Is It Worth It To Get Mail-Order Orthodontics?
The dental industry has made some adaptations to care for patients during the pandemic. Likewise, some patients have made some changes of their own, and not all of them for the better. One such change is the move to seeking mail-order orthodontics, some of them regrettably built around a DIY approach. While DIY is the worst of ideas for orthodontic care, even mail-order orthodontics by a qualified orthodontist is a questionable approach. With so much to consider and so much that can go awry during your care, we’ll show why it’s best to have a local orthodontist see to your treatment.
Is It Worth It To Get Mail-Order Orthodontics?
From the first consideration through to completion, there’s a lot to think about with orthodontic treatment. For all the durability of our teeth, our oral health can be a complex and delicate space to work. When planning your orthodontic treatment, there are numerous things to consider, and not all of them are visible through a dental impression. Some of them are best identified with x-rays and other forms of imaging. So what does all this have to do with mail-order orthodontics?
The first thing that will usually happen when going through a mail-order orthodontic service is the delivery of an at-home dental impression kit. This kit will provide the dentist with the impression they need to design your orthodontic appliance. However, it isn’t as thorough as what might be found using proper imaging technology in your dental office.
When a qualified orthodontist is arranging your treatment, even through mail-in venues, there’s a likelihood that nothing will go awry. However, the only way to be sure there aren’t other concerns that could interfere with your orthodontic treatment is to get imaging done. It doesn’t end there, however. You would normally have multiple check-in appointments with your dentist throughout your treatment. These appointments will check to see if everything is moving like it’s supposed to. Conversely, they’ll also check to make that only those teeth that are supposed to be migrating are. This isn’t an aspect of care that happens with mail-in orthodontics. Consider these drawbacks of going with mail-in only orthodontics:
- No Personal Contact – There’s much more involved in your orthodontic care than aesthetically improving your smile. There are also assurances to be made that your orofacial structures and teeth are healthy enough to be treated successfully. The mail-in orthodontist may overlook vital health concerns without this hands-on inspection of your oral health. Ones that can’t be seen with merely an impression.
- No Oversight – During your period of care, you will visit normally visit your dentist several times for follow-ups. There is no such follow-up that happens with mail-in orthodontic care.
- Aligners Can’t Do It All – When you receive mail-in orthodontics, it’s in the form of clear aligners like Invisalign. While these are incredibly effective at treating some orthodontic concerns, they aren’t able to fix them all.
Sometimes The Savings Turn Into A Cost
Given all the variables involved in receiving mail-in orthodontic care, there’s always the possibility that something could go wrong. You may discover that your teeth look worse than when you started when it does. It’s also possible that the adjustment won’t finish completely or may not work at all. If this happens, you have no choice but to start the process all over. A local orthodontist will be there every step of the way to ensure you get the results you hope for. That’s the kind of certainty you want when trying to get the smile of your dreams.
