Think Twice Before Using Mail-Order Aligners - General and Cosmetic Dentistry

smile direct aligners Englewood

This message from Vitangeli Dental in Englewood OH is about mail order aligners.

We get it. It sounds simple. It sounds economical. It sounds convenient.

You order a kit online. It is delivered to your door. You take an impression of your teeth in the comfort of your home. Or you stop by the clinic and have the impression made. The company sends you clear aligners to adjust your teeth. And it costs a lot less than professionally-made aligners!

In 2013, SmileDirect Club became the first company to offer self-directed teeth straightening. The fact that they are being sued by customers all over the U.S. should tell you something.

Everything that’s wrong with at-home aligner systems

The American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists have published warnings about the perils of direct-to-consumer orthodontics.

“Orthodontic treatment involves the movement of biological material, which if not done correctly could lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changed bites, and other issues.” American Association of Orthodontists

SmileDirectClub was the first company to offer DIY aligners. They provide custom clear aligners without regular office visits. They tout an average cost savings of over 50% of the rate of traditional aligners administered by an orthodontist. They report that the average length of treatment is 6 months.

All aligner systems necessitate a 3D image of your teeth. With Invisalign and ClearCorrect, your doctor creates the scan in their office.

With SmileDirect, you can visit one of their “SmileShops” to get a scan. SmileDirect advertises that there are SmileShops in every U.S. state. They also provide the option of taking your own impression using their at-home kit.

You can send a selfie of your teeth. Think about that. Selfies are for vacations. Are they a substitute for the ability of a specialist who attended dental school and several years of orthodontics training?

Don’t take chances with your smile. At Vitangeli Dental in Englewood OH we offer industry-leading Invisalign clear braces. We’ve fitted them on patients from Clayton, Union, and Vandalla, who also come to us for complete general dentistry. Call to schedule an appointment with us today!