Risks of DIY Teeth Alignment| Direct to Consumer Orthodontics

Posted on August 14, 2019

“Braces from home!” “DIY Teeth Alignment”…you’ve seen these advertisements all over the internet and television; it’s the newest craze in dental health. There are no need for office visits, and the entire treatment can be done in the comfort of your own home. Sounds too good to be true, right? This approach may seem very appealing, but it actually poses many risks to unsuspecting consumers in need of teeth correction. In this blog we will cover the risks of DIY orthodontics, and better options to safely correct your teeth.

Common DIY Teeth Alignment Companies

The well known companies that practice “at home” teeth alignment advertise all over the major social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. These direct to consumer companies typically advertise with attractive, young adults who are often times already famous and paid actors. These ads are tempting to say the least, but your teeth will thank you for being cautious of these dangerous practices.

DIY Orthodontics VS. Orthodontic Treatment by an Orthodontist

DIY Teeth Alignment typically starts with an in-home mold or impression of your teeth. This is taken by the patient themselves, not a trained professional. Another issue with this type of treatment is that x-rays are not taken like they are in a typical orthodontic office. Without an x-ray, it is hard to know if there are any underlying issues that need to be corrected. Examples of this would be spotting an unknown tooth impaction, infection, cyst, or even cancer.

Typically, during DIY treatment, there isn’t a doctor supervising and planning your treatment. This means there are not regular visits to the office for the doctor to check how treatment is progressing. This alone, is the most dangerous aspect of DIY teeth alignment. Why? Because Orthodontists are trained to look for different issues that can occur throughout orthodontic treatment. If patients are not being seen regularly in office by a professional, these problems will likely never be addressed.

Risks of DIY Orthodontics

There are many risks that are involved when participating in DIY teeth alignment. For starters, since the treatment is unsupervised, irreversible damage can occur to a person’s teeth. This damage includes:

  • Harm to the gums
  • Gum recession
  • Infection
  • Bone loss

All of these can eventually lead to tooth damage and loss of a tooth. In order to correct such damage, you would need to be seen by your general dentist and treatment could cost thousands of dollars.

Better and Safer Options than DIY Orthodontics

Choose an Orthodontist!

Did you know that an Orthodontist attends school for an additional 10-11 years AFTER high school? I know it seems excessive, but the specialty training they receive is extraordinary! First, a person must obtain their bachelors degree in science or something related from a four year college. They will then apply to dental school which is an additional four years, and earn their doctorate in General Dentistry. That’s right! Before specializing in orthodontics, you must first become a general dentist. Once dental school is complete, they will go an additional 2-3 years for their residency in orthodontics.

If you choose an orthodontist to complete your treatment for braces or Invisalign, you are in the hands of a specialists who has went through years and years of training. At-home orthodontic options provide you with zero years of post high school training, meaning you’re at a much higher risk for damaging your bone and gum tissue.

Why Choose Cardinal Orthodontics?

Choosing a specialist to develop a customized treatment plan just for you is the safest, most efficient way to straighten your teeth. At Cardinal Orthodontics, we take pride in our work and hold ourselves to the highest standard. It is our top priority to keep our patient’s healthy and safe while delivering them amazing orthodontic results. Our doctor see’s every patient at every appointment to achieve great quality of care!

We realize that DIY Orthodontics is appealing to people who are extremely busy and do not have a lot of time to visit their local orthodontist. This is why at Cardinal Orthodontics we now offer FREE video consultations from the comfort of your own home via Facetime or Skype. Our doctor will be able to give you a treatment plan based on what he see’s during this video consultation, and will arrange for you to come into our office for x-rays before getting started with treatment. We created this program to cater to those who are unable to make it in for an exam appointment, but are still interested in braces or Invisalgin. This is the opportunity to get all your questions answered without making a trip to the office! This saves people time missed from school and work, while still being under direct supervision of an orthodontist.

If you’d like to schedule a free video exam with our doctor, click here!

Categories: Orthodontic Treatment
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