If you have crooked or unevenly spaced teeth, you may be embarrassed by your smile. However, you may be hesitant to undergo treatment with the bulky metal brackets and wires that are used in traditional orthodontic treatment. Fortunately, at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, we offer Six Month Smiles to our patients in Charlotte, Gastonia, Mint Hill and the surrounding areas. The Six Month Smiles system uses clear brackets and tooth-colored wires to effectively, yet discreetly, straighten teeth for a more attractive smile. Best of all, a focus on minor tooth movement means patients can see real results in a fraction of the time needed for traditional braces. In fact, many patients enjoy an improved smile in just half a year. To learn more about Six Month Smiles, including whether you are a good candidate for this innovative treatment, contact Ballantyne Center for Dentistry today.

What is Six Month Smiles?

Six Months Smiles operates on the same principles as traditional orthodontics. If you are determined to be a good candidate, your dentist will attach brackets and wires to your teeth. Since this type of treatment focuses solely on aesthetic improvements, this can often mean that only a small number of anterior teeth will undergo treatment, and because the materials are so discrete, many people may not even realize that you are wearing braces. Over the course of about six months, the braces will gently reposition your teeth. When they are removed, you will need to wear a retainer to maintain your newly straightened smile. We offer both removable and permanently bonded retainers, which are carefully hidden on the inside of your dental arch.

Streamlined Treatment for Faster Results

Some patients assume that Six Month Smiles works so quickly because the wires are tightened in a way that allows us to achieve faster results. On the contrary, this orthodontic treatment works so quickly because it employs the latest technology and strategic planning. However, because of the accelerated nature of the treatment, Six Month Smiles is a better option for patients who simply wish to correct the cosmetic appearance of their teeth. Patients with bite alignment problems are typically not good candidates for Six Month Smiles.

Treatment Benefits

Six Month Smiles has a number of important benefits, including:

• More subtle than traditional braces
• Faster treatment time
• Typically costs less than traditional orthodontic treatment
• Shorter treatment time improves dental hygiene and overall oral health

Of course, the number one advantage to Six Month Smiles is that following treatment, you can enjoy a beautiful, uniform smile and an enhanced sense of confidence.

How does Six Month Smiles work so quickly?

Six Month Smiles delivers results quickly by focusing on moving the teeth that show when you smile. Treatment emphasizes the cosmetic appearance of the teeth as opposed to the position of the bite. The teeth don’t move any faster than normal, despite what the name may suggest.

What is the difference between Six Month Smiles vs. Invisalign?

Six Month Smiles uses clear brackets and tooth-colored wires to put gentle force on the teeth to shift them into the proper position and alignment. The brackets and wires are fixed in the mouth and cannot be removed by the patient at any point during treatment. The wires are periodically adjusted, just like they are with traditional braces. Most patients achieve their desired results in about six months, at which point the brackets and wires are removed.

Invisalign uses a series of clear customized plastic aligners (similar to teeth whitening trays) to gently shift the teeth into the proper position and alignment. Patients can remove the aligners throughout the day as needed to eat and brush their teeth. Each set of aligners is worn for a few weeks and then swapped out for the next set in the series. It usually takes about a year to see the desired results.