Treatable conditions
Is SureSmile® right for you?
Learn more about the different types of orthodontic issues SureSmile® may be able to treat.
Treatable conditions
Overcrowding
Overcrowding occurs when your teeth are too close together. When your jaw doesn't have enough room for your teeth to sit comfortably, they shift and overlap. Overcrowding can cause your teeth to push forward, pull backward, or invade the space of surrounding teeth.
RELATED PROBLEMS
Overcrowding makes it difficult to brush and floss correctly. That can allow tartar, plaque, and harmful bacteria to build up and cause oral health problems like tooth decay and gum disease.
TREATING OVERCROWDING
If your overcrowding can be corrected by shifting your teeth and does not need additional treatment, SureSmile® clear aligners may work for you. Talk to a doctor to find out if SureSmile is right for your particular case.
Overbite
An overbite occurs when your top front teeth overlap your bottom front teeth. It's normal to have a slight overbite, but extreme overbites, also known as deep bites, can cause problems. If your top front teeth cover more than 20% of your bottom front teeth when you smile, you may have a deep bite.
RELATED PROBLEMS
Slight overbites may not need treatment. A deep bite, on the other hand, can cause difficulty breathing, tooth decay, and gum disease. More severe overbites may even cause jaw disorders, jaw pain, and headaches.
TREATING AN OVERBITE
If your overbite can be corrected by shifting your teeth and does not need additional treatment, SureSmile® clear aligners may work for you. Talk to your doctor to find out if SureSmile is right for your particular case.
Crossbite
A crossbite is a type of misalignment that occurs when some of your upper teeth sit inside your lower teeth. This can happen anywhere in your mouth, and it can happen with groups of teeth or just one tooth.
RELATED PROBLEMS
If you have a crossbite, your teeth may grind together in the wrong places, which can lead to chipped teeth and worn-down gums. Severe crossbite can also cause lopsided jaw growth, jaw disorders, and pain, and you may find it difficult to perform everyday tasks like eating, drinking, and speaking.
TREATING A CROSSBITE
If your crossbite can be corrected by shifting your teeth and does not need additional treatment, SureSmile® clear aligners may work for you. Talk to a doctor to find out if SureSmile is right for your particular case.
Underbite
An underbite occurs when your bottom front teeth overlap your top front teeth when your mouth is closed. A slight overbite is normal, but any underbite is considered a misalignment and will likely need treatment.
RELATED PROBLEMS
An underbite can cause jaw disorders, making it difficult or even painful to chew or speak. Your teeth may wear down more quickly than usual. You may breathe through your mouth and suffer from chronic bad breath or sleep apnea.
TREATING AN UNDERBITE
If your underbite is caused by tooth placement rather than jaw placement, SureSmile® clear aligners may work for you. Talk to a doctor to find out if SureSmile is right for your particular case.
Spacing or gaps
Spacing issues, also known as diastema or gap teeth, occur when you have too much space between two or more teeth. There may be too much space in the mouth for the teeth to rest comfortably together.
RELATED PROBLEMS
Spacing issues typically don't result in severe health issues, but excessive space between teeth can leave your gums unprotected and make it easy for food to get stuck between your teeth, which can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Without the support of surrounding teeth, a tooth could also become loose or even break.
TREATING SPACING ISSUES
Spacing issues are usually caused by tooth placement rather than jaw placement, so SureSmile® clear aligners may work well to shift teeth into the desired position. Talk to a doctor to find out if SureSmile is right for your particular case.
Open bite
You have an open bite if your top teeth and bottom teeth touch at the back of your mouth but not at the front, or vice versa. This usually happens because the teeth are slanted in a way that prevents them from meeting in the middle. Open bites occur most often at the front of the mouth.
RELATED PROBLEMS
Having an open bite can impact your ability to perform everyday activities like speaking and eating.
TREATING AN OPEN BITE
An open bite is usually caused by tooth placement rather than jaw placement, so SureSmile® clear aligners may work well to shift teeth into the desired position. Talk to a doctor to find out if SureSmile is right for your particular case.
Crooked teeth
Crooked teeth refers to any type of misalignment that impacts the spacing, direction, or placement of teeth. Underbites, overbites, crossbites, open bites, spacing issues, and overcrowded teeth are all types of crooked teeth.
RELATED PROBLEMS
Crooked teeth can affect a person's confidence in their smile, which is reason enough to fix them, but they can also impact oral hygiene, potentially leading to tooth decay, gum disease, and infections of the jaw and teeth. They could even impact the ability to accomplish everyday tasks like eating, drinking, and speaking.
TREATING CROOKED TEETH
If your crooked teeth are caused by tooth placement rather than jaw placement, SureSmile® clear aligners may work for you. Talk to a doctor to find out if SureSmile is right for your particular case.
Why straighten your teeth?
