How Long Does SureSmile® Treatment Take?
The thought of getting your first set of SureSmile® clear aligners is exciting, but it’s also natural to wonder beforehand how long treatment in its entirety will be. Because everyone is unique and has different dental needs, our Ann Arbor SureSmile dentists won’t have the same answer for all interested patients. The same would be true if it were metal or ceramic braces being chosen.
To help explain why, here’s more about what can impact the length of your SureSmile treatment.
What’s the Average SureSmile Timeline?
For most patients, the is typically 12 to 18 months. This is commonly how long it takes to correct issues like mild to moderate misalignment, crowding, and bite problems. However, depending on the complexity of the dental issues, clear aligner therapy could be shorter or longer. For instance, minor spacing issues or mild crowding may be corrected in as little as 6 months, while more severe misalignment may require up to 24 months of treatment with clear aligners.
What Factors Affect SureSmile Treatment Length?
Several variables influence how long clear aligner treatment will take for each patient. While are designed to be effective for a broad range of alignment and bite issues, individual factors like personal habits can impact the timeline. Our local SureSmile dentists can speak with you about your specific situation so you’re aware of what to expect moving forward.
Severity of Present Issues
Patients with very little crowding or small gaps between teeth may only need custom clear aligners for less than a year, while those with significant misalignment or bite issues might need closer to 18 to 24 months. Our dentists will of course help you explore SureSmile treatment for crooked teeth or teeth that are crowded and will evaluate you fully, but if your dental problems prove to be too severe, we may need to refer you to a local orthodontist for more advanced treatment.
Patient Age
Teens and young adults generally experience faster results with SureSmile because their teeth are often easier to move. SureSmile treatment for adults that are in their 30s and beyond is still very much effective but it may take slightly longer, as denser bone can result in teeth and jaws being more resistant to shifting.
Aligner Wear Time
SureSmile aligners must be worn consistently to achieve timely results. Our SureSmile dentists recommend wearing the aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day, removing them only for eating, drinking (beverages other than water), and oral hygiene. Patients who wear their aligners as instructed are likely to see faster results than those who frequently take them out or forget to wear them altogether.
Treatment Compliance
Following the treatment plan as prescribed is essential. Aligners are typically switched out every 1-2 weeks to keep the treatment progressing. Patients who stay on schedule with aligner changes and attend regular check-ups every 6-8 weeks inside our Ann Arbor, MI, dental office will often see more predictable and faster results.
What Happens After I Stop Wearing SureSmile?
To maintain the ideal alignment of your teeth and prevent any unwanted shifting, our dentists will give you a custom retainer to use once you’ve finished your active SureSmile treatment plan. This is the retention phase of your treatment and while it may seem annoying to have to wear something else, it’s a necessary part of keeping the smile you and our dentists have worked hard to create.
Schedule an SureSmile Consultation
Ready for an evaluation? Our SureSmile dentists in Ann Arbor, MI, can closely examine your teeth, jaws, and how they interact with each other to determine if clear aligners would work well for you. We can then let you know the estimated duration of your treatment. Call Liberty Dental today at (734) 994-0909 or contact us online to request an appointment.