Six Month Smile® Procedure - How it Works

Developed to minimise discomfort and feelings of self-consciousness for patients, Six Month Smile® braces combine the latest developments in orthodontic mechanics with safe, gentle and more cosmetically-appealing components to give patients a quicker, more affordable and less conspicuous way to get straighter teeth.

Using the latest technology, Six Month Smiles® utilise a mixture of compact Lucid-Lok™ see-through brackets and delicate wires, designed to match your natural tooth colour, to gently yet effectively re-align teeth into a more symmetrical arrangement without drawing attention to the fact that you are undergoing orthodontic treatment. In most cases, no one will even notice that you are wearing braces unless they are fairly close up.

Six Month Smile® braces concentrate on improving the position and angle of the front upper and lower teeth - those which are most conspicuous when you smile. Six Month Smiles® are designed to go to work on each tooth individually so that teeth can be simultaneously tipped or pulled into their correct positions all at once, significantly decreasing the need for long and drawn out treatment times. The movement forces generated by the braces are gentler than that of several other types of braces, helping to keep discomfort to a minimum.

Treatment Procedure:

Here is what you can expect to happen at each stage of the treatment process:

Step One

Six Month Smiles® have been designed so that an accredited dentist - and not just an orthodontic specialist - can treat you. Once you have found a dentist in your area that is qualified to carry out the procedure, you need to make an appointment for a cosmetic dental consultation.

During this initial appointment, which is offered free of charge at Devonshire Dental Care in Glasgow, the dentist will establish what you want to achieve, then have a look at your teeth to assess whether your case is suitable for this type of treatment.

He or she will also happy to discuss other possible treatment options available to you so that you are in the best possible position to make an informed decision when it comes to choosing the right type of treatment for you.

Step Two

If you are deemed a suitable candidate for Six Month Smile® braces and are happy to consent to treatment, the next stage is for the dentist to photograph your face and teeth from various angles and then take dental impressions of your upper and lower jaw. These will be used to draw up a bespoke treatment plan for you and allow the Six Month Smiles® laboratory in the US to create braces specifically for you.

Step Three

Once your Six Month Smile® braces have been manufactured and sent back to the dental surgery, fitting can commence. At this appointment, which is often longer than previous appointments, your teeth will be fitted with the specially-designed brackets and wires. Afterwards, you may experience temporary discomfort as the pulling forces start to go to work. You may also find that your natural speech patterns are temporarily affected. However, this seldom lasts very long and any discomfort can usually be alleviated by the use of mild painkillers. Your dentist will also give you some tips on brushing and aftercare to make sure your teeth and gums remain clean and healthy.

Step Four

During Six Month Smile® treatment, you can expect to visit your dentist for check-ups and adjustments once every 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how intensive or complicated your treatment programme is. On average, treatment with Six Month Smile® braces lasts around 5 to 12 months.

Step Five

Once your practitioner feels that treatment has been completed, your braces will be removed and retention options, to prevent relapse, will be discussed to find an option that suits your lifestyle. At this stage, you may opt to have additional cosmetic dental procedures, such as whitening, to put the finishing touches on your new smile.