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The Dangers of DIY Orthodontics
Posted on 06/12/2017

The Dangers of DIY Orthodontics

When you’re looking for a local orthodontist that you can rely on, we at Niagara Orthodontics want you to know that we make our patients’ safety and well-being our number one goal during orthodontic treatment. Whether you’re interested in Invisalign or any of our types of braces, you can rest assured that your oral and orthodontic health is in reliable hands. We feel like it’s important to warn you about a scary new trend that continues to make headlines: DIY orthodontics.

Don’t Try This at Home!

diy-orthodonticsThe American Association of Orthodontists has reported that about 13 percent of its member orthodontists have seen patients who have tried to straighten their own teeth through DIY orthodontics. This phenomenon started from amateurs uploading videos of themselves attempting to shift their teeth through primitive methods. While these people swear by this process and claim that it’s a simple way to save time and money, it’s really anything but that. Unfortunately, many viewers of these videos believe them and think that they too can become amateur orthodontists. They utilize household objects, such as rubber bands, string, dental floss, and even paper clips to straighten their teeth and emulate the videos they watched.

It almost never ends well.

The reason why this is so problematic is because people don’t realize how complex the field of orthodontics is. Orthodontics utilizes advanced technology and methods, that are specifically designed to exert just the precise amount of calibration and force onto a patient’s teeth. They require many different motions and force levels to guarantee the complete safety of a patient’s teeth and gums. DIY methods of orthodontics have no way of matching this necessary precision. In some cases, the DIY method may apply pressure in a way that restricts blood flow to the tooth, which will end up killing the tooth and requiring a tooth replacement. What started out as a way to save a few thousand dollars can end up with a person having to pay tens of thousands of dollars just to try to fix the damage that was caused through these methods.

So, please…don’t try this at home.

Visit Your Local Orthodontist!

If you have any additional questions about DIY orthodontics or any of our treatment options, we’d be  happy to answer them. Feel free to visit our contact page for all information about contact one of our four convenient office locations To schedule an appointment with us, we encourage you to fill out our appointment request form. We’re looking forward to giving you a straighter smile in the safest manner possible!

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