SureSmile Clear Aligners – Sparks, NV
Your Sure Path to a Straighter Smile
Millions of people wish they had straighter teeth. Some of them simply put up with the problems caused by dental misalignment, while others choose to endure the inconvenience and unsightly appearance of metal braces in order to correct their crooked smile. For many patients, there is a better option: removable clear aligners. While there are several companies that manufacture clear aligner systems, Dr. Thomas favors the highly advanced SureSmile system. Read on below to find out how this innovative treatment works and how it may benefit you.
How Does Sure Smile Work?
SureSmile works by using a series of custom-made clear aligners that apply gentle pressure to the teeth. You wear each aligner for as much as possible for a couple of weeks. As you move on from one aligner to the next, your teeth gradually shift into their proper positions.
The treatment process begins with an in-depth consultation, wherein Dr. Thomas will answer your questions about the treatment and examine your teeth to determine whether SureSmile is a fit for you. If it is, we’ll take some digital impressions of your smile. Then, Dr. Thomas will use advanced software to map out your treatment plan. SureSmile will manufacture your state-of-the-art aligners, and you’ll embark on your journey to a healthier, more attractive set of teeth.
Benefits of SureSmile
Each year, patients choose clear aligners over other orthodontic treatments, like traditional braces. There’s a reason why. In fact, there are several! Here are some of the most outstanding benefits of SureSmile:
Made With Comfort in Mind
One downside of traditional metal braces is that the brackets and wires aren’t comfortable. In fact, they are known for causing soft tissue irritation, which is why patients are given dental wax to protect their tongue, lips, and gums. The good news is that SureSmile aligners are made out of a smooth plastic material and are designed with patient comfort in mind.
The Aligners Are Almost Invisible
If you’re a teen or adult who is put off by the idea of wearing metal brackets and wires, then talk to our team at Vista Dental Care about SureSmile. Since this innovative orthodontic treatment uses clear aligners to guide your teeth into their properly aligned positions, you won’t feel embarrassed because no unwanted attention will be drawn to your smile!
Easy Oral Hygiene
Sometimes, patients with traditional metal braces need interproximal toothbrushes, pre-threaded floss, and other special dental care tools to keep their teeth, gums, brackets, and wires clean. That’s not the case with SureSmile! Since the aligners are removable, you’ll be able to brush and floss your teeth without any extra effort or special tools.
Fast Results
Although treatment timelines vary from patient to patient, traditional braces usually take 2-3 years. SureSmile, on the other hand, is engineered to produce excellent results as quickly as possible. So, depending on how mild or moderate your case of malocclusion is, you might have the smile of your dreams in just 6-18 months!
No Dietary Restrictions
With traditional braces, patients need to avoid whole apples, popcorn, tortilla chips, and other crunchy foods. Because you’ll remove your SureSmile aligners during meals, you won’t have to worry about your food choices interfering with your teeth-straightening journey. All we ask is that you do your best to stick to well-balanced meals that are low in added sugar.
Support Every Step of the Way
Our talented and dedicated dental team will use SureSmile’s advanced tools to monitor your teeth’s progress at your routine check-in visits. Not only does this help ensure you have a smooth treatment journey, but it also gives you an opportunity to ask questions and get recommendations throughout the process so you never feel left in the dark.
Who Should Consider SureSmile?
If you are tired of hiding your crooked teeth, there’s a strong probability that SureSmile could help you. A few of the issues it is often able to correct include:
- Crowded teeth
- Gapped teeth
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Overbite
Of course, you also have to consider your own circumstances. You must be committed to making the treatment a success; it takes a bit of self-discipline to wear the aligners as much as you should. You should also have excellent oral hygiene habits. Additionally, keep in mind that the treatment is best for individuals who do not use tobacco because tobacco can stain the aligners.
Are you ready to learn more about SureSmile and how it may be able to help you achieve the teeth of your dreams? Contact Vista Dental Care today. Our friendly team members are ready to answer your questions.
Living with SureSmile Aligners
It’s pretty easy to find out what SureSmile aligners look like, what you can and can’t eat during your orthodontic treatment, and who is typically a candidate. What’s a bit more difficult to pinpoint, however, is what life is actually like with braces. For that reason, we’ve dedicated this next section to covering what you need to know about wearing your trays, drinking coffee, and the like.
Wearing Your Trays
Simply put, the last thing you want is to fall off-track with your treatment plan. After all, this not only postpones your results, but it also often comes with added costs. One of the easiest ways to help prevent that from happening is by consistently wearing your aligners for a minimum of 20 hours a day. To make sure you meet this goal each and every day, create a routine that works and stick to it as best as you can!
Cleaning Your Aligners
You’ll be happy to hear that keeping your aligners clean only requires a few minutes of your time each day. First, rinse them off with clean, cool water when you take them out to remove saliva, plaque, and the like. Second, store them somewhere safe instead of placing them in a napkin or leaving them out on the counter. Third, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and clean, cool water to brush them (make sure to brush and floss your teeth too!).
Eating & Drinking
One of the perks of SureSmile is that the aligners are removable. As a result, you don’t need to drastically alter your diet during your teeth-straightening journey; just make sure to keep your consumption of added sugar to a minimum. It’s also important that we mention here that you need to take your trays out before drinking any dark-colored beverages, including (but not limited to) wine, soda, and coffee.
Losing or Damaging a Tray
Losing a tray and damaging a tray are both orthodontic emergencies because they have the potential to negatively impact your treatment plan. That’s why it’s so important that you call our Sparks dental team ASAP. Depending on your unique situation, we may recommend wearing your previous aligners in the meantime or moving onto your next set in the series a tad early.
Routine Check-Ins
Although there are fewer check-in visits with SureSmile, each one is important. After all, they allow us to monitor the movement of your teeth so we know if you are on-track with your treatment plan or not. If you are, then there’s a good chance that you’ll be in and out of our office in 20 minutes or less. Simply put, even if your calendar is jam-packed with to-dos, it’s important that you prioritize your check-in visits!
Understanding the Cost of SureSmile
Your SureSmile will be meticulously tuned to fit your teeth, and the course of treatment will be adapted to meet your needs. While these factors are essential to the success of the procedure, it also means that it can be a little bit difficult to know what your treatment is going to cost you without talking to you first.
That said, here’s some information that can help you effectively budget for your orthodontic treatment.
Factors that Affect the Cost of SureSmile
The total amount you can expect your SureSmile treatment to cost will depend largely on how long the procedure takes, which in itself can be affected by several factors, like:
- The complexity of the necessary tooth movements.
- How severe your misalignment is.
- How well you adhere to the treatment guidelines.
The longer your overall treatment takes, the more aligners you’ll need in order to get the smile that you’re looking for.
SureSmile VS Mail Order Clear Aligners: Which Costs More?
If you’ve spent any amount of time looking into clear aligner treatment, you might have seen that there are mail order aligner companies that claim to offer comparable results, often for a lower upfront cost. However, there’s a lot you lose out on if you don’t have a professional helping you throughout the process.
Without professional supervision, it’s common for the impressions you’ll take to be slightly inaccurate. This means that the aligners won’t move your teeth properly, and that you may wind up with worse teeth than you started with. Moreover, without professional oversight it’ll be difficult to notice these issues before it’s already too late.
For that reason, even if mail-in aligners are cheaper up front, they’ll likely cost you much more in the long run.
Does Dental Insurance Cover SureSmile?
Only a subset of dental insurance companies will cover orthodontic treatment, and only a subset of those will include SureSmile as a part of that coverage. For that reason, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company to see whether SureSmile is included in your benefits. We’ll also be happy to help facilitate this process.
Only some dental insurance plans include coverage for orthodontic treatment, and SureSmile is usually left out. But not always! So it’s a good idea to check with your dental insurance company, and our team can help. You can also use your FSA account (if you have one) to help cover the cost.
Options for Making SureSmile Affordable
Even if you don’t have insurance, we have alternative options that can make the care you receive much more affordable.
We work with several financing firms, each of which can allow you to split the cost of the services you receive from us across several months. We work with both Lending Club and CareCredit, both of which offer low-to-no interest financing terms to patients that qualify.
If you have any questions about the financial options available to you, reach out to us and we’ll be happy to let you know about everything we can do for you.
SureSmile FAQs
Dr. Thomas and our team are eager to get you on the road to your ideal smile. Of course, it is understandable if you have some questions about SureSmile in Sparks before you schedule your consultation. That is why we have compiled the following brief list of FAQs, along with their answers. If you do not see the information you were hoping for, please reach out to us directly. We are ready to personally assist you.
Does SureSmile Hurt?
SureSmile is designed to be as comfortable as possible. However, it is important to remember that a degree of discomfort is inherent in all forms of orthodontic treatment. After all, your aligners will be forcibly moving your teeth! The discomfort is usually greatest at the beginning of treatment and whenever a new aligner begins to be used. Many people find relief by taking over the counter pain medications, sipping on cool water, and switching to a new aligner at night (which allows you to sleep through the initial part of the adjustment period).
How Long Does SureSmile Take?
The timeline for SureSmile varies from patient to patient. Your cosmetic dentist in Sparks, Dr. Thomas, may be able to give you an estimate for your treatment’s duration when you come in for your consultation. The primary factor that influences treatment time is the degree of your dental misalignment. For relatively minor cases, it might be possible to achieve final results in as little as six months or so. If your misalignment is more severe, you may have to wear your aligners for a year or longer. Your diligence in complying with your treatment will decrease the chance that you will experience delays on your way to your perfect smile.
What Happens After I Finish SureSmile Treatment?
You will need to wear a retainer to maintain your results. At first, you will probably need to wear your retainer as much as possible, both during the day and at night. Later, however, you may be able to progress to wearing it only at night. Eventually, you may need to use it just a few nights each week. Keep in mind that your retainer is incredibly important — if you do not wear it as directed, your teeth could easily drift back out of place! If your retainer ever becomes uncomfortably tight, that may be a sign that you are not using it enough.
Is SureSmile Cheaper Than Braces?
The cost of any orthodontic treatment depends on a number of factors, including the severity of the misalignment that is being treated. Our team will be happy to provide you with a SureSmile cost estimate during your consultation. In total, you can expect to pay at least a few thousand dollars for any type of teeth-straightening treatment. If you do not wish to pay for the entirety of your treatment upfront, we can help you explore your low-interest financing options, which include Lending Club and CareCredit. We also offer an in-house membership plan that provides a 10% or 15% discount on orthodontic services.
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