Whenever you seek orthodontic Manchester treatment it’s usually because you have a problem with the alignment of your teeth. This can be anything from a slightly misaligned or crooked tooth that spoils the appearance of your smile, through to severe bite problems due to malocclusions. Fortunately there are a variety of treatments available ranging from Invisalign offers to super-fast orthodontic treatment.
While there has been much written about the wonders of Invisalign, there isn’t much information available about fast or accelerated orthodontics. In fact many people don’t even know that such a thing exists. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look.
First of all, what exactly is fast orthodontics?
You’re probably aware that conventional braces involve having a series of permanent brackets and wiring fitted to the teeth. You may have even worn braces as a child. If you did you’ll also know that it wasn’t a quick treatment. In fact on average children wear braces for around 18 months but depending upon the severity of the condition, this can be anywhere up to 30 months. While this might be okay for children, as adults it seems that we want everything faster and cheaper. Unfortunately, conventional brace appliances don’t fall into either category.
As adults, we also desire a healthier, better looking smile, but we don’t necessarily want to wait over 2 years to get it. This is where fast orthodontic treatment comes in. Over the last decade or so, orthodontic Manchester treatment has included treatments such as C-Fast, Six Month Smiles and Secret Smiles, all of which are designed to straighten teeth quickly. In fact some of which can do the job in a matter of weeks not months.
So how do they work?
In essence, they work in exactly the same way as most other fixed orthodontic appliances in that they move teeth by applying continual gentle force (whereas aligner style treatments, such as Invisalign, offers patients a more discreet treatment using invisible trays worn over the teeth). Normally this is achieved via a series of self-tensioning wires that are threaded through small brackets, which in turn are attached to the teeth. The only real difference is that accelerated orthodontic treatments do it quicker. While this sounds great, there is a caveat and it’s this…….
When full term orthodontic appliances are in action they actually move the teeth relatively quickly. That’s the easy part. The harder part, and one that takes the most time, is moving the tooth root. This is because it takes a while for the bone structure to move and reform. Therefore, it’s impossible for fast orthodontic treatment to do this in just a few months. As such the teeth are moved, but the tooth roots aren’t. In addition, to cut down ‘appliance time’ even more, accelerated orthodontic treatment concentrates only on the upper and lower front teeth which are visible when you smile. So that’s the trade off!
Of course you might argue that speedy orthodontic treatments only do half a job and I guess you could say that this is true. As such they certainly wouldn’t be beneficial for a patient with more severe orthodontic issues. That said they are ideal for those patients who have mild orthodontic problems and are looking for a quick cosmetic fix. It may be that they have a crooked or flared tooth that spoils their smile; or alternatively they have a slight tooth gap and want to look their best before an upcoming event, such as a job interview, a family gathering, or even a date. Whatever the reason, these people are looking for a speedy cosmetic solution and fast orthodontic treatment gives them exactly this.
So in answer to the question in the title – “Does fast orthodontics work?” The answer is that provided a patient is concerned purely about the cosmetic side of straightening teeth, and is aware that it will only work on the visible upper and lower front teeth, then absolutely YES!
If you’d like to find out more about fast orthodontic treatment, or what longer treatments such as Invisalign offers, then contact our orthodontic Manchester practice at Church Road. To book a consultation call us on 0161 660 1218 today and take the first steps towards a healthier smile and a happier you.
