Are you embarrassed when you smile?
Do you want to emanate Self Confidence?
Have you given up hope on looking your BEST? Look no further. 6 Month Braces may be the answer.
Six Month Braces is an cosmetic orthodontic treatment appropriate for clients age 15 and over. The great majority of cases are completed in a treatment time of 6 months. Some patient’s are actually treated in less time. Some very difficult cases can take more time. Even these difficult cases are often treated in just 8 or 9 months. So treatment is completed in 4 to 9 months with most cases being completed in 6 months.
The Goal of Six Month Braces
Most patients seeking orthodontic treatment have a chief complaint related to the esthetics of their teeth (eg. crooked, spaces or gaps). Although some patients may have complaints related to TMJ problems, headaches, or facial profile concerns, the great majority of patients want to improve their smiles.
The goal of Six Month Braces is to give the patient a great smile. Six month braces is analogous to porcelain veneers, bonding and other cosmetic dentistry procedures. Instead of preparing the teeth and bonding porcelain veneers to them, the teeth are moved orthodontically to their most beautiful position. This is not to say that we do not change the bite because we do, but the main focus of treatment is the anterior cosmetic of the front teeth. This usually solves the chief complaint of the patient and gives the desired result – a great smile.
This patient wanted a great smile and she got it…in 5 months!
How Do Six Month Braces Work?
Six month braces is actually a combination of time tested orthodontic techniques that have been put together in a new and exciting way. Some of the techniques have been used for over 60 years and have been well documented in the orthodontic literature. These techniques were put together in the 1980’s and the technologies to implement them have finally been made available. A key ingredient of the Six Month Braces procedure is the use of high-tech Nickel-Titanium arch wires. These wires exert a light continuous force to gently move the teeth to the desired position.
Will Six Month Braces work on me? My teeth are all crowded together.
The most common chief complaint of patients seeking orthodontic treatment is crowding. Crowded cases are treated very well with Six Month Braces. So how do we gain space to fit all the teeth into the arch? Most crowded cases have large teeth in a small jaw, or arch. In many cases simply rounding out and developing the constricted arch will give you enough room to align the crowded teeth.
In this case simply rounding out the constricted arch gave enough room to alleviate the crowding and give the desired result.
Some more severe cases will require enamel reproximation along with arch development to obtain the desired result. Enamel reproximation is gentle polishing between the teeth and is also called slenderizing or reprox. Repox has a 60 year history in orthodontics. It is a very conservative way to help alleviate crowding, it is painless, it does not increase the incidence of tooth decay or periodontal disease and it can help increase long term stability of the final result by slightly flattening the contact points between the teeth.
The lower teeth had more crowding than the upper so a combination of reprox and rounding out the arch gave the desired result. Total treatment time was 7 ½ months.
Will Six Month Braces Work on Me if I Have Spaces, an Overbite, or an Underbite?
Six month braces will work on almost any type of case. Other case types that can be treated with Six Month Braces include, but are not limited to open bites, deep bites, anterior crossbites, and cases that need orthodontics prior to veneer placement.
This patient had both crowding and an anterior cross bite. This case was completed in 6 months. This can do nothing but improve the self-esteem of this gentleman.
Are There Any Cases that are Not Recommended for Six Month Braces?
There are actually few limitations in regards to Six Month Braces. There are certain cases are not recommend be treated with Six Month Braces. Severe TMJ cases are one example. Although there is great controversy on the orthodontic/TMJ connection, I generally do not recommend Six Month Braces in these cases.
Another situation where I might not recommend Six Month Braces would be in the case of a patient who is seeking a dramatic facial profile change. Often times these cases are best treated with surgery anyway. Having said that we will often use Six Month Braces as a sort of “dental camouflage” of their underlying skeletal problems.
One example would be in a case where the patient has large overjet or extremely flared incisors. In these cases we will give the patient the option of comprehensive treatment—perhaps with a surgical component—or camouflage treatment options with Six Month Braces. In the case of a large overjet we would retract the flared incisors to greatly reduce the amount of overjet and to reduce any upper lip flare. By concurrently opening the bite (most of these cases have deep bites) we often can minimize a large chin button. On some of these cases the patient has a small chin and some will consider a chin implant. The end result of the case is that the overjet is GREATLY diminished. The lower jaw may still be posteriorly displaced, but most patients want overbite reduction completed in these cases and we get very nice results. In most cases the patients are very pleased with the results that camouflage treatment can provide and forego orthagnathic surgery.
So as you can see, although there are some limitations to Six Month Braces often times we can still use the technique to get a result that is pleasing both to the patient and the doctor.
This patient had flared upper incisors and a large overjet. She chose to perform camouflage treatment to reduce the flare and give her a great smile. This more complicated case took a bit over 8 months.
A dramatic life changing result was obtained in this case in just over 7 months.
In Summary
Q: How can it be done in 6 months?
A: Dr. Toureno’s technique utilizes the latest techniques and technology to move your teeth quickly and safely. The key component is the use of special Nickel Titanium wires.
Q: Will I have a mouth full of Metal for 6 months?
A: No. Dr. Toureno uses tooth colored brackets. People will hardly notice that you are wearing braces.
Q: Are 6 Month Braces more painful than regular braces?
A: No. The 6 Month Braces Technique uses LOW force to move the teeth comfortably.. Many people think we "tighten" the braces excessively to get the teeth moving. This would actually slow down tooth movement.
Q: Does the 6 Month Braces Technique damage the teeth, roots, or gums in any way?
A: No. The 6 Month Braces Technique uses LOW force with short treatment duration to safely move the teeth.
Q: Do 6 Month Braces cost more than regular braces?
A: No, 6 Month Braces are actually less expensive than traditional braces that usually cost over $5000.
Q: Do I have to wear a retainer?
A: Yes, as with any orthodontic procedure a retainer is necessary. If you do not want to wear a retainer very long you can have your teeth splinted together. There are a variety of options based on your preference.
Q: Do you offer financing options?
A: Yes! We have affordable interest free financing options available.
Apply for no-interest financing here in the privacy of your own home: Care Credit.
Don't forget to register online for your free 6 Month Braces consultation .
Dr. Leo Toureno DDS, FAGD, Tucson cosmetic dentistry, Tucson general dentistry, Tucson laser dentistry and Tucson family dentistry serving Tucson, Arizona 85748. Browse our website to learn more about cosmetic adult orthodontic braces, preventive, dental cleaning, extractions (oral surgery), restorative and family dentistry for Tucson, AZ. We also offer 6 month braces (six month braces), invisalign, implant dentistry (dental implant), laser dentistry, Snap-On-Smile (SnapOnSmile) and treatment of Gum Disease to all our Tucson dental patients. A few of our dental services include tooth colored composite fillings, sealants, children’s dentistry, fluoride treatment, veneers, whitening (bleaching), bonding, crowns, bridges, dentures, bad breath treatments, NTI – tss (nightguard, biteguard, mouthguard) migraine & bruxism (teeth grinding) therapy, laser gum therapy or laser periodontal therapy - LPT (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure - LANAP) utilizing Periolase dental laser, and 6monthbracestucson (tucson6monthbraces, sixmonthbracestucson, tucsonsixmonthbraces). We offer state-of-the-art computer technology, patient comfort and technology including TLC dental chair potato, patient education, digital x-ray imaging and no interest affordable financing with Care Credit. Come see what Dr. Leo Toureno DDS, FAGD, a Tucson cosmetic dentist Tucson general dentist, Tucson family dentist and Tucson laser dentist, has to offer at 150 S. Houghton Rd. Suite #100 in Tucson, AZ 85748. Also feel free to call our Arizona cosmetic dental office at 520.721.2000. www.discoverysmiles.com. www.discoverysmile.com discoverysmiles@gmail.com