Overcrowded, gapped, or crooked teeth can make you feel self-conscious about your smile’s appearance, and unfortunately, traditional orthodontics do very little to boost your confidence.
Thankfully, some dentists in Greenfield offer Invisalign, a more discreet and comfortable way to reposition your grin. But if you’re trying to save money, you might be tempted to opt for mail-order aligners, which may be lower-priced. Continue reading to learn 3 potential risks of choosing this option and why it’s usually better to consult your dentist instead!
Concern #1: No Examination
Before you can get Invisalign from your dentist, you must schedule a consultation with them to ensure you’re a good candidate. During your visit, they’ll discuss your concerns and aesthetic smile goals, then examine your dental condition to determine whether it’s the best treatment for you.
For instance, the clear trays may not be the ideal solution for more severe tooth or bite misalignments, which sometimes still require traditional braces to effectively straighten your smile. Ordering Invisalign alternatives through the mail assumes that they’ll work for you, but that’s not always necessarily true.
Concern #2: Hidden Oral Issues
Clear aligners are intended to fit snugly over your teeth to shift them into their ideal positions, but they usually must be worn for 20 to 22 hours daily to prevent them from reverting to their starting positions. Unfortunately, that gives any germs on your teeth and gums plenty of time to contribute to oral issues, such as cavities or periodontal disease, if you don’t take the proper precautions.
When you get Invisalign from your dentist, they’ll examine your mouth first to ensure it’s healthy enough to proceed and determine that you’re a good candidate. Unfortunately, most mail-order aligner options don’t include any pre-treatment examination. You might start wearing the trays on top of hidden issues, causing them to worsen progressively throughout your treatment.
Concern #3: Lack of Oversight
Another reason to consult your dentist for treatment is that they provide professional oversight throughout your treatment, which you are unlikely to receive when ordering clear trays online. Every 4 to 8 weeks or so, you’ll be expected to attend a routine follow-up appointment, which can often be as brief as 15 to 30 minutes. This allows your dentist to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments to your trays to ensure your teeth continue moving as intended.
Without this oversight, your teeth might not shift at the anticipated rate, or at all, which can then require professional services to correct.
As you can see, working with a professional provider can help prevent potential problems posed by mail-order aligners, protecting your smile and your budget!
About the Practice
Patients at BGH Dental benefit from a team of providers who are passionate about helping families in Greenfield build and maintain their happiest, healthiest smiles. Our team collaborates to provide a complete menu of award-winning services, including Invisalign, to meet the unique needs of people of all ages conveniently under one roof. Their caring approach is combined with advanced technology to deliver comfortable, accurate results meant to last. You can request an appointment on the website or call (413) 772-0842.