Suresmile technology allows tech-savvy orthodontists to straighten your teeth using a mouse rather than pliers. It is more accurate, more comfortable, and faster than conventional braces. But, what is Suresmile and how does it work?
Much like Lasik eye surgery, Suresmile uses computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to accomplish the wire bending phase of orthodontic treatment allowing results to be delivered more accurately, more comfortably, and 40% faster. There are five steps in the Suresmile process:
First, before beginning the Suresmile process, a patient must be in braces and already have his or her most complex orthodontic problems corrected. These include resolution of crowing, gross malalignment of the teeth corrected, major bite issues resolved, and less than three millimeters of space remaining. When a regular orthodontic patient reaches this point in treatment he or she typically has 6 to 12 months of adjustments remaining. In many Suresmile cases, patients have only one or two visits remaining once when they reach this point.
Step one of the Suresmile process is to obtain a three-dimensional scan of the patient’s teeth. This can be done with either a very accurate 3D x-ray machine or an optical scanner called the Orascanner. In most cases, the x-ray is all that is needed. In patients with large metallic restorations however, the Orascanner must be used to obtain additional information about the shape and position of the teeth with their brackets. This digital “impression” is then electronically forwarded to the technicians at Suresmile.
Once the digital lab at Suresmile determines that the scan information is accurate, they pass it along to the modeling team (step two). These technicians convert the scan data into a digital model that has separate, movable teeth. In the third step, the orthodontist prescribes the final position of each tooth either by moving the teeth himself with a mouse or through very detailed instructions to the digital lab. The orthodontist alone determines the diagnosis, treatment plan, and physics necessary to move the teeth to their final positions. The digital lab does not prescribe or recommend treatment plans.
Custom archwires are created in step four. After the orthodontist has placed the teeth in their ideal positions on the digital model, the Suresmile software quickly calculates the exact shape of the wire necessary to move the teeth into those positions. Precision “robots” then use the orthodontist’s prescription to create wires incorporating all of the steps, tips, torques, and angulations necessary to achieve the desired result. It normally takes a human wire bender (your orthodontist) 6 to 12 months of “trial and error” to get these adjustments just right. The Suresmile robots get it right the first time, every time.
The fifth and final step of the process is inserting the wires into the patient’s mouth. These custom wires take into account the individual bracket and tooth positions, shapes, and sizes. Each wire is laser etched to identify the patient and the arch into which it is to be placed. Because the wires are created “with the end in mind,” the change in the alignment of the teeth after just one visit is stunning.
The Suresmile process has been clinically tried and tested. It produces better results than traditional wire bending, allows the use of gentler wires during the detailing phase, and reduces the average treatment time by 30%. Now that’s sure to make you smile!
NOTE: The author, Dr. Greg Jorgensen, is a board-certified orthodontist who is in the private practice of orthodontics in Rio Rancho, New Mexico (a suburb on the westside of Albuquerque). He was trained at BYU, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Iowa in the United States. Dr. Jorgensen’s 25 years of specialty practice and 10,000 finished cases qualify him an expert in two-phase treatment, extraction and non-extraction therapy, functional orthodontics, clear aligners (Invisalign), and multiple bracket systems (including conventional braces, Damon and other self-ligating brackets, Suresmile, and lingual braces). This blog for informational purposes only and is designed to help consumers understand currently accepted orthodontic concepts. It is not a venue for debating alternative treatment theories. Dr. Jorgensen is licensed to diagnose and treat patients only in the state of New Mexico. He cannot diagnose cases described in comments nor can he select treatment plans for readers. Because he has over 25,000 readers each month, it is impossible for him respond to all questions. Please read all of the comments associated with each article as most of the questions he receives each week have been asked and answered previously. The opinions expressed here are protected by copyright laws and can only be used with written permission from the author.