A great-looking smile can boost your self-confidence and positively impact social and professional opportunities. Orthodontic treatment is the original smile makeover tool — and you will be happy to know that you’re never too old to take advantage of it. SureSmile® is one of the most effective choices for straightening your smile with clear, comfortable aligners. Howard County Smiles offers SureSmile in Columbia, MD. SureSmile offers a discreet cosmetic treatment for teens and adults with mild to moderate orthodontic concerns.
Is SureSmile For Me?
You can require orthodontic treatment at any age. Orthodontics isn’t just for children. One in five of today’s orthodontic patients is an adult. New technological developments, including clear aligners, make orthodontic appliances less evident and enhance the treatment experience.
SureSmile can address an overbite, underbite, crossbite, crooked teeth, and gaps between teeth. This treatment uses clear aligners that are a safe, comfortable, convenient, and virtually unnoticeable option for a straighter and healthier smile. Properly aligned teeth help you to bite, chew, and speak more effectively.
They are also easier to clean, which helps keep your mouth free of tooth decay and gum disease. Teens and adults prefer the discreet treatment that offers the convenience of easy removal for daily oral hygiene, eating, and routine dental care.
Using specialized computer design software, we will create a custom treatment plan using a series of removable clear aligners to gradually move the teeth into desired positions to correct a dental health or cosmetic issue.
Benefits of SureSmile
SureSmile offers many benefits for our patients:
- Improved Oral Hygiene: Removable aligners allow you to easily clean your teeth and gums. You do not need to navigate around metal wires or brackets to brush and floss.
- Comfortable Treatment: SureSmile uses thin, flexible materials that will not irritate the mouth’s soft tissues.
- A Discreet Look: If you consider your orthodontic treatment to be a private matter, or feel that metal braces don’t fit with your self-image, a practically invisible form of orthodontic treatment might suit you.
- Fewer Dietary Restrictions: Patients can eat harder and crunchier foods because they can remove their SureSmile aligners to eat.
SureSmile Treatment in Columbia, MD
We will examine your smile to determine whether SureSmile is right for you. If you are the right candidate, we will take photographs, X-rays, and an impression of your teeth. We will then complete further diagnostic analysis to create a treatment plan. Our office will also let you know if you qualify for orthodontic insurance benefits and the estimated cost and length of treatment.
We can create custom SureSmile aligners in our office. First, we take digital impressions or scans of the mouth. Using the latest advances in 3-D computer technology, we can create the SureSmile aligners from the digital scans. We use clear but durable plastic materials that are custom-fit to your smile.
During the SureSmile treatment, you will wear each set of clear aligners for about two weeks. Each set of aligners will gradually move your teeth closer and closer to the desired result. You must always wear these aligners except when eating, drinking, or cleaning your teeth. Your clear braces should be worn for 22 hours a day. This allows you to remove them to eat and continue a normal oral hygiene routine.
The number of aligners you require will depend on your dental concerns and cosmetic goals. Most patients will complete treatment in 12 or more months.
SureSmile FAQs
SureSmile is a subtle way to get straighter teeth. Learn more by reading the answers to these frequently asked questions.
How many hours a day do I have to have the aligners in?
At a minimum, they need to be in your mouth for 20-22 hours a day. Only take them out when you’re eating, drinking something other than water, or brushing and flossing your teeth. If you don’t wear them for this time, your treatment will take longer than projected.
How long does treatment with SureSmile take?
On average, treatment takes about 12-18 months. However, each patient is different, depending on your unique needs. Before we proceed with treatment, we bring you in for a consultation to ensure this is the best option to straighten your teeth. We personalize each treatment plan, and we can tell you the length to expect. If you don’t wear your aligners for the needed time each day, treatment will take longer.
Can I drink coffee with SureSmile?
No, water is the only beverage you should consume with your aligners in your mouth. One of the big advantages of SureSmile is that the aligners are clear, so they’re virtually invisible on your teeth. Drinking coffee with them will stain them, so they’re no longer transparent. The acidic quality of coffee can damage the aligners as well.
Can I smoke with SureSmile?
We don’t recommend it. Just like coffee, smoking tobacco stains the aligners. Nicotine and tar create yellow and brown staining on the aligners. If you’re going to smoke, take the aligners out. You should also try to brush your teeth before putting the aligners back in, as the residue in your mouth can still cause staining.
How often do I change my SureSmile trays?
You’ll change for a new set of aligners every 1-2 weeks. Each set moves the teeth slightly so that they’re closer to the end result you desire. You should never try to accelerate your treatment by changing them out faster. You’ll feel slight discomfort with each change, but it doesn’t mean they’re set in their position. Changing aligners too fast can loosen the teeth and they may even fall out.
Am I a good candidate for SureSmile?
SureSmile is for clients with mild to moderate orthodontic concerns. If you have more severe orthodontic problems, we may need to refer you to a local orthodontist for better treatment. You should also be in good oral health and responsible enough to care for the aligners properly and wear them for the necessary amount of time.
Get a Straighter Smile Today
If you’re considering orthodontic treatment in Columbia, MD, call Howard County Smiles at (410) 415-9013. You may also schedule an orthodontic consultation online.