SureSmile Clear Aligners Offer Predictable, Positive Outcomes

Rohde,Jeff;

In this recurring series with Dental Products Report, we get to highlight new products or technologies by taking them for a test-drive. It’s a chance to give you insights that break through any marketing hype and determine how best to use that product in your practice. As I sat down to write this newest Test Drive, there was a realization that a simple “unboxing with first impressions” was not going to work for a product that takes months, if not years, to develop. So in an exciting way, this Test Drive for SureSmile® Clear Aligners has been years in the making.

I started my journey with clear aligners more than 20 years ago. Using the leading system at the time, we started to change our mindset about the role of orthodontics in restorative practice. For example, we would have a patient with crowded teeth asking for veneers. But rather than amputating healthy enamel to make room for porcelain, we were able to move those healthy teeth into a better position using clear aligners. Even if we were going to place veneers due to unsightly old restorations, there was a benefit to improving root position and occlusion for a more predictable result. It also added another dimension that broadened our treatment planning for a multidisciplinary mindset. We were able to move our dentistry from single-tooth reactive treatment (“There’s a hole; let’s fix it!”) to looking at full-mouth health with an active, anticipatory approach.

The problem we ran into with that first system is that we often had a hard time finding our way back out of the case. We would get stuck in endless refinements, and it was only a matter of time before the patient blamed us rather than their own poor adherence. We also got tired of taking impressions and waiting for weeks, only to find out our impression was rejected. But we still saw the potential. We ended up trying other systems, but nothing gave us predictability or matched with the style and workflow of our practice.

Approximately 5 years ago, we switched over to SureSmile and have had a much different experience. One of the first things that makes a difference to me as a business owner is that it maximizes the investment we already have with our equipment. SureSmile will accept scans from any digital impression system available. Although the former clear aligner provider we worked with eventually had their own scanner, we had already invested in digital impression with CEREC. Rather than our equipment sitting around between crown preparations, those machines are being used all day.

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The second thing that makes a difference is the ability to use various trimlines on the trays. Although we are used to a scalloped trimline that follows the gumline, SureSmile offers a straight trimline that could be at the gumline or just above it. What this does is create a stiffness to the trays for more balanced pressure on the tooth. It also helps to hold the shape of the aligner during the time in the tray when the patient is constantly taking the tray in and out.

This results in a reduction in the number of attachments needed. More complex cases are coming back with fewer attachments because the tray has better adaptation on each tooth. Basically, it grabs the tooth better than a scalloped edge that will flare out over weeks of wear. It also allows for more constant pressure on the tooth, resulting in more predictable movement. For us, this dramatically reduces the number of refinements necessary for our cases. SureSmile itself also has an analysis where they looked at more than 150,000 cases globally completed between January 2021 and June 2023. Seventy-five percent of those cases required no refinements.¹ This is quite a change from what we were experiencing before.

Another factor to consider is the educational aspect. I had not exactly received a robust orthodontic education when I was in dental school. By the time I started into clear aligners, I realized I had to go back to school in a way. At the time, this resulted in an expensive start-up class followed by the occasional class when I could find them. Although online education has grown across the spectrum from the advent of webinars and streaming lectures, SureSmile has an extremely robust online presence for education. DS Academy and SureSmileU have resources for you and your team that start with how SureSmile moves teeth, to analyzing a case for problems, to setting up your digital prescription. I also know I can call the digital laboratory directly and talk to the person designing my case directly. My personal experience with my local SureSmile team has been valuable as we are using an entirely new system for us. On the most basic level, you can find the information you need in one way or another.

Regarding the financial aspect, as soon as I got home from my introductory class with our first system, we had expensive laboratory bills to pay for each case. Depending on which tier of treatment we chose, we would be on the hook for higher cost if we needed to do refinements. With SureSmile, I have a single fee for the laboratory case that covers any number of trays and any number of refinements for 3 years. This is for any size case, so I am not penalized financially for doing a larger case. The SureSmile fee also includes tooth whitening for the patient as well as the SureSmile VPro, which uses high-frequency vibrations to help facilitate minor anterior tooth movement and helps reduce discomfort to the patient when switching trays. Depending on tooth movements prescribed, we have been able to move patients to 1-week protocols to move through treatment fast. But in an age where everything is more expensive, it is nice to be able to cut costs for our business without any sacrifice in clinical results.

Looking back on this extended Test Drive, we have had a chance to get to know this product. Clear aligner therapy has become an essential part of our practice in diagnosis, treatment planning, and providing uncompromised care to our patients. SureSmile has been good for us, as the system has proven itself to show predictable results, making our practice more efficient and patients happier with the results.