You want straight teeth, but maybe you don’t want the expense of getting them through your dentist. Maybe you’ve also heard about DIY braces or at-home straightening kits that promise cost effective and quick results. They may seem appealing, but you could end up paying much more dearly for turning to these solutions rather than to your dentist in Orange Park. Learn more about the dangers of these options and why you should choose Invisalign instead.
Dangers of DIY Braces
You can find DIY instructions for just about anything these days, but one thing that you shouldn’t do yourself is try to straighten your teeth. You could end up causing significant damage to your teeth and jaws, requiring extensive and expensive treatment to fix.
- Risk of infections. DIY braces often use everyday household items to force teeth to move, but these materials are not medical-grade quality or sterile, increasing the risk of infection especially if they cut into the gums.
- Risk of tooth loss. Tight DIY braces can cut off circulation to your teeth, which they need to be healthy, especially at the roots. Using makeshift braces can lead you to need tooth extraction.
- Speech problems. Whether intentional or not, DIY solutions can cause other teeth in your mouth to move, altering the way your jaws fit together. This can affect your bite and the way you speak.
- Costly dental treatment. The whole point behind DIY braces is to avoid having to pay a dentist for treatment, but they can cause problems that require more expensive treatment from the dentist anyway.
Dangers of At-Home Straightening Kits
Although less expensive than straightening solutions through your dentist and safer than DIY braces, at-home kits like Smile Direct Club present some risks as well. True, the treatment plan is created by a licensed dental professional, but you never have any interaction with this individual. You take the impressions yourself, meaning that if you do it incorrectly, your treatment plan could be incorrect as well. Also, if something goes wrong during treatment, say you lose an alignment tray, you have to deal with long, frustrating customer service calls to adjust your treatment plan. Any of these possibilities could leave you with incomplete results that you don’t like.
Advantages of Invisalign
In contrast, working with a dentist to straighten your teeth ensures that you will safely get results that you love. Plus, choosing to straighten your teeth with Invisalign gives you even more benefits, such as the following:
- Clear alignment trays that are barely noticeable when worn.
- A customized treatment plan that your dentist can adjust if needed.
- Results in 12 to 18 months.
- Freedom to enjoy your favorite foods.
- Easy access to an experienced dental professional for guidance and treatment supervision.
In the end, some tasks should be left to the professionals—straightening your teeth is one of them. Your oral health in the long run could be at serious risk if you decide to do it on your own. The risks far outweigh any potential cost savings. To learn more about or to get started with Invisalign, contact your dentist in Orange Park today!
About the Practice
Both Dr. Steven Crovatto and Dr. Megan Edwards are certified in Invisalign and have years of experience helping patients achieve smiles that they are proud to show off. At Crovatto & Edwards Family Dentistry, they and their staff use the most updated technology to formulate personalized treatment plans. To schedule an appointment with them, you can call (904) 272-0800 or click here.