Six Month Braces in Los Angeles is today’s alternative to regular braces. Instead of taking up to 18 months or more to correct your teeth, these braces only take 6 months to give you a reason to smile confidently.

Q : What are the benefits of 6 month braces?
A : When it comes to 6-month braces, the advantages to patients are time, convenience, and esthetics. When you hear about traditional brackets, you might think of people with braces as “metal mouth.” You tend to assume that their mouth is full of metal. However, with 6-month braces, we offer clear brackets which can help solve such problems.

We start the procedure with a very thin wire on the top and bottom. During this first month, very light force is placed onto the teeth. You start seeing changes almost immediately. Over the 6 month period, on a monthly basis, we increase the wire thickness. It is amazing to see the kind of changes that can occur with simple clear brackets and nickel titanium wires.

Another benefit of 6-month braces is, as opposed to traditional braces, the force is very light and slow on the teeth. Since I’ve had traditional braces in the past, I can still remember how uncomfortable they were. Although there might be some discomfort with the 6-month braces, it can be alleviated with simple pain relievers such as Tylenol or Advil. This pain is far less than what you experience with traditional braces. It’s usually just during the first few days that you may feel this discomfort. It subsides soon after that.

A large number of cases that we see can be easily treated in 6 months. You’d be surprised to observe the dramatic results that can be seen in the front teeth in a short period of time!

Q : Will 6 month braces work faster than Invisalign?
A : In the case of 6-month braces, it is difficult to accurately tell whether they fix teeth faster than Invisalign. The “speed” of the treatment depends on the type of movements that we are trying to achieve. However, on the whole, the treatment time is usually shorter with 6-month braces.

Q : Do they hurt?
A : Many patients are worried about the degree of pain associated with 6-month braces. Like I said before, the forces which are created by the wires are extremely light. I can easily vouch for the fact that the discomfort patients will feel is far less than “traditional” braces. Although there might be a bit of pain in the first few days, it subsides very quickly.

Q : Can they really move my teeth in 6 months?
A : With 6-month braces, we are quite sure that the teeth will straighten out within this timeframe. However, this does vary from case to case. For complex cases, we usually recommend that patients visit one of our trusted orthodontic specialists.

Q : Do I need to wear a retainer afterwards?
A : Just like all orthodontic treatments, we strongly recommend lifetime retainer wear for all our patients. No matter how straight your teeth might appear after the treatment, teeth do have a tendency to shift.

Q : Will I be able to eat normal foods with the braces on?
A : Eating with braces is one of the key concerns among patients. It is best for patients who are wearing braces to eat small pieces rather than biting into the food. This will help ensure that the brackets don’t pop off. It’s also best to stay away from foods which stain, such as coffee or chicken soup as these will affect the “clearness” of the brackets or bands. Staying away from sticky foods is a good idea too. Apart from eating, oral hygiene is necessary. Floss individually between every tooth. Using a Waterpik can help get rid of embedded food particles that the floss cannot reach.


Q : What do I do if a bracket pops off?
A : If your bracket does pop off, you simply have to call the office and stop by to have it rebonded – there is nothing to worry about! Six-month braces do not have to be tightened as traditional braces do. Instead, patients have to visit their dentist just once a month to get the wires changed to slightly thicker ones. For some patients, we use the same wire for a couple of months.

Also, for those on the move, the appointment duration for 6-month braces are shorter and less time consuming. The bracket placement appointment is the longest, being one and a half or two hours. After that, all your follow-up visits will be just ten to thirty minutes.