The Downfalls of DIY Braces | Drs Savage, Sabol & Visser
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The Downfalls of DIY Braces

First of all, you may be astonished that such a thing as DIY braces exist in the first place. But it’s true. They’re not recommended and can actually do lasting damage to your teeth. Traditional metal braces can cost between $3,000 and $7,000 depending on how long you must wear them and how much correction is needed. That’s a lot of money, especially if you don’t have insurance. Even then, most insurance companies don’t pay for the whole bill, just a portion.

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It’s understandable, then, why some people would explore how to make and apply their own braces. With stories like these all over the Internet of people investing just $60 and 16 weeks of treatment, it’s hard to ignore them. However, so much more than cost and time comes into play here. In the long run, it’s much better to go through conventional treatment and pay the money rather than risk long-term damage to your teeth, mouth and jaws.

Your orthodontist went to school for a very long time to learn all about the biology and anatomy of teeth as well as the physics of moving them. It’s more than a science; it’s truly an art form.

It’s understandable that many orthodontists have spoken out against the use of DIY braces. Moving teeth so quickly within a 16-week period can cause irreversible damage to the roots of teeth, the bone and the gum tissue, according to The Washington Post. This could also throw off your bite and cause tooth damage and jaw pain.

Some people are even making their own retainers for post-braces care. However, that poses its own challenges as DIY’ers don’t generally have access to the state of the art fabrication equipment that orthodontist’s labs do. Cheap homemade retainers (even if made from 3D printers) won’t be conformed to the mouth like those fitted in a lab.

Perhaps the worst part about DIY braces is the potential for the project to backfire. So many things can happen that are not intended, from ongoing problems to your bite, to total loss of the teeth. There are many such disasters on the Internet of DIY braces gone wrong, which we won’t go into here. Suffice to say, though, you’ll end up shelling out far more money to fix the damage you caused than if you had just had professional treatment in the first place.

Come to the professionals at Drs. Savage, Sabol and Visser. We do braces right, plus we accept many forms of insurance, and can work with you for convenient and affordable payment methods. Don’t ruin the future of your teeth and jaws. Get your braces professionally done to ensure a beautiful, healthy smile now and in the future!



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