HERRIN - Patient satisfaction with orthodontic care has been enhanced greatly with the development of robotics. This new procedure, known as the SureSmile system, is being performed by only a handful of specialists in Illinois.

Dr. Kyle R. Childers, who owns a practice at Logan Professional Park in Herrin, is one such specialist. He has spoken at seminars to inform fellow orthodontists and dentists of the technological advancement.

Childers said that instead of eyeballing a wire and bending it for the patient's braces by hand, he is able to maneuver the wire through robotics to the exact shape it needs to be to benefit the patient most.

This custom-built wire is within 50 microns (width of a human hair) of perfection and allows Childers to move each of the patient's teeth to the target position.

"The finishing part or detail work is what takes the longest in orthodontics," Childers said.

To design the customized wire, a 3-D computer image of the patient's smile is scanned into the computer. Childers reviews the image, and with the help of the computer, determines the best position for the teeth. The customized prescription wire can then be placed.

The entire process shortens treatment times, allows for fewer office visits and less overall discomfort for the patient.

"I am able to do my experimenting on the computer screen and not in the patient's mouth," Childers said. "SureSmile will revolutionize the orthodontics industry. There is a cost to us for this technology, but it's justified by reducing the number of visits for each patient. We don't charge the patient more for this procedure."

A Marion native who has been practicing orthodontics for 18 years, Childers said what used to take in excess of two years to treat a patient with braces now runs closer to 14 months.

Korey Wedemeyer of Steeleville is one of Childers' patients. He had his full set of braces removed Wednesday and must now wear a retainer until a permanent tooth is implanted by an oral surgeon.

Wedemeyer lost a front tooth and had other teeth knocked out of alignment, requiring braces, after he fell from a deer stand while hunting in October 2006.

"The procedure wasn't painful at all and I think Dr. Childers had a lot to do with that," he said. "I'm happy with the way things worked out."

john.homan@thesouthern.com

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