SureSmile & Invisalign Clear Aligners

If you’re interested in SureSmile and Invisalign in River District, Dr. Scott Kollen is here to help.

At River District Dentistry, we offer SureSmile aligners to correct your teeth without braces. Read on to learn more, and see why this treatment may be right for you.

Why Do I Need Clear Aligners?

We get it. No one ever ended up in the hospital from not aligning their teeth. But there are a TON of benefits to straightening your teeth, and they’re not just cosmetic benefits!

  • - Less inflammation: Crooked, overlapped teeth are harder to clean - think of it like food-laden dishes haphazardly stacked and loaded in a dishwasher. They build up plaque, calculus and bacterial deposits more quickly, which puts you at a higher risk of inflammation, gum disease, and developing loose teeth. Aligning your teeth will make it easier to brush and floss, and reduce the likelihood of developing gingivitis, periodontitis (moderate - severe gum disease)
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  • - Less decay: when your teeth are overlapped, the same plaque and bacteria that causes inflammation can also cause cavities to form! Aligning teeth will expose more of your tooth to your toothbrush/floss, making it easier to scrub and clean all those nooks and crannies, and helping you avoid getting fillings/crowns/root canals etc.
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  • - Healthier bite: due to genetics and/or habits like thumb sucking, clenching, and grinding, our teeth can end up tipping and shifting into less-than-ideal positions. These malocclusions (unhealthy bites) can lead to premature and excessive tooth wear, where your tooth gets worn down like a piece of chalk rubbed on a chalkboard. By shifting the teeth into the ideal, healthy positions that they were evolved to be in; we can reduce the chipping and shortening of teeth, and avoid the need for lengthy, costly, and extensive full mouth rehabilitation.
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  • - Pre-Cosmetic: if you’re planning on getting veneers, crowns, or Bioclear on your front teeth, sometimes it’s beneficial to move them into better positions first, which then means we don’t have to drill away as much tooth structure and run the risk of sensitivity or root canals
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  • - Better smiles: Of course, by aligning your teeth, you’ll have a nicer smile, both for selfies, wedding/family photos, and just generally sharing a positive, happy vibe with everyone around you :D

What Are The Differences Between Clear Aligners & Braces?

SureSmile offers a clear aligner treatment that is extremely similar to Invisalign, and works in the same way to shift the position of your teeth: using a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. So, you can smile more during treatment as well as after. SureSmile is made with 3D computer imaging technology, along with the latest in 3D printing. Dr. Kollen can help you decide if this treatment is right for you and can plan your case digitally, taking into account the natural features of your face and smile.

SureSmile aligners and Invisalign can be used for most patients who have minor-to-moderate issues with the position of their teeth, but they can’t be used for major orthodontic problems.

If you’re not sure if clear aligners are right for you, contact River District Dentistry for a consultation right away - just click the blue button at the top of this page!

What To Expect When Getting Clear Aligners

After you’ve been approved for treatment, we scan your teeth to make a 3D digital model. We combine this with digital smile photos and come up with a treatment plan customized for each tooth’s movement. A series of aligners is then made on 3D printed models. These aligners are given to you along with bonding attachments onto some of your teeth (think of attachments as temporary, tooth-coloured “door handles” that the aligners can pull/push on!). We also may do some IPR - slight reshaping of the teeth to allow them to slide past each other instead of colliding and getting stuck.

You wear each set of aligners for at least 22 hours per day for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you advance through each aligner in the series, your teeth will move — little by little, week by week — until they have straightened to the final position as prescribed.

How Long Do I Need Clear Aligners?

This primarily depends on the extent of your orthodontic problems. You’ll visit us about once every 6-10 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing and on track.

It’s common for clear aligners to be worn for anywhere from 9 months to 24 months or longer.

After you schedule a consultation at River District Dentistry, our dentists can begin developing your treatment plan, and provide you with a more accurate estimate for the length of your treatment with SureSmile clear aligners.