We get it. It sounds simple. It sounds reasonably priced. It sounds convenient.
You order a kit online. It is delivered to your door. You take an impression of your teeth in the comfort of your home. Or you stop by the clinic and have the impression taken. The company sends you clear aligners to adjust your teeth. And it costs a lot less than orthodontist-supervised Invisalign!
In 2013, SmileDirect Club became the first company to offer self-directed teeth straightening. The fact that they are being sued by clients all over the U.S. should tell you something.
Everything that’s wrong with at-home aligner systems
The American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists have issued warnings about the hazards of direct-to-consumer orthodontics.
“Orthodontic treatment involves the movement of biological material, which if not done correctly could lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changed bites, and other issues.” American Association of Orthodontists
SmileDirectClub was the first company to offer DIY aligners. They provide custom clear aligners without regular office visits. They tout an average cost savings of over 50% of the rate of traditional aligners administered by an orthodontist. They report that the average length of treatment is 6 months.
All aligner systems necessitate a 3D image of your teeth. With Invisalign and ClearCorrect, your dentist creates the scan in their office.
With SmileDirect, you can visit one of their “SmileShops” to get a scan. SmileDirect advertises that there are SmileShops in every U.S. state. They also provide the option of taking your own impression using their at-home kit.
You can send a selfie of your teeth. Think about that. Selfies are for vacations. Are they a substitute for the ability of a specialist who attended dental school and several years of orthodontics training?
Is it worth the risk?
Don’t take chances with your smile. Many orthodontists have patients whose self-directed treatment completely messed up their teeth. Some of these men and women end up losing some of their teeth because of mail-ordering treatment gone wrong.
Contact Mark A. Miely DDS:
614-451-2100
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1840 Zollinger Rd
Upper Arlington, Ohio
432211, …………….lo
L88