Are you self-conscious about your misaligned teeth? Do you avoid smiling because you don’t want others to see your crooked teeth? Ask us about treatment with clear braces. Clear braces provide a discreet option for patients who wish to straighten their smiles. Dr. Bassam Abazid offers clear braces treatment with SureSmile® at Smile Land Family Dental in San Antonio, TX. SureSmile is a cosmetic dental treatment that can improve the aesthetics and health of the smile.
How Do Metal Braces Compare to Clear Aligners?
Traditional metal braces are good options for patients with moderate to severe orthodontic problems. However, clear aligners can offer many more benefits to patients if they require mild to moderate orthodontic care.
Traditional braces:
- Require more frequent office visits
- May pinch or irritate the gum tissue with wires
- Have restrictions against sticky, crunchy, or hard foods
Clear aligners:
- Require fewer office visits
- Are designed to cover the teeth and gums with minimal irritation
- Allow patients to remove aligners to eat and drink
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our office if you want orthodontic treatment but aren’t interested in metal braces. Clear aligners offer a more discreet option than braces that use colored elastic, metal wires, and brackets to move teeth. Removable orthodontic aligners allow patients the freedom to brush and floss their teeth without braces in the way.
Treatment with SureSmile clear aligners also offers benefits over traditional braces. You can potentially complete SureSmile treatment in less time than braces and other aligner treatments.
At the same time, SureSmile can treat multiple orthodontic problems, including:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Open bite
- Crossbite
- Tooth gaps
- Crooked teeth
If you have any of these orthodontic problems but don’t want braces, SureSmile could be the right orthodontic treatment for you.
Clear Braces in San Antonio, TX
SureSmile uses clear aligners to straighten crooked and misaligned teeth, close tooth gaps, and create more even bites. If you are an adult with mild or moderate orthodontic problems, SureSmile can benefit you. SureSmile can also offer more comfortable treatment than traditional metal braces with fewer visits and restrictions.
To create SureSmile aligners, we take impressions of your teeth in our office. We send these impressions to dental labs, who make the custom SureSmile aligners from clear but durable plastic. Once the first aligners are complete, we will ensure that the pair fits properly. SureSmile is pay-as-you-go, so we will provide you with aligners as required.
You will switch out your aligners for a new pair every two weeks. Each pair of aligners is different and will gradually shift your teeth into a straighter position over time.
Caring for SureSmile Aligners
To care for your aligners, remove them when you eat or drink to prevent staining or damage. Because these aligners are removable, you will not have any restrictions against crunchy or hard foods. However, you must clean your teeth and aligners before you place them back in your mouth.
You can clean your aligners with a mouthguard soak or with liquid soap and lukewarm water. We recommend wearing your aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily for the best results. Wearing the aligners consistently will keep you on track to finishing treatment promptly.
Wearing Retainers After SureSmile
Once you complete the SureSmile treatment, you need to wear a retainer. Wearing the SureSmile retainer for 12 months after treatment will ensure your teeth remain straight.
Retainers also prevent orthodontic relapse. Orthodontic relapse is a condition that occurs if you stop wearing your retainer. Your teeth can shift out of their straight position. Sometimes, patients who experience orthodontic relapse may need more orthodontic treatment. If you lose your retainer or need a new retainer, please call our office. We want to help you keep your results.
SureSmile FAQs
Do you have questions about SureSmile? Read answers to commonly asked questions about SureSmile aligners:
How long is SureSmile treatment?
On average, SureSmile can take 12 or more months to complete. Your treatment time will depend on how long you wear your aligners, how you care for your aligners, and the extent of your orthodontic problems.
Can you drink water with SureSmile?
Yes, you can drink water wearing SureSmile aligners. However, do not drink hot water, which can warp the aligners. Instead, drink cool or room-temperature water with SureSmile. Remove your aligners to drink hot water, tea, coffee, and other hot drinks.
Do you wear SureSmile aligners all day?
We recommend wearing your SureSmile aligners 20 to 22 hours a day. You will remove your SureSmile aligners when you:
- Eat food
- Drink anything other than cool water
- Brush and floss your teeth
- Clean your aligners
You will need to wear SureSmile during sleep, so we will not recommend this treatment if you experience bruxism or nightly teeth clenching and grinding.
How is SureSmile different from Invisalign?
Invisalign and SureSmile both use clear aligners to straighten teeth. However, SureSmile can be less costly than Invisalign and offers fewer adjustments.
SureSmile and Invisalign also use different materials. While SureSmile uses Essix ACE, Invisalign uses SmartTrack®. SureSmile can address severe malocclusion, and Invisalign offers attachments if patients require more pressure on some teeth than others.
Is SureSmile worth it?
SureSmile is worth it for patients who want a more affordable alternative to other clear aligner treatments and want a straighter smile in less time. Patients who complete the SureSmile treatment can receive a straighter smile in just 12 or more months, shorter than treatment with metal braces.
SureSmile does not require many in-office visits and does not have dietary restrictions during treatment. As with other orthodontic treatments, SureSmile requires retainers to ensure that teeth stay straight.
Does dental insurance cover SureSmile?
Many types of dental insurance offer coverage for orthodontic treatment. Let us know your insurance carrier, and we can determine which parts of the treatment are covered by insurance.
Straighten Your Smile with Clear Braces
Do you want a straighter smile but don’t want metal braces? Ask us about treatment with clear braces in our San Antonio office. Call Smile Land Family Dental for SureSmile treatment today at 210-939-9689. You can also schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Abazid on our website.