Answer:

Absolutely, yes! General Dentists CAN easily do ortho using the Six Month Smiles System. The system is designed specifically for GPs who have little or no orthodontic experience. The vast majority of adult patients are unwilling to undergo traditional orthodontic therapy. The Six Month Smiles System is the complete solution, making it easy for general dentists to treat these patients, and provide a service that they really want. The Six Month Smiles 2 Day Hands On Course gives dentists the skills and knowledge needed to start treating patients right away.

Answer:

The average case is completed in six months though the window of treatment time is generally 4-9 months. The two primary reasons for these short treatment times are:

1. The treatment goals are not exactly the same as those associated with conventional orthodontics. The most time consuming changes such as altering Angle Class and making significant midline changes are not part of short-term orthodontic treatment. The goal of most Six Month Smiles cases is very similar to most aligner cases: to give the patient a great new smile and to accomplish most, but not all, of what would be done with traditional orthodontic treatment.
2. Six Month Smiles Brackets and Wires are unique. The award winning Six Month Smiles brackets and wires are specific for short-term orthodontic treatment goals. These goals can be achieved efficiently and effectively because these brackets and wires are engineered with a specific prescription and have short-term orthodontic unique properties.

Answer:

After attending a Six Month Smiles 2 Day Hands On Course, the first step is to take records on the patient (including impressions, x-rays, and a complete exam). After the records appointment, the impressions of a patient's teeth and a case submission script are sent to the Six Month Smiles Case Processing Facility. Once the case is received, a bracket specialist identifies the correct location for bracket placement on models of the patient's teeth based on the desired result. Once all of the locations have been determined the bracket specialist carefully places all of the brackets so that the desired orthodontic result will be achieved. The specialist then fabricates custom bonding trays, making bonding the braces to the patient's teeth remarkably easy, efficient and stress free. The bonding trays, appropriate tooth colored wires, ties, and other needed materials are packaged into the Six Month Smiles Patient Tray Kit. Once the Patient Tray Kit has been assembled, it is returned to the dentist's office ready to use.

When the patient comes in for their braces on appointment, the Patient Tray Kit is retrieved and the process begins. After the braces on appointment, the patient is seen every 4 weeks, for a simple adjustment visit. Once the teeth are in the final position, the braces are easily removed and adequate retention is provided. The patient is able to enjoy a smile that looks great and no longer makes them feel self-conscious. The Six Month Smiles System is safe, straight-forward and patient focused.

Answer:

Traditional orthodontics, as most often performed by an orthodontist, seeks to achieve a “text book” and ideal Class 1 finish. This usually includes significant changes such as Angle class changes, transverse arch development and significant midline changes., if needed. When performed properly, these results can look fantastic but the treatment usually takes longer than two years to achieve.

Short-term orthodontics with the Six Month Smiles System involves treatment goals that are vast in scope but not as comprehensive as most traditional orthodontic cases. Specifically, with the Six Month Smiles System, the aim is to correct issues that deal with the patient's chief orthodontic complaints. This is often crowded, crooked, or spaced teeth. These complaints can often be easily corrected in about six months with the system. This is why Six Month Smiles if often referred to as cosmetically-focused, chief complaint driven, short-term orthodontics. The results speak for themselves and the patient satisfaction is tremendous.

The Six Month Smiles system utilizes unique clear Lucid-Lock brackets and wires that are specific for short-term orthodontic treatment goals. Lucid-Lok brackets are designed with the Swain prescription and their uniquely clear translucency blends seamlessly with the surrounding tooth structure. Lucid-Lok wires are tooth-colored shape memory wires that are highly active and provide consistent force levels to gently straighten and align teeth.

Answer:

Root resorption is not of more concern with Six Month Smiles than with any other type of orthodontic treatment. In fact, there is less chance for root resorption for Six Month Smiles cases. Root resorption is typically associated with high forces placed on teeth over a long period of time. With Six Month Smiles, the forces are very light and the treatment times are short. There is simply less time for resorption to occur compared to most traditional orthodontic cases.

Answer:

Retention at the completion of treatment is the same whether traditional or short-term orthodontics is performed. The methods of retention, both fixed and removable, are also similar, regardless of the two forms of orthodontics.

Answer:

There are many important differences between the Six Month Smiles System and those inherent with aligner treatment.

1. Treatment Time – Aligners are made out of clear plastic that can be removed by the patient, whereas Six Month Smiles utilizes unique clear bonded brackets and tooth-colored wires. Because aligners can be removed by the patient, compliance can slow or halt the desired tooth movement. Dentists who use both often report that Six Month Smiles works 2-3 times faster than aligners and that they can treat many more patients successfully with Six Month Smiles.
2. Predictable Tooth Movements – Aligners can be limited in achieving desired tooth movements. It is oftentimes difficult to correct a severely rotated lateral or extrude a canine with aligners. With Six Month Smiles, there is a wider range of treatment potential, as well as more capability to address unexpected tooth movements. In other words, the Six Month Smiles provider has greater control over the outcome of treatment and the desired tooth movements are more predictable.
3. Lower Case Fees – The cost of treating a patient with the Six Month Smiles System can be 1/3 the cost of using aligner therapy.

Dentists find that the Six Month Smiles system is more efficient, predictable and costs less than aligners.

Answer:

Six Month Smiles brackets and wires have been created to specifically address the unique treatment objectives of short-term orthodontics. Effecting desired tooth movements while reducing undesirable ones utilizing straight wires (no bending!) and shorter treatment times requires proprietary, patented designs. The unique shape memory wires work in conjunction with the pre-positioned brackets to brackets to allow for the desired results to be achieved easily and predictably.

Six Month Smiles Lucid-Lok Brackets

These unique clear brackets are specifically designed with the Swain prescription and allow dentists to obtain short-term orthodontic treatment goals with precision and efficiency. The angulations, in-out dimensions and off-sets are specific for these cosmetically focused cases. Also, their uniquely clear translucency blends seamlessly with surrounding tooth structure… and patients love that!

Six Month Smiles Lucid-Lok Wires

Six Month Smiles Lucid-Lok wires are tooth-colored shape memory wires that are highly active and provide consistent force levels to gently straighten and align teeth. The unique archform of Lucid-Lok wires provides for broad but appropriate arches and minimizes the need for IPR in short-term orthodontic cases.