Six Month Smiles: Cosmetic teeth straightening
Sometimes known as cosmetic teeth straightening or short-term orthodontics, Six Month Smiles is a cosmetic treatment that straightens your front six to eight teeth using either clear aligners or clear fixed braces.
If you’re suitable for treatment, one of the main benefits is that you could have straight teeth in as little as six months1.
How does Six Month Smiles work?
Six Month Smiles uses either clear aligners or discreet fixed braces to straighten your ‘visible’ smile. If you opt for clear aligners, your orthodontist will take an impression of your teeth and a series of almost invisible, removable aligners will be custom made for you. They’re made from a flexible, plastic material.
There’s also a fixed brace option with Six Month Smiles, which uses clear brackets that are fixed to your teeth and connected by tooth-coloured wires. They work in the same way as traditional fixed braces but are more discreet.
You’ll need to visit your orthodontist every month to receive a new aligner or to have your braces adjusted. Both systems use gentle force to move your front teeth into alignment over several months.
What are the benefits of Six Month Smiles?
Pros:
- You could have straighter teeth in as little as six months. Because the treatment is only for mild orthodontic issues, results are usually quicker than other orthodontic treatments
- Whether you opt for clear aligners or fixed braces, they’re both a discreet way of straightening your teeth
Cons:
- Not everyone is suitable for cosmetic teeth straightening, because it only corrects minor orthodontic issues
Does it really take six months?
Six Month Smiles is a cosmetic treatment that can fix mild crowding, spacing and misalignment. If you’re suitable, the average treatment time is six months1. This depends on what you need correcting and could range from four to nine months. Other variables can affect treatment time, such as not wearing your aligners correctly or missing appointments at your practice.
The first step is to book a free consultation* with your local practice. Your orthodontist will assess your teeth and let you know if you’re suitable for the treatment. If not, there are lots of other alternative options.
How much does Six Months Smiles cost?
The cost of your treatment depends on your individual needs. Your orthodontist will assess your needs during your initial consultation and give you a clearer idea of cost.
They’ll create a treatment plan for you before you start your teeth straightening, to ensure you understand any associated costs.
What are the alternatives to Six Month Smiles?
Six Month Smiles isn’t suitable for everyone. If you’re not a candidate, Total Orthodontics offers various teeth straightening treatments that you might want to discuss with your orthodontist. Some of these include:
Invisalign treatment
A treatment using near-invisible, removable aligners to straighten your smile
Fixed ceramic braces
A discreet, fixed solution using tooth-coloured brackets and wires
Lingual braces
A discreet option using braces that are hidden behind the teeth
What to expect
At your consultation, we will chat through your options and suitability for different teeth straightening treatments.
*Terms and conditions:
1. Free consultations are to discuss options and suitability for treatment. You may require a more in-depth clinical examination or diagnostic tests before treatment options can be discussed. There may be a charge for such examination or test, payable by you. The clinician will discuss this with you before any such examination or test takes place, which may be done during the same appointment as your free consultation.
2. Children under 18 can be referred for a free NHS assessment, subject to availability of appointments. Private consultations for children are excluded from this offer and will be charged at our standard rate but the charge will be refunded to you in full if the child commences private treatment following the consultation.
3. Consultations subject to availability.
4. Free consultations available at participating practices only.
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Find out more
Find out more about teeth straightening, including the different types and cost of braces.
Invisalign treatment
The Invisalign system uses discreet, clear aligners to straighten your teeth gradually.
Ceramic braces
Ceramic braces are a discreet, fixed brace treatment that uses tooth-coloured brackets and wires.
Lingual braces
Lingual braces are attached to the back of your teeth, making them a discreet, hidden option.
Cost of braces
Learn more about how much braces might cost and the different options available to you.
Teeth straightening
Learn more about the types of treatment available at Total Orthodontics, including fixed braces and discreet, removable options.
Our orthodontists
*Terms and conditions:
1.Free consultations are to discuss options and suitability for treatment. You may require a more in-depth clinical examination or diagnostic tests before treatment options can be discussed. There may be a charge for such examination or test, payable by you. The clinician will discuss this with you before any such examination or test takes place, which may be done during the same appointment as your free consultation.
2.Children under 18 can be referred for a free NHS assessment, subject to availability of appointments. Private consultations for children are excluded from this offer and will be charged at our standard rate but the charge will be refunded to you in full if the child commences private treatment following the consultation.
3. Consultations subject to availability.
4. Free consultations available at participating practices only.
Total Orthodontics and Bupa Dental Care are trading names of Oasis Dental Care Limited. Registered in England Wales No: 00478127. Registered office: Bupa Dental Care, Vantage Office Park, Old Gloucester Road, Hambrook, Bristol, United Kingdom BS16 1GW.
