Minor Tooth Misalignment? See How Fast-Acting Braces Can Help!
A smile can be spoiled by quite small problems; fortunately there are some rapid solutions
Crooked teeth are quite a widespread problem. They can cause all sorts of issues, from an incorrect bite that can lead to premature damage to teeth that overlap, creating a problem when cleaning and often leading to tooth decay.
For most people though, the most obvious issue with a crooked tooth is that, if it is one of the front teeth, it can really ruin what would otherwise be an attractive smile.
Understandably, people who are keen to have an attractive smile are reluctant to have dental braces, perhaps thinking of them in terms of ‘old school’ braces. These were traditionally made from a dark coloured metal and were highly visible. For these patients, it is often a case of finding the right solution that will straighten the affected tooth but in a less visible manner, and of course, as quickly as possible.
Cosmetic braces
‘Cosmetic braces’ is a general term for orthodontic devices that are designed for minor corrections where teeth have become crooked, or overlapping, usually at the front of the mouth. These teeth, sometimes known as the ‘social six’ due to their high visibility when we smile, are single rooted and therefore usually more easily corrected than the rear teeth which are double rooted. At the Cygnet Dental Practice in Wickford, we offer solutions to both of these problems, with the Invisalign system being most widely used for more significant corrections and the Six Month Smiles system for more cosmetic ones.
So, how do they do this? Unlike Invisalign which uses transparent trays that fit over your teeth, the Six Month Smiles system does use the more traditional method of wires and brackets. The advantage of this system for our patients is that the materials used are both less bulky and also made from a tooth coloured material. It is also a fast acting system and, although the name would indicate that the treatment takes six months, in itself quite fast for a teeth straightening treatment, it can in fact take much less time than that. The length of the treatment will depend on your situation and the dentist should be able to give you an indication of the treatment length during your consultation before the braces are fitted.
This treatment is designed to be as comfortable as possible, and in addition to their professional fitting by our dentist, it is worth noting that the Six Month Smiles system uses the minimum of pressure possible, making them more comfortable than some other types of orthodontics. It is important that teeth are not ‘forced’ into position too quickly by applying too much force as this could damage both the tooth and underlying bone structure.
How do I get this treatment?
If you have crooked teeth, you will first of all need to be examined and assessed by our cosmetic dental team. As well as deciding if the Six Month Smiles orthodontic system is the correct one for you, it is also important to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy before the treatment starts. This may require some non-invasive intervention by the hygienist in the form of a scale and polish procedure as well as by the dentist if necessary. Once we are happy that this system is the most appropriate treatment for you and you have a healthy mouth, the orthodontics can be fitted using materials in a shade that, as closely as possible, matches your existing tooth colour to ensure maximum discretion for the time you are wearing them.
You will need to take care to clean your teeth well whilst wearing these braces as, with wiring, food can become trapped, potentially leading to gum disease and tooth decay. We will offer full advice on this and answer any queries you might have with you.
Complete your smile
Once your teeth have been straightened, you might want to take that extra step towards having the best looking smile possible by having them professionally whitened. Our popular customised ‘at home’ teeth whitening treatment is a great way to really transform your smile now that you have straighter teeth. In just a week or two, you can whiten your teeth by up to eight shades, giving you a more attractive smile than before.
If you would like to discuss having your teeth straightened, or any of our other cosmetic dental treatments, why not give us a call? You can phone the Cygnet Dental Practice on 01268 733078 to arrange an initial consultation with one of our friendly Wickford dentists. We look forward to seeing you and helping you transform your smile into one you can be proud of!