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Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

W e have all experi- enced the increas- ing demand from members of the public for an improved smile. More and more people are aware that having a great smile is no longer restricted to ce- lebrities. However, they are also increasingly aware that the preparation of teeth to be fitted with crowns and ve- neers can have a high bio- logical and actual cost. They also have objections to ortho- dontic treatment, the visibility of braces and lengthy treat- ment times being the main ones. In the last decade, GDPs, who often complete their un- dergraduate studies with little fixed wire orthodontic knowl- edge, have been offered a teeth straightening system for their patients in the form of Invisalign®. However, there are limitations with clear aligners – the treatment times can be lengthy and difficult t o predict, lab bills can be high and it is difficult to correct rotations (eg canines) and i n t r u s i o n a l / e x t r u s i o n a l movements. Within the dental commu- nity and among orthodontists, braces are widely recognised as the most effective and effi- cient method of straightening teeth, giving the most predi- cable result. With fixed brack- ets, teeth are moved more ef- ficiently and predictably than with removable appliances and compliance is less of an issue because the wires are continually working. The Six Month Smiles Short-term Orthodontic Sys- tem is a system that allows GDPs to meet the needs of patients who have crooked or spaced teeth in an average of just six months, using clear braces and tooth coloured wires. The system, like align- ers, is cosmetically focused – it is not a replacement for traditional orthodontics. The goals of treatment are not as comprehensive but it provides a much needed alternative for adults that aren’t interested in conventional orthodontic treatment. The short treatment times associated with the Six Month Smiles System are possible for two primary reasons: • Cosmetically focused treat- ment goals • Unique and specific brackets and wires The short-term orthodon- tic brackets are pre-positioned at the Six Month Smiles case processing facility and placed in clear bonding trays. This makes bracket placement extremely easy and precise. Additionally, the orthodon- tic wires have shape memory and work in conjunction with the pre-positioned brackets to gently guide the teeth into their new position. As the arch-wires return to their original shape via their shape memory, the overall symmetry of the smile is dramatically improved as the teeth are straightened. The Six Month Smiles System utilises tooth coloured arch wires and clear brackets, both of which are very patient-friendly because they are barely visible. These inconspicuous appliances, together with the short treat- ment times, overcome the usual objections patients have when considering traditional orthodontic therapy. The Six Month Smiles Pa- tient Tray Kits™ contain all the brackets, wires and ac- cessories a dentist requires to complete a particular patient’s treatment. This systemised aspect of the process makes it remarkably easy for GDPs to implement, regardless of their orthodontic experi- ence. Transferring the pre- placed brackets to the teeth is as easy as seating a whitening tray. Before seating, the bases of the brackets in the bond- ing trays are coated with a zsmall amount of flowable composite and then seated onto the etched and primed teeth. After light curing, the trays are peeled off to leave the brackets optimally posi- tioned. This process helps en- sure that the initial bonding appointment is fast, predict- Fig 1 The patient’s smile before treatment showing crowded and crooked teeth. page 12DTà Fig 2 The same patient with a brace fitted. Note the tortuous route taken by the fixed wire. ‘Within the dental community and among orthodontists, braces are widely recog- nised as the most effective and efficient method of straightening teeth, giving the most predicable result’ Six Month Smiles - straight teeth in less time Cosmetic Tribune Nick Simon explains how GDPs can offer patients a great smile in just six months Cosmetic TribuneCosmetic TribuneCosmetic Tribune pages 13-15 Dr Kirpa Johar discusses functional restorations Lase to amaze Cosmetic Tribune pages 16-17 Philip Pettemerides presents a case study A new connection pages 18-19 Philip Lewis reviews the BACD conference You don’t have to leave Europe pages 20-22 Dr Karst presents a case study Making veneers look natural