{"id":897,"date":"2019-05-24T13:07:06","date_gmt":"2019-05-24T17:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pointedentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=897"},"modified":"2019-05-24T13:12:36","modified_gmt":"2019-05-24T17:12:36","slug":"dangers-of-diy-braces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.pointedentalgroup.com\/blog\/dangers-of-diy-braces\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dangers of DIY Braces for Your Dental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do-it-yourself,\nknown as DIY, is the way of many things. Home improvement, fashion and\nmore! But one thing that should never be DIY? Braces! Orthodontic treatment is\na delicate process that requires many years of study, practice and experience\nto oversee. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important that you understand the dangers of DIY\nbraces and clear aligners\n\u2013 a concerning\ntrend that\u2019s growing in popularity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are DIY Braces?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just as the name implies, DIY braces are a type of homemade\ndental brace designed to shift the position of your teeth. They can be made of\nmany things \u2013 though usually they\u2019re as simple as elastic hair bands wrapped\naround the teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another\nmajor trend happening right is the rise of companies selling clear aligners\ndirect to you over the Internet. You may have even seen their ads on TV! These\ncompanies claim to produce clear aligners that are designed uniquely for you,\nwithout the need to see an orthodontist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIY braces or clear aligners can emulate one primary\nfunction of braces: they will move your teeth. The problem lies in how they\nmove them, the rate at which your teeth are moved and the results of attempting\nto adjust your teeth without the proper knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Started the DIY Braces Trend?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like most unusual and dangerous medical trends, DIY braces\nspread through the internet. Largely shared on social media and through blogs,\nteenagers attempted to solve perceived dental\nproblems<\/a> on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the idea was passed around on social media, it\ncontinued to spread through schools and communities. It\u2019s difficult to identify\nhow many individuals have been harmed by the DIY braces trend, but thankfully\nmany see the risks and avoid it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What About DIY Clear\nAligners?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Remember\nthe saying \u201ctoo good to be true\u201d? While on the surface these companies seem\nlike a good option for saving money while correcting your dental alignment,\nthere are major concerns you should be aware of!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nfirst risk, of course, is in not seeing an orthodontist for orthodontic\ntreatment. Orthodontists are more than just another dentist. Orthodontists go through\nspecialized education and training to identify<\/a>, plan and correct issues\nrelating to dental and skeletal malocclusion. It requires this level of\nexperience because your teeth and gums are sensitive and require the utmost\ncare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their\nrole isn\u2019t only in treating issues, but also diagnosing specific issues and\nfollowing-up to ensure your treatment progresses correctly! Without them, you\ncould make the issues even worse<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly,\nyou may be under the impression that these companies are primarily operated by\northodontists and dentists. While this may be true for some cases, it\u2019s\ncertainly not for all of them. And you can\u2019t guarantee that your DIY clear\naligners are being checked by an experienced dentist or orthodontist at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are the Primary Dangers of DIY Braces?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The crux of orthodontic treatment is to avoid problems\nassociated with misaligned teeth and unhealthy development of your jaw, mouth\nand teeth. Attempting to correct these issues without oversight from a trained\nprofessional will exacerbate issues or create health risks that didn\u2019t\npreviously exist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n