Your SureSmile Arch Wires Appointment

Getting your custom archwire is the next phase of SureSmile after getting your braces on and having your SureSmile scan!

WHAT DO WIRES HAVE TO DO WITH WEARING BRACES?
In order to move your teeth, Dr. Scanlan places a wire through each bracket on each tooth. The bracket is the “handle” for keeping the wire in place. Once the wire is in place (within each bracket) a force is applied allowing the teeth to move.

HOW ARE SURESMILE WIRES DIFFERENT?
REGULAR WIRES: In traditional orthodontics, the orthodontist inserts a stiffer wire and uses special pliers to make bends that he estimates will achieve the desired results for your teeth to achieve the specific movements necessary. These changes may affect other teeth and even your bite; therefore, the orthodontist makes adjustments to the wire over several appointments to achieve the goals set.
SURESMILE WIRES: SureSmile wires are created by the SureSmile robot from the prescription that Dr. Scanlan has prescribed so that the wires are more accurately bent than humanly possible, less allowing for fewer appointments and fewer wire changes.

HOW ARE MY SURESMILE WIRES MADE?
The process began at your SureSmile scan (your last appointment). As you remember, from your scan, Dr. Scanlan obtained a 3-D model that he used to plan the final outcome of your treatment. Once Dr. Scanlan has completed the wire design and the prescription, the prescription is then sent to the robot. Within 5 minutes, all of the bends prescribed by Dr. Scanlan are placed into the wires, a process requiring adjustments over weeks or months manually.

DO I NEED TO BE MORE CAREFUL WITH THE SURESMILE WIRES?
Since the wires and brackets work together, it is important to follow Dr. Scanlan’s instructions to avoid breaking or damaging your brackets and/or wires. Throughout treatment, any broken brackets and/or wires may result in longer treatment.

ARE SURESMILE WIRES MORE COMFORTABLE?
SureSmile wires are more comfortable for two reasons:
A. Discomfort is often due to wire changes. Since SureSmile archwires are custom-designed especially for you, the archwires do not need to be changed constantly in order to advance treatment.
B. SureSmile archwires consist of a material called Copper Ni-Ti® which is easily bent at very high temperatures. Therefore, the robot heats the wire to a very high temperature and then custom bends the wire as prescribed by Dr. Scanlan. This wire is more flexible while effectively moving the teeth more accurately.

HOW DO SURESMILE WIRES SHORTEN TREATMENT TIME?
As we said, SureSmile allows Dr. Scanlan to plan your treatment and prescribe your custom wires to consolidate months of appointments. Last, because these bends allow your teeth to move more precisely, there are fewer archwire changes and fewer appointments needed. Therefore, treatment time can be reduced by as much as 40 percent!

CONGRATS ON RECEIVING YOUR SURESMILE CUSTOM ARCHWIRES!