Our team at Dillehay Orthodontics knows you want the best for your family. The holiday season is here, and kids are expensive —we totally get it! Many families are often looking at ways to save money and maybe even some time when it comes to braces or aligners. With all the ads about mail-order aligner options, you’ve probably been wondering if that might be the best route for your family. The truth is, it probably isn’t.
The promise of lower prices and not having to make time for orthodontic follow-up appointments makes mail-order systems seem like a no-brainer. But not so fast, you would be surprised to learn that most dentists and orthodontists are reluctant to recommend them, including us.
What are Mail-Order Aligners?
As the name states, mail-order aligner trays promise to treat your smile with a remote orthodontic experience. This experience includes a series of aligner trays and an app that essentially serves as your orthodontist throughout your treatment. This app monitors your progress and updates you on when to change out your trays.
Since mail-order companies can only check in on your progress with photos of your mouth that you provide them, they may not consider the full scope of your treatment. While submitting regular updates via the app may seem straightforward, anyone considering these companies should give it a great deal of thought before signing up. There are several risks associated with this kind of care and plenty of concerns about its lasting impact on oral health.
Total Orthodontic Care
Many orthodontic issues lie below the gum line and in the jaw, where goopy impressions and cell phone images can’t capture data. These issues can’t be treated with mail-order aligners, which may worsen them over time. With this treatment method, processes like widening your jaw, aligning your bite, and correcting rotations can’t be accomplished.
By meeting with our professional orthodontist in person, you’ll know your specific orthodontic concerns ahead of time so that your treatment plan addresses your exact needs. Mail-order aligners won’t help you do that.
A Smile Expert
When you step into our offices to begin your treatment plan, Dr. JK will oversee your entire journey from start to finish. With companies that offer mail-order aligners, the orthodontist is not available for 1:1 patient care .
At Dillehay Orthodontics, the entire orthodontic process begins with a trained professional’s initial examination of your teeth. This exam allows the doctor to determine the type of treatment required for alignment and assess your needs for additional dental care before moving any further.
Afterward, we meet with you regularly for follow-up visits every six to eight weeks so your doctor can monitor your progress. These appointments are essential to ensuring your teeth are straightened safely and successfully according to your customized treatment plan.
Mail-order orthodontics skip these steps entirely. Placing you in charge of your treatment plan, these companies outsource the direct supervision vital to a virtual appointment with an orthodontist at best and an app at worst.
Specialized Care
Orthodontic treatment requires the specialized care of a trained physician to be sure you’re safe. With mail-order orthodontics, you make your own impressions. You choose how long to wear your aligners and when. You decide when to consult a doctor, if ever.
At Dillehay Orthodontics, we know that every smile is different. From the way your teeth grow naturally to the bite pattern or malocclusion you exhibit, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan – no matter what mail-order orthodontics may tell you!
Without Dr. JK’s direct supervision, your treatment plan cannot adapt to how your mouth reacts to treatment. He ensures that adjustments are made along the way to prevent any damage to your teeth overall. Every treatment plan should be customized for each patient, period. There are various treatment options out there, and aligners aren’t designed for every individual’s needs.
Leave Your Smile to the Experts: Visit Dillehay Orthodontics
You wouldn’t go on a road trip without researching the best route to get you there. One that perfectly aligns with your needs and goal, right? Don’t start your orthodontic treatment without the same consideration!
Our expert team at Dillehay Orthodontics takes pride in making your experience world-class and completely personalized, from the initial consultation to your final checkup.
If you are wondering what the best route to your perfect smile is, schedule your consultation with Dr. JK at our Wichita, Derby or Pratt offices, and we’ll help you navigate this journey together.