Most of us grew up either having braces or with friends and siblings who went through having them, and we all have plenty of feelings about the experience: there’s the horror of being “stuck” with braces for years at a time with no end in sight, the pain associated with having to tighten them or wear uncomfortable rubber bands, or the annoyance of monthly office visits where you constantly sit for disgusting updated plaster casts, only to get yet another adjustment.

Fortunately for the kids (and adults!) of today, when it comes to orthodontics, there’s a lot more to smile about.

Innovations in orthodontics like SureSmile braces and invisible aligners take away both guesswork for the orthodontist and discomfort for the patient. Using technologies like SureSmile and invisible aligners makes for a more customized approach to orthodontic care.

We are confident that SureSmile methods are the wave of the future. Forget plastic molds and plaster casts; SureSmile uses 3-D images of the teeth to assess the current trouble spots, as well as help the orthodontist map out a treatment plan for the future smile of the patient. The orthodontist then creates wires using the imaging from the computer, and a robot physically makes these wires to ensure microscopic precision.

For those wanting the super high-tech experience of SureSmile with the sleeker look of no wires, you can also choose invisible aligners, which are clear trays that gently shift your teeth.

These trays are created by your orthodontist utilizing a 3-D image of your teeth, along with digital X-rays and pictures. You wear each set of invisible aligners for 2 weeks before trading them out for new ones.

The benefits of both SureSmile braces and invisible aligners far outweigh traditional and dated methods of the past. Both SureSmile and invisible aligners use the newest technologies to attain terrific results quicker and with better accuracy, making for a smoother orthodontic journey for both patient and orthodontist.