Hi, I’m Dr Tristen, the principal dentist of Dove Dental here at Waurn Ponds in Geelong.
Last Saturday morning, when I was buying my coffee, I bumped into one of my high school friends, Steve, who had just moved to Geelong. When he found out I’m now a dentist, he was like, “Hey Tristen! I’m curious about these DIY aligners I saw on Instagram that are much cheaper and can save me time from going to the dentist. They look alright! Are they effective? What do you think?”
We had such a great conversation about this topic, I thought I’d also share with you what we discussed in this short video.
Now, I know that the idea of straightening your teeth without having to go to a dentist or spend a lot of money might sound tempting, but believe me when I say that it’s not worth the risk. I’ve got five reasons why you should steer clear of these DIY products and stick to a professionally monitored orthodontic treatment instead.
1. Not everyone is a candidate for orthodontic treatment
Not everyone is a candidate for orthodontic treatments. Sometimes, you might need to treat the underlying gum disease before it is safe to commence an orthodontic treatment. If you try to align your teeth when your gums are not healthy, it can cause the gum disease to progress faster, and your teeth can become loose.
With DIY aligners, you won’t have a dentist performing this comprehensive exam to check that it is safe for you.
2. There is no dentist supervising your treatment
DIY aligners don’t have the supervision of a licensed dentist like us during the term of the treatment. When you come to us, you receive regular checkups and adjustments. This helps keep your treatment on track and means any complications can be caught early. DIY aligners lack this supervision, meaning you won’t have anyone monitoring your progress or intervening if something goes wrong.
3. They can cause real harm to your dental health
DIY aligners can cause serious harm to your dental health. Unlike Invisalign, which is designed to fit your teeth precisely, DIY aligners that are mal-fitting could cut into your gums. This can result in tooth decay, gum disease, gum recession, and other dental issues that are expensive and time-consuming to fix. And since you’re not being supervised by a professional, you may be putting your dental health at risk without even realising it.
4. Orthodontics is a medical procedure
Orthodontic treatment is a medical procedure that should only be performed by licensed professionals. DIY aligners aren’t regulated or approved by any dental associations or organisations, and the manufacturers may not have the necessary qualifications to produce safe and effective dental products. This means you’re taking a risk with your dental health by using these products.
5. Fixing the damage can cost more
The cost of our professional orthodontic treatment is a lot less than the potential cost of fixing the damage done by DIY aligners. When you factor in the cost of fixing any issues caused by DIY aligners, the cost of professional treatment can actually be less expensive in the long run.
As you can see, DIY aligners may seem like a tempting and affordable option, but they do come with many risks.
I hope you found this video insightful. If you or your child are looking for a dentist to help realign the smile, we would love to look after you.
Here at Dove Dental, we offer flexible payment plans, so you can get your dream smile faster.
Simply call us on (03) 8104 9404, complete the form on our website, or send us a DM on social media, and we’ll help you organise a smile consultation. See you in the next video.
