There’s a lot to be said for doing things yourself. The internet has guides for just about everything, which means you can learn a variety of new skills. Unfortunately, some companies will offer you DIY kits to do things that require years of experience and training to do correctly. DIY clear aligner kits are a great example. These claim to offer you the ability to straighten your teeth at home, with only minimal professional supervision. The dentist you work with will never see you in person, and they can guide your treatment only to the extent that you tell them to. Here are a few reasons why using DIY clear aligners is a bad idea.
You Can’t Get a Thorough Dental Exam
If you go to get Invisalign treatment, your provider’s first step will be to perform a thorough oral exam. This serves a couple of purposes, the first of which is determining if Invisalign is even the right choice for you. There are several styles of orthodontic treatment, and some problems can’t be fixed by Invisalign. During an exam, your dentist will also get a general sense of your oral health. This allows them to address any issues you might have before you start wearing aligners. If they don’t, tooth decay or gum disease could progress significantly over the course of treatment.
The exam that your virtual dentist will put you through can’t be as thorough as an in-person exam, simply because of the limitations of online video. That puts you at a greater risk of complications. This leads to the second point…
Online Dentists Won’t Be Able to Supervise Your Treatment
While they might have some scheduled check-ins with their virtual dentist, DIY patients are responsible for bringing potential issues to the attention of their provider. They have to try and catch problems before they get serious, which can be difficult for someone without training to do. If they miss something, patients could actually see their teeth get worse by the end of their treatment. That might be why some of the largest DIY aligner providers are currently being sued by the NC Dental Association, with support from the ADA. The regular consultations you’ll get with Invisalign treatment will allow a professional to gauge the speed of progress, and check that your teeth are moving as intended.
Some things are too important to handle ourselves. When it comes to straightening your teeth, it’s best to leave the hard work to your dentist.
About Our Practice
At Harrisonburg Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we want everyone to be able to achieve their best smile, so we make all of our services as convenient as possible. Dr. DeNicola is one of our on-staff dentists, and his commitment to the study of his field is evident in the quality of his work. He’s also a certified Invisalign Preferred Provider, so if you’re interested in straightening your teeth, he’s capable of guiding you through the entire process step by step. If you have any questions about clear aligners, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (540) 432-6616.