SIX MONTH SMILES® – CLEAR BRACKET ORTHODONTICS
Six Month Smiles is an orthodontic system that straightens teeth faster and more comfortably than traditional braces. In addition, Six Month Smiles® uses clear brackets and tooth-colored wires so your braces are also far less noticeable when you smile or speak. Dr. Beard would be glad to assess your smile in order to determine if Six Month Smiles® are the right braces for you.
Six Month Smiles® are designed to correct cosmetic issues—crooked teeth or irregular gaps—which is how they can work faster than standard braces. These braces are only applied to teeth that show when you smile. Therefore, serious alignment concerns or more complex problems might not be appropriately corrected with Six Month Smile®s. In this case, Dr. Beard will be able to discuss other treatment options with you.
THE MECHANICS BEHIND SIX MONTH SMILES®
The mechanics used to straighten your teeth with braces from Six Month Smiles® are the same as those employed by traditional braces. This orthodontic system, however, emphasizes the cosmetic appearance of your teeth rather than the position of your bite. Therefore, Six Month Smiles can take advantage of reduced force to move your teeth more gently than traditional braces. Many people think faster treatment simply means tightening braces more often to encourage teeth to move, but that is not true.
TRADITIONAL BRACES VERSUS SIX MONTH SMILES®
As you know, traditional braces are made of metal brackets that are adhesively bonded to teeth and arch wires that clip into the brackets. Six Month Smiles®, on the other hand, uses Lucid-Lok®clear brackets and tooth-colored wires. To make sure your Lucid-Lok® clear brackets are positioned right where they should be on your teeth for better alignment and a more predictable outcome, there are Six Month Smiles® Patient Tray Kits. The kits are custom designed in the lab to correct your individual orthodontic problems. With these kits, Dr. Beard is able to straighten your teeth in the best possible way and avoid gum irritation, too. To ensure good progress, you will need to see Dr. Beard regularly so she can make any necessary adjustments to ensure that your treatment ends on time.
Once your Six Month Smile® braces are removed, you will need to wear a retainer to maintain your teeth in their new position. You can wear either a removable retainer or have a bonded retainer placed.
CONCERNED ABOUT COST?
Some dental insurances cover the costs of braces and teeth alignments. Let us take a look at your coverage and work with you to determine eligabilty. No insurance? Don’t let that scare you away from working on your dream smile. Contact us to see about our financing options.