Speed…

Fast…

Quick braces… Sounds too good to be true?

6-month braces… Let us take a closer look

Orthodontic appliances (braces) have seen a tremendous change as technology has advanced over the 20th century. What began as large, unsightly and uncomfortable rings around the teeth are now small, discrete and smooth braces and aligners, increasing their popularity. Procedures have been simplified, materials have advanced and above all, there has been a sizeable social shift towards having whiter, and more youthful smiles.

Marketing and braces

Naturally, the world of marketing has quickly caught up with this braces trend and many braces companies (manufacturers) and dental providers have brainstormed different marketing campaigns to help sell their products and rise above the competition. There have been numerous claims made relating to the shape, materials, design and look of braces. You can now get braces in the shape of a triangle, a gold star or even Mickey Mouse! However, consumers need to be very aware of this marketing push as most claims made are not supported by science and sometimes are hugely inaccurate and misleading.

So, how long do I need braces on for?

How long do I need braces on for?

The braces journey can range hugely between different patients. There are treatments that require simple, small and snappy movements that an orthodontist might be able to achieve in 2-3 visits, meaning around 4-6 months of wearing braces. Voilà! Straight teeth! However, we need to appreciate that not every person needs simple movements. Often, patients who present to a specialist orthodontist require more complicated tooth movements, in all three dimensions in order to correct the bite.

Specialist orthodontists have a responsibility to their patients – their expertise, experience and extensive education mean they are able to achieve an excellent treatment result that is stable. They provide information that is accurate and specific to each and every patient. This includes information on the speed or length of braces treatment (or alternative options) and the relative costs associated with this treatment.

Magic braces?

Not only does the initial position of a tooth/group of teeth matter when it comes to correcting alignment issues, but specialist orthodontists have an in-depth understanding of the biology of tooth movement. It is important to understand that no two patients are ever the same with regards to treatment. The way that the teeth move, the bones heal and the muscles are positioned, are the reasons why in-depth knowledge and understanding is required to be able to treat a patient’s tooth alignment issues. Being specialist orthodontists mean that we specialise only in this field, which makes us experts in straightening teeth, aligning groups of teeth and correcting poor bites…and because this is our specialty, we tend to get it done in the most efficient timeframe (which reduces costs), every time.

How many times do you want to be treated?

When all consumers are grouped as one and a blanket rule is applied e.g. “6-month braces,” this is where we start to see lots of broken promises, failed treatment, unstable results and at the end of the day, unhappy patients. So, the next time you hear that it is fast and cheap…think twice!

Our specialist orthodontists are highly respected experts in their field – come and see the difference for yourself! Mo and Azza

Join the discussion 2 Comments

  • Faafouina says:

    How much is it for fast braces?

    • Hi Faafouina,

      Apologies as we had only seen your message now.
      The orthodontist would need to see you before providing a quote. As you can appreciate, people have all sorts of differing bite and alignment problems. This makes it extremely difficult to give you an honest answer to your question as your teeth have not been assessed.

      Hope that helps.

      Kind regards,

      The Shakespeare Orthodontics Team