The secret to any good mail-order product is a central rule: make it irresistible. You’ve probably seen ads for mail-order braces before. They promise that they’ll send clear, invisible plastic “braces” directly to your door, which will straighten your teeth after only a short period of wear. They say that this service is much cheaper than traditional dental services, and they’ll present you with testimonials from thousands of other happy customers as proof of their legitimacy.
What they won’t say is what licensed, trained dentists have to say about the product.
Mail-order teeth aligners are trendy, and they look suspiciously close to a product, Invisalign, that dentists may use in your orthodontic treatment. But are they as good as advertised? Today, we’re going to take a close look at the promise and reality of mail-order dental braces and what your best options are for achieving the perfect, straighter smile you’ve always wanted.
The Basic Premise of Mail-Order Braces
When a company offers you mail-order braces, they’re chiefly relying on how convenient and flexible they can make the process sound. After all, who wouldn’t want to instantly straighten their teeth, at their leisure, with no dental appointment? “No supervision from a dental professional” sounds great until you realize that it means you’re going to be actively moving your teeth, which impact how you eat and speak, with no supervision from a dental professional.
When you get braces from your Barrie family dentist, they conduct a thorough exam first to identify any underlying factors that should be considered for treatment. Then, they’ll carefully monitor your progress throughout treatment, which will allow them to react quickly to or make adjustments as needed.
Another draw of mail-order braces is the promise of affordability. Marketed as thousands of dollars cheaper than traditional orthodontic braces, it’s a tempting offer for folks who may be unsure as to whether or not they can afford regular dental care. However, the price they advertise usually doesn’t include the cost of any additional steps to the process, like x-rays, which means that the final actual price is on par with services from your local dentist – but without the same odds of success.
Mail Order vs. Invisalign: What’s the Difference?
Invisalign uses a patented type of plastic and regular checkups from your dentist to move your teeth. By contrast, mail-order aligners are made from generic plastic, which isn’t as effective as keeping your teeth where they want them to go, and often won’t ask for any input from your local Barrie dentist.
The Dangers of Mail-Order Aligners
As tempting as mail-order teeth straightening might sound, it doesn’t take much digging until the dangers associated with it become clear.
- You usually can’t change your treatment trays once they’ve been created, which means that if your teeth aren’t moving the way they should, or if your trays are uncomfortable to wear, you’re probably out of luck.
- The plastic trays don’t put much pressure on your teeth, which means that if your teeth do move, it likely won’t be as much as you want or need.
- The treatment kit you’re using may not be based on any actual dental science and may have been produced without the input or supervision of a qualified dentist.
- You won’t be able to monitor your progress, so if your teeth are moving in a way that might hurt your other teeth or your jaw, it’ll be too late to correct it – which means you’ll have to go to a dentist anyway to fix the damage.
Orthodontic Alignment from Dr. Elston Wong Dentistry
Crooked teeth can be improved through orthodontic treatment or by straightening the teeth. It is more effective to move the teeth into a straighter alignment than mask the crookedness with fillings, crowns, or veneers. Treatment plans are developed individually based on the unique requirements of each patient. Once treatment concludes, many patients notice an immediate difference in how they feel about the appearance and performance of their teeth.
If you’d like more information about the services available at our family dental office in Barrie, give us a call at (705) 721-1143 or send us a message online.