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Corporate Profile: Six Month Smiles by Benjamin Lund, Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

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by Benjamin Lund, Editor, Dentaltown Magazine


We’ve all been told a successful dental practice offers more than “the usual”: cleanings, fillings, crowns, etc. Easier said than done. Expanding your practice’s services can be an intimidating recipe; start with a spoonful of courage, a dash of risk and several cups of continuing education, mix and let it bake in until you’re comfortable enough to serve it up to your patients. Getting ready to offer more from your practice doesn’t have to be scary. Need proof? Six Month Smiles’ short-term orthodontics system has been winning over general practitioners for years, allowing dental practices to offer their adult patients an alternative to traditional braces or aligners. And the reaction from patients of Six Month Smiles providers has been nothing short of remarkable. Dentaltown Magazine recently interviewed Six Month Smiles Founder Dr. Ryan Swain to find out more about the company, its intriguing system and how general dentists are incorporating it into their practices.

Dr. Swain, in the two years since you were first on the cover of Dentaltown Magazine, what’s changed at Six Month Smiles, Inc.?
Swain: Since then, Six Month Smiles has gained significant traction as more and more general dentists are getting trained and using the system to treat patients with crooked teeth and changing their lives. Currently, patients are being treated with the Six Month Smiles system in 23 different countries with actual hands-on seminars in three continents. Naturally, our team has grown to match the needs of providers. We also moved into a new and state-of-the-art facility last May to better serve our growing number of alumni.

How did you get so involved in short-term ortho? When did you become so passionate about it?
Swain: Many years ago, through Dentaltown.com, I met a few general dentists who were treating adults with a cosmetically focused and time-sensitive orthodontic approach. One of these dentists was Dr. Clifton Georgaklis of Brookline, Massachusetts. Dr. Georgaklis, to my knowledge, was the first general dentist to offer his patients a fixed orthodontic option that involved a “sixmonth” treatment time. I embraced his philosophy and began developing my own approach. I coined the term “Short Term Ortho” (STO) in 2005. That was the same year that I started my practice, where I focus exclusively on short-term ortho and other minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.

In 2006, I started teaching courses to groups comprised of four to eight dentists, in my office. Most of these early dentists were Townies. The demand grew rapidly as more and more dentists wanted to learn about the system that I was using to treat patients in my practice. Soon I was traveling and training larger and larger groups of dentists. Six Month Smiles, Inc., evolved from these early courses. There are more than 2,500 Six Month Smiles providers around the world and a robust team of six clinical instructors who instruct the more than 30 annual seminars presented in various continents around the globe. The first seminar in China was presented last October. It was a big milestone for the system.

How are you dividing your time between practice and lecturing?
Swain: I love treating patients with the system and I see my own patients about one to two days per week. I really enjoy being on the cutting edge of minimally invasive cosmetic dentistry as this is the direction that the industry is headed. With the Picasso laser, minimal prep Cristal veneers, KöR whitening, composite bonding and the Six Month Smiles System, the possibilities for dramatic and cost-effective cosmetic dentistry are endless. My patients love that! It’s a great time to be a dentist!

What is the prime audience for which Six Month Smiles has the greatest appeal?
Swain: The prime audience is simply adults with crooked teeth. There are millions of adults who are embarrassed by their smiles but think that conventional ortho is the only available option. Most have rejected that option. When they learn that they can have their teeth straightened in about six months, and with clear cosmetic braces, they are ecstatic. There is a huge demand for straight teeth in less time and people jump at the chance to “get rid of ” their crooked teeth. Of course, the scope of treatment is not exactly the same as typically associated with traditional orthodontic treatment. It is more similar to aligners in that there is a cosmetic focus that doesn’t normally involve changes to angle class or significant change to root positions.

How does incorporating Six Month Smiles impact a doctor’s overall practice?
Swain: The system provides a practical and effective solution for a huge patient population. Adults have been largely underserved because many orthodontists only offer comprehensive orthodontics. Additionally, most general dentists don’t offer ortho because they haven’t received the necessary training.

Six Month Smiles has become popular because two groups now have access to a solution that was previously unavailable to them. Adults with crooked teeth now have an attractive alternative to conventional orthodontics and general dentists can now receive practical orthodontic training that equips them with the ability to safely and predictably help these patients.

After receiving training at one of the two-day hands-on seminars, Six Month Smiles providers also receive valuable posttraining support in many areas such as: case selection, treatment planning, marketing, case setup, team training, etc. Orthodontics has traditionally been a mystery to general dentists but the turnkey and practical nature of the system makes all the difference. Dentists often report that they are more excited about dentistry than ever before once they start treating patients. I believe that is why Six Month Smiles just won the Townie Choice Award for best Post-Graduate Orthodontic Institute.

Along with the incredible patient satisfaction, dentists can quickly grow their practices with Six Month Smiles. On average, providers charge between $2,900 and $4,500. We routinely see Six Month Smiles become a significant part of a practice’s overall production and it is not rare for a practice to add more than 10 percent to their gross revenue within the first year of attending a seminar. For example, Dr. John Seward of Cork, Ireland, has treated more than 250 patients since taking the seminar in early 2009. Dr. Seward is now moving into a new office so he can keep up with the demand for Six Month Smiles that he is experiencing.

How does Six Month Smiles compare to aligner treatment, like Invisalign?
Swain: I believe strongly that dentists should offer both aligners and Six Month Smiles. Invisalign did a great job of bringing an orthodontic alternative to the consumer market. For many general dentists, Invisalign provides an easy way for them to add ortho to their practices and the strong brand recognition is also attractive. However, aligners have created some frustration for patients and dentists. It can be very challenging to rotate and extrude teeth with aligners. This makes it very difficult to predict treatment times. Patients and dentists do not like that.

The Six Month Smiles System incorporates the turnkey and systematic approach of an aligner system but adds the reliability and control afforded by brackets and wires. Six Month Smiles brackets and wires are tooth-colored and encompass a unique orthodontic prescription, which is specific for short-term ortho treatment. Tooth movement is very predictable and efficient.

Tell me about the Patient Tray Kits? What are the benefits?
Swain: Patient Tray Kit is the name of the customized kit that houses the Six Month Smiles System. When a dentist has a patient who is ready to proceed with treatment, impressions are taken and sent to the Six Month Smiles case processing facility. There, highly trained bracket specialists place the Six Month Smiles brackets based on the desired outcome, and then fabricate bonding trays. These trays, along with the shape memory wires, ties, bonding agent and other needed materials, are packaged in the Patient Tray Kit and sent back to the office, ready for the initiation of treatment.

This provides the practitioner with many benefits, the biggest of which are time and cost savings. The initial appointment for putting the braces on can be done more than twice as fast with Six Month Smiles compared to placing brackets individually with conventional ortho. General dentists love the reliable and low-stress aspect of the Patient Tray Kits. The bracket locations are determined in a lab setting and then chairside placement with the bonding trays is as easy as seating bleaching trays. Additionally, there is no need to pay staff members to order and inventory all of the needed orthodontic supplies because the necessary materials are included within each kit. It’s so easy. We don’t refer to it as a “treasure chest” for nothing.

For many, orthodontics is an elective procedure, and in this economy, patients are holding off on improving their smiles until their financial situation improves. How does this affect Six Month Smiles?
Swain: While money is tight, patients are holding off on dentistry that they don’t want. Patients are also holding off on expensive treatment plans such as smile makeovers that include many crowns or veneers. However, Six Month Smiles has flourished in this economy because it is a treatment that patients desperately want and most can afford. A quick and comfortable solution for crooked teeth is at the top of the priority list for many adults and at around $3,500, it is achievable for most. Third-party financing has made it possible for many patients to afford short-term ortho options.

You’ve captured the U.S. short-term ortho market – any plans on expanding internationally?
Swain: We’ve had a relatively strong international presence for about two years. There is a particularly enthusiastic demand for the system in the UK. And, as I mentioned previously, Six Month Smiles is in 23 countries. That is expanding through our robust international licensing program in which we team up with local entities to create exposure for and deliver the system in a variety of countries. In 2012, we expect to hold the first Six Month Smiles seminars in Poland, Ireland, Australia, France, Israel and Germany.

Tell me about the demographics of Six Month Smiles patients?
Swain: Most adults with crooked teeth are excited about the benefits of the system. Short treatment times, clear braces and affordability create an attractive option. Fifty-five percent of patients are women, which is surprising to many in the dental industry who might think that the overwhelming majority would be women. We market the system to adults (mostly 18 and older) who have rejected traditional orthodontics but could benefit from a more time-sensitive solution.

What is the most difficult case you’ve seen that has been treated by Six Month Smiles?
Swain: Most Six Month Smiles cases are pretty straightforward, but some patients present with significant asymmetry. I’ve treated many patients who were significantly affected by the appearance of their teeth. Of course, the more “crookedness” that exists, the more prevalent the problem is. One patient comes to mind. She was 20 years old and had a wedding coming up in 12 months. She had been in to see two orthodontists for traditional ortho consults. Christine had a slight Class 3 relationship with significant crowding and multiple anterior teeth in cross bite.

She was told that she needed orthognathic surgery and years of conventional ortho. She came to see me and I knew I could help her with Six Month Smiles. Of course, we talked about the fact that the end results would not be exactly the same [as traditional orthodontics] but I knew I could help her achieve what she wanted. She wanted to “stop feeling like a mutant” (her words). We treated her with Six Month Smiles and the end result was fantastic. She was thrilled and still had many months to learn how to smile again before her wedding.

Has there ever been a time when, partway through treatment, the patient has had to be moved over to traditional ortho treatment? How would something like that be handled?
Swain: I can’t speak for every Six Month Smiles provider, but generally this does not happen. The goals of treatment are clearly defined at the beginning of treatment. Before I start a veneer case, I discuss options with the patient and we land clearly on what the scope of treatment is. If we decide on four units, then that is what we provide. It’s the same type of approach with Six Month Smiles. Most patients are thrilled with the results even before they’re completely finished with treatment. The key, as with any dental procedure, is to treat the appropriate patients with the appropriate option and it all boils down to what a patient’s particular chief complaints are. If the chief complaints can’t be addressed in four to nine months, then they are not a good candidate for Six Month Smiles.

Some orthodontists do not like the idea of GPs doing cosmetically focused treatment with Six Month Smiles or aligners. How do you address the concern that short-term orthodontics is a fad and not a fair treatment representation of orthodontics?
Swain: Ultimately, the consumer market will decide what has merit and it is very clear that this is a service that patients want. For some reason, many orthodontists are content to only offer comprehensive orthodontics. That is their prerogative. But, most GPs want to help these patients who have been “stuck” and Six Month Smiles provides a safe and effective solution. It’s not an exact replacement for comprehensive orthodontics but it is a fantastic alternative. There are thousands upon thousands of patients who have benefited from the system. Many patients can’t understand why an option like this wasn’t available to them years ago.

Are there any orthodontists who use Six Month Smiles in their ortho practices?
Swain: Yes. The system is designed specifically for GPs and the education is geared for GPs. But, we definitely have orthodontists who are Six Month Smiles providers and proudly utilize the system in their practices. Understandably, most orthodontists have been striving to provide the most comprehensive results for their patients. But, orthodontists are beginning to recognize the freedom that comes with letting go of an “all-ornothing” approach. The Six Month Smiles system gives GPs and orthodontists the ability to provide a different option and there is a strong demand for it.

What is the bare minimum a dentist has to undertake (training, cost, etc.) to incorporate Six Month Smiles into his or her practice?
Swain: Getting involved as a Six Month Smiles Provider involves attending the two-day, hands-on training seminar. A dentist can cover the cost of the seminar and the needed instruments/ supplies within his or her first two cases. The return on investment is immediate. In this economy, that is proving to be an attractive prospect for dentists.

What can we expect to see from Six Month Smiles in the future?
Swain: You can expect to see the demand growing as the satisfaction from patients and dentists continues to amplify. At Six Month Smiles, Inc., we will continue to innovate and make short-term orthodontics accessible, easy and predictable for dentists and their patients around the globe. We firmly believe that everyone should smile with confidence, and that every dentist can help. Most people are skeptical when they first hear about short-term orthodontics. But, patients and dentists all over the world are experiencing firsthand, the effectiveness of the Six Month Smiles System.

For more information about Six Month Smiles, visit www.sixmonthsmiles.com.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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