Invisalign Vs. Six Month Smiles: Your Questions Answered

These days, teeth straightening treatments are not just for teenagers. With treatments such as Invisalign and Six Month Smiles revolutionising the art of orthodontics, there has never been a better time to address those crooked teeth and get a picture-perfect smile – whatever your age.

Historically, the idea of wearing metal appliances on your teeth for up to two years has been off-putting to many people, and you’d be forgiven for sticking to having gappy, misaligned teeth. Fortunately, the options now available are both subtle and life-changing.

So, when deciding between Invisalign and Six Month Smiles, which should you choose?

In this guide, we’ll explore the main differences between the two options so that you can make an informed decision on how you’ll get your new look.

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a relatively new orthodontic option that was first developed in the late 1990s. Over the last two decades, it’s grown in popularity to become one of the world’s leading aligners and is used by patients of all ages.

Invisalign treatment involves wearing a set of clear aligners that are tailor-made using medical-grade plastic to perfectly fit your mouth. You’ll wear your aligners for as much of the day as possible, however, you can take them out to eat and brush your teeth.

What Does Invisalign Help With?

There are a variety of dental issues that Invisalign can help with. These include:

• Misaligned teeth – Also known as malocclusion, crooked teeth are one of the most common reasons people turn to Invisalign.

• Overcrowded teeth – If your teeth are bunched together they can be harder to clean leading to tooth decay and gum disease. By spreading your teeth out using Invisalign, you can minimise the risk of further oral health problems.

• • Overbite – If your top teeth extend over your bottom set it can lead to jaw pain, gum disease, and tooth decay.
  • Crossbite – When your upper teeth fit inside your lower teeth it can lead to facial pain and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

• Underbite – Lower teeth that protrude and go in front of your upper teeth can cause you to grind your teeth and may also cause TMJ disorder.

• Open bite – If your upper and lower teeth don’t touch each other when your mouth is closed, it can affect your speech. Invisalign can help address this.

How Does Invisalign Work?

When you choose Invisalign, we’ll take digital impressions of your teeth. This will help us plot out the entire treatment plan. Using the latest technology, you’ll even get to see what your new smile will look like before treatment even starts.

Each aligner we provide you will exert a small amount of pressure on your teeth. While wearing the aligner, your teeth will be navigated into a new position. 

Every few weeks, you’ll be given a new set of aligners. Your new aligner will be ever-so-slightly different to the last and will help your teeth gradually shift toward the perfect position.

Learn more about the Invisalign process here.

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

Treatment lengths vary depending on the severity of your malocclusions, however, on average this is between 9 and 15 months. 

Many people notice changes in the position of their teeth after just a few weeks of wearing Invisalign. 

What Are the Benefits of Invisalign?

The benefits of Invisalign are: 

• The treatment uses clear aligners that are barely visible when in your mouth
• Invisalign aligners can be removed when eating or brushing your teeth
• The aligners are comfortable and unobtrusive

What Is an Invisalign Diamond Provider?

Love Teeth Dental are proud to be recognised by Invisalign as being one of the few Diamond providers in the UK. That puts us in the top 1% of dentists that offer this treatment option. 

What Is Six Month Smiles?

Probably the fastest treatment option for straightening your teeth available anywhere is Six Month Smiles. Unlike Invisalign, Six Month Smiles uses a combination of fixed brackets and wires to achieve astonishing results in a very short timeframe.

What Does Six Month Smiles Help With?

Six Month Smiles is the perfect solution for dealing with problems with the positioning of your front teeth. Six Month Smiles is perfect for making cosmetic changes that will help boost your confidence. 

In most cases, treatment takes just six months!

How Does Six Month Smiles Work?

Six Month Smiles uses discreet clear wires and brackets designed to match the colour of your teeth. While they’re not perfectly invisible, they are very subtle and most people won’t notice you’re even wearing them.

Having Six Month Smiles fitted to your teeth takes roughly one hour. Once in place, we’ll get you to come back in every few weeks and we’ll adjust the wire. 

As it’s tightened, the wire will gently pull your teeth into their new position. You’ll barely notice it doing this, and pretty soon you’ll have a new smile that you’ll love showing off. 

Learn more about the Six Month Smiles process here.

Which Option is Best for You?

Invisalign is an effective solution for dealing with many issues relating to the position of your teeth. Treatment may take longer than Six Month Smiles, however, it is more subtle and removable.

On the other hand, Six Month Smiles can provide great results on minor malfunctions in a relatively short space of time. 

Using state of the art equipment like the iTero intraoral 3D scanner, we’re able to take comprehensive and accurate images and impressions of your teeth to send directly to the necessary labs. This allows us to carefully plan out your treatment. 

Your Care at Love Teeth Dental

At Love Teeth Dental we’re committed to ensuring you get the treatment option that’s best for you. Before starting any procedure or treatment, we’ll get you in for an initial consultation where we’ll answer any questions you may have. 

To discuss your options in more detail, arrange a consultation and discover what difference Invisalign and Six Month Smiles can bring to your life.