Invisalign or 6 month Smiles?

Invisalign has been a good tool for adults interested in improving their smile without the traditional appearance of braces. The problem arises from the length of time that invisalign takes - usually 18 months to 2 years with the need for continually wearing the plastic retainers. Invisalign is also limited in its ability to shift teeth. Imagine trying to turn a stiff door handle, if you use your whole hand it can be relatively easy but if you are restricted to only using 2 fingers it gets considerably harder. Invisalign is similar to this analogy because it is able to applied limited force to a tooth.

6 month Smiles is an adult focused type orthodontics that solves peoples chief complaint. Quick movement of teeth in around 6 months with white wires and brackets so they are less visible and don't make you look 14 again. The difference with 6 months Smiles from traditional orthodontics is that it focuses on your front teeth  -the ones you are really worried about- rather than correcting your bite.

Here is a photo of a patient with six month smiles braces which are hard to see.

Where is your tooth from?

The current trend in dentistry is for practitioners to squeeze their costs down. The latest is utilizing overseas labs (such as China) to make crowns for teeth or implants. According to recent reports, Australian labs are losing up to 30% of their work to these overseas labs.

 The problem comes later as poorer workmanship results in fracturing porcelain from a crown or even the wrong metal being used in a crown. Crowns should last 15 years (90-95%) according to recent studies but as the drive to keep costs down continues, this lifespan is sure to decrease. Who would know if their crown broke at the 5 year mark that it was due to a cheaper lab being utilized? Dental consumers should always ask their dentist where the crown is being made. If you are happy with a Chinese product to save money, then you are well informed at the beginning of treatment. If you want Australian workmanship, then you need to ask prior to your appointment where it will be made. Its your mouth, you should know what has been cemented or bonded into it.