Most people, when they think about braces, the terms expensive and time-consuming come to mind. A few years ago, a new option was introduced that was promoted as being faster and more affordable.
Called Fastbraces, we tried it for several years. It has some advantages, but also some disadvantages, which caused Dr. Potts to discontinue offering this service. He feels that using clear aligners such as Invisalign or ClearCorrect is the best option for patients. Click here to read more about these clear aligner systems.
Here Are the Promoted Advantages of Fastbraces®
Speed of Treatment
Traditional braces work in two stages. In the first stage, the crowns (visible portions) of your teeth are moved into their new alignment. In the second stage, the roots of your teeth are dealt with. This typically takes two to three years. However, Fastbraces® claims that your teeth can be moved into the new position in just three months to a year. In practice, though, we found that many cases took longer than expected, and we believe that clear aligner systems, which also move teeth faster than conventional braces, are superior.
Cost of Fastbraces
Fastbraces are less expensive than traditional braces. However, ClearCorrect clear aligners has similar cost savings.
Convenience of Treatment
With traditional braces, you generally have to go to both a dentist and an orthodontic specialist. Fastbraces can be done by a general dentist such as Dr. Potts. Though other orthodontic systems such as Invisalign and ClearCorrect offer this same advantage.
Drawbacks of Fastbraces
- Many cases took much longer than expected.
- Many times in order to gain the space needed to fit the teeth into the arches we had to narrow the teeth to create the space to align them.
- ClearCorrect offers similar cost savings.
- As I became more and more committed to helping patients develop their airways, I found myself moving more and more to clear aligners.
If you’d like to know if you’re a candidate for Fastbraces, you may call our office in Libertyville, IL, for a complimentary consultation. If you prefer, you may click here to request an appointment online.