If you’re thinking about DIY orthodontics, you may want to reconsider
I’m about as teeth-obsessed as they get, and I have no regrets about my two rounds of orthodontics. The first was when I was 14-15, and the second was at the significantly more advanced age of 39. I didn’t go the braces route this last time around, and instead opted for a retainer that I pretty much wore 24/7 for over a year. (I work from home, and found this to be a more attractive option). Then, when there was still a bit of fine-tuning that would get my smile to where I wanted it to be, I had my four front top teeth bonded. Now, I can officially say that I’m 100% happy with my smile.
I’m definitely not alone in my quest for perfect teeth (although I may be willing to go farther than others to achieve this goal). The direct-to-consumer orthodontic market has grown exponentially in recent years, and this study found that 73% went the at-home route to save money, while almost 70% cited convenience as their main motivating factor. (My kid has braces and I can tell you they are both excruciatingly expensive and sitting in the car for his appointments every 6 weeks is far from convenient.)
The American Association of Orthodontists has been against at-home aligner services from the get go—and not just because they are losing business to less-expensive DIY options. There are several potential downsides to at-home aligners, and they include…
When you go the at-home route you probably won’t get any x-rays, and it’s super-important to make sure there’s room within your jaw before you start moving teeth around. This is especially true if you still have wisdom teeth because those bad-boys can get in the way.
When you get your aligners by mail, you may never even see an actual orthodontist in person. (Via Zoom, maybe.) This means that if a problem arises, you have nowhere to go, and essentially no other choice than to become an orthodontist’s patient (and the money you spent on DIY aligners is as good as thrown away).
Technology is great, and it’s pretty cool that you can get orthodontic treatment just by popping a mold of your teeth in the mail. However, there’s no replacement for the experience of an orthodontist who has likely seen it all over the course of their career.
Aligners may be able to straighten the teeth and alleviate minor crowding—but have you seen some of the other crazy stuff that is commonly part of orthodontic treatment? My son had night gear for a while (HOT!), and I’m sure he’ll also have rubber bands when he gets his lower braces go on in a few weeks. Aligners cannot address more complex issues—and if you don’t actually see an orthodontist you may not know you even have one (or more).
I’m all for saving a few bucks when possible, but at-home orthodontics isn’t the place to do it. You just might wind up in worse shape than when you began—and that’s nothing to smile about.
