Cfast braces to straighten your front teeth: how do they work?
Written in association with:Cfast is a simple cosmetic system, which uses orthodontic appliances such as braces or retainers that are specifically designed to straighten the front teeth in adults. Usually, there is a significant improvement in appearance within as little as six months.
Dr Biju Krishnan is an award-winning celebrity cosmetic dentist in London and here he explains how Cfast works, why it is better than traditional braces and how long the process takes until you’re left with that perfect smile.
How do Cfast braces work?
The commonest way to move your front teeth is by using a tooth-coloured brace that is fixed to the front of your teeth. The cosmetic nickel-titanium wires work alongside the ceramic brackets to gently align the teeth into a better position and by using very light forces. As the brackets and wires are tooth-coloured, it means that the braces are very discreet in appearance.
There are also braces that can be used on the inside of your teeth, which are completely invisible, as well as plastic aligners for those who prefer a removable option. These options will be discussed between you and the dentist in order to find the best choice for you.
Is Cfast better than traditional braces or orthodontics?
Cfast should not be compared to traditional braces or orthodontics. In traditional methods, mainly used with children, the aim is to move the teeth and jaws into an ideal relationship so that they will function well when biting and chewing. Cfast, however, is only for adults and is only carried out for cosmetic reasons.
The alternative to Cfast is crowns or veneers, which usually involves the enamel of otherwise healthy teeth to be drilled down. This can actually be quite destructive. If teeth are moved into a better position, it avoids the need to carry out other, more damaging, treatments.
How long does treatment take and until the end results are achieved?
Cfast is known as ‘short-term orthodontics’ in cosmetic dentistry, which means that treatment times are significantly shorter than conventional orthodontic techniques.
Treatment should take no longer than nine months but the vast majority are completed in a four to six-month period. Each individual is different and your dentist will be able to discuss how long treatment will take in your case when you attend your initial consultation.
Why is the procedure so fast?
Cfast only focuses on the front teeth purely as a cosmetic improvement as they are the main teeth that you can see when you smile. The teeth at the front of the mouth have just one root and therefore the bone here is less dense than at the back of the mouth. This enables treatment to be completed in a significantly shorter time frame as compared with the traditional braces.
Conventional orthodontics repositions all of the teeth in your mouth, including the ones at the back. This leads to a significantly longer time frame, usually around 18-24 months. Most adults are not particularly concerned about the position of their back teeth and prefer to avoid such lengthy treatment time. Cfast is the ideal solution.
How much does Cfast cost?
The price of treatment varies. It depends on whether you are treating just one jaw or both jaws and whether there are any particular circumstances that may make treatment more complicated than normal.
The costs are comparable to other orthodontic and cosmetic procedures. Your dentist will be able to assess costs when you attend your first consultation.
If Cfasts sounds like a cosmetic procedure that you are interested in, do not hesitate to book an appointment with Dr Krishnan via his Top Doctor’s profile now, so that you can have an initial consultation.
