It seems like you can get anything shipped these days; would you be surprised to learn that you could get clear aligners through the mail? As convenient as that might sound at first, there are some good reasons why dental professionals are making such a big deal out of mail order orthodontics. Keep reading to stay informed and learn why you might not want to consider this method for straightening crooked teeth.
What Are Mail Order Clear Aligners?
The name more or less sums it up: mail order aligners are orthodontic trays that you can purchase from direct-to-consumer companies and have shipped straight to your door.
These trays look and work a lot like Invisalign, except that dentists are taken out of the process. A company like the late Smile Direct Club completely relies on self-reporting to determine whether you’re a good candidate, and then you’re left to wait for your treatment results.
Are They Professionally Approved?
Nope! On the contrary, most dentists speak out against mail order aligners. The American Dental Association (ADA), which is a recognized authority on safe dental practices, even pointed out that this system does not meet FDA regulations for Class II medical devices.
Basically, Class II medical devices like clear aligners should be distributed by “prescription only.” Since the mail order version doesn’t have a licensed doctor evaluating patients and prescribing orthodontics at any point in the process, this does seem to be legally problematic.
Why Dentists Don’t Like Them
Besides being a generally sketchy practice, there are other reasons dental professionals strongly oppose mail order aligners. For example:
- There’s no pre-treatment consultation, which has led some patients with gum disease or tooth decay to receive clear aligner treatment. This can, and in many cases did, have serious negative consequences on oral health.
- There’s also no dentist involved to perform progress check-ins. Since these companies weren’t monitoring how their patients’ teeth responded to the aligners, many ended up with incorrect alignments.
- Ultimately, mail order aligners are just not safe for use. There are plenty of documented horror stories about patients mail ordering these orthodontics, just to experience oral health complications as a direct result.
Mail order clear aligners might seem like a convenient way to receive orthodontics and a cheap means of straightening crooked teeth, but they’re not worth it. Of dubious legality and even more concerning results, these direct-to-consumer products are more likely to cost you more time and money in the long run. Follow the ADA’s sage advice and stick to professionally provided treatments like Invisalign!
About the Practice
If you’re ready to straighten your teeth, our friendly team of dentists at Smile by Design of Virginia Beach would be happy to provide their professional assistance! You can count on Drs. Santos, Folck, and Squire to give you the one-on-one, personalized care that you deserve with an Invisalign treatment. To contact our office, call 757-499-9639.