Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a very common and popular treatment used to straighten, move or realign a person’s teeth. It is a great solution for anyone wanting to enhance the appearance of their smile using minimally invasive techniques.
In the past, orthodontic treatment was usually associated with younger patients. Now, due to advancements in the dental industry, more and more adults are turning to orthodontics to correct misaligned teeth and improve their smile and confidence.
Here at Revitalise Dental Centre, we can transform your smile within 6 months with our bespoke teeth straightening treatment. We are proud to be an official provider of Six Month Smiles® – a revolutionary, short term orthodontic treatment using state of the art technology and providing incredible results.
Unlike traditional orthodontic treatment, which aims to alter the person’s back teeth alignment, short term orthodontics (STO) straightens the front teeth to fix a range of cosmetic dental complaints.
Short-term orthodontic treatment:
- Will give you a beautiful, straight smile in only six months
- Uses clear, discreet braces with no need for metal “train tracks”
- Preserves a greater proportion of enamel to keep the teeth healthy
In your consultation your personal Revitalise Dental Practitioner will talk to you about:
- The various treatment stages for short-term orthodontic treatment
- How treatment can be achieved in only six months with excellent results
- Patient finance and cost options
- Any concerns or worries you have about the treatment
- After Care
Further Information
What is Six Month Smiles® orthodontic treatment?
Developed in the USA, Six Month Smiles® is a revolutionary form of orthodontic treatment providing outstanding results. Using similar techniques to those found in traditional orthodontics, STO greatly reduces the treatment length and removes the need for fixed metal braces (often referred to as ‘train-tracks’) which are usually in place for 2-3 years.
Many people, particularly adults, are put off by the idea of wearing a very visible conventional metal brace or aligner, especially for a prolonged period of time. As a bespoke, short term orthodontic treatment, Six Month Smiles® offers a discreet, cosmetic brace system which makes use of tooth-coloured wires and clear brackets.
Why does Six Month Smiles® work faster than traditional orthodontics?
It might be hard to believe that a treatment which usually takes two to three years can be reduced so significantly. The reason Six Month Smiles® braces work so quickly is because they focus on straightening the front teeth, the ones more visible when you smile and talk. This is opposed to spending time correcting issues with your bite and your back teeth.
Traditional orthodontics can be split into two phases. Using Six Month Smiles® we essentially only focus on the first phase which is to de-rotate, level and align any teeth that might be out of position. The second phase deals with specific tooth relationships, particularly for the back teeth, adjusting them to ensure they match with current orthodontic standards.
Although the length of treatment is greatly reduced compared to more traditional orthodontic treatment, STO still uses a similar process. Braces are used to gently push and move the teeth, helping them become more aligned and creating a new natural position.
What to expect throughout your orthodontic treatment
After your initial consultation and having decided that you would like to proceed with STO treatment, we will book you in for an appointment with our highly experienced orthodontic dental team.
During this first appointment we will take a digital 3D scan of your teeth along with photos that display the current shape of your smile and alignment of your teeth. These images will be sent to the orthodontic team at Six Month Smiles®, who then work closely with our in-house specialists to create your bespoke care plan.
As soon as the plan for your treatment has been finalised, we will meet with you again to answer any further questions or concerns you may have. We will also look at an animation created by the team at Six Month Smiles® which will show you how your teeth will move throughout your treatment.
Over the six months following the fitting of your bespoke brace, your teeth will be gently pushed into their correct position; correcting crowded, spaced and overlapping teeth, as well as ones that are misaligned.
Every four weeks you will have an appointment to have your brace adjusted, just as you would with a traditional orthodontic treatment. When your brace is ready to be removed, you will need to wear a retainer for a short time; this is to maintain and secure the new, straight position of your teeth.
Short term orthodontic treatment for those with crowded teeth
You might have been told in the past that your teeth are too crowded for orthodontic treatment. If this is the case it may be an option for our specialist team to ‘file’ the teeth in places to provide them with more space, whilst reducing the pressure caused by the overlapping.
Although we do prefer to avoid filing teeth where possible, it is a perfectly safe procedure which will not affect the overall health or function of your teeth. The process we use is known as interproximal reduction and consists of removing a very thin layer of the enamel, the outer surface of the tooth, by passing a small, coarse strip between the crowded teeth.
Your Consultation
At Revitalise we want all of our customers and visitors to feel as comfortable and welcome as possible. That’s why we always offer an initial consultation which gives you the chance to meet our team, enjoy our beautiful facilities and explore your treatment options. It also allows you to discuss any concerns or worries and ask any questions you may have about the treatment.
Our helpful team are always on hand should you need further help or guidance on treatments, finance plans or visiting our centre and you can get in touch via email or phone.
Full Dental Check
Your health and safety is always our top priority, which is why you will need a full dental health check before we embark on any treatment programme with you. For orthodontics to be successful your teeth and gums must be in good condition. We will also ask about your general health, examine your teeth, gums and mouth and carry out any x-rays if necessary.
Finance and Cost Options
Dental treatment can be expensive in the short term but the benefits always outweigh the costs in the long run. At Revitalise we believe that everyone deserves excellent dental care and a smile they are confident to show off. This is why we offer a range of patient finance options which help to spread the cost of your orthodontic treatment. A member of our team will be more than happy to discuss your options in more detail at your initial consultation session.
What are the benefits of short term orthodontics?
Besides having a smile which makes you feel happy and confident, there are many reasons why you might choose short term orthodontics over another dental treatment option.
Improved oral hygiene – Crooked and crowded teeth are harder to clean, increasing the chances of tooth decay and gum disease. This is because it can be harder to brush and floss gaps that shouldn’t be there or teeth which are overcrowded. Straight teeth are much easier to clean and keep healthy, reducing the potential for oral health issues later in life.
Fast – Tooth misalignments can be corrected within six months, and sometimes even less. With short term orthodontics what would have originally taken several years to achieve is done in less than half the time.
Affordable – We believe everyone deserves a great smile which is why we have a range of payment plans available to suit your lifestyle and needs. Our goal is to give you back your smile confidence and with Six Month Smiles® we can achieve this quickly and efficiently for you.