Short-Term Orthodontics: Crooked Teeth, Quickly Straightened
Posted on: 5 January 2021
Braces are an effective way to straighten your teeth. In many instances, patients who receive dental braces also need assistance with an overbite or underbite or even a dental malocclusion (when the upper and lower dental arches are not aligned when your mouth is closed). The solution to this problem requires a gradual, long-term application, which is why most patients will wear their dental braces for anywhere between one and three years. So, why do some orthodontists offer a six-month treatment plan?
Minor Issues
Short-term orthodontics offer a solution for minor issues. Although essentially anyone is eligible, it's important to remember that short-term orthodontics are not a means to bypass the required time to correct certain problems with your bite, such as an overbite, an underbite, or a dental malocclusion.
A Short-Term Approach
The short-term approach means that only issues such as crooked teeth will be addressed, with the braces being in place for sufficient time to gently force the teeth to rotate in their sockets until they reach the desired alignment. The impact on more serious orthodontic problems will be negligible. As such, an orthodontist may discourage patients with these more serious issues from a six-month treatment plan since a traditional long-term course of orthodontic treatment is the most effective way to correct these problems.
Six Months of Braces
The consultation and application of short-term braces are quite brief, which fits with the relatively short treatment time. Your orthodontist applies the braces (which can be transparent or tooth-colored for maximum discretion), and six months later, the braces will be removed. You will still need to see your orthodontist regularly during the treatment time, as your braces will need to be adjusted. There can be some mild discomfort after each adjustment, but this won't be significant and will quickly subside.
Six Months Later
Once the six months are up, you will still need to wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from returning to their previous alignment. This retainer must be worn as directed by your orthodontist, but the importance of the retainer will decrease over the coming months until you only need to wear it at night.
Short-term orthodontics are of little value to patients who need assistance with a more serious issue, but when the only problem with your teeth is the fact that they're crooked, the solution can take as little as six months. Speak with a professional about the best orthodontics option for you.
Share