Miami and Coral Gables, FL
It’s not uncommon to want a perfectly straight smile and to achieve that look discreetly and fast. Over the past decade or so, orthodontic options have changed and now allow patients to achieve the smile they want in less time than it takes with traditional metal braces. Invisalign offers clear aligners that are custom made for each patient, and allows you to straighten your teeth without anyone noticing!
However, there recently has been a surge in mail-order orthodontics that uses clear aligners. Advertisements for these companies can be found all over the Internet and social media, enticing people to buy-in to the promises of getting straighter teeth without having to step foot into a dentist’s or orthodontist’s office. But, there are some apparent dangers to using the mail order variety of clear aligner therapy. Today on our blog, our cosmetic dentists in Miami, Dr. Raul Garcia, and Dr. Concepcion Sanchez-Garcia want to highlight why you should steer clear of mail order clear aligners.
- No comprehensive exam before treatment
Part of receiving any type of dental care, even orthodontics, should involve a comprehensive dental exam first. The reason for this exam is to determine your exact need and discover any other dental health or health-related issues that could compromise treatment. Otherwise, you could end up spending lots of money on treatment that doesn’t last or fails. A checkup beforehand could prevent this loss.
- No supervision or checkups during treatment
Orthodontic treatment should always be supervised by a licensed dental professional such as Miami Designer Smiles. Orthodontics involves moving your teeth, which is a process that shouldn’t be taken lightly. This is why routine checkups are required when you undergo orthodontic treatment. If any problems arise, or the course of treatment needs to be altered, it can easily be done. Not having these checkups throughout treatment could mean you end up with unfavorable results.
- Risk of causing permanent, irreversible damage to your teeth
As we mentioned previously, orthodontics involves slowly moving teeth, ligaments, and even bone, to accommodate the new position of your teeth. Undergoing this method of treatment with a mail-order orthodontic system that isn’t supervised in person could result in poor results or irreversible damage to your teeth, even tooth loss! Some users report not being able to bite down properly after undergoing mail order aligner treatment. Since many insurance plans won’t cover mail order aligner therapy anyways, why take the risk and waste your money?
- The ADA is speaking out against mail order aligners.
The American Dental Association, ADA, is speaking out against the use of mail order orthodontics and discourages its use. As licensed dentists, we support the ADA and its recommendations for dental health. Invisalign is, however, approved and backed by the ADA.
- Aligner therapy isn’t the right choice for everyone.
Mail order orthodontics doesn’t require a patient screening to determine if their treatment is best for each case. It’s important to note that clear aligner therapy isn’t right for everyone, and a licensed dentist or orthodontist should evaluate the candidacy of each patient. For instance, patients with severely misaligned teeth, temporomandibular joint disorder, or misaligned jaws (such as an overbite, underbite, or crossbite) may not be candidates for aligner therapy. Traditional metal braces may be more suitable, which is why a comprehensive exam is necessary before receiving any type of orthodontic treatment.
Invisalign in Miami
If you would like more information regarding clear aligner therapy offered by a licensed dentist in Miami, or to see if you are a candidate, contact Miami Designer Smiles by calling (305) 595-4616. We provide complete oral health care, including cosmetic dentistry, to patients in Coral Gables and Miami.