How fast can I get my teeth fixed?

[Wilkins]

Hello,
I am seriously looking into getting braces to fix my teeth, mainly the front two that are starting to cross over a bit. If I’m honest, I don’t think I have the patience to wait years for braces to work, so I would like to know if you think there are some quicker options, like surgery or veneers. My teeth aren’t hugely crooked, that’s the thing, I don’t want to have to wear braces for years because they will make them look worse than they actually are. What would you recommend?

[Dr Ehsan J. Esfahani]

Thank you for your question.

To start with, if you are concerned about the alignment of your teeth, you shouldn’t be looking at the speed of treatment as the most important thing, sometimes you have to try and be a little bit patient if you want the outcome to be positive. An average course of orthodontic treatment will take more than a few months, and for some people it can take years. There are some systems that can work in a fraction of that time, such as Six month smiles, but they may not be suitable for your condition. Basically, if you’re looking for a quick fix you would be better investing in some type of veneer to cover your teeth, rather than an orthodontic appliance.

Most dentists would not offer surgical enhancement before discussing braces with you and if, as you say, your teeth are not extremely misaligned, you could probably benefit from this kind of treatment. Porcelain veneers can usually be fitted in around three weeks, with you wearing a temporary veneer in between appointments; despite this short treatment time, you shouldn’t rush into this process or you might not get the positive results you are looking for. Placing veneers can involve removing a significant amount of the natural enamel, which means it is irreversible, and they do have to be replaced after about ten years, so you need to think about the future finances when you are considering your options.

Whichever method you chose to fix your teeth, make sure you do some research and ask all the relevant questions of your dentist; costly treatment is not something you should be jumping into without a little organisation first.