Posted on May 25, 2020
A recent study has found that Americans rate people with straight smiles significantly higher on a number of measures. Our preference for straight smiles can make some people feel self-conscious and wanting a change. Unfortunately, getting perfectly aligned teeth can seem like too big an investment; in both time and money. This is where mail-order teeth aligners have gained popularity. But the promise of less money is not worth the risk that these mail-order aligners have posed.
Mail-order teeth alignment companies claim to offer people a way to straighten their smiles without costly and inconvenient trips to an orthodontist’s office. With this method, you go to a local center or use an at-home kit to create a mold of your teeth. Next, clear alignment trays are mailed to your home, where you wear them for a certain amount of time until you’ve achieved a straight smile at half the cost of traditional braces!
This treatment is similar to Invisalign. Invisalign also uses clear aligners based on an impression of your teeth. However, Invisalign is performed by a licensed orthodontist and is adjusted throughout your treatment plan. If you are interested in mail-order aligners, ask your orthodontist about Invisalign first.
As with most other things, you tend to get what you pay for. Mail-order teeth aligners may be more affordable, but they come with some serious risks. At the end of the day, orthodontics is still a healthcare procedure and should be undertaken by a healthcare professional.