The dangers of direct to consumer teeth straightening
Direct to consumer teeth straightening has become a popular means of achieving straight teeth because the costs are much less compared to seeing an Orthodontist. As a result, it has become popular amongst younger people, with many sharing their experiences on social media.
Unfortunately, the lower cost is not without lower risk. In December 2023, one of the most popular direct to consumer teeth straightening companies, Smile Direct Club recently shut down. This left many customers with cancelled orders, no customer care, and those who had not finished their payments were also still expected to pay off their treatment. The company told their patients to see a doctor or dentist for further help. You can find further information on the closure of Smile Direct Club here.
For those people affected by the Smile Direct Club closure, we would strongly recommend you see an Orthodontist of your choice to discuss how you can complete your treatment. As specialists in the field, they would be the best people to discuss your treatment so that you can be sure to be happy with the end result.
Apart from Smile Direct Club, there are also numerous other companies offering direct to consumer clear aligners. There include, but are not limited to: Bitesoft, Smilie, Trybyte, SmilePath. Most of these are very similar in their often influencer-led offerings. As always, we recommend you do thorough research (don’t just rely on what social media influencers tell you!), and make an informed decision for yourself.
As dental professionals, our only advice is that you seek information from a qualified professional. In the case of Orthodontics, this would be an Orthodontist, as they are experts in this field. They have studied a postgraduate degree, so they would be the best equipped to treat teeth alignment issues. For more information on what an orthodontist is, read this helpful article from the Australian Society of Orthodontists.
Here are top reasons not to consider DIY direct to consumer clear aligners:
1. If something goes wrong, there is much less (or limited) support to help you.
2. There could be inaccuracies with your clear aligner fit if you need to take your own moulds.
3. Your treatment result could be less optimal as you may not be able to have any input in your treatment plan.
4. If the company closes down (like in the case of Smile Direct Club), you may be left with incomplete treatment and have to pay more money to receive treatment from an Orthodontist.
If you’re still confused, there is an excellent guide on the CHOICE website, which discusses the cost for braces, the cost for Invisalign, and the pros and cons of seeing a dentist versus a specialist Orthodontist.
Do you have questions about straightening your teeth? Our qualified Claremont dentists can discuss this with you and help to refer you to a trusted and experienced local Orthodontist. Please call us on 6143 5655 or book online here.
