A straight, beautiful smile is attributed to youth, success, and confidence; however, few people have straight teeth naturally. If you missed your chance for braces as a child, or your teeth have moved over the years, you have many options to fix your bite and alignment, like clear aligners. Straightening your smile is easier than ever with mail-order aligners. They are a popular solution to fix your teeth by cutting out the middleman. Although you might have seen some amazing before and after pictures, there are many dangers of DIY aligners that aren’t discussed, like tooth loss. Despite what you might have heard, here’s why you should visit a dentist for Invisalign instead of ordering clear aligners online.
Risks of Mail-Order Aligners
Mail-order aligners are marketed as a safe, effective option to correct bite and alignment issues without seeing a dentist. You take an impression of your mouth at home and mail it to the company. After creating your aligners, they’ll send them to your home, and you’ll begin your treatment.
Although it seems easy enough, if it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. There’s a reason why dentists complete years of training to provide orthodontics. Moving teeth requires a great deal of skill and precision. Without the supervision of a trained dental professional during your treatment, the smallest of errors can cause irreversible damage to your smile. Here are just a few risks of DIY aligners:
- You may not be a candidate for clear aligners. Clear aligners can fix several alignment issues, but not everyone is a candidate for them.
- You may have untreated oral health issues. If you have untreated dental problems, like tooth decay or gum disease, they can be worsened by clear aligners if they aren’t resolved first.
- You can develop new bite and alignment problems. Taking an impression isn’t as easy as mail-order aligners lead you to believe. The slightest movement or error can cause long-term complications. There are reports of patients with unbalanced bites, difficulty eating, jaw pain, and lost teeth for minor miscalculations.
- Problems may not be detected until it’s too late. You are never under the supervision of a dental professional with DIY aligners, which means any issues may not be found until it’s too late.
- It can cost more down the road. You may save money initially, but you can end up paying more to repair the damage caused by mail-order aligners.
Invest in the Qualifications of a Professional
Skip the risks of trending DIY orthodontic solutions and invest in the qualifications and experience of a dental professional. They’ll safely move your teeth into their best positions to create the healthy, beautiful smile you desire.
About Dr. Robert Graffeo
Dr. Graffeo achieved his dental degree from the NYU College of Dentistry and has regularly continued his education in advanced services, like clear aligners and cosmetic dentistry. He has the up-to-date services you need for a picture-perfect smile. Contact our office today to see if Invisalign is right for you.