As an adult looking to straighten your teeth, correct your smile, and lead a more confident life, any hearsay of how six month smiles ruined my teeth or Invisalign reality vs. expectations may have a significant influence on your decision. But these treatments are well known for their incredible success rate, so the real challenge is determining whether Invisalign will be faster or more convenient that the 6 months smile.
Naturally, the idea of wearing traditional metal braces for one year or longer probably doesn’t sit well with you. Fortunately, there are a few good treatments that can deliver a straight smile faster, effectively, and somewhat discreetly, with the most common ones being six month smile and Invisalign.
So, how do the two compare?
Six month smile vs Invisalign
6 month clear braces and Invisalign are both great alternatives to traditional metal braces, but many patients are not sure about which treatment to use. Here are some factors to consider:
Effectiveness
Invisalign uses a series of clear, custom-made, trays that you wear over your teeth to gradually and gently move them into place. There are no wires to tighten or metal brackets to attach, which makes the treatment rather straightforward. However, the fact that they’re removable also poses a risk for patients who are not committed to the treatment. If you forget to return them in your mouth for at least 22 hours every day, the next set might not fit properly in two weeks, increasing the duration of your treatment.
6 month smiles uses award-winning clear braces and shape-memory wires that are engineered for optimum and predictable results in a short-term. Any general dentist can easily use this system provided they have received the necessary hands-on courses. This gives them a lot of control over your treatment, meaning that it will be completed in the best way and in the shortest time possible.
Appearance
The inconspicuous appearance of most modern orthodontic treatments is one of the main factors contributing to the growing popularity of cosmetic dental procedures. Both Invisalign and 6 months braces offer discreet treatment but in different ways.
Invisalign uses clear aligners that are nearly invisible. This is a major selling point for Invisalign treatment, with some patients claiming that they go through a whole year of treatment without their loved ones realising that they were wearing braces.
Six month clear braces are also virtually unnoticeable, since they use clear translucent Lucid-Lok brackets and tooth-colored Lucid-Lok wires that blend seamlessly with your natural tooth structure, so you can straighten and align your teeth without other people noticing.
Speed of treatment
6 months braces can transform your smile in as little as 6 months, or even less for minor cases. Other orthodontic treatments take at least twice as long, including Invisalign, which are usually worn for around 8 to 12 months, or even longer.
There are a couple of reasons why the six months smiles system is so fast:
- First, the 6 months smiles system has a unique objective, which is to deliver the smile of your dreams by accomplishing most, but not all, of what the traditional braces treatment would provide. This solves two unique problems: speed and results.
- Second, this system uses the unique Lucid-Lok brackets and wires that are specifically engineered for short-term orthodontic treatments, which allows them to straighten your teeth effectively and efficiently.
Comfort
Invisalign removable trays are worn for 22 hours a day, which allows you to remove them when necessary, like when you want to eat/drink and clean them. This also reduces the risk of damaging your orthodontic appliance when tempted to eat hard foods.
Six month braces are ideal for individuals who don’t have the time or energy for the maintenance of teeth correction products. You will have to be more cautious when brushing and flossing, plus there are certain foods that you must avoid for the duration of the treatment.
Cost involved
Six month braces are more affordable compared to Invisalign. This is largely due to the fact that you need a new set of aligners every two weeks for 12 to 18 months, which also translates to more dental visits compared to six month braces.
Suitability
Some patients may be good candidates for one treatment but not the other, which should make your decision much easier when choosing between the two treatments. Invisalign is typically used to correct minor cases of tooth misalignment, crowded teeth, gapped teeth, underbites, overbites, and crossbites.
Six month braces, on the other hand, can be used to correct a range of bite problems, including those that Invisalign cannot, because the dentist has complete control to make even the tiniest adjustment to the brace with each visit.
So, even cases involving extremely rotated lateral or attempts to extrude a canine, where aligners may not be suitable, Six Months Smiles can offer greater control over the outcome with better predictability to deliver the desired tooth movements.
If you are still not sure about which option is best to correct your smile, please contact us to schedule an appointment with our dentist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any risk of ruined teeth with six month smiles?
The Invisalign system is quite popular, but little is known about six months smiles treatment. Though there are some risks of a ruined smile with any cosmetic dental treatment, in terms of not getting the exact results that you wanted, each procedure is well planned to maximize the chances that you will achieve the smile of your dreams within six months.
Keep in mind that some of the steps in a traditional straightening treatments may be omitted, but the special wires and brackets used with six months smiles will still give you a great smile, very fast.
How does the Six Month Smiles System work?
After your initial consultation, the dentist will proceed to take comprehensive records of your medical history, as well as dental x-rays, impressions, and a complete dental examination. Subsequent steps include getting your treatment ready by:
Taking the impressions of your teeth and your treatment plan to the Facility for processing your Six Months Smiles case. Here, the specialists determine the right placement of brackets on your teeth models according to your expected treatment outcome.
Once the bracket placement has been determined, your custom bonding trays are then fabricated.
On your next appointment, you will get your custom trays fitted, after which you will only need minor adjustments every 4 weeks as you gradually straighten your teeth.
Once you achieve the final position of your teeth, the braces will be removed and an appliance given to aid in retention of your smile.
What is the primary difference between Six Month Smiles and traditional braces?
Traditional braces generally use a more complex approach to straightening your teeth, which causes it to take nearly 24 months to deliver the desired results. Six Month Smiles, on the other hand, is more focused on helping orthodontic patients achieve their desired cosmetic results in the shortest time possible. As such, the treatment goals are not as comprehensive as those for traditional braces.
Who is the best candidate for Six Month Smiles System?
With the 6 months smiles system, patients can correct many orthodontic issues, including crowded teeth, spaced teeth, and crooked teeth.
What is the cost of 6 months of Invisalign?
Six Months Smile typically costs about one-third (1/3) of the cost of Invisalign, because it takes much less time. So if Invisalign takes 6 to 12 months, instead of the typical 12 to 36 months for the entire treatment, which is also referred to as Invisalign Express, then you can expect to pay between $2,500 and $6,000. This is similar to the cost of Six Months Smile. But for the full Invisalign treatment for over 12 months, you would have to pay between $3,000 and $9,000 depending on the duration.
