I am exploring different options to fix my teeth from a thumb sucking habit and I am wondering if Six Month Smiles will help. I am 27 years old and have been sucking my thumb since I was 3 years old. The habit comes from childhood stress and trauma that I am now getting addressed through therapy. Already after just 2 months of therapy, there is a huge improvement in my thumb sucking, so I am targeting the spring for braces. My preference is to get treatment with braces that don’t have a huge time commitment. At my age, I want something that isn’t as noticeable as clunky metal braces. So Six Month Smiles look and sound good to me. If I can get it done quickly that would be a huge plus. Will it really make a difference in 6 months? Thanks Seana
Seana – The thumb-sucking habit thrusts the tongue forward and pushes the teeth forward also. This produces a gap between the upper and lower teeth and prevents them from touching when you close your mouth. These cases are generally too complex for Six Month Smiles. This treatment only straightens the teeth that show when you smile. An open bite usually affects more teeth and requires more aggressive treatment.
An examination and digital x-rays will reveal if the problem involves your teeth only, or if your jaw size and shape is also affected. Depending on the findings, longer-term orthodontic treatment and/or jaw surgery might be required.
Schedule an appointment with a dentist who offers different types of braces to determine the best options for closing your open bite. Other than Six Month Smiles, there are clear, low-profile braces and Invisalign braces that can treat more complex cases.
If your case is particularly complex, you might be referred to an orthodontist or an oral surgeon. Just remember there are ways to straighten your teeth so that your orthodontic treatment won’t be very noticeable—even if you are not a candidate for Six Month Smiles.
This post is sponsored by the San Jose dentists of Hillsdale Dental Care.
