Have you seen advertisements for mail-order clear aligners? In recent years, such systems have seen a boom in popularity. They appeal to people due to their low price and the convenience of at-home treatment. However, extreme caution is in order. If you choose to use mail-order clear aligners, you might end up regretting your decision! This blog post explains 5 dangers that you should be aware of before you commit to this type of treatment.
No Personal Oversight
With in-person clear aligner systems, such as Nu Smile Aligners, you must visit your dental team for regular checkups. These brief appointments are designed to ensure that your treatment stays on track. Plus, you can use them to seek personalized support if you ever have questions, concerns, or problems with your aligners.
In contrast, mail-order aligners are much less personal. You might never visit a dental professional, which means that key details could easily get overlooked at any point during your treatment journey.
It’s More Difficult to Get Your Treatment Adjusted
Clear aligner treatment is fairly predictable, but in some cases, teeth start to move in unanticipated ways. If that happens to you, your entire treatment plan may need to be adjusted. With in-person assistance, the adjustment process is fairly easy. With mail-order aligners, on the other hand, it is more difficult because they may simply provide all of your aligners at the start of your treatment instead of sending them to you in sets.
Limited Treatment Options
Mail-order aligner services often decline to treat patients who have dental implants or other types of restorations. At an in-person consultation with a dentist, your care team may be able to figure out a plan to work around your restorations.
It is also of concern that mail-order aligners might not take into account your oral health. For example, the presence of gum disease might not be a factor in their treatment planning. With in-person care, you can expect that all such issues will be properly managed.
You Might Spend More Money
Many people gravitate toward mail-order options out of a desire to save money. However, they sometimes end up spending much more than they expected. For example, there is a chance that mail-order aligners could actually worsen your dental alignment. Correcting that with professional treatment could add thousands of dollars to the total cost of your care.
Outdated Technology
Certain mail-order aligner companies have physical locations where you can get your teeth scanned so your aligners can be designed. Other companies, though, expect patients to take their own impressions using old-fashioned manual methods. Such impressions are not always accurate and can lead to problems with treatment. In contrast, if you receive in-person care, it is likely that your impressions will be very precise.
Mail-order aligners come with some serious drawbacks! Carefully consider the pros and cons of all your treatment options before you commit to anything.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Admasu Gizachew designed the Nu Smile Aligners system with the goal of providing all the benefits of in-person care without the high price tag of some popular aligner options. Start-to-finish care costs just $2,500. We use top-quality materials and technology with the goal of making sure you have a positive experience and beautiful results. To learn more about Nu Smile Aligners and how they compare to mail-order options, contact any of our locations via our website or call us at 732-945-7991.