Is DIY Orthodontic Treatment Helpful for Everyone?

Previously orthodontic treatment was only possible with a visit to the dentist but in recent years a rise has been seen in DIY dentistry and at-home aligner treatments. While it is cost-saving, it doesn’t come without problems. An authority related to British dentists has called to restrict DIY braces being sold online which in some cases could lead to loss of teeth and irreparable damage.

The braces which are offered to the people are called aligners which are transparent orthodontic devices that fit over teeth to move them in the right positions. They are highly effective when used under the guidance of an orthodontist or a dentist.

However, some of the experts claim that this device can cause bleeding, loosening of teeth, and bone damage on patients who have underlying dental problems.

One investigation discovered that companies sell aligners to the public directly using social media and some times they use popular social media stars to promote their sales to millions of people. When the bracers are purchased from a clinic the orthodontic treatment would cost 1500 pounds more than when it is done through DIY treatments.

This is legal but customers are some times not given the supervision they need for the treatment.

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The firms selling these aligners consider their methods as superior and believe that for the majority of the patients the treatment can be done safely without visiting a dentist. They think that traditional methods involve x-rays which according to them could cause cancer. They argue with the warnings of British dentists suggesting that the dentists want to protect their financial interests.

Experts are adamant that this sort of treatment is a risk for patients, as people with dental problems may be exposed to further complications. One such professional is Dr. Saqib Ali, who is a dentist and also an owner of Sherwood Dental practice In Birmingham. According to him, there is an increase in patients with problems of loose teeth and bleeding gums.

Dr. Saqib rejected a patient for braces a couple of years ago because of his bone loss and gum disease. The patient was then treated by an online aligner company. When the patient came back for a check-up, he had lost further bone and had bleeding gums.

According to Dr. Saqib, the pressure that aligners put on the teeth can boost diseases related to gum resulting in premature tooth loss.

Chairman of British Dental Association Dr. Mick Armstrong has also warned the people that DIY braces could cause irreparably damaged mouths that could result in loss of teeth or worse. Peter McCallum, a specialist practitioner from the British Orthodontic Society, said many cases are being reported about problems that the patients are suffering related to DIY braces treatment.

The most popular brand Invisalign lets a dentist scan and take an x-ray of the mouth of the patient to create a series of aligners. These aligners slightly differ from each other and each aligner is worn for some weeks and then is swapped by the next in series, ultimately getting the teeth into the right positions.

Companies that offer DIY braces design the aligners using a 3D image of the teeth on the basis of a dental mold made by the patients themselves at home or scans taken by a specialist at one of the stores of the company. An orthodontist or a dentist then creates a treatment plan and then the set of aligners is posted to the customers.

The standard procedure requires that the aligners are prescribed by a dentist or orthodontist at a clinic and physical examination and x-rays should also be carried out, however, all the firms do not offer these. It is up to the people to only use aligners after a complete physical examination and any other procedure as may be specified by the dentist or orthodontist.