A Perfect Smile Orthodontics

McAllen Orthodontist providing Braces & Invisalign

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Online Clear Braces: What You Need to Know

online clear bracesWhat are Online Clear Braces?

Online clear braces are a trend being heavily advertised as a program to straighten teeth. Companies say they can provide this service over the internet with no in-person visits to an orthodontist. They campaign aggressively with billboards, social media, full-page newspaper ads, and on TV.
 

Their Process

The initial process involves receiving a kit to make a DIY 3D mold of your teeth, which you mail back to them. There are no x-rays or exams involved.
 
Once they receive your molds, they indicate they will have a “licensed dental professional” review them to see if you’re a good candidate for their at-home aligners. These aligners are similar to Invisalign ® technology. They will then manufacture a set of 20 aligners and send them to you through the mail. If you have any questions or issues throughout the course of your treatment, you call or email them to speak with a customer service representative. You will not be able to speak with an orthodontist or a “dental professional.”
 
Per their ads, most patients need to wear the online clear braces for a period of four to 14 months. The “dental professional” determines the time needed when they review each case at the initial assessment. If they determine that your treatment will take nine months, you will receive aligners to use for that specific amount of time. Once you’re done with those aligners, your treatment is complete — whether or not you’ve achieved the desired results. You also have the option of purchasing a retainer at the end of your treatment for an extra fee.

Their “Advantages”

These companies promote convenience and cost as their biggest advantages. Yet, for $20 or $30 more per month, you can be under the care of a skilled Orthodontist. Thus, our office strongly discourages using such a company for your oral health. Unfortunately, we have seen first-hand the harm done by going through this type of company. That’s because they have no orthodontist involvement other than the initial assessment and recommendation. And that’s based only on your DIY impression of your teeth. We have also seen patients spend money on this type of service, only to have to spend more money to correct poor quality treatment.

Differences Between Online Clear Braces and Traditional Orthodontist Treatment

online clear braces

Orthodontists offer all types of braces to their patients. They choose the type based on clinical needs, preferences of the patients, budget, and more. A fairly high percentage of patients are not suitable candidates for these types of do-it-yourself aligners; it all depends on the severity of their problems.
 
Based on many online reviews of these companies, they told patients they were a candidate for this treatment. Later, however, the person discovered their orthodontic issues were actually too severe. Unfortunately, many people have had to seek treatment from an orthodontist for corrections. And in some cases, they suffer irreparable damage.

No Orthodontic Oversight

These types of online braces are hard plastic trays molded to fit your teeth. There is no metal or wires, and you can remove them for eating, drinking, and maintenance. Each aligner moves teeth progressively into place until done.
 
In contrast, with Invisalign® treatment, an Orthodontist will place “bumps” on certain teeth to prepare them for the aligners. Bumps are small dots made of dental cement that allow the aligners to grip the teeth and move them into position more precisely. The orthodontist strategically places these bumps on the teeth based on the direction they want the teeth to move.
 
Because the online clear braces companies do not have any in-person orthodontic oversight, there are no bumps applied to the teeth. Instead, they send “Chewies” — round pieces of rubber — and tell their customers to “insert them like bubble gum to snap the aligners into place.” As an orthodontist strategically uses bumps for torque to propel the teeth in the right direction, it’s hard to understand how Chewies are able to do the same thing. They also suggest patients use a nail file to sand down rough edges on the DIY aligners.
 
In contrast, Dr. Taylor here at A Perfect Smile Orthodontics in McAllen, Texas, uses a 3-D digital scanner so that he has a precise replica of your teeth. He meticulously adjusts each aligner before delivering it to you, so it will fit precisely and comfortably.

Lower Satisfaction

Most of these online companies provide you with up to 20 aligners to move your teeth into position. If you don’t get the desired result from these aligners, you are still considered done with your treatment. This is one reason the satisfaction rate for online clear braces is drastically lower than traditional orthodontic treatment. In fact, most orthodontists use 40 to 50 aligners on average to achieve the proper results.
 
RealSelf is a community-driven website that uses a rating system for medical and dental services called “Worth It.” The Worth It ratings for some of the top companies that offer the DIY aligners have consistently been in the 50s.
 
In contrast, RealSelf lists the rating for patients treated by an orthodontist using Invisalign® in the high 80s. So, there is a considerable difference in customer satisfaction. This is not surprising. After all, the online clear braces companies have no oversight by a qualified medical professional.
 
Conversely, an orthodontist has completed dental school training and two to three more years of education. They are specialists who treat dental and facial irregularities to correctly align teeth and jaws. They’re also experts in occlusion, bone physiology, and bone development.
 
The truth is, the cost to straighten your teeth under the care of a highly skilled orthodontist is 20 or 30 dollars more per month than these online offerings. Is that really worth the gamble? 

A Growing Controversy 

There is a considerable amount of controversy going on between the Orthodontic/Dental community and companies that offer these DIY aligners. Proponents of online clear braces say that this is the new direction of Orthodontia. They use examples such as companies like 1800Contacts, saying that eye doctors were vehemently opposed to consumers getting their contacts for a less expensive price through online companies, and now this has become the new norm. That’s true, and it applies to other similar companies that provide eyeglasses, diabetic supplies, hearing aids, pet med prescriptions, etc.
 
However, it is important to note that this is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Those types of companies are offering products. There is no doctor oversight needed for people to use products such as contact lenses. Additionally, these types of products are not actively changing anything. While you could say that braces are a product, straightening teeth is a service as it actively changes the structure of a person’s mouth, jaw, and teeth. This service even affects vital functions of your body as well as facial structure and appearance.
 

orthodontist

Using online clear braces for orthodontic treatment is significantly different since an orthodontist will never lay eyes on you or see the progress that you’re making. The only thing the company advertises is an assessment based on dental impressions that you have made yourself. If you encounter problems after that or are not satisfied with your treatment, or suffer harm, the only person you’ll deal with is a customer service representative. And online reviews for these companies’ customer service skills have been consistently bad.

Patient Issues

Some patients will finish their treatment and find that they have a bigger problem than before. It may cause them considerable expense to fix the damage done. It is a gamble which can adversely affect you and your health.

Some patients will finish their treatment and find they have a bigger problem than they did before. It may cause them considerable expense to fix the damage done. Thus, it is a gamble which can adversely affect you and your health.
 
One such patient documented his online clear braces treatment in a long series of reviews. At first, he was excited and optimistic. His comments span a period of three years and you can read the entire story here. In the end, this is what he had to say: 

“It’s been a while but long story short… the aligners damaged my teeth and shifted them too quickly. They attributed to bone loss, and I was told by my dentist that 4 healthy teeth may fall out as a result. I spoke to my lawyer and have formally asked for a full refund.

“I would stay away from this company if you have very severe crowding like I had. It turns out the company completely messed up my teeth and if I hadn’t stopped using their aligners, some of my teeth would have started to fall out! Once my dentist told me about the damage, the aligners were causing me he told me to immediately stop. I told [the company] about this and demanded my money back, but they of course refused. I would say pay for regular braces, which is what I have done with a local ortho. Hope this helps and good luck.”

Here’s What the American Dental Association Has to Say About Online Clear Braces

The ADA News has done an investigation into online clear braces and here is an excerpt from their report:

“Kevin Dillard, AAO general counsel, said that the AAO (American Association of Orthodontics) has filed complaints with dental boards and attorneys general in 36 states regarding companies providing aligners through an online service. In addition, he said at least 3 dental boards – in Alaska, California, and West Virginia – have opened investigations into one of the companies. In August, Alaska’s board voted to ask the state’s licensing division to send a cease-and-desist letter barring [company] from selling there, Mr. Dillard said. 

“Mr. Dillard said the complaints allege that [company] is violating laws that exist to protect the public. The AAO complaints argue that these companies are performing medical work that many state laws reserve for licensed professionals, such as taking bite casts and delivering dental appliances to patients.”

In Atlanta, the ADA has admitted that they strongly discourage the practice of do-it-yourself orthodontics because of the potential harm to patients, according to a new policy passed by the 2017 ADA House of Delegates.

“Patients are being inundated with direct marketing campaigns encouraging them to initiate and manage their own orthodontic treatment. These campaigns are operating in multiple media outlets, including online, billboards, and television ads,” said Dr. Craig Ratner, chair of the ADA Council on Dental Practice.

“This year’s ADA House of Delegates recognized the need for the ADA, as America’s leading advocate for oral health, to take steps to educate patients about the potential pitfalls of self-managed orthodontic treatment. This new policy supports the importance of dentists being in charge of diagnosing and treating patients to ensure the safe delivery of appropriate care.”

To read the entire article published by the ADA News regarding everything that the American Dental Association had to say, click HERE.

In response, the American Association of Orthodontists has issued a consumer alert on the home page of its website against the use of online clear braces. Click HERE to read their warning. 

A Perfect Smile Orthodontics: Quality Care and Affordable Options in McAllen, Texas

Dr. Taylor is an established Board-Certified Orthodontist and is one of the few Elite Invisalign™ Providers in the Rio Grande Valley. We offer interest-free financing to our patients. For $20 or $30 more per month, you can rest assured that you or your child will receive the highest standard of care available from an orthodontist who truly cares about his patients and their health.
 
We also offer a free, no-obligation consultation to anyone who needs orthodontic care. This includes x-rays, and an Orthodontic exam to determine the right treatment options for you. We will also discuss financing options for all budgets.
 

Call 956-630-6166 or click HERE to schedule your appointment today.

 

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A Perfect Smile Orthodontics
1400 E Expy 83 #155
McAllen,
TX 78503
956.630.6166

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