More and more adults choose to straighten their teeth today than ever before. Straightening your teeth has many intrinsic and extrinsic benefits. With straight teeth, you’ll be more confident, which will make it easier to build new relationships. You’ll have a better chance at getting a promotion at work, and you’ll experience an improved social life since you’ll no longer avoid social situations where you would have to show your teeth. You can smile proudly with a beautiful, straight smile. Having straight teeth has health benefits, too. Benefits like clearer speech, easier chewing, easier teeth brushing, reduced tooth wear, a stronger and healthier jawbone, and a reduced risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Who knew that all having straight teeth could change your life so much?

With the escalation of adults choosing to straighten their teeth, many new teeth straightening options are available. With the many different types of braces and braces alternatives, it can be challenging to choose which one is best for you. Use this guide to help you decide which type of teeth straightening is right for you and your smile.

group of friends smiling, enjoying the warm outdoors

Six Month Smiles™

How Long? 6 Months.

Advantages? Quick, clear brackets, tooth-colored wires, cost-effective, versatile treatment.

Limitations? Moves only the front teeth, which can not correct significant bite problems.

Six Month Smiles is another six-month treatment time, clear brackets, and tooth-coloured wires alternative to traditional braces. Often, when treating a cosmetic smile issue, the back teeth do not need to be moved, so we skip those and only straighten the front teeth, giving you the smile you’ve been dreaming of for less of an investment. To know if you’re a candidate for straightening your teeth with Six Month Smiles, you’ll need to be examined by a Six Month Smiles certified dentist. However, if you’re a candidate for traditional braces, you’re a candidate for Six Month Smiles. This treatment uses the same technology as traditional braces that have been practiced for years and years, so it’s predictable. You’ll know that your smile and your dentist are backed with the knowledge of the most studied orthodontic treatment.

Clear Aligners

How Long? 5 Months.

Advantages? They’re invisible, quick, comfortable, have no diet restrictions, reduced cost, and are removable.

Limitations? Up to the wearer to wear them as recommended, and they can only treat minor to moderate cosmetic issues.

Clear braces are an excellent option for adults to straighten their teeth without “braces.” Instead, clear, plastic aligners are used to straighten your smile. With clear aligners, you’ll have a series of 5 aligners that you wear for a month at a time. These aligners are removable, so you don’t have to worry about diet restrictions, and they make it easy to keep your teeth clean! Using the same theory of traditional braces, the clear aligners will encourage your teeth to move and your jawbone to reshape around their new position. You must wear them for 20 hours per day, but as a rule of thumb, it’s best to wear them at all times when you aren’t eating or brushing your teeth. 

Note: As with all orthodontic treatments, the only way to keep your teeth straight is to wear the provided retainer after treatment is complete. If you fail to wear your retainer at night, your teeth will move again. It’s up to you to keep your teeth straight!

Braces Alternative: Porcelain Veneers

How Long? One month.

Advantages? They can straighten, whiten, and reshape your teeth at once, and treatment is quick.

Limitations? Veneers can not fix a poor bite. They are only for cosmetic issues.

An alternative to braces or straightening your natural teeth is porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are thin sheets of durable, tooth-colored ceramic that fit over your natural teeth. Many people will get porcelain veneers to give them a complete smile makeover. These dental veneers are resistant to staining, can straighten your teeth, remove gaps, and give your teeth an even shape. Porcelain veneers are best for people who have good oral health. If you have tooth decay, you’ll need to have it treated before moving forward, and you may need another option, such as dental implants. Dental veneers are a quick treatment, usually only requiring two visits, and can be completed in a month.

Teeth Straightening in Baulkham Hills

If you’re looking for teeth straightening in Baulkham Hills, you’ve come to the right place. My Hill’s Dentist is your one-stop-shop for cosmetic dentistry and teeth straightening. Dr. David Lee is a highly trained dentist certified in Six Month Smiles and Smilefast. Though, if you choose another option, Dr. Lee is experienced in those, too, and he can help you choose the best orthodontic treatment for you. You don’t need to live with a smile you’re unhappy with. Choose to straighten your teeth with Dr. Lee and his team at My Hill’s Dentist in Baulkham Hills. Call (02) 9686 7375 today or make an appointment online.