Sure Smile

Braces, archwires and orthodontics: you’ve come to the right place to find out more about your options. Browse common questions, and learn about precision archwire customization for adult braces or orthodontic treatment for your child.

Braces are most often used for straightening teeth. Are there other benefits to braces?

With braces, you get more than straight teeth and a beautiful smile. You’ll also benefit from better alignment of your teeth which helps you avoid the extra pressure on gums, teeth and joints that cause health problems due to ongoing mis-alignment.

It's also important to note that braces may be beneficial if you are working with a dentist for a restorative procedure. At times, dental procedures require teeth first to be moved by an orthodontist.

When it comes to braces, it's important to know that only an orthodontist has advanced training to manipulate the movement of your teeth. A SureSmile orthodontist will be able to evaluate your case with advanced imaging and virtual treatment that's accurate within 0.1 millimeter.

My teeth have been crooked for many years, so why should I get adult braces?

Continuing through adulthood with crooked teeth or misaligned jaws has unintended consequences. Adult braces are recommended for preventing oral health problems and diminish your risk of gum disease, enamel wear, decay and tooth loss.

Why can't a dentist put braces on my teeth?

While a dentist has some teeth-straightening capabilities, only an orthodontist has the years of advanced training to fully understand how braces and the micro-movement of individual teeth affect your facial structure, bone and jaws.

An orthodontist has several additional years of specialized training beyond dental school to develop expertise in straightening teeth and ensuring proper form and function. Further, an orthodontic practice treats hundreds of cases a year with braces, whereas a general dentist may only work with a handful of orthodontic cases amid drilling and filling.

SureSmile orthodontists complete even further classroom training that affords them tools and expertise beyond a traditional orthodontic education. Having this exceptionally advanced training allows the doctor to provide the most accurate orthodontic treatment available.

I've seen advertisements for a "perfect smile" in only one or two visits to the dentist. Will this give me straight teeth?

There are some important distinctions between complete orthodontic care and a quick dental "fix". Most significantly, orthodontists are experts at addressing the fit of bone and jaw, not just straightening teeth-offering a complete, informed (expert) treatment that results in better tooth alignment for chewing, flossing and overall oral hygiene, in addition to a beautiful smile. With treatment by an orthodontist, the lifetime and overall health of your mouth is integral to any orthodontist's treatment plan.

Your SureSmile orthodontist uses software that makes it possible to assess the quality of your finished result before treatment begins, using quality grading and measurement tools. Unique to SureSmile orthodontists, this tool also assists with monitoring your progress to make sure your smile is precisely on-target.

What is a malocclusion, and does it require braces?

Malocclusion refers to how your top and bottom jaw meet, otherwise known as your "bite". A malocclusion can mean that teeth are simply crowded, or refers to a mis-alignment where the top teeth protrude out over the lower teeth (an "overbite"). When the lower jaw is just beyond the upper teeth, this is an "underbite".

Orthodontics addresses these alignment issues, using braces to correct the way that teeth and jaws fit together for better chewing, digestion and oral care. SureSmile orthodontists use 3-D imaging to plan the most precise and efficient way to transform a malocclusion into a healthy bite.

What are the "social six"?

The front teeth between your canines are often called the "social six," and in recent years, more dental professionals are advertising easy straightening for these teeth. Unfortunately, quick fixes neglect bone and jaw alignment, making all your teeth susceptible to shifting unexpectedly.

Turn to an orthodontist for a healthy, well-planned and executed treatment that considers your long-term oral health. A SureSmile orthodontist will design your treatment using high-tech 3-D models of your bite to precisely move all your teeth in most efficient way to give you a healthy, beautiful smile.

Why is it important to have straight teeth?

People are living longer, and proper alignment helps us maintain healthy teeth for life. Without braces, a mis-aligned bite can cause abnormal wear, as well as difficulty in chewing and speaking. Likewise, crowded teeth are hard to clean, contributing to gum disease, decay and tooth loss. These issues cause excess stress on the mouth, often leading to painful jaw problems.

In addition to increasing self-confidence, orthodontic treatment can also help children and adults bite, chew and speak more effectively.

What should I consider when selecting an orthodontist?

In choosing an orthodontist, consider

• the number of years the orthodontist has been in practice
• the steps the orthodontist takes in planning treatment for a case
• how the orthodontist shares his treatment plan with a patient
• whether the orthodontist can show you what your new smile will look like
• how the orthodontist assesses the quality of your outcome after braces

A SureSmile orthodontist uses advanced 3-D models of your bite to create your unique treatment plan. From these models, a precision archwire is made from your doctor's treatment plan, accurate to 0.1 millimeter, giving your SureSmile orthodontist the most efficient means to create your healthy, beautiful smile with more efficiency and in less time than traditional braces.

Why does orthodontic treatment take so long?

With conventional orthodontic treatment, an archwire is bent by hand and adjustments to your treatment are made each time you visit the orthodontist. Traditional orthodontics take an average of two years of fine-tuning tooth movement before they reach their finishing positions.

SureSmile eliminates these frequent adjustments of your braces by providing your doctor advanced imaging, prescriptive planning software, and robotic accuracy for the best possible smile in significantly less time than conventional methods.

What are optimal results?

An ideal result from orthodontic treatment such as braces is one that is both healthy and functional. Optimally aligned teeth and jaws mean a comfortable bite that is as functionally correct as it is beautiful for outward appearances. Through steady pressure from the braces and archwires, your bite re-aligns as your teeth move into their optimal positions, minimizing the potential for chipping or wear and tear as you age.

Because SureSmile orthodontists have specialized precision tools at their disposal, SureSmile braces provide results with incredible accuracy and precision compared to traditional treatment methods.

How much do braces cost?

Your smile is unique, and the cost of braces depends on many factors such as the severity and complexity of your case. The average cost of orthodontic treatment nationally is $5,000, however, this typically does not include x-rays, extractions, special brackets or appliances that your doctor may use to treat your case.

SureSmile braces are covered under insurance plans like any orthodontic treatment.

How is SureSmile different from traditional braces?

Unlike conventional orthodontic treatment, which estimates your treatment using plaster models and x-rays, SureSmile provides your orthodontist with a detailed 3-D computer model of your teeth. No other means of modeling is more accurate at plotting individual tooth movement throughout the treatment process.

By using customized SureSmile archwires, the orthodontist can move each tooth to the target position by the most direct path. With the efficiency of SureSmile, you'll spend 33% less time in braces with high-quality results.