“"Six Month Smiles" - Ontario, Canada”

I want to caution anyone who is offered the latest "Six Month Smiles" procedure, which is supposed to straighten crooked teeth in a matter of six months, DON'T DO IT! I went to a dental practitioner (who probably did a three day course) and now my teeth are more messed up than before! He pulled my upper and lower arches forward, out of their natural shape so they are now very narrow and long. It's caused my whole face to change as well as my profile. Everything is much fatter and pushed out.

I've finally made it to a qualified orthodontist and after having those "Six Month Smiles" on for half a year at 19, I have to have conventional braces for another two years!

There's a reason orthodontic treatment takes so long! Take it from me, if you're considering braces, the best thing to do with your money is to invest it in someone qualified, and a treatment that is going to give you everything you require, rather than compromising aesthetics for straight teeth.

Updated on 13 Jan 2012:

So just an update! I now have both my top and bottom braces on. I've added a photo to show what they look like. The top brackets are clear, and I know people say clear braces are "hardly noticeable" but I can tell you, they're very obviously there. I've had four extractions, my four second bicuspid teeth. The extraction process was very simple! No pain whatsoever, a lot of blood for the first day but very little swelling which went away over the first few hours. My braces have been tightened once and the only pain I'm experiencing as of now is in the side of my cheeks, the brackets at the back seem to be cutting them. However, that pain is minimized with the relief wax they've provided me! I was told it would take two months to straighten my top and bottom set of teeth out as they were pretty much straightened with the "six month smiles" and the rest of the 20 months will be pulling them back and up into their proper position. Which will involve elastics. That's all for now!