A recent survey has shown that 43% of adults would like to straighten their smiles, yet we still hesitate. Maybe it’s due to the cost and the time commitment. Perhaps it was because we wore clumsy-looking metal braces when we were younger, but now our teeth have moved again. Short-term orthodontics can offer a solution for some adults.
Let’s look at the key principles of short-term orthodontics:
- Treatment is less visible – using thin, tooth-coloured wires and clear brackets.
- Movements are confined to the teeth at the front of your mouth, known as the ‘social six’, because these are the ones we use to smile.
- And that makes it faster. Most cases take around 6 months, but treatment can be as quick as 4 months with more complex cases taking around 9-12 months.
What’s involved in the treatment?
At your first visit after the consultation and initial impressions, the clinician fits clear brackets to your teeth using tooth-coloured composite resin. Each bracket is fastened to the middle of the tooth regardless of its current position.
A tooth-coloured wire is then threaded through each of the brackets. It’s made of nickel-titanium and is incredibly springy – in fact, you could easily roll it into a ball and it would still spring back to its original shape. This wire is also very thin, under 0.5mm, and is manufactured to spring back into a perfect U shape that is exactly right for your teeth.
When it’s first fitted the wire zig-zags between the teeth but because it wants to spring back into that perfect U, it applies a gentle force to each bracket. The force is much, much softer than the forces applied by wires in conventional orthodontics.
Moving the teeth outwards into the ideal arch shape naturally provides extra space for the crowded teeth to settle into.
Sometimes, however, simply moving the teeth outward may not create enough space for proper alignment. In such situations, interproximal reduction may be recommended. This involves gently reducing the width of certain teeth by no more than 0.5mm, using ultra-thin sandpaper-like strips. The process is entirely painless and helps create the necessary space for a more even alignment without affecting the overall appearance or strength of the teeth.
How do teeth move?
When you apply orthodontic forces to teeth, you’re encouraging them to move by nudging their environment into action. The process is called bone remodelling, and it is largely controlled by the periodontal ligament (PDL), which is the soft tissue that cushions the teeth in their sockets.
So, when the wire gently pulls a tooth, the force compresses the PDL on one side of the root while stretching it on the opposite side. This stimulates the compressed side to produce more osteoclasts, these are cells that break down bone in the area and allow the tooth to move that way. Meanwhile, the stretched PDL on the other side of the tooth is stimulated to make more osteoblasts which lay down new bone behind the tooth as it moves.
It’s a slow, controlled process driven by the nickel-titanium wire which wants to spring back into its perfect arch, but it is enabled and orchestrated by the PDL and the beauty of biology.
The tooth isn’t just being pushed into place! It’s being escorted, along with its socket, by a whole team of cells.
So, why is short-term orthodontics faster than conventional orthodontics?
Firstly, and very simply, it’s because it moves fewer teeth. Concentrating on the ‘social six’ at the front of the mouth means you get the smile you want more quickly.
The second reason is counter-intuitive and more complex.
It turns out that teeth move more quickly with gentler forces. When a stronger force is applied the compressed PDL becomes too squashed to create those osteoblasts we discussed earlier. This can be the case with traditional braces.
The result is that bone has to perform the task. Osteoblasts are created in the bone in front of the socket and the tooth eventually moves forward bringing its socket with it. It’s a slower process than with lighter forces. But the thicker, more visible, wires used are capable of creating more complex movements and can be used to move back teeth as well.
Who should go for short-term orthodontics?
It is, essentially, a great way for adult patients to achieve a straighter smile as long as they understand the limitations. An experienced dentist or an orthodontist can explain exactly what it can and can’t do for you.
If your crowding is too severe, or the bite is problematic, they will offer alternative treatments that are more appropriate.
Dentists sometimes recommend the treatment before you have crowns or veneers on the front teeth. Pre-aligning the teeth like this can mean that a lot less tooth tissue has to be removed when the teeth are prepared.
As with all types of orthodontics, it is essential that you don’t have any active dental disease before starting treatment. Any gum disease or dental decay can be made worse by wearing a brace.
Treatment times can be longer in some older patients. Moreover, some people and some areas of the mouth have higher bone density which can slow treatment.
The most common reason for treatment taking longer is when brackets come off. This can happen accidentally but is more often due to eating hard or sticky foods. Your dentist will advise you not to. After all, he wants you to achieve a perfect new smile just as quickly as you do.
And why?
What are the benefits of short-term orthodontics?
- Short-term orthodontics is great for achieving smaller movements of the front teeth to improve your smile.
- It’s excellent for adults whose teeth have moved at the front after treatment when they were younger.
- The appliance is discreet, almost unnoticeable.
- It’s actually short-term – and that doesn’t mean it doesn’t last. Just that it doesn’t take so long.
- Less time means reduced risks from plaque building up, fewer issues with the gums and lower risk of decay.
- Fewer visits to the surgery – making it less expensive. It’s a win-win-win.
It’s no surprise that it is becoming increasingly popular.
Final thoughts …
While it has its limitations and isn’t suitable for more complex cases, short-term orthodontics is a highly effective option for patients with mild to moderate crowding. The benefits of fewer appointments, less visible appliances, and reduced risks of gum or plaque issues make it an appealing choice if you’re looking for a quick way to fix your smile.
Remember that being made aware of the limitations of the treatment and the other options available is vital. If you think it might be for you, make an appointment with a dentist who has experience in short-term orthodontics.
The sooner you start, the sooner you will have your new smile.
If you want to find out if short-term orthodontics is right for you get in touch with your local dentist today!