Anyone else on a short-term treatment program?

[Skeptical]

I'm about 5 weeks into what is estimated to be about a 4mo treatment duration just to straighten out some crowding. I've got metal self-ligating braces (not sure what brand) on uppers & lowers but only the 6 front teeth on both. I had no intention of doing braces because of the $$ and time committment but when my dentist suggested that I could improve the crowding (which was all I was concerned with anyway) in about 4mo and I found out insurance pays a portion I jumped on it. I've been scouring this site for other members who are in a similar situation and, unfortunately, haven't found much :( I must say, I've been very skeptical from the beginning that I'd get a decent result in such a short time, and it doesn't help that so many people have questioned the same AND I can't find anyone here who seems to be in the same boat. Is anyone else out there on a short-term treatment plan? i.e. Six Month Smiles, speed braces, etc? I'm so unsure about this whole process I could really use some advice/words of wisdom/experienced opinions.

[threescompany]

Hi!

I'm on a pretty short treatment plan. My ortho estimated 6 months to close all the gaps in my teeth (one central upper that's pretty big, and side spaces after the front six on the bottom). My teeth are relatively straight to begin with. I have ceramic upper and lowers, and only the farthest back molars are not attached. No insurance so I'm paying out of pocket, but the six-month treatment plan sold me.

I'm almost 4 weeks in and don't think I'm seeing much change. My first adjustment is Friday so I'm very curious so hear what the ortho has to say and do.

[francis29]

I am 3 1/2 weeks into a 5 month sentence; My teeth are straight for the most part, I have only a few gaps on the bottom and some over crowding (and a left canine fang) on the top, I will be done in 5 months. I have 8 brackets on the top (ceramic for the social 6; metal for the other 2) and 6 metal brackets on the lower. I already see movement in the teeth and can now easily floss bwtn my top teeth. Before the braces it was hard to get the floss btwn the teeth, as the teeth were so close together. I had my first adjustment yesterday and the new top wire is much straighter than the first one and I am 100% confident I will be thrilled with the results. I was in traditional full mouth fixed braces as a teenager (all teeth braced, molars banded, headgear, elastics, the works) for 3 years and when my wisdom teeth came in in my 20's the over crowding came back, the left canine became a fang again, and not wearing a retainer took their toll and here I am again back in braces. I developed an overbite again after 20 years out of braces and have a Class II of 4mm's which we are not correcting, due to that entailing two teeth pulled and at 42 I am trying to keep the teeth I have not remove them. I was also not going to consider extracting two healthy teeth and 18-24 months in braces when I want a pretty smile and straight teeth which I will have in 5 months (less than now).

Three company ~ Good luck at your first adjustment! I LOOOVED mine yesterday and LOOOVE the new wires and my teeth already look so much straighter in just the new wire. I think you will be very pleased on Friday! Oh and getting new O-rings on my cement braces made my teeth white again! I am not giving up coffee for anything so that won't last long.

Francis

[alignment]

I was told 8 months. I'm about to get my braces off and need some advice:

I'm nearing my last appointment and am a bit stressed out about the alignment of my teeth. I was hoping you could give me your imput. I just uploaded my photo to imgur but this message board says I'm unable to submit photos or urls :( how can i show you guys my teeth??

LINK TO PHOTO: imgur dot com/uFqoz

So I think the canine on the right side of the photo is much too high. My ortho disagrees and just made a "step" adjustment today to move the lateral incisor on the right side of the picture higher in order to match the canine on the right. I thought I was crazy so I uploaded this photo and I'm pretty sure that the lateral incisor on the right (next to the middle teeth) is already high enough.

I'm stressed and worried that moving it higher is going to make it look like I have buck teeth. I want to go back and tell her to remove the step and bring down the canine - she said she won't bring down the canine in today's appointment but maybe after I should her this photo she'll change her mind.

Help!!

[Skeptical]

Wow. You must be quite a perfectionist. I think they look beautiful. Before you get yourself so worked up wait and see what the ortho tells you. Hopefully she'll set your mind at ease. Good luck.

[khart84]

I am doing the 6 month smiles program (although my dentist said he thinks it will take about 5 months.) Right now I am only 3 weeks in but I have noticed a little change. I had minimal crowding on the bottom and it already seems to have straightened that out a bit. While my main concern was the space between my top two teeth, I haven't noticed any change there. I go back in about 2 weeks for my first adjustment and am anxious to hear what he has to say! Also, my dentist stressed to me that this was purely cosmetic and they do not focus on fixing any bite issues in this short amount of time. I do have what he called an "open" bite but it has never been an issue for me. Good luck to you.

And alignment.. I think your teeth look great!!

[TinySmiley]

my estimated treatment time is by the end of the summer, so 4 mons. But that is only because I did Invisalign first (for a year and a half).

[Harriet]

I've got the 6 month smiles braces, I had them put on just under 2 weeks ago. My case is fairly straightforward, I have a diastema (gap between front teeth) and crowding of my front lower teeth. I have no molar crowding and my bite is fine hence the reason I only need braces for a short amount of time. I started seeing a difference after about 5 days, the lower front teeth have started straightening out. My top teeth aren't braced yet, I'm having a consultation with an oral surgeon about getting a labial frenectomy first.