In recent years, at home orthodontic kits have appeared on the market, as well as home-grown videos that promise to straighten teeth without the benefit of dental professionals. Not only are these methods a waste of financial resources that could be applied toward real orthodontic treatment, but in some cases, the methods touted (using a rubber band to move teeth) prove to be a real danger to an individual’s oral health. Those looking for effective mechanisms in order to straighten their teeth are encouraged to consider the time-tested adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
How At Home Orthodontic Kits “Work”
A wide range of at home orthodontic kits are now being sold, as well as home-grown online videos providing demonstrations on how to straighten teeth by using rubber bands or other paraphernalia. Some companies selling at home orthodontic kits offer to work with their patients by requiring them to send in an impression of their teeth, which is then sent in for an evaluation performed by a licensed orthodontist or dentist. The company then makes a set of “custom” braces and mails them to the patient. Considering that no dentist would say they conducted even an oral exam, let alone additional dental care, without actually examining the mouth of a patient, providing orthodontic care by mail seems highly irresponsible at best. Those involved in this type of care tout that it is only for “mild” orthodontic cases, but how can an individual determine for themselves whether they only require minor orthodontic treatment or if they have an underlying issue that requires more complex treatment? Even if dental impressions are sent in and evaluated, the process still cannot take the place of a real exam and X-rays.
Buying at home orthodontic kits online also runs the risk of encountering a company that manages to create an atmosphere of professionalism through a deceiving marketing campaign when in reality, the products they use are either substandard and of poor quality, or worse — created out of dubious, even toxic materials. With regard to the home-grown “advice” about using rubber bands to move teeth, more than one dental professional has reported incidents where individuals were forced to come in for medical treatment due to infections they incurred after attempting to use rubber bands as substitutes for braces. One patient lost a tooth after placing a rubber band around it for several weeks. The rubber band eventually worked its way down the side of the tooth, destroying enough soft tissue and bone along the way that it caused the tooth to lose its anchor in the jaw.
Overlooking Key Factors
Without the professional advice and services offered by those working in the fields of dentistry, orthodontics, and oral surgery, the individuals who try at home orthodontic kits will skip over key factors. Professional X-rays provide crucial information about below-the-surface features such as wisdom teeth, the overall health of an individual’s jaw bone and tooth components that reside below the surface. All of these things factor into a complete orthodontic treatment plan. Although not typical, sometimes a dentist will discover through a set of X-rays that a baby tooth is still in place and the adult tooth is stuck below the surface, unable to erupt normally. Lastly, some individuals may have significant gum disease or another oral health issue that requires treatment before the placement of orthodontic hardware.
The fact is that professionals working in the field of dentistry, both dentists and orthodontists, go through years of professional training and must obtain a license before they are considered qualified to offer professional dental opinions and services. For an online company, or worse yet, an unknown person with a video channel to offer advice about any type of dental treatment is very risky. According to the University of Utah Health, “There’s a common misconception in the general public that braces are simple — you push on the tooth, and it moves where you want it,” says Jeffery Iverson, DDS, MS, an assistant professor at the University of Utah School of Dentistry. “Orthodontics is very complex. Human physiology, occlusion, biomechanics, craniofacial growth and development, tooth size, shape and morphology, as well as the patient’s overall lifelong dental health, must be taken into consideration.”
At Home Orthodontic Kits Summary
By now, it should be obvious that oral health and any associated treatments are best left to the professionals. For those who have always wanted to receive orthodontic treatment but never pursued it because they thought it was out of their reach financially, they should be made aware that most dental professionals are willing to offer payment plans to their patients. Dental insurance is not necessarily a requirement for receiving dental and orthodontic care. There are countless dental professionals willing to work out realistic payment plans with their patients so they can receive the quality care they deserve.
Don’t Fall for At Home Orthodontic Kits: How Tomblyn Orthodontics Can Help
Don’t fall for at home orthodontic kits. If your child is between the ages of seven and eight and shows signs of needing orthodontic care, or if you have been directed by your family dentist to visit the orthodontist, request a Complimentary Consultation at Tomblyn Family Orthodontics. Call us today at 512-732-2500 so we can get your new smile started!