Everyone would love to have perfectly straight teeth, but the treatment time, constant appointments, and cost of braces can turn many patients away from achieving the smile they desire. As a result, some people in recent years have been practicing what is often referred to as self-orthodontics. In other words, people have begun creating DIY braces to straighten their teeth in a quick and affordable way. While some of these people have received seemingly satisfying results, orthodontists strongly discourage patients from practicing self-orthodontics, as they could be causing irreparable harm to their teeth.
At Trapnell Orthodontics in Utah County, the highly-trained orthodontists advise our patients to refrain from performing their own orthodontics. DIY braces may present satisfying results, but they are quite dangerous and could be damaging your teeth, gums, and jaw beyond repair. Sure, traditional braces and Invisalign take time, require extra care, and cost more money, but these are proven practices performed by trained professionals. Take a moment to learn more about this growing trend and why you should avoid applying braces yourself.
What’s the Deal with DIY Braces?
What draws people to DIY braces is they’re an affordable and quick way to straighten teeth without having to visit the orthodontist. There are various practices of self-orthodontics and, quite frankly, any form could result in more harm than success. In some cases, such as this example here, people have used orthodontics rubber bands to place on teeth and close gaps. Others have actually made their own appliances using household items and super glue.
Aside from the potential toxins you could ingest from using glue and other items, these DIY braces can and most likely have caused serious damage to the people’s teeth and gums. Furthermore, DIY braces presents the risk of bone and soft tissue damage, which calls for expensive and extensive treatment. Simply put, the potentially-satisfying results of DIY braces are not worth the probable damage.
DIY Braces: Never Worth the Results
We’ll say it again: though self-orthodontics can present pleasing results, irreparable harm is extremely likely, and it could be quite severe. Board-certified orthodontist, Stephen Belli suggests, “If you move a tooth that fast, you can actually cause damage to bone and gums, And if you don’t put the tooth in the right position, you could throw off your bite.” Additionally, these do-it-yourself braces can’t guarantee lasting effects, and your teeth could actually shift back to their original position more quickly.
Prevent Damage and See your Orthodontist Today
DIY braces and self-orthodontics may seem appealing due to their quick results and low costs, but the damage you could be doing to your teeth, gums, and bone will only cause more problems in the future. There’s a reason orthodontics are performed by highly-trained and experienced professionals: orthodontic treatment requires precise planning, application, and supervision. Prevent serious harm and see your orthodontist to truly achieve the results you desire.
If you’re interested in perfecting your teeth the right way, contact Trapnell Orthodontics in Utah County today. We serve Provo, Payson, Springville, and Spanish Fork patients and are always happy to help.
