When you hear the word “orthodontics,” what comes to mind? A young teenager likely has their teeth covered by a latticework of metal. There are indeed many orthodontic patients who fit that description. However, there now exists an increasingly popular alternative to traditional metal braces: Sure Smile clear aligners.
Contact UsWhen you hear the word “orthodontics,” what comes to mind? A young teenager probably wears a latticework of metal over their teeth. There are indeed many orthodontic patients who fit that description. However, there now exists an increasingly popular alternative to traditional metal braces: Sure Smile clear aligners.As the name suggests, we make Sure Smile clear aligners from nearly invisible polyurethane plastic. Unlike metal or clear braces that bond to the teeth, you can completely remove clear aligners. You can take them out for important social occasions, eating, and, most importantly, tooth brushing and flossing. This advantage can also be a disadvantage, as it requires resisting the urge to remove your aligners too often. Here are some other advantages of the Sure Smile system:
- Improved Oral Hygiene — A removable orthodontic appliance makes it easier to clean your teeth compared to metal braces.
- A Discreet Look — If you prefer privacy or feel metal braces don’t suit your self-image, a virtually invisible orthodontic treatment may be ideal.
- More Dietary Choices — To protect metal wires and braces, some diet modifications are necessary. With clear aligners, you can still bite into an apple or a crispy pizza crust.
- Comfort — Sure Smile’s thin, flexible material won’t irritate the soft tissues of the mouth, unlike metal wires and braces.
- Teeth-Grinding Protection — Clear aligners can act as thin nightguards to protect your teeth from grinding or clenching.
Clear aligner technology has improved and can now correct many malocclusions once considered too complex for this treatment. Yet there are still some situations for which traditional braces would still be best. We can discuss this in detail with you.
How Sure Smile Works
Sure Smile clear aligners work like traditional braces by applying controlled forces to move teeth into a better position. Clear, flexible plastic, not metal, makes up their material.
Here’s how it works: We use specialized software to design a plan that aligns your teeth from their current positions. We will break this movement into several dozen stages. For each stage, the Sure Smile company will manufacture two plastic mouth “trays” or “aligners,” one to fit over your top teeth and one for the bottom. You will wear this first set of trays for two weeks, for a minimum of 20 hours per day. You will then move on to the next set of aligners in your series to accomplish the next stage of gradual movement. Keep following this process until your teeth align correctly.In the past several years, Sure Smile has added two features to make it a more suitable orthodontic treatment method for teenagers. Special “eruption tabs” hold the appropriate amount of space open for molars that have not fully grown in. Sure Smile for teens also comes with “compliance indicators” built into the aligner material, which fade with wear. This allows parents, dentists, and teens to ensure they wear the trays as prescribed. Treatment with Sure Smile can only be successful if this is the case.
Caring for Your Teeth During Sure Smile Treatment
As mentioned above, one of the main advantages of the Sure Smile system is that the trays can be removed for easy cleaning. So please don’t neglect to do this! You’ll need to brush your teeth after every meal or snack so that food and plaque do not get trapped in the aligners, which could promote tooth decay and gum disease. Your aligners, too, will have to be cleaned regularly; you can do this by brushing them and then rinsing them with lukewarm water.Also, please keep in mind that while wearing clear aligners is very different from wearing braces, the importance of retaining your post-treatment results is exactly the same. You’ll want to be sure to wear your retainer(s) exactly as prescribed after your treatment is completed to protect your investment in a beautiful new smile.
