Indeed, clear aligners are a great alternative to metal braces. They can align your smile without the hassle of ugly brackets and wires. That said, not all of these trays are equally effective or safe. Those available by mail order can put your smile at great risk. If you’re not careful, the latter kind will ruin your grin. In fact, your Mesquite dentist is here to outline their potential harms. Read on to learn four big dangers of mail-in clear aligners.
No Exam Before Treatment
With mail-in clear aligners, one risk is the absence of an oral exam before treatment. You start your straightening journey without anyone looking at your mouth.
Remember, an orthodontist does more than straighten your teeth. They also identify and treat oral issues before you begin orthodontic work. However, there’s no one to check you for gum disease or cavities with a home aligner kit. Using mail-in aligners may mean missing problems that threaten your whole grin.
Treatment Lacks Proper Supervision
Of course, it isn’t just that mail-in aligners lack a pre-treatment exam. They don’t involve any close supervision from a dental professional.
True, mail-order aligner kits first make a dental impression when designing your trays. Qualified dental experts supposedly review that mold. Still, you’re never assessed by a professional directly. No one is there to check your oral health and understand your needs. As a result, you lack a professional who can monitor your aligner progress and ensure things are going safely and correctly.
The Aligners Aren’t Tailored to You
Another issue with mail-in aligners is that they aren’t tailored to you. No aspect of treatment occurs in person, so the aligners end up generic.
An actual orthodontist adjusts your braces or aligners as needed. These continual changes make sure your treatment stays on track. In contrast, there’s no such adjustment with mail-in aligners. There’s thus a major risk that they don’t reflect the steps your teeth need to go through. They could just make your smile even more crooked.
You May Pay More in the Long Run
Perhaps the worst thing about mail-in aligners is their potential costs. They may have a small upfront price, but they could cost you more than dentist-approved aligners in the long run.
Given the other points, mail-in aligners can be very ineffective. They could give you serious dental damage – tooth loss, gum recession, etc. Such harm would mean paying more for the correction than you would have for in-office orthodontic work.
In the end, the dangers of mail-in clear aligners make them unsuitable for use. Consider clear aligners from your local dentist instead.
About the Practice
Riviera Family Dentistry of Mesquite is based in Mesquite, TX. Led by five amazing dentists, our practice seeks to give each patient accessible dental care. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency treatments. Our office also takes pride in being a certified provider of Invisalign clear aligners. For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (214)-7640-0112.