Introduction to Cfast^® orthodontics

Cfast stands for “Cosmetically Focused Adult Straight Teeth”.

What is Cfast?

Cfast is a simple, gentle, minimally invasive cosmetic treatment. It aims to correct alignment issues with the top and bottom front six teeth, and can level and round out the arches. Cfast provides an ideal solution for adults looking to improve the position of the teeth you see when you smile, but want to avoid lengthy treatment times.

How does Cfast work?

Cfast uses specially designed clear, fixed orthodontic brackets and tooth-coloured, white nickel-titanium wires. As the teeth move, the gumline will follow to achieve a fully aesthetic outcome. Cfast focuses purely on the front teeth, therefore it not a replacement for conventional orthodontics but since most adults are not concerned about the position of their back teeth, Cfast satisfies the needs of most adults who seek orthodontic treatment. Tooth movement with Cfast is very predictable and usually more than twice as quick as using clear aligners (such as Invisalign®).

How long does it take to straighten my teeth with Cfast?

This varies from patient to patient. It can take as little as 4 months, and treatment time should be no longer than 9 months. On average, treatment time is around 6 months.

Does Cfast hurt?

As with any orthodontic procedure there can be some discomfort for a few days after the appliance is fitted. However because the forces from the Cfast appliance are very light, after the first 7-10 days there should be little to no pain at all. At first, the brace may rub against the lips or cheeks and wax is supplied to ease any of these areas, but most patients find this isn’t a problem. During treatment you may find that the teeth become a little mobile and sensitive to pressure. This is quite normal and will fully resolve when the braces are removed.

Advantages vs disadvantages of Cfast

Advantages

• Brackets are fixed, so unlike clear aligners, you can eat and drink with them in place
• Quicker treatment times
• Less expensive
• Clear brackets and white colour of wire makes them very discreet and almost unnoticeable
• More gentle pressures than traditional orthodontic methods, therefore minimal risk of side effects and discomfort
• Can move teeth to a more favourable position to avoid destructive cosmetic crown or veneer work
• A 3D digital image can be created to show you what kind of result you can expect after the straightening procedure

Disadvantages

• • More visible than clear aligners
  • Will not correct position of back teeth
  • Not suitable for more extensive, complicated movements of teeth
  • Can be more difficult to clean than clear aligners

Who is Cfast suitable for?

Cfast is for adults only, so 18 years and over. If your concern is crowded teeth, gaps between the teeth, or a gummy smile, Cfast may be suitable for you. Following any kind of orthodontic treatment, you will need to wear retainers to keep the teeth in their new position. With Cfast, you will be provided with both a fixed and removable retainer. Cfast is only suitable for patients who are committed to wearing retainers at night for life, as long as they don’t want their teeth to move back to their original position.

Contact us to book a consultation to discuss your individual needs in more detail.

Who is Cfast not suitable for?

Cfast only treats the “social six” – the upper and lower six front teeth you see when you smile. Therefore if you require treatment to make changes to your back teeth or the position of your bite, or for more complicated cases you will be more suited to either Invisalign® treatment or a specialist orthodontist.

The Cfast process

1. Consultation

We will discuss your concerns, and create a treatment plan together to achieve your desired outcome. You may choose to have a 3D digital image made to accurately show what the final result will look like for an additional fee.

2. Impressions and photographs

If you are suitable for Cfast, and once you’ve decided to go ahead, we will take some impressions and a set of “before” photographs. The impressions are sent to the laboratory to have your brace made, a process which usually takes 10 working days.

3. Putting on the brace

The brace is fitted and you will be given detailed instructions on how to look after the brace. This appointment takes about 30 minutes. Wax is supplied to help ease any discomfort you may experience at the beginning.

4. Review

Every 4 weeks, we will arrange to see you to review the progress you are making with the treatment. Photographs are taken to document the progress. The wire will be removed to clean the brackets for you, then it is either replaced or a new wire may be placed. If your teeth are crowded, some polishing may be required to remove a very small amount of enamel between the teeth. No more than 0.5mm of enamel is removed using abrasive strips and it is a painless process. This allows us to make more room for the teeth to move into alignment.

5. Removing the brace and polishing teeth

When you are happy with the result, we will take some impressions to make your fixed wire retainer. Once the fixed retainer has been placed, we can remove the brace and polish the front of the teeth for a smooth finish. We then take more impressions for your removable retainer.

6. Retainers

The removable retainer is fitted at this appointment. This is the main retainer and must be worn nightly. The fixed retainer is a “back-up” retainer and shouldn’t be relied on to keep the teeth in place. There is also the option of the SOLID retainer system, exclusive to Cfast. This is a premium, invisible fixed retainer complemented by a clear retainer, which is fitted in one appointment to ensure absolutely no tooth movement after braces are removed.

7. Whitening and composite bonding

After straightening the teeth, you may find that the gumline is level but the edges of the teeth are uneven. This is due to teeth wearing down over time and it is easily corrected with a technique called composite bonding. We can use white, tooth-coloured composite material to bond to the teeth allowing us to reshape and balance your smile in a safe, minimally invasive way. However, this material does not change colour with whitening gel so natural teeth need to be whitened before composite bonding if this is desired. We can discuss whitening and composite bonding at your Cfast consultation!

How much does Cfast cost?

We offer the option of spreading the cost with 0% finance over 12 months or we can create a more flexible, tailored payment plan to accommodate your needs. Please see our finance calculator below

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