Technology is great because it provides opportunity and convenience. Thanks to technological advancements, there are so many things we can do from the comfort of our homes — work, shop, attend school, etc. Keep in mind that there are certain things that are best done in-person, and that includes dental and orthodontic care!
Since DIY can save time and money, direct-to-consumer products such as clear aligners have become increasingly popular over recent years. The idea of straightening your teeth without numerous trips to the orthodontist is winning people over. Alluring advertisements for these services are all over social media and TV. Companies such as SmileDirectClub promise to straighten teeth for way less than the cost of traditional braces in as little as six months. If it sounds too good to be true, then keep reading.
Mail Order Ortho Process
So how does it work? With companies like SmileDirectClub, customers simply submit a selfie and take their own molds with an at-home kit, or they can get a 3D image of their teeth from a local vendor. They are instructed to check on their progress by submitting photos that are reviewed by their assigned dental professionals.
Red flag, red flag, red flag!
Underbites Under Investigation
The ADA recently released an article about an investigation conducted by NBC News into SmileDirectClub and the increasing complaints against the company. Customers have been unsatisfied with the customer service as well as their experiences.
The article highlights the case of a woman who began experiencing pain a year after treatment. The woman was unable to get in touch with her assigned SmileDirectClub dentist regarding her concerns and was later diagnosed by an outside orthodontist with a crossbite, which was causing her neck and jaw pain. Another SmileDirectClub customer claimed that the clear aligners moved his teeth so fast causing some of them to detach from the bone. He had the same experience when he tried to contact his assigned dentist.
NBC News notes, nine members of Congress — five of them dentists — asked the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate SmileDirectClub “to ensure that it is not misleading consumers or causing patient harm,” and in January, a law went into effect in California requiring all teledentistry patients to get an X-ray or diagnostic bone scan before undergoing online aligner treatment.
Leave it to the Professionals
Dentists and orthodontists endure many years of education and specialized training. A mail order service simply cannot compete with their expertise. There are many reasons you should forgo the mail order route.
- Dental problems such as periodontal disease and tooth decay are unaddressed.
- Patients are not monitored for out of the norm changes.
- Repairing damage from at-home aligner kits can be expensive.
- Treatment is not always covered by insurance.
- X-rays aren’t included, so problems below the surface go unnoticed.
At Berger Dental, we are proud to offer services such as Invisalign for those seeking straight teeth! If you have any questions or concerns about straightening your teeth, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.