Mail order aligners are a treatment that offers people the opportunity to straighten their teeth without visiting an orthodontist. They do this by offering an at-home kit to make a tooth impression, and then mail clear alignment trays to the customer.

The companies that provide these kits assume that their clients will have good oral hygiene, regularly visit the dentist, and be proactive with their dental care. This assumption is not always accurate, and it can lead to disastrous results.

Cost

Many companies that offer mail order aligners will claim their products are less expensive than Invisalign. However, if you think about the hidden costs associated with them, they aren’t as low as they initially appear to be.

Often, these direct-to-consumer clear aligners require patients to take impressions of their teeth themselves with kits sent from the company. This can be very difficult to do accurately without the assistance of a dental expert. The initial impression is the basis for the entire treatment plan, so it’s critical that this step is done correctly.

In addition, these types of aligners typically use a one-size-fits-all approach that is not suited for complex orthodontic cases. This can result in a more uncomfortable fit, improper movement of the teeth, or exacerbate underlying problems like gum disease. This can significantly increase the overall cost of the treatment. This is why it is important to consider the true cost of these aligners before choosing them as a treatment option.

Time

Companies like Smile Direct Club promise a quick and inexpensive way to straighten your teeth without visiting an orthodontist. This approach, also known as teledentistry, skips in-person consultations and instead relies on patients using at-home impression kits to send the company a digital model of their teeth.

This method has a few serious drawbacks. In the past, there have been many reports of faulty aligners that caused painful and sometimes permanent damage to teeth and the jaw. Without the supervision of a trained orthodontist, patients may end up having to visit their dentists to correct problems that were caused by these poorly designed aligners.

Patients also miss out on regular in-person appointments that allow us to make adjustments and monitor treatment progress over time. It is important that we can see you every two weeks to ensure your treatment is on track and that any problems are addressed quickly. In this way, we can prevent unnecessary problems that could slow down or even derail your treatment.

Safety

Many direct-to-consumer companies promise Invisalign results without visits to the orthodontist. But this is often too good to be true. These companies use clever marketing campaigns to attract customers. But as the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The main concern is the lack of individualized treatment planning. Orthodontic care is complex, and the best way to treat a patient is with the help of an orthodontist. Without a comprehensive in-person examination, a patient can be at risk for several complications.

Another concern is the fact that mail-order aligners require patients to take their own impressions. This allows for error, which can lead to improper fitting of the aligners and exacerbate any existing conditions.

Mail-order aligners also do not use X-Rays, which can allow for the detection of underlying issues like tooth decay or gum disease that may go undetected. This could lead to increased costs and treatment time down the road.

Results

Mail-order aligner companies assume that their patients are healthy, attend regular dental visits, and schedule check-ups. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. We see a lot of patients come into our office because their aligners didn’t work and caused new problems.

The main issue with these aligners is that they aren’t properly fitted. Often, they’re made using at-home molds that aren’t accurate. This can cause the aligners to fit poorly and lead to discomfort or even worsen underlying issues like cavities, gum disease, and jaw pain.

Another issue is that these companies don’t offer regular monitors or adjustments for their patients. This leaves them unable to catch any changes that may happen during treatment or address concerns that arise. When you work directly with an orthodontist, these unnecessary risks are eliminated. We use iTero digital scanners to capture images of your teeth that provide us with a clear view of your smile so we can create the best possible alignment plan for you.