These days, you can pretty much learn how to do anything on the internet. Funny noise coming from your engine? There’s likely a video that will help you identify and fix it. Of course, this approach is fine for some things, but certainly shouldn’t be applied to absolutely everything. Case and point: DIY braces. More and more people are choosing to make/apply their own braces in order to save time and money. While this might seem like an easier way to go, your orthodontist in Hebron, OH strongly advises against anyone making their own braces because this could lead to several negative consequences for not only their smile’s appearance, but its health as well.
The Dangers of DIY Braces
The reason most people opt for DIY braces is that they believe getting them through an orthodontist is simply too expensive. Unfortunately, most have likely looked up the average price of braces online without actually speaking to an orthodontist. In most cases, practices accept insurance benefits and offer a variety of payment plans to greatly offset the cost.
Nonetheless, these would-be orthodontists press on, believing they can make braces as well as anyone. The issue is, when it comes to orthodontic treatment, what you’re mostly paying for is the actual expertise of the orthodontist. Shifting the teeth and aligning the jaw is very sensitive work, and when done incorrectly or haphazardly, it can cause many more problems than it solves, such as:
Misalign the Bite
When an orthodontist straightens your teeth, they aren’t only looking at the alignment of your teeth, but how they come together to form your bite as well. When the bite itself is misaligned, this can make things such as speaking and eating very uncomfortable, and it can also severely strain the jaw joint, which can lead to all kinds of chronic pain in the head and neck. In order to strike the right balance between the teeth and bite, you need an expert’s eyes and experience.
Tooth Loss
Many DIY brace users boast that they were able to complete treatment much faster than expected. However, when the teeth are shifted too fast, this can actually destroy the roots and bone that supports them, leading to tooth loss. An orthodontist knows just how fast they can shift the teeth without damaging them, and as you can imagine, this is different from patient to patient.
Teeth Move Back
When the teeth are shifted incorrectly and there is no follow-up care (such as a retainer), it’s almost guaranteed that the teeth will move back to their original positions, making the entire treatment moot. When you partner with an orthodontist, they’ll be able to provide the care you need after your treatment as well as mitigate the risk of the teeth regressing in the first place.
Trust the Experts!
In short, when it comes to your smile, you should always look to an expert! It may be a little more expensive, but it’s the best way to ensure a positive outcome, plus they’ll know how to keep your smile safe from all of the problems listed above. If you’re thinking about getting braces for either you or your child, don’t consult the internet—call your local orthodontist today!
About the Author
Dr. Jeffrey Shirck is a board-certified adult and children’s orthodontist in Hebron, OH. At his practice, he and his team combine a wide range of treatments along with family-friendly customer service to deliver beautiful smiles all over Ohio. If you’re interested in getting braces, we would love to meet you and answer all of your questions at a free consultation, so contact us today.