Orthodontics in Rancho Mirage, CA
A digitally planned approach to improving crowding, spacing, tooth position, and selected bite concerns without traditional metal braces.
Dr. Rod Strober evaluates your teeth, gums, bite, cosmetic goals, timing, and restorative needs before determining whether SureSmile clear aligners or another treatment approach is appropriate.
Orthodontic treatment changes the position of your teeth.
Orthodontic treatment uses carefully controlled forces to guide teeth toward planned positions. The objective may be cosmetic, functional, restorative, or a combination of all three.
Treatment can address selected cases of crowding, spacing, rotated teeth, protrusion, and bite relationships. It may also create room for a dental implant or another restoration.
Your treatment recommendation depends on the health of your teeth and gums, the relationship between your upper and lower teeth, the position of the roots, your facial and jaw structure, and the amount of movement required.
Alignment should support both appearance and function.
Not every concern can be corrected with clear aligners alone. Examination and diagnostic records determine what is realistic.
Crowded or overlapping teeth
Carefully planned movement may create a more orderly arrangement when teeth compete for available space.
AlignmentGaps between teeth
Aligners may close selected spaces or redistribute space when a restorative procedure is planned.
SpacingSelected bite concerns
Treatment may improve how opposing teeth meet in selected cases of overbite, open bite, crossbite, or other dental malocclusion.
BiteUneven pressure and wear
Improving tooth position may help distribute selected biting and chewing forces more evenly.
FunctionDifficult-to-clean areas
Better alignment can make some surfaces easier to reach with a toothbrush and interdental cleaning aids.
HygieneSpace for a future restoration
Teeth may be moved to create or refine space for an implant, bridge, veneer, crown, or other planned treatment.
PlanningGentle force guides biological change around the tooth.
Teeth are held within the jaw by bone, connective tissue, and the periodontal ligament. Orthodontic appliances apply planned forces that allow the supporting structures to remodel over time.
Define the intended tooth movement
The position, direction, sequence, and amount of movement are planned from diagnostic records and a digital model.
Use controlled orthodontic force
Each aligner is shaped to produce a portion of the planned movement rather than attempting to complete the change at once.
Allow supporting bone to adapt
Biological remodeling occurs around the roots as the teeth respond to the prescribed forces.
Check that treatment is tracking
Progress appointments allow Dr. Strober to evaluate fit, movement, oral health, compliance, and whether the plan needs modification.
Help preserve the finished position
Retainers are generally used after active orthodontic treatment to reduce unwanted movement or relapse.
Custom trays designed from a digital treatment plan.
SureSmile clear aligners are a sequence of removable, transparent trays created for your teeth and planned movement.
Each tray is worn for the period prescribed by Dr. Strober before moving to the next stage. The trays are generally removed for meals, beverages other than cool water, brushing, and flossing.
Successful treatment depends on wearing the aligners as directed, attending progress visits, maintaining healthy teeth and gums, and completing retention after active treatment.
Explore SureSmile Clear Aligners
Transparent, low-profile trays
Clear aligners are designed to be less visually noticeable than conventional metal brackets and wires.
Removable for meals and hygiene
Aligners can be removed for eating, brushing, and cleaning between the teeth, then returned to the mouth as directed.
Digital modeling of intended movement
Digital records are used to create a staged treatment plan and visualize the proposed sequence of tooth movement.
Consistent wear is essential
SureSmile instructions commonly call for aligners to be worn up to approximately 22 hours each day unless your dentist directs otherwise.
Progress is reviewed throughout treatment
Checkups help identify poor tracking, damaged trays, gum inflammation, cavities, bite changes, or the need to adjust the plan.
Clear aligners are versatile, but they are not the right appliance for every case.
- Permanent teeth are present and healthy enough to move
- Gums and supporting bone are stable
- Crowding or spacing can be addressed with planned movement
- The bite concern is within the capabilities of aligner treatment
- You can wear the trays consistently as prescribed
- You can remove and replace the trays responsibly
- You will attend progress and retention appointments
- Restorative treatment is coordinated with orthodontic movement
- Active decay or gum disease requires treatment first
- The jaws have a significant skeletal discrepancy
- Movement requires specialized appliances or complex mechanics
- A tooth is impacted or unable to move predictably
- Root, bone, or periodontal conditions increase treatment risk
- Consistent aligner wear is unlikely
- Growth-related treatment or jaw surgery is being considered
- An orthodontic specialist is better suited to manage the case
From diagnosis to retention, every stage has a purpose.
Treatment length and appointment frequency vary according to the amount of movement, case complexity, aligner wear, biological response, and whether refinements are needed.
Schedule an EvaluationDiscuss your goals and concerns
Dr. Strober reviews what you would like to change, your dental history, restorative plans, timing, and treatment expectations.
Evaluate the teeth, gums, roots, and bite
Examination and appropriate diagnostic records help determine whether movement can be completed safely and predictably.
Capture a three-dimensional model
A digital scan records the current shape and position of your teeth without relying solely on traditional impressions.
Review the proposed movement sequence
Dr. Strober evaluates the digital setup and determines whether modifications are needed before aligners are manufactured.
Wear each aligner as prescribed
You progress through the trays according to the provided schedule while maintaining daily brushing and interdental cleaning.
Attend progress appointments
Treatment is checked to confirm that trays fit, teeth are moving, and your oral health remains stable.
Adjust the plan when necessary
Additional scans or trays may be recommended when certain teeth do not track as planned or further correction is appropriate.
Protect the final tooth positions
A retainer plan is prescribed after active movement to help maintain the result.
Removable does not mean optional.
The ability to remove aligners is convenient, but reliable treatment depends on following the prescribed wear and care routine.
Keep the trays in place as directed
Removing aligners for extended periods may delay movement or cause the next tray to fit poorly.
Remove aligners before eating
Follow the instructions provided for meals and beverages, and store trays safely in their case when they are out of your mouth.
Clean your teeth before reinserting trays
Brushing and cleaning between the teeth help reduce the chance of trapping plaque, food, or sugar beneath the aligners.
Use the recommended cleaning method
Avoid very hot water or unapproved products that could distort or damage the aligner material.
Report broken or poorly fitting trays
Contact the office before skipping ahead, returning to an earlier tray, or making an unplanned change to your sequence.
SureSmile, veneers, and BioClear solve different kinds of problems.
Move natural teeth toward planned positions.
Change visible shape, contour, proportion, color, or selected spaces.
May improve selected dental bite relationships when properly diagnosed and planned.
Does not reposition roots or correct an underlying orthodontic or skeletal bite problem.
Moves teeth without covering the visible surfaces with a restoration.
Veneers generally require some level of permanent tooth preparation; BioClear uses bonded composite around selected tooth surfaces.
Occurs gradually over a sequence of prescribed trays.
Selected cosmetic cases may be completed in fewer appointments, depending on the treatment and laboratory process.
Retainers are generally needed to maintain orthodontic tooth positions.
Restorations require ongoing care and eventual repair or replacement, but they do not serve as orthodontic retention.
Patients whose goals require actual tooth movement.
Selected concerns involving tooth shape, size, color, small spaces, worn edges, or black triangles.
Sometimes the concern is tooth shape—not tooth position.
The term “instant orthodontics” is sometimes used for cosmetic dentistry that creates the visual appearance of straighter teeth. These procedures are not orthodontic treatment because they do not move the teeth or roots.
Moving teeth first can create a stronger restorative starting point.
After a tooth has been missing for some time, neighboring teeth may lean, rotate, or shift into the space. This can leave insufficient room or an unfavorable angle for a future implant restoration.
Clear aligner treatment may be used to recreate or refine the space, improve root position, and establish a more suitable relationship between the future restoration and surrounding teeth.
The orthodontic and restorative plans must be coordinated before treatment begins so the final space is based on the intended implant, crown, bridge, or veneer.
Straight teeth are not healthy teeth unless the supporting structures remain healthy too.
Tooth movement should begin only after the teeth, gums, roots, bone, restorations, and bite have been evaluated.
In-person monitoring allows emerging dental problems, poor aligner tracking, unintended bite changes, or tissue concerns to be identified during treatment.
Alignment planned within your complete dental picture.
Dr. Rod Strober has practiced dentistry since 1993 and provides comprehensive restorative, cosmetic, implant, and clear aligner care.
That broader perspective is especially useful when tooth movement must be coordinated with veneers, implants, crowns, bridges, whitening, or other cosmetic treatment.
When the complexity of a bite, jaw relationship, growth concern, or tooth movement is better managed by an orthodontic specialist, an appropriate referral may be recommended.
Questions about clear aligner treatment?
Your consultation is the best way to determine whether SureSmile can address your specific tooth alignment and bite concerns.
01 What are SureSmile clear aligners?
SureSmile clear aligners are a sequence of custom, removable trays designed from a digital orthodontic treatment plan. Each aligner completes a portion of the prescribed tooth movement.
02 What can clear aligners treat?
Clear aligners may address selected cases of crowding, spacing, rotated teeth, protrusion, and dental bite concerns. Suitability depends on the complexity of the movement, jaw relationships, root positions, periodontal health, and other clinical factors.
03 How many hours a day do I wear SureSmile aligners?
SureSmile instructions commonly call for aligners to be worn for up to approximately 22 hours each day. Follow the schedule and instructions Dr. Strober provides for your individual treatment.
04 Can I eat while wearing clear aligners?
Aligners are generally removed for meals and for beverages other than cool water. Clean your teeth as directed before reinserting the trays.
05 Are clear aligners painful?
Temporary pressure or tenderness can occur when a new aligner is inserted. Significant pain, a damaged tray, gum injury, or an aligner that will not seat properly should be reported to the office.
06 How long does SureSmile treatment take?
Treatment time varies with the amount and complexity of movement, biological response, aligner wear, appointment attendance, and whether refinement trays are needed.
07 Will I need attachments on my teeth?
Small tooth-colored attachments may be recommended to help an aligner grip a tooth and produce a particular movement. Their number, shape, and position depend on the treatment plan.
08 What happens if an aligner does not fit?
Contact Country Club Dentistry before changing your sequence. Dr. Strober may recommend additional wear, an earlier tray, evaluation, or a revised digital scan depending on the cause.
09 Do I need a retainer after SureSmile treatment?
Retainers are generally prescribed after orthodontic treatment to help maintain the finished tooth positions. Teeth can shift when retention instructions are not followed.
10 Can SureSmile create space for a dental implant?
In selected cases, aligners can move neighboring teeth to create or refine space for an implant restoration. The orthodontic and implant plans should be coordinated before movement begins.
11 Are veneers the same as instant orthodontics?
“Instant orthodontics” is a marketing term sometimes used for veneers or cosmetic bonding that make teeth appear straighter. These treatments change visible tooth shape but do not move roots or correct an underlying bite problem.
12 Can BioClear close gaps or black triangles?
BioClear may improve selected small spaces, black triangles, tooth proportions, and contour concerns using bonded composite. It does not replace orthodontic treatment when actual tooth movement is required.
13 Can adults receive orthodontic treatment?
Adults may receive orthodontic treatment when the teeth, gums, roots, and supporting bone are healthy enough for movement. Existing dental work and restorative plans must also be evaluated.
14 When would I be referred to an orthodontist?
A specialist referral may be recommended for significant skeletal discrepancies, complex bite correction, impacted teeth, growth-related treatment, surgical orthodontics, or another case requiring specialized management.
15 How do I schedule an orthodontic consultation?
Request an appointment online or call Country Club Dentistry at (760) 832-7915.
Patient Education Resources
This page provides general educational information and does not replace an examination, diagnosis, or individualized treatment plan.
Suite A & B
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Move the teeth. Refine the entire smile.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Rod Strober to compare SureSmile clear aligners, cosmetic reshaping, and coordinated restorative treatment.