5 Reasons Why Mail Order Braces are a Really Bad Idea
If you’re unhappy with your smile and on a budget, mail order braces and at-home teeth aligner kits can seem like an appealing choice. On social media, they are advertised as an ideal solution for anyone with a busy lifestyle and tight budget that wants a perfect smile. But the reality is that they aren’t the miracle they appear to be on social media, and can actually be detrimental to your oral health. Here are five reasons why.
An In-Person Assessment May Be Missing
A dental assessment should consider decay, gum health, the supporting bone, and the bite before tooth movement begins. Services vary, so confirm whether an appropriate examination is included and who is responsible for your care.
A dentist will regularly monitor your progress throughout the length of your treatment, give advice and answer any questions you may have, to make sure you attain the smile of your dreams.
Treatment Needs Ongoing Monitoring
It can be hard to anticipate how your teeth are going to move throughout your orthodontic treatment. Your teeth can move faster, slower or in a different way than originally expected. A dentist will observe your progress closely and reroute your treatment plan as needed.
Unsupervised DIY tooth movement does not provide the clinical monitoring needed to adjust a plan safely. Before choosing an aligner service, ask how a licensed clinician will review progress and handle unexpected movement or poor fit.
Aligners Don’t Work for Everyone
Your dental health and needs should be addressed on an individual basis. Everyone’s orthodontic health and needs are different, and clear aligners may not work for all those needs. A dentist has several different types of braces at their disposal to provide the best-customized treatment plan for you.
There are reviewers of mail-order kits that said the placement or condition of their teeth was worse after using the kits. This could be due to ill-fitting aligners or placement issues that aligners can’t fix. An orthodontic assessment can help identify and reduce these risks.
There May Be Issues That Go Untreated
Many orthodontic issues are present under the gum line, and with the jaw itself. A mail-in aligner kit can’t treat these issues. A good dentist can perform necessary procedures like widening your jaw so your teeth have the best fit or check that your jaw bone is adapting to treatment properly.
Overall Cost May Be More Than Your Standard Orthodontic Treatment
If treatment causes problems or does not meet its goals, additional care may add cost. Ask about the total fee, follow-up, refinements, retainers, and responsibility for complications before starting.
All orthodontic treatment has risks. Appropriate diagnosis, professional supervision, and following instructions help reduce those risks but cannot eliminate them. Choose a treatment service that provides accountable clinical care and access to an examination when needed.
Want a more beautiful, straighter smile? Schedule a consultation today with Dr. Farinas-Han at Smiles by Bergen Dental! Smiles by Bergen Dental is conveniently located in Midland Park New Jersey, within minutes from Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Glen Rock, Paramus, Ramsey, Allendale, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, and Franklin Lakes.