6-Month Smiles is a type of dental treatment that means what it says: it is a set of treatments performed by a dentist that aims to drastically improve the appearance of one’s smile within six months. This treatment is an orthodontic alternative to traditional teeth-straightening treatments such as braces or Invisalign. For many patients, the SMS in-office procedure is highly preferable to alternative treatments. If you are curious about the benefits of 6-Month Smiles, this guide will help you compare it to other orthodontic treatments.
What is 6-Month Smiles?
6-Month Smiles is a type of orthodontal procedure that offers patients in-office dental work to straighten their teeth. The trade-off for not having to bear some of the awkwardness or embarrassment of braces and retainers is that this type of treatment requires the patient to return quite frequently to the dentist’s office.
6-Month Smile treatment is quite effective and can rectify many cosmetic dental problems, including the following conditions:
- Crooked teeth
- Awkwardly spaced teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Overly crowded teeth
True to its name, this type of treatment is expected to take around six months. However, depending on the specifics of the case, the treatment can take anywhere from four to nine months.
Risks of 6-Month Smiles
There are some inherent risks with this type of treatment. One unexpected element is that it is performed by standard dentists, not orthodontists. This opens up some margin of error with this type of treatment.
In addition, 6-Month Smiles causes rapid tooth movement, which can add an element of unpredictability to the treatment. This also contributes to the possibility that your teeth may return to their original position following the treatment.
6-Month Smiles vs. Invisalign
6-Month Smiles generally takes less time to complete than Invisalign, which can be assigned to a patient for years. In some ways, which treatment a patient undergoes will depend on their personal preference.
Some of the pros of Invisalign include:
- Invisalign is removable.
- It is generally comfortable.
- Invisalign is more or less invisible.
On the other hand, the cons of Invisalign include:
- Invisalign can have a very long treatment duration.
- A patient must be very consistent when wearing their Invisalign retainer for the treatment to be effective.
6-Month Smiles has some of the following benefits:
- True to its name, 6-Month Smiles is generally complete within six months.
- It is easy to track your progress with this treatment.
- It is effective at treating mild-to-moderate cosmetic concerns.
Some of the cons of 6-Month Smiles include:
- You cannot remove the braces of 6-Month Smiles.
- The braces of this type of treatment are highly visible.
6-Month Smiles vs. Braces
Generally, both Invisalign and 6-Month Smiles are advantageous over standard braces. However, it is helpful to remember that 6-Month Smiles are a form of braces.
One of the primary advantages of 6-Month Smiles over traditional braces is that the former utilizes clear plastic brackets rather than metal brackets. These are generally more subtle and less conspicuous than the brackets of traditional braces.
In addition, 6-Month Smiles runs at a quicker rate of completion than traditional braces, which can take several years to complete their course of treatment. In general, if a patient has access to 6-Month Smiles over traditional braces, it is recommended that they pursue treatment.
Most patients find that they can obtain a faster treatment that is as good as traditional braces with 6-Month Smiles.
How Much Does 6-Month Smiles Treatment Cost?
In general, this type of treatment tends to cost between $3,500 and $5,000. Your ability to finance 6-Month Smiles will be somewhat contingent on your dental insurance and the nature of the office that you go to visit for treatment.
An additional advantage of 6-Month Smiles is that it generally falls within the price range of the other major dental treatment options primarily employed in orthodontics. This means that you do not need to break the bank if you are interested in 6-Month Smiles.
The Best Dentist in Riverside
Dentistry Riverside is one of the highest-rated dental offices in Southern California. If you are interested in receiving a consultation regarding your eligibility for 6-Month Smiles, contact our office today to discuss your options for orthodontic treatment in Riverside with our dental professional.