Clear aligners, such as Invisalign®, are a great option to effectively and discreetly straighten your teeth. With more people placing online orders and using curbside services due to COVID-19, a mail-order clear aligner plan may also seem convenient, allowing you to skip an in-person orthodontic consultation and get on the path to your ideal smile. However, these systems have been shown to be dangerous and can cause irreparable damage to the teeth. Our specialist for Invisalign near Fair Oaks, CA, outlines why patients should avoid these services.
Mail-order clear aligners claim to be lower cost than visiting an actual orthodontist. These plans are marketed in a way that makes orthodontic treatment sound easy and presents it as a do-it-yourself task.
The process involves taking an impression of your bite and mailing the impression to their lab along with a photo of your teeth. Using these two things, they determine if you are a good candidate for clear aligner treatment and send you custom aligners in the mail. You then monitor your own progress throughout treatment.
This system looks like it’s set up to customize the aligners to your teeth, but it relies on an approximation of your bite, which can lead to incorrect movement of the teeth. Additionally, you run the risk of being approved for clear aligner treatment even if you’re not a good candidate.
There is no replacement for a thorough orthodontic exam, in-office impressions, and direct supervision during treatment. Other fundamental diagnosis tools include x-rays, an in-person examination of the mouth tissues, jaws and gums, and careful evaluation of your bite before recommending a personalized treatment plan. It is critical that your treatment progress is monitored by a professional to ensure your teeth are moving correctly.
If you have severe bite issues, misalignment, or tooth decay, you still may be approved for mail-order aligners, as the process is not thorough. It’s possible to move your teeth incorrectly and make your bite worse, create new alignment problems, or even lose teeth!
There may be structural problems affecting your facial bones, jaws, and teeth that only an orthodontic consultation can detect. A mail-order aligner service will not help you fix these underlying issues.
You don’t have to DIY your orthodontic treatment to get your ideal smile. We want to help you get your ideal smile while staying safe. That’s why we offer flexible payment options for Invisalign treatments, such as extended payment options. We offer 0% interest financing on any balance not covered by insurance and we will set up a monthly payment that works for you.
To find out more, contact our Citrus Heights office at 916-953-6841 today! We are more than happy to assist you with the treatment you need.
