Why Mail-In Orthodontic Aligners Can Worsen Your Oral Health

Mail-in braces have been an ongoing trend, but it’s also become one of the most harmful trends out there for children and teenagers looking to straighten their smiles. For those looking into online options for dental care, mail-in braces may seem like the perfect solution at first, but they come with many underlying risks that can be permanent and harmful to your child’s oral health. These types of braces can be especially dangerous for children with misaligned teeth, and we’re here to explain why they should be avoided at all costs.

Mail-In Orthodontics: Is It Too Good To Be True?

When pediatric dentists and orthodontists work to align your child’s smile, they work with research-backed techniques and safety measures that protect your child’s teeth from any potential damage during the alignment process. During alignment, your child’s teeth will move gradually due to the shift and pressure placed along the bones and tissues within their mouths. Because of how intricate this system is, it’s often considered easier for children to straighten their teeth due to the changes their bodies go through as they get older.

However, problems come in when treatments such as mail-in braces. Mail-in braces attempt to offer unique advantages over other orthodontic treatments, such as better financial costs, faster straightening capabilities, and ease of use. But these devices, in reality, cause more problems. This is because they don’t provide the safety measures necessary for proper tooth movement, and because of this present a higher risk to your child’s teeth. These problems include:

• No Oversight: When you work closely with your dentist, they can ensure that your child’s oral health is in good hands. They can offer you multiple treatment options for your child that online retailers can’t provide, and when providing these procedures can offer safety and assurance that the procedures are performed correctly.
• High Risk of Damage: Mail-in orthodontics tend to pose a higher risk of damage to the teeth, gums, and jawline due to this lack of oversight. When placed, they can move the teeth too quickly or place too much pressure along the jawline, increasing the risk of traumatic tooth damage and jaw pain.
• More Costs Overtime: Because of this lack of oversight and high risk of damage, the costs of repairing that damage to your child’s oral health can be more costly than the initial treatment. Despite their advertised low costs and fast solutions, these devices pose more costs because they can be used incorrectly by patients.

Visit Your Pediatric Dentist First For Treatment Options

Because of these risks, it’s important for parents seeking out solutions to visit their dentists first before moving forward with any treatments. By visiting your pediatric dentist or orthodontist, they can provide you with safe, effective solutions for tooth alignment and protect your child’s teeth from traumatic injury, decay, and other oral diseases. When you work with your dentist, they can help monitor your child’s progress in safe steps and provide your children with the tools they need to continue their oral care into adulthood.

« How Your Oral Health Affects Your Baby During Pregnancy How We Transition Pediatric Patients To Adult Treatment »