How to choose between six months smile and Invisalign

If you suffer from misaligned teeth that are affecting your health and beauty and looking to align them, then this article will help you choose the best treatment option. Our professional orthodontists at Guilford's Woodbridge dental clinic are trained to perform a full evaluation of your teeth and provide you with a list of suitable aligners. Some of the common features of the two main aligners are as follows:

Materials

Six Months Smiles:

Brackets:

These are often made in square shape and are built using stainless steel, ceramic, or plastic. The ceramic option, which is used for the six months smile, is often aesthetically preferred because of its similar colour to teeth enamel. However, ceramic brackets are more expensive than stainless steel. Other aligners in this system are made of medical-grade thermoplastic materials and are hence transparent. This feature makes these clear braces more aesthetically superior to traditional braces.

Arch Wire and Spacers:

Spacers are placed between the teeth to secure the position of arch wires. These wires hold the brackets in place and help with the alignment of your teeth. They also come in the same colour as your teeth to be aesthetically pleasing. However, brackets can be placed on your teeth without arch wires. The extra materials used in the setup of traditional braces makes them advantageous in the treatment of more complex misaligned teeth.

Hygiene and Maintenance

Six Months Smiles:

These braces need to be permanently placed on your teeth for a given period to fully align your teeth.  However, there may be regions which are harder to clean. Therefore, careful cleaning is very important to avoid possible plaque formations and tooth cavities. Frequent monthly visits to your dental clinic are often needed at the beginning of placing your traditional brackets to adjust and tighten the wires and brackets on your teeth. Six months smile brackets are far quicker in teeth alignment than Invisalign.

Unlike traditional brackets, the removable Six Months Smiles braces can be removed to give you thorough access to your teeth for cleaning. Therefore, the hygiene of teeth aligned with Invisalign is easier to maintain. Having said that, it is very important to wash your teeth after each meal before re-using your braces to ensure optimal hygiene. The trays need to be changed every two weeks and require less frequent visit to your orthodontist.

Price Comparison:

Six Months Smiles:

Depending on the type of procedure, the price can vary significantly. For example, metal braces that sit in front of your teeth can typically cost between £1400 to £1800 for either lower or upper jaw. Traditional braces are not available for adults in the NHS dental scheme but are offered to people who are under 18 years of age.

Invisalign System (not offered by our practice) :

The price range for Invisalign mainly depends on whether it is required for both lower and upper jaw and therefore can range from £3000 to £6000 and much more expensive than our system.

We, at Guilford's Woodbridge dental clinic, are more than happy to answer your enquiries about choosing the right orthodontics for your teeth.