I was recently on my Instagram account, scrolling mindlessly through my feed when something caught my eye: an ad for a “straighten your own teeth at home” company, commonly called DIY braces or orthodontics.
The whole concept sounds enticing: from the comfort of your own home, you can simply take molds of your teeth, send it in the mail to the company to process, get clear aligners sent to your home and straighten your teeth with minimal effort, all for the fraction of the cost of going to a dentist. As the old adage goes, that which sounds too good to be true probably is.
The danger here is that moving teeth, while appearing simple, is actually a complicated science. It involves knowing the biochemistry of bone formation, jaw and teeth anatomy and physiology, and the physics of force being applied to the teeth. Unless you have a thorough working knowledge of these topics, DIY orthodontics could prove to be harmful for your teeth, gums, and jaw bones. Not only will you likely not achieve the esthetic result you want, but there could be long-term damage such as inflammation of the gums and premature loss of bone which could lead to tooth loss. Reversing these conditions will be difficult, or perhaps, impossible.
At Smiletheory, I’ll examine you every step of the way through your teeth-straightening journey. We’ll check the fit of your aligners and make sure your case is progressing according to plan by using state-of-the-art technology that accurately predicts the movement of your teeth. These are vital steps to ensure a successful conclusion to any orthodontic treatment.
Please comment below if you have any questions or call our office to schedule a complimentary orthodontic consultation.