Blog
11/26/2019
Your smile says a lot about you, and one of the top ways you can exude confidence and health is with straight, beautiful teeth. The benefits of a straight smile don't stop at appearance – when your teeth are in proper alignment, you can clean them better at home with brushing and flossing and you are less likely to experience bite problems or uneven wear and tear on your teeth. At Alpha Plus™ Dental Center in Brookline, MA, adults who want to straighten their teeth have options to discreetly transform their smiles, including clear braces with Six Month Smiles® and Invisalign® clear aligners. If you have been avoiding seeking orthodontic treatment because you dread having unsightly metal braces for years, read on to learn more about these fast and effective – and nearly invisible – treatment options!
Six Month Smiles
Six Month Smiles use wires that are tooth-colored and brackets that are clear to rapidly straighten the front six teeth. These teeth are treated instead of the full mouth because they are the ones that have the greatest impact on your smile and shifting them into alignment takes less time than a full arch of teeth. In fact, as you probably guessed, Six Month Smiles gets its name because it typically takes only six months for the full treatment! This type of tooth straightening is best for misaligned teeth rather than other issues such as bite problems, and has the following benefits:- Because it is short-term, there is less chance of oral hygiene problems
- It is safe
- Bracket-and-wire braces provide the most predictable tooth-straightening results
- It costs less than traditional braces
- The braces are barely visible so you can smile with confidence during your treatment
Invisalign
While Six Month Smiles uses the traditional brackets and wires to straighten teeth, Invisalign is a whole new paradigm for shifting your teeth into the correct alignment. Invisalign uses clear aligners made from comfortable, BPA-free plastic that is custom-molded to gradually shift your teeth into the correct position. After taking initial digital impressions of your teeth to plan out your treatment, your series of aligners will be custom-made in a laboratory. After wearing the first set for two weeks, you will switch the aligners out for the next set in the series. With each new set of aligners, your teeth will gently shift closer to their ideal place. Invisalign aligners are completely removable and offer many benefits for patients, including:- Freedom to eat whatever you want without restrictions
- Ease of brushing and flossing to maintain good oral hygiene during treatment
- Completely discreet treatment – others will likely not even notice you are wearing the aligners
- Aside from misalignment, other mild orthodontic issues such as bite problems, gaps, and crowding can be remedied with Invisalign
- Using advanced computer technology and digital treatment planning, you can see your what your results will look like before you even start your treatment
