you smile rather than all of your teeth and uses special nickel titanium wires to achieve this.

Will my wires show like train track braces with the 6 Month Smiles system?

The Six Month Smiles system uses tooth-coloured braces and wires that are only visible when close-up. They are not like train track braces, however they are more visible than clear braces like the Invisalign system, but the benefits of completing treatment in a fraction of the time outweigh this.

Is treatment painful ?

Like any orthodontic treatment there will be some discomfort when you start the treatment but over time you will become acustomed to it. What sets the Six Month Smiles braces apart is that they use low forces to move teeth more comfortably. Six Month Braces utilise standard orthodontic mechanics, but with an emphasis on the cosmetic appearance of your teeth rather than the position of your bite. It may be advisable to take some mild pain killers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol during the first few days of your treatment.


Before 6 Month Smiles treatment	After 6 Month Smiles treatment
The photographs above were kindly donated by Dr Ryan Swain

Will 6 Month Braces affect my speech?

During the first week or so after having your braces fitted your speech may be affected and you may salivate a little more than usual but it should to normal.


Before 6 Month Smiles treatment	After 6 Month Smiles treatment
The photographs above were kindly donated by Dr Ryan Swain

Will I have to wear a retainer after treatment with 6 Month Smiles braces?

All orthodontic treatment requires retention afterwards to reduce the risk of relapse. Your teeth have a tendency to move back to their natural position and retention will prevent this. Your dentist will either provide you with a night-time removable retainer to wear or you can be fitted with a permanent bonded retainer on the back surfaces of your teeth.

How much do Six Month Braces cost?

The cost of treatment using the 6 Month Smiles system is much less than that of the equivalent treatment with conventional train track braces or Invisalign but will vary between practices.