The idea of saving money on teeth aligners can sound tempting. Promises of the perfect smile with minimal effort also appeal to many people. The sheer volume of ads you see for DIY teeth alignment on the internet must mean that this option is popular, right? Actually, as with most health issues, something that sounds too good to be true usually is. Far from being a miracle solution, DIY teeth aligners often turn out to be fly-by-night scams that leave patients with permanent problems.
The Many Risks of DIY Teeth Aligners
The fact that DIY teeth alignment usually begins with you taking your own dental molds should raise major red flags. Teeth are complicated, and what you see on the surface is only part of the equation. Your roots, gums, jaw, and other facial bone structures all play a part in keeping your teeth happy and healthy. Here are a few of the risks people take by trying to save a few bucks with DIY “solutions:”
1. Irreversible Damage to Bones and Gum Tissue
Trying to speed up alignment too quickly, or exert too much pressure on certain teeth, can cause damage to the jaw and underlying bone. Gums can loosen and recede. Even worse, DIY programs don’t have any experts around to notice what’s happening and stop it before it causes permanent harm.
2. Permanent Loss of Teeth
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, one of the risks of DIY aligners is potentially irreversible tooth loss. Instead of ending up with the perfect smile promised in the ads, some patients have to deal with the emotional scars of missing teeth. This can make it hard for you to smile like you used to.
3. Terrible Results
Some DIY offers tell you that you only need to take a selfie of your smile. Others send you kits for you to make a dental impression at home. This is basically like a heart surgeon asking you to take care of your own surgery.
Tiny errors in impressions can produce massive problems when it comes to tooth alignment. Instead of improving things such as overbite, crossbite, rotated teeth, and gapped teeth, these mistakes can make them worse than before.
4. Expensive Errors
Cheap solutions to important dental issues rarely produce a good outcome. After patients are left with a crooked smile, damaged gums, and loose or missing teeth, they often have to turn to a professional dentist to pick up the pieces.
In the end, instead of saving money, you may spend far more on surgery or dental implants.
5. No Treatment Supervision
Most DIY programs leave keeping tabs on progress to patients. An important question to ask yourself is this: If I start experiencing significant pain or discomfort, who is available to correct the issue? If the answer isn’t a certified dental professional, that’s a big problem.
6. No Real Guarantees
Just because someone dresses up like a dentist for the camera, it doesn’t make the person a professional. No one would trust a pilot who only knows about airplanes from playing video games. Why trust your smile to a company with a dubious dental experience?
All of the ads and fake “testimonials” on YouTube are just another type of marketing designed to take advantage of people. The good news is that you can find better solutions for your perfect smile, even if you have a budget. You don’t have to risk your health to enjoy amazing teeth.
The Benefits of Professional Teeth Alignment Solutions
There is a night and day difference between DIY options and genuine orthodontic care. To give you the best results, certified dentists, orthodontists, periodontists, and other professionals take an in-depth look at your teeth. Here are a few benefits of working with teeth alignment experts:
- Certified dental care: Professional dentists go through years of medical training. They know teeth, bone structure, gums, and temporomandibular joints completely.
- Personalized evaluation: Some types of misalignment benefit most using invisible aligners. Others require a combination of braces and aligners to provide the results you want. The goal is to give you the smile you love.
- In-depth measurements: In addition to taking a high-resolution digital impression of your mouth, proper alignment options use X-rays and a careful oral examination to “see” your supporting facial bone structure. That way, proposed changes keep your gums and bones healthy.
- Ongoing treatment: Professionals keep an eye on the progression of your smile. If minor adjustments are needed for better results, your dental team can take care of everything right away. This also helps to protect your overall oral health.
It’s easier to take care of your smile when you can ask a professional for specific recommendations. If something happens to your aligners, you can get help right away. Dental experts make alignment as quick and as safe as possible. While every person’s teeth are unique, our Invisalign treatment options can usually provide the desired results in 12 to 18 months.
Comfort, Customization, and Convenience with Invisalign
Invisalign treatment is one of the best choices available for teeth alignment. Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners that you wear during the day. Each one is created specifically for your mouth and gums, fitting smoothly and snugly onto teeth and maximizing comfort. These state-of-the-art thermoplastic aligners are virtually invisible, so you can smile normally at work or in class without people noticing any braces.
There’s no such thing as totally DIY Invisalign treatment, but Invisalign does give you a lot of freedom. You can remove the aligners to eat whatever you want, when you want. That way you can go out to restaurants with friends without any problems. Sliding the trays onto your teeth afterward is easy. You only need to visit the dentist to check on your progress, so you kind of get the best of both worlds when it comes to do it yourself Invisalign braces and professional dental care.
The Best Teeth Alignment Options for Your Lifestyle and Budget
With all the risks, it’s no surprise that the American Dental Association “strongly discourages” DIY teeth alignment. It’s important to recognize DIY products for what they are: an attempt to take your money. These companies don’t care about you or your teeth. They just want to make as much money as possible, whether it hurts you in the long run or not.
At Tribeca Dental, you can find effective teeth alignment solutions from certified dental professionals who really want you to be happy. Many members of our team enjoy international acclaim for their expertise in the fields of cosmetic dentistry, periodontics, and orthodontic care, including Invisalign treatments. We take the time to get to know your goals and teeth alignment issues carefully before suggesting treatment options.
At the same time, we know that each patient has a unique lifestyle and budget for dental care. We support a wide variety of dental insurance plans and also provide patient financing options that offer up to 48 months with no interest. If your dental insurance doesn’t cover Invisalign, don’t worry. We frequently offer special pricing on Invisalign treatment to help you stay within your budget.
Contact our friendly team at Tribeca Dental Cae for more information or to schedule an appointment. We’re always happy to answer your questions. We can help you analyze the best options for teeth alignment that makes you feel as comfortable as possible.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / By edwardolive
