Six Month Smiles is an orthodontic treatment that claims to give you straight teeth more quickly than traditional braces. It uses discreet clear braces with tooth-colored wires, to straighten teeth and close gaps. The company also offers a clear aligner tray option, if you prefer removable trays to metal braces and your alignment issues aren't too severe.Â
The Six Month Smiles system is offered by 10,000 participating dentists, not by an orthodontist. According to the company, six months is the average treatment time, though it can take between four and nine months. Some RealSelf members say it took much longer than they’d expected.
Treatment time is shortened because it focuses on moving solely the most prominent, visible teeth. “Six Month Smiles is a limited orthodontic treatment used by general dentists, typically to correct only front teeth,” says Houston-based orthodontist Dr. Peter Sutton.
Six Month Smiles treatment is typically less expensive than traditional braces (which are always applied and adjusted by an orthodontist) or Invisalign.
The company offers a monthly payment plan, and most participating dentists offer their own plans.Â
Some dental and healthcare plans have orthodontic benefits that may cover a portion of Six Month Smiles, so contact your insurance provider to find out how much they will contribute.
Six Month Smiles can improve the positioning of your teeth, but it may not leave your smile looking flawless.
“In six months, the smile will look a lot better, but it will not be perfect,’” says Dr. Lance Timmerman, a cosmetic dentist in Tukwila, Washington. “If you really want perfection, see an orthodontist. It will likely take two to three years.”
If you decide to go with Six Month Smiles, you'll start with a consultation with a Six Month Smiles dentist. They’ll send X-rays and impressions of your teeth to Six Month Smiles, and their experts will evaluate you and determine if you’re a good candidate. If you have bite issues or complicated dental problems, you may need more extensive orthodontic treatment.Â
If they determine that you're a good candidate, a braces kit will be custom-designed for you by one of company's orthodontic specialists, and then sent to your dentist.
Your dentist will put the clear brackets and wires on your teeth during your next appointment, a process that takes about an hour.Â
Throughout your treatment, you’ll need to return to your dentist three to seven times for adjustments, until you both agree that you have a sufficiently straight smile.Â
Orthodontists say that Six Month Smiles is also not as effective as Invisalign, which uses both clear aligner trays and attachments to apply more pressure to teeth, correcting more complicated dental issues like an overbite. Invisalign also addresses all your teeth, not just your front teeth.
“With Invisalign, you have far better control over individual tooth movement,” says Dr. Kenneth Barton, an orthodontist with offices in New York and New Jersey.
Updated June 13, 2023