Does Six Month Smiles Really Move Teeth Faster Than Regular Braces?

I have recently had several patients who have asked me about ads they’re hearing on the radio and TV about a “new” orthodontic technique that can straighten teeth in only six months and do it cheaper than regular braces. What is this “new” technology? Can it really move teeth faster? Is it safe? And is it really cheaper than braces from an orthodontist?

Dentists offering short-term orthodontic treatment typically take a 2-day course
There are several “short-term orthodontic” companies that offer primary care dentists two-day courses in straightening teeth and then provide them with the marketing and dental supplies necessary to begin offering braces immediately upon leaving the seminar. Two of the most popular companies are Six Month Smiles and PowerProx Six Month Braces. The demand for these products has been huge because on the surface they offer patients what they want, shorter treatment time for less money. What is this new technology and does it really move teeth faster?

Short-term orthodontics moves teeth the same speed as regular orthodontic treatment
There is nothing new about the braces used in short-term orthodontics. Some doctors use clear or tooth colored braces. Others may offer short-term treatment using good old fashioned silver brackets. The braces used by dentists offering reduced treatment time are exactly the same as those used by orthodontists. There is nothing in the design of these brackets or wires that moves the teeth any faster. The rate at which teeth move is limited by natural processes in the bone and ligaments around the teeth and all doctors play by the same biological rules. The speed at which the teeth will move during Six Month Smiles or PowerProx treatment is exactly the same as conventional orthodontic treatment no matter which brand of brackets or wires are being used. If the rate of tooth movement is the same, how can they get the same orthodontic result in only six months?

Short-term orthodontics gives you a different result than full treatment
The answer lies in the phrase “same orthodontic result.” Providers of short-term orthodontics will tell you, if they are following the guidelines given at their seminar, that the reason their treatment is shorter is because they are shooting for a different end result. As a specialist, I am trained not only to align the front teeth (the “social six”), but also to correct crowding, protrusion, open bites, deep bites, cross bites, over bites, under bites, impacted teeth, extra teeth, missing teeth, etc. Straightening the teeth in front that people see is generally achievable in the first six months of treatment no matter who provides the treatment. It is the correction of the above-listed bite issues that requires the extra time. The braces are on the teeth a shorter time with short-term orthodontics because the dentist merely aligns the front teeth and then takes the braces off without addressing the other problems. In other words, the treatment isn’t faster, it is just shorter because it is intentionally terminated before treatment is complete. But what if you only want your front teeth straight? Is this treatment approach healthy?

Short-term orthodontics may actually create worse problems than you start with
Every smile is different. There are some patients that can be treated in six months or less and the results are just fine. These patients usually start with only mild crowding or spacing. These patients have a bite at the start that is fairly normal. If the problems are mild, then six months is plenty of time… and the fees should reflect the shorter treatment time. If you have crowding, an open bite, a deep bite, an over bite, or bite issues in the back, merely aligning the front teeth in six months may leave you feeling things are worse after treatment than they were before. Crowded teeth will flare forward if merely aligned. Small overbites may become big overbites. Open bites may open further. Problems with the occlusion may actually get worse if the braces change the bite and then the teeth are left in that position. I’ve seen cases where six months of treatment gave a decent result. I’ve also retreated patients who were unhappy with their protrusive teeth and a bite that wasn’t corrected by the “short-term treatment” they received elsewhere. The key is having the training and experience to recognize if a case really is “simple.”

You actually get less for your money
Finally, is short-term orthodontics really cheaper? Patients who have come to me for second opinions have disclosed that their quote for six months of treatment was about 75% of what I quoted them for full treatment. This sounds less expensive at first, but if the treatment I provide takes from 12 to 18 months and fixes everything, paying 75% of my fee to get only the front teeth straightened is actually more expensive. For example, imagine that you get two quotes for painting your home. If one painter quotes you $4000 to paint the entire house and a second offers to paint just the front side that is visible from the street for $3000, which one is actually cheaper? Additionally, if you are not happy with your final result, you’ll have to pay a real orthodontist to put your braces back on and finish the case.

My dad taught me that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Orthodontists are specialists with two to three years additional training beyond dental school in straightening your teeth. Does it make sense that a dentist with only a two-day course can straighten your teeth faster than a specialist? Your smile and bite are a complex system. You only get one set of teeth. Shouldn’t you do your homework and make sure you get the right treatment the first time?

NOTE: The author, Dr. Greg Jorgensen, is a board-certified orthodontist who is in the private practice of orthodontics in Rio Rancho, New Mexico (a suburb on the Westside of Albuquerque). He was trained at BYU, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Iowa in the United States. Dr. Jorgensen’s 25 years of specialty practice and 10,000 finished cases qualify him an expert in two-phase treatment, extraction and non-extraction therapy, functional orthodontics, clear aligners (Invisalign), and multiple bracket systems (including conventional braces, Damon and other self-ligating brackets, Suresmile, and lingual braces). This blog is for informational purposes only and is designed to help consumers understand currently accepted orthodontic concepts. It is not a venue for debating alternative treatment theories. Dr. Jorgensen is licensed to diagnose and treat patients only in the state of New Mexico. He cannot diagnose cases described in comments nor can he select treatment plans for readers. Because he has over 25,000 readers each month, it is impossible for him respond to all questions. Please read all of the comments associated with each article as most of the questions he receives each week have been asked and answered previously. The opinions expressed here are protected by copyright laws and can only be used with written permission from the author.