Damon, Six Month Smiles or the Inman Aligner? Choosing your brace at Kissdental

Clear aligners get most of the attention, but they’re not the only way to straighten teeth, and sometimes not the best. At Kissdental in Flixton, Greater Manchester, Dr Omid Dashtgard offers three brace systems beyond Invisalign: Damon braces, Six Month Smiles, and the Inman Aligner. As of August 2026, here’s how to tell which one suits your teeth.

Three names, three jobs. The trick is matching the tool to the problem rather than picking the one you’ve heard of.

The short answer

Damon braces are a low-friction fixed system suited to fuller corrections, including more complex cases, and they can work faster than older braces. Six Month Smiles focuses on the front teeth you see when you smile, often in around six months. The Inman Aligner is a removable device that fixes mild crowding or protrusion of the upper or lower front teeth, sometimes in weeks.

Damon braces, explained

Damon braces are fixed braces, but not the fiddly kind many people picture from school. Instead of elastic bands tying the wire to each bracket, Damon brackets hold the wire with a small built-in clip. Less friction means the teeth can move more freely, and there’s nothing for plaque to catch on the way elastic ties do.

For you, that tends to mean fewer adjustment visits and, for many cases, a more comfortable ride. Damon also handles a wider range of movements than the front-tooth-only systems, so it’s the choice when the bite and the back teeth need attention, not just the smile line.

If your teeth are noticeably crowded or your bite needs real correction, Damon is often the system that can actually do it.

Six Month Smiles, explained

Six Month Smiles does what the name suggests: it concentrates on the teeth that show when you smile, the front ones, and aims to straighten them in roughly six months.

It uses clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires, so it’s discreet despite being a fixed brace. Because it targets cosmetic alignment of the front teeth rather than overhauling the whole bite, it’s quicker and often more affordable than full orthodontics. The catch is the flip side of that strength: it’s designed for cosmetic front-tooth cases, not for fixing significant bite problems.

If your back teeth and bite are basically fine but your front teeth are crooked or gappy, this is often the efficient answer.

The Inman Aligner, explained

The Inman Aligner is the quiet specialist of the group. It’s a single removable device that uses two gentle spring-loaded components to push and guide the front teeth into line. It works only on the front teeth, upper or lower, and only for fairly specific problems: mild crowding, or front teeth that stick out or sit back.

When a case fits it, it can be remarkably fast, sometimes a matter of weeks rather than months. And because it’s removable, you take it out to eat and clean. Dr Satnam Poonia, with his advanced restorative training from the Eastman Dental Institute, also works with the Inman Aligner, so there’s real depth behind the planning.

It isn’t a do-everything device, though. Push it beyond mild front-tooth cases and it’s the wrong tool.

Side by side

Seeing the three together usually settles which conversation to have.

None is “better” in the abstract. They’re built for different problems, and the right one depends entirely on what your teeth are doing.

How Dr Dashtgard picks the right one

So how do you avoid choosing the wrong system? You don’t decide alone, and you don’t decide from a brochure.

Dr Dashtgard is a member of the European Society of Aesthetic Orthodontics and is studying for a Master’s in Orthodontics at Warwick University. Because he offers Invisalign, Damon, Six Month Smiles, and the Inman Aligner, his advice isn’t tied to selling one system. He assesses your teeth and bite, asks what’s bothering you and how much you want changed, and matches the system to the case.

That’s the value of a clinic that offers the full range. A practice with only one option will, understandably, recommend that option. Here the recommendation follows your teeth.

What it costs and spreading it

Orthodontic fees in the UK vary widely with how much your teeth need to move. As a general guide, a focused front-tooth treatment such as Six Month Smiles or the Inman Aligner often sits lower, while fuller fixed treatment with Damon ranges higher, broadly from around £2,000 to £5,000 or more depending on complexity.

Your exact figure comes after an assessment, never before. Kissdental offers finance so you can pay monthly rather than upfront, and you can look at the finance options and practice fees before you book.

Retainers, the part everyone forgets

Whichever system you choose, the teeth will try to drift back afterwards. That’s just how teeth behave. Retainers hold the result, and they’re not optional if you want it to last.

Build retention into your thinking from the start rather than treating it as a surprise at the end. Ask what retainers are included, and wear them as advised. It’s the difference between a result that holds for years and one that quietly slips back within months.

FAQ

Is Six Month Smiles really only six months?
Around six months is typical for suitable cases, because it focuses only on the front teeth you see when you smile rather than the whole bite. Some cases finish a little sooner or later. It’s not designed for significant bite correction, so if your back teeth need work too, Dr Dashtgard may suggest a fuller option like Damon braces instead.

How is the Inman Aligner different from Invisalign?
The Inman Aligner is a single removable device with springs that move the front teeth, often in weeks, but only for mild front-tooth crowding or protrusion. Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners and handles a far wider range of movements. The Inman is faster for the narrow problems it suits; Invisalign is more versatile across complex cases.

Are Damon braces more comfortable than normal braces?
Many patients find them so. Damon brackets hold the wire with a built-in clip rather than elastic ties, which means lower friction and often fewer adjustment visits. There’s also less to trap plaque. Comfort still varies from person to person, but the low-friction design is the reason Damon is often described as gentler than older fixed braces.

Which is cheapest?
Generally, the front-tooth systems like Six Month Smiles and the Inman Aligner cost less than full fixed treatment with Damon braces, because they treat less and finish faster. But cheapest isn’t the goal, suitable is. A system that doesn’t fit your case costs more in the end. Kissdental confirms your exact fee after assessing your teeth.

Can adults have these braces?
Yes. All three are used by adults regularly, and Six Month Smiles and the Inman Aligner are popular precisely because they’re discreet and quick for cosmetic front-tooth fixes. Dr Dashtgard treats adult patients across Greater Manchester, and an assessment will tell you which system suits your teeth, your timeline, and your budget.

What to do next

The honest way to choose between Damon, Six Month Smiles, and the Inman Aligner is to have your teeth assessed by someone who offers all of them. A consultation does exactly that, with no pressure to decide on the day.

Call Kissdental in Flixton on 0161 871 9426, or explore Damon braces, Six Month Smiles, and the wider teeth straightening options before you book.