– Juno Beach, FL
Simplify the Teeth Straightening and Realignment Process
Traditional braces have been the standard for straightening teeth for decades, but they aren’t without their setbacks. For one, traditional braces use metal hardware to straighten teeth, which doesn’t exactly make your smile look like how you’d want it to. Thankfully, our dental office provides multiple clear aligner solutions that do not use any metal hardware to fix crooked teeth. SureSmile® let’s you maintain your current appearance as well as your eating and oral care habits while straightening teeth.
Who Can SureSmile Help?
SureSmile can address a variety of tooth spacing and bite issues faster and more comfortably than traditional braces. These discreet aligners are removable for oral hygiene care and meals, making it easier to protect your teeth and gums during treatment. If you’ve been considering orthodontics but have been hesitant to commit to braces, SureSmile aligners could be an excellent fit for you!
Crowded Teeth
As you age, crowding in your arches can worsen as your teeth shift. This can negatively affect your overall and oral health, increasing your risk of developing a variety of different dental conditions, including:
- Cavities/decay
- Gum disease
- Jaw discomfort or aching
- Difficulty chewing or biting
Because crowding can cause your teeth to overlap, it often creates hard-to-reach spaces in your mouth that are difficult to clean. This can easily allow bacteria, food debris, plaque, and tartar to accumulate.
SureSmile aligners can shift your teeth to lay flush, making it easier and more effective to brush and floss them, and of course having a straighter smile can boost your self-confidence, too!
Gaps Between Teeth
Having too large of spaces between your teeth can be a result of many things, including natural bone development, oral anatomy, having too small of teeth, a large jawbone, and a variety of other natural factors. They can also form due to habits like thumb-sucking and tongue-thrusting in childhood.
No matter what their cause, addressing gaps is the best solution for your oral health, as it can lower the risk of plaque and bacteria buildup, tooth decay, gum disease, and gum inflammation due to unprotected gum tissue between your teeth.
In addition to SureSmile, sometimes minor gaps can be repaired with dental bonding as needed. Your dentist can discuss this with you at your SureSmile consultation.
Overbite
An overbite (also known as an overjet) is an alignment issue which causes your top teeth to jut out too far from your lower arch of teeth. Overbites can cause jaw pain, speech problems, uneven tooth wear, and difficulties opening and closing your mouth.
Overbites can also leave the top teeth more exposed, putting them at a higher risk of becoming injured due to inadequate protection.
Underbite
An underbite is the term used to describe the alignment when your bottom teeth go slightly past or match with your top row of teeth when you close your mouth.
Underbites are typically the result of genetics, oral trauma such as jaw injury, tumors, or non-nutritive habits as a child such thumb or pacifier sucking. If left unaddressed, they can lead to a variety of problems including an increased risk of sleep apnea, mouth breathing, as well as difficulties speaking and chewing.
Underbites are most easily addressed in younger patients but are equally important to correct in adults. Generally, patients with underbites require the use of rubber bands or other attachments to be used in conjunction with your SureSmile aligners. These accessories are designed to gradually adjust your bite and pull your lower arch into its proper position.
Crossbite
A crossbite is the term used to describe when your bottom teeth are slightly in front of your upper arch. Crossbites are typically caused by genetics, poor oral habits, or premature loss of your baby teeth.
SureSmile aligners can typically fix crossbites, but if they are the result of issues involving jaw development, it may be necessary to use accessories such as elastics in combination with your aligners. These can help shift your jaw into its proper position while your bite is adjusted.
If left unaddressed, a crossbite can lead to long-term problems like an increased risk of gum disease, tooth decay, jaw pain, speech difficulties, headaches, bruxism, and facial asymmetry.
Open Bite
An open bite refers to when your top and bottom front teeth cannot overlap or touch when your mouth is closed completely.
An open bite is typically caused by poor bone development or non-nutritive habits during childhood, such as prolonged thumb or pacifier sucking.
Open bites can frequently cause difficulty pronouncing certain words and sounds, as well as excessive enamel wear on the backs of your teeth, which can increase their risk of becoming damaged.
SureSmile can help bring the top front and bottom teeth together, correcting the bite pattern and reducing your risk of dental wear and damage.
How SureSmile® Works
SureSmile® is an aligner system that uses USA-manufactured, custom-made, BPA-free, plastic trays to gently shift teeth into a straighter and more aesthetically pleasing position. The system is designed to treat a wide variety of dental issues, including crowding and rotated teeth as well as gaps. Each pair is designed to represent a specific stage of your realignment. To get results, a pair is worn for about 22 hours per day and should only be removed for eating meals or practicing routine oral hygiene. After about two weeks of wear, you’ll move onto the next pair in the series.
Once you’ve gone through every pair, you’ll wear a retainer to keep your smile straight. Treatment takes about one year to complete on average, but this can vary depending on your commitment to wearing the aligners as well as the complexity of your treatment.
Benefits of SureSmile®
Although there was once a time when traditional braces were the only reliable, safe, and effective orthodontic treatment, that’s no longer the case. If you are currently in the process of deciding which one is best for you, then keep reading to learn a few of the many noteworthy benefits of SureSmile®!
Easy Dental Care
SureSmile®’s aligners are fully removable, meaning you don’t have to change your current habits just to complete treatment safely. You don’t have to buy special oral hygiene products either! Simply rinse the aligners each time you take them off, allow them to soak in an appropriate cleaning solution every day for 15 minutes or so, and brush away residual food debris and plaque as needed with a damp, soft-bristled toothbrush.
Discreet Trays
Simply put, traditional braces can make public events and social gatherings more difficult. That’s not the case with SureSmile®. Since the aligners are completely transparent, no one will know that you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. So, you can see why they are so popular among working professionals and image-conscious teens!
Minimally Invasive
Another considerable perk: SureSmile®’s aligners are minimally invasive. There’s no need to remove existing teeth and no risk of metal hardware damaging enamel or gum tissue. If an aligner breaks, replacing it is simple, straightforward, and doesn’t require an emergency visit to the dentist. Just make sure to revert back to a previous pair or move on to the next pair to avoid hiccups in your treatment.
Improved Comfort
Having metal-free braces is undoubtedly more aesthetically pleasing. There is another benefit that patients often don’t consider: metal-free braces are also considerably more comfortable. In other words, you won’t have to deal with mouth sores from brackets or soft tissue irritation from protruding wires. The aligners are crafted from smooth plastic that perfectly fits the contours of your mouth.
No Dietary Restrictions
To reduce the chances of an orthodontic emergency, patients with traditional braces are instructed not to eat crunchy and sticky foods, including whole apples, raw celery, and hard pretzels. Since SureSmile® aligners are removable, patients don’t have to deal with the same dietary restrictions. In fact, as long as they stick to healthy, well-balanced meals the majority of the time, they can eat all of their favorites!
Less Time in the Treatment Chair
Keeping your teeth moving with traditional braces requires monthly adjustment appointments. SureSmile®, however, moves teeth into proper alignment with a series of clear, custom-made aligners. Since you can progress through several sets of trays from the comfort of your own home, you’ll spend considerably less time in the treatment chair. In fact, patients usually only need to come in for progress visits every 6-8 weeks.
Living with SureSmile Aligners
Since SureSmile aligners are removable, clear, and comfortable, you don’t have to completely overhaul your routine. In fact, you only need to make a few slight adjustments to stay on-track with your treatment plan! Below, you will find more details, starting with how long you need to wear your aligners each day.
Wearing Your Trays
In short, you need to wear your aligners for a minimum of 20 hours a day. If you don’t, then your teeth won’t move as anticipated and you’ll fall off-track with your treatment plan. So, if you want to achieve the results you desire as quickly as possible and without additional fees, it’s crucial that you keep them on for the majority of the day, every day.
Tip: Try creating a schedule with the help of your stopwatch. It will help make meeting your daily wear time much easier!
Cleaning Your Aligners
Fortunately, you don’t need to buy any expensive dental care products to keep your aligners clean. To remove saliva, food particles, and other debris from the surface, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and clear, mild dishwashing liquid. Additionally, soak them in a dentist-recommended cleaner every so often.
Tip: When you take your trays off, rinse them with clean, cool water before putting them in their designated case. This is a small habit that will go a long way in preventing stains and odor.
Eating & Drinking
Eating and drinking with clear aligners is significantly easier than it is with traditional braces because there is basically only one rule: you need to take them off first. Of course, as your dental team, there are other recommendations we have, like not over-indulging on sugary and starchy snacks. After all, if any oral health problems surface, we will need to put your orthodontic treatment on hold until the root of the problem is addressed.
Losing or Damaging a Tray
If you don’t act fast, losing or damaging one of your aligners can cause you to fall off-track with your treatment plan. So, don’t wait – call us ASAP. The sooner you do, the sooner we can determine if it’s safe to move on to the next set of aligners in the series or if you should wear your previous set while we have a replacement made.
Scheduling Routine Check-Ins
Another crucial component of life with clear aligners is the check-in visits. These typically take place every 6-8 weeks, and they allow us to monitor the movement of your teeth. Perhaps more importantly, they ensure that we catch any issues right away. For example, if one of your teeth isn’t moving as anticipated, we can determine why that is as well as what’s necessary to get you back on-track with your treatment plan.
Candidates for SureSmile®
Those who have mild to moderate levels of misalignment or gaps in their smile are likely candidates for SureSmile®. Keep in mind that candidates must have good oral health before beginning treatment. If tooth decay or gum disease is present, this will need to be treated first. The best way to know if SureSmile® or another clear aligner system is right for you is to schedule a SureSmile® consultation. During this meeting, either Dr. Greg Riley or Dr. Duane Keuning will go over your options and carefully examine your unique case. Contact our dental office and get started transforming your smile today!
Understanding the Cost of SureSmile
Are you interested in learning more about the cost of SureSmile? Good news: you’re in the right place! At your consultation, we can provide you with an estimate after learning all about your dental needs and smile goals. You can also read on to learn more on the topic in the meantime, including the factors that we need to consider and whether or not dental insurance typically covers a portion of the price.
Factors That Affect the Cost of SureSmile
In order to give you an accurate estimate of the cost, we need to conduct a comprehensive oral exam. In the process, we will determine:
- If gum disease therapy or any other preliminary treatments are needed
- How mild or severe your case of malocclusion is
- How many aligners need to be made
- If rubber bands, buttons, or attachments need to be added to your treatment plan
- The type of retainer you need following clear aligner treatment
SureSmile vs. Mail-In Aligners: Which Costs More?
Typically, mail-in aligners cost less. However, you have to ask yourself, “Why?” The answer is that these companies cut corners – from not completing a comprehensive oral exam to asking patients to take their own impressions. Plus, licensed dental professionals aren’t overseeing the treatment process, which means there’s nowhere to turn when something goes wrong. That’s why it’s important to choose a professional orthodontic treatment, like SureSmile, even if it requires a higher upfront investment.
Does Dental Insurance Cover SureSmile?
Some dental insurance providers do cover a portion of the cost of clear aligner treatment. So, it’s definitely worth taking a look at your plan! If you’re having a hard time understanding your benefits, don’t hesitate to let us know. We’re proud to be a dental insurance-friendly office, and we will do our part to make understanding and utilizing your benefits easy.
Options for Making SureSmile Affordable
Don’t have dental insurance? Then ask us about the other financial solutions we offer! In addition to offering periodic specials and an in-house savings plan, we welcome flexible financing with CareCredit. As a result, you don’t have to pay for the entire cost of your orthodontic treatment in one lump sum. Instead, you can break up the total cost into smaller, more manageable chunks that fit within your monthly budget.
Still have questions about the cost of Invisalign? Then it’s time to take the next step: schedule a consultation at our Juno Beach dental office! In addition to providing you with an estimate of the price, we will provide further details on the financial solutions available and answer any questions you have.
SureSmile® FAQs
How Long Does SureSmile® Take?
On average, patients achieve the results they desire in just 12-18 months with SureSmile®. Traditional braces, on the other hand, usually take 2-3 years. So, if you have a milestone event, like a wedding, coming up, you should consider clear aligner treatment! We recommend scheduling a consultation with us ASAP so we have plenty of time to provide any preliminary care that’s needed and give you the straight, healthy, and beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat During My SureSmile® Treatment?
No, there aren’t any dietary restrictions with clear aligners. There are, however, certain foods that increase your risk of breaking an attachment or chipping your teeth, like hard pretzels. That’s why we recommend steering clear of extremely crunchy foods or, at the very least, exercising caution while eating them.
Important note: Orthodontic emergencies aren’t limited to broken or misplaced aligners. The development of gum disease, tooth decay, or any other oral health problems will bring your treatment plan to a temporary stop. That’s why it’s so important to eat nutrient-dense, well-balanced meals that will help keep your smile healthy from the inside out.
Does SureSmile® Hurt?
As your teeth move into their ideal positions, it’s normal to feel some soreness and discomfort. The good news is that the overall treatment process is considerably smoother with clear aligners than it is with traditional braces. After all, there aren’t any metal components, there aren’t monthly adjustment appointments, and you don’t need to adopt a cumbersome oral hygiene regimen!
How Should I Clean My SureSmile® Aligners?
As we mentioned above, you don’t need to adopt a cumbersome oral hygiene regimen. You also don’t need to buy any special (or expensive) cleaning products to clean your aligners. Simply use clear, mild dishwashing liquid and a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean them after each meal.
Tip: Are your aligners starting to discolor or smell? Try soaking them for 15 minutes each day in a dentist-approved clear aligner solution.
Can I Drink Coffee with SureSmile®?
You can! There’s just one rule you need to keep in mind: you need to remove your aligners before drinking anything other than water, including iced coffee. Otherwise, stubborn stains will develop on the surface, drawing unwanted attention to your smile in the process.
What Happens After SureSmile®?
At your final SureSmile® appointment, we will make sure you love the results, take the “after” photos, and begin the process of having your custom retainer made. This is essential because – without this last step – your chances of experiencing orthodontic relapse skyrocket.