Imagine you could skip the hassle of visiting a specialist orthodontist and instead achieve a picture-perfect smile at home — would you do it?
A lot of people are trying to make this dream a reality thanks to an upsurge in online aligner companies like SmileDirectClub. In fact, many of these companies promise straighter teeth in 4-6 months with clear aligners sent directly to your door.
But the biggest problem with DIY aligners is right there in the name. The “yourself” part is why treatment plans for straighter, healthier teeth should be left to the professionals.
Want straighter teeth? Don’t do it yourself
When you undergo treatment with a specialist orthodontist, you’ll visit the practice and receive a thorough consultation. This will cover all the risks and benefits of treatment, and act as the first step towards developing a personalised treatment plan.
Unfortunately, this level of detail and expertise doesn’t extend to the online aligner companies. While many of them offer consultations, most of these are virtual and not nearly as in-depth. And for the companies that don’t offer in-person scans, it’s up to you to take at-home impressions of your teeth, which you then return to have moulds created.
However, this doesn’t take into account the condition of your teeth. If you progress with treatment without establishing the health of your teeth (and your mouth) you could risk long-term damage.
Why go down the specialist route?
There are some clear benefits to using a specialist orthodontist. Knowledge, professionalism, and quality of care all rank highly. But why go down the specialist route instead of doing it yourself?
We’ll give you three important reasons:
1. You’re supervised throughout
When you order online aligners, you’re largely responsible for the treatment’s success. From taking accurate moulds of your teeth to providing progress updates, it’s almost entirely on your shoulders.
Yet, when you work with a dental professional, everything is handled by a trained expert. From 3D scans, moulds, and monitoring, you’re far less likely to encounter any risks.
2. Likelihood of success
Online aligners are most effective when your smile doesn’t need a great deal of straightening in the first place. Minor cosmetic issues are their bread and butter. But if you have a significant misalignment, you won’t have much luck sorting it by yourself.
A specialist can identify the correct course of action for severely misaligned teeth and help correct over and underbites — something online aligners can’t do.
3. If you buy cheap, you buy twice
You may have heard that old saying before, but it’s especially true when it comes to DIY aligners.
The online solutions are cheaper because there’s little-to-no facetime with dental professionals; you’re essentially trading a short-term saving for an increased risk. And the lack of face-to-face consultations could result in serious issues being overlooked, setting treatment time back and resulting in more money spent in the long-run.
Teeth are precious — treat them with care
Your adult teeth are too important to mess around with. Any damage caused by DIY aligners can, at best, result in expensive corrective treatments — and at worst, won’t be reversible.
So, why take the risk? There’s no substitute for visiting a specialist orthodontist when it comes to improving your smile. With the necessary experience, equipment, and know-how, the health of your teeth and the success of your treatment will be in the best of hands.
