How Effective Are Direct-to-Consumer Clear Aligners?

In recent years, there’s been a rise in at-home dental products designed to straighten or fix teeth. Direct-to-consumer companies often set up kiosks in shopping malls or pharmacies and offer digital scans of your teeth. While this technology can be useful in understanding the placement and shape of a given individual’s teeth and bite, digital scans fail to provide full insight into oral health. Creating a beautiful smile takes more than a scan or impression of your teeth.

For a lot of us, we view ourselves as patients when seeking care from a medical professional. We place trust in our healthcare providers to look out for all facets of health while diagnosing and developing care plans. When we turn to the direct-to-consumer model, the company sees us for what we are — consumers. Given the option, would you prefer to visit your doctor if a medical issue arises or communicate with a customer service department to solve what may turn into something serious? Due to this business-to-consumer approach, you may not receive the care you need or have the results you initially expected. A lack of medical support and a helping of uncertainty with a procedure may result in long-term complications.

Many of these kinds of products, while they can shift teeth, reduce cost by removing a medical team’s oversight. Pertinent information gathered from diagnostic records, X-rays, and imaging contributes to plans that consider tooth, bone, gum, and jaw health. 

Risks Associated With Direct-to-Consumer Aligners

Opting for the “at-home” alternative could cause more complex issues than tooth misalignment. The effects of mistreating teeth could result in requiring costly corrective procedures. At some point, you may have to pay an orthodontist to complete (or, in some cases, correct) what the company could not.

If teeth are not monitored adequately, you may experience:

  • Trauma to the teeth and gum tissues

  • Bite misalignment

  • Chipped or fractured teeth

  • Loss of a tooth or significant bone loss

Without considering all aspects of oral health, companies cannot build a comprehensive care plan that delivers the best results the way professional orthodontic services would.

Direct-to-Consumer Aligners vs. Orthodontic Treatment: A Matter of Oral Health

Many contracts for the products in question state you need to have approval from your dentist before use. Some direct-to-consumer contracts even recommend that your dentist monitors your oral health throughout your treatment. Unlike orthodontic professionals, companies do not take responsibility for your oral health before, during, or after treatment. If any medical issues rise to the surface or treatment does not go as planned, it’s on you to address them — not the business.

Bloom Dental of Arlington offers Invisalign as an alternative to braces for those looking to use clear braces for cosmetic and comfort. Since we’d see you regularly during treatment, we can address any issues as they arise before they cause more expensive problems down the road.

Are you looking for a dentist or orthodontist to start the conversation? We invite you to request an appointment! For more information, contact us today.

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Contact Us Today!

We look forward to hearing from you. Call us now! 703-243-3600