Braces: Stories

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"Six Month Smiles" - Ontario, Canada

I want to caution anyone who is offered the latest...

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.

So just an update! I now have both my top and...


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!

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Comments (11)

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lilyblack 21 Apr 2013
Thanks for posting.
Jenny13 21 Mar 2013

I had the 6 month smile braces put on a year and 2 months ago. The dentist told me it would take 4 months for the top and 6 months for the bottom. Over a year later, my straight teeth on the bottom are crowding (we were only closing a small gap) and so are my top teeth. We were only straightening my front 2 teeth that were slightly turning in. I kept asking why they were crowding, etc and would get very strange answers avoiding giving me real answer. I have now hired a lawyer and will hopefully be getting my $4,300 back on top of the damage he has done to my teeth. I cant believe I have paid someone to screw up my teeth. It was a VERY NICE office and he seemed to have a lot of patients. I went to get a 2nd opinion from a real orthodontist 7 months into the treatment and she told me all the things my dentist was doing wrong from looking at my braces and told me I need to have them taken off and ask for my money back. Now Im told I will have to have real braces put on for 2 or more years to correct the damage done. The worst part about it is… that these dentists only go to a 2-3 day course to learn how to put braces on us. The have No Real Orthodontist training. At all. Go to the website and you will see for yourself. Do Not get the 6 month smile braces!

KyCakes 30 Jan 2012
Just by chance it wouldn't happen to be the Mississauga location would it? And that sounds really pricey for 6 months worth of braces. How much are you paying for the 20 months? I live in Hamilton but was looking into the 6 Month Smiles in GTA
Live and Learn 31 Jan 2012
It was in Ajax that I had the Six month smiles done. Honestly, it's a sham. I know the idea of conventional braces is a scary one, I mean who wants to have a mouth full of metal, especially when you're older. However, in the long run it's soso worth it. I spoke with my orthodontist now and he assured me there is no such thing as a six month fix, unless your teeth aren't very crooked to begin with. Your teeth are way more likely to shift back to their old position because the roots haven't had time to move properly. It's about $5000 all together for my 20 months of braces, which when you break it down into monthly payments, isn't that bad! Make sure if you're absolutely stuck on the Six month smiles (please consider other options) but that it's being performed by an actual Orthodontist! I would absolutely hate for someone to have to go through what I did.
ccoll83 4 Feb 2013
Sorry about your bad experience but it's great that you put all this out there to share for others. I heard about 6 month braces and being almost 30, I thought it sounded perfect. My dentist practiced it in his office but the more I researched about it, I decided not to do it. After reading your review, I'm glad I decided against it. Keep us updated on your progress!
lilyblack 1 May 2013
can i ask where you are going now for ortho.. just got a consultation and they quoted me $6200 in brampton... i think that is way too much...
Megan P (Community Manager) 13 Jan 2012

Thanks for posting your update!

I agree, you still can see the clear braces, but they are far less noticeable than the metal ones.

Glad to hear the wax you are using is helping to ease the irritation to your cheek - those rub marks can be soooo uncomfortable!

Megan P (Community Manager) 20 Dec 2011

You have such a great attitude!

I would love it if you would keep your review updated as you go through braces & let us know how you are doing and the changes you are seeing. :)

Live and Learn 20 Dec 2011
i definitely will!
Megan P (Community Manager) 19 Dec 2011

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience with 6 month smiles. I have wondered what the results were like. I think you have made a great point that it is important to go with a qualified treatment provider.

Are you planning to start your full set of braces soon, or is that on hold for now?

Live and Learn 19 Dec 2011
Aw, thank you!

I have actually already started! It's definitely an unfortunate situation but on a positive note, I would have never gotten conventional braces had this not have happened. In two years I'll have a perfect bite as well as a perfect smile :)

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