SureSmile® Clear Aligners – Waverly, OH

Crowded Teeth

As you age, crowding in your smile can become worse as your teeth shift. This can ultimately impact your oral and overall health by increasing your risk of developing a variety of oral health problems including:

• Cavities and tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Jaw pain or aching
• Difficulties chewing or biting

Crowding can cause your teeth to overlap, creating hard-to-reach spaces within the mouth that are harder to clean. This can allow bacteria, food debris, plaque, and tartar to accumulate.

SureSmile aligners can shift your teeth to lay flush beside each other, making brushing and flossing more effective and easier. Plus, having a straighter smile can boost your self-confidence, too!

Gaps Between Teeth

Having too large of spaces between your teeth can be the result of natural bone development and oral anatomy, having too small teeth that don’t take up enough space, having a large jawbone, and a variety of other natural factors. They can also develop due to thumb-sucking and tongue-thrusting in childhood.

Addressing these gaps is the best solution for improving your oral health, as it can reduce your risk of bacteria and plaque buildup, tooth decay, gum disease, and gum inflammation.

In addition to SureSmile, minor gaps can often be addressed with the help of dental bonding.

Overbite

An overbite or overjet is an alignment issue that causes your top teeth to jut out too far from the lower arch of teeth. They can lead to jaw pain, speech problems, uneven dental wear, and difficulties opening and closing your mouth.

Overbites can also leave your top teeth more exposed, which can put them at a higher risk of becoming damaged, as they are not well protected.

Underbite

An underbite is the term used to describe alignment when your bottom teeth go slightly past or match with your top row of teeth when you close your mouth.

Underbites are usually the result of genetics, oral trauma such as a jaw injury, tumors, or non-nutritive habits during childhood such as thumb and pacifier-sucking.

If left uncorrected, underbites can lead to a variety of issues, including an increased risk of sleep apnea, mouth breathing, and difficulties speaking and chewing.

Though underbites are most easily addressed in younger patients, they are important to correct even as an adult.

In many cases, patients with underbites will require the use of rubber bands or other attachments that can be used in combination with their SureSmile trays. These are designed to gradually adjust your bite and pull back your lower arch into its proper position.

Crossbite

A crossbite is the term used to describe when your bottom teeth are slightly in front of your upper arch. Crossbite is typically caused by genetics, poor oral habits, or the premature loss of your baby teeth.

SureSmile aligners can typically fix a crossbite, but if it’s a result of issues involving jaw development, it may be necessary to accompany your aligners with elastics or other accessories to help shift your jaw into its proper position.

If left untreated, a crossbite can lead to long term issues including an increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay, jaw pain, speech problems, headaches, bruxism (teeth grinding), and facial asymmetry.

Open Bite

An open bite refers to when your top and bottom front teeth can’t overlap or touch when you close your mouth completely. Open bites are typically caused by poor bone development or due to non-nutritive habits as a child, such as prolonged thumb or pacifier sucking.

In many cases, it can cause difficulty pronouncing certain words and sounds, as well as excessive enamel wear on the backs of the teeth, which can increase their risk of becoming damaged.

SureSmile aligners can help bring the front top and bottom teeth together, correcting the bite pattern and lowering your risk of tooth damage and wear.

Factors that Affect the Cost of SureSmile

Several factors can influence the cost of SureSmile aligners. Here are some of the ways our team calculates the total price:

• Case Complexity: The complexity of your case is the first consideration. More severe misalignment or bite issues may require a longer treatment period, resulting in a higher cost.
• Number of Aligners: The number of aligners needed throughout your treatment will also affect the overall price. Some patients only need correction on one arch while others need both.
• Preparatory Procedures: If you need additional procedures like extractions or fillings, they will add to the total cost.

SureSmile vs. Mail-In Aligners: Which Costs More?

While mail-in aligners may appear cheaper upfront; around $2,000, the true cost often becomes clear over time. Mail-in aligners lack professional oversight, which can lead to ineffective treatment or even damage to your teeth and gums. This could cause you to need additional corrective treatments, ultimately increasing your expenses far over your budget.

On the other hand, SureSmile aligners cost around $4,000 on average. However, this additional expenditure comes with expert care. Your treatment is designed and monitored by our highly trained dental professionals, Dr. Corcoran and Dr. Privitera. This ensures they fit properly and effectively guide your teeth into their pre-planned positions.

The comprehensive care provided by our team can prevent costly complications, making them a smarter investment in the long term over “cheaper” mail-in or “DIY” solutions.

Does Dental Insurance Cover SureSmile?

SureSmile can be covered under some dental insurance plans, but many don’t include an “orthodontics provision.” Depending on your plan and your provider you could receive coverage for a portion of the treatment cost, typically around 50%. Because it can be a frustrating process, our dental team can help you navigate your insurance benefits and figure out your benefits before beginning treatment. We’ll also be happy to file any claims you may need on your behalf so you can focus on your treatment.

>Options for Making SureSmile Affordable

If your dental insurance doesn’t fully cover SureSmile aligners, there are still options to make them more affordable!

 At our practice, we offer flexible financing through CareCredit, which allows you to break down the cost into manageable monthly payments. We also offer our in-house membership plan that provides discounts on many services, potentially reducing the overall cost of your SureSmile treatment.

We’re committed to helping you achieve a healthy grin without breaking the bank, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us and schedule a consultation. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and put you on track to a beautiful, straightened smile!