In theory, it’s not difficult to understand why some individuals would find in-home braces appealing. You would get the advantage of a straighter smile at a much lower cost if they actually did what they’re supposed to. But sadly, these do-it-yourself braces don’t always do the job as advertised.
Actually, for many people, in-home braces can wind up becoming a rather costly, troublesome alternative.
How do In-Home Braces Work?
Usually, in-home braces are delivered via the mail. It normally works like this: You take some quick scans of your teeth, send them in, and quickly get some images of how your smile could look after treatments are finished. A series of mouthpieces will be delivered to you after you sign some lengthy contracts. Your teeth will, theoretically, be straightened with time and several progressively straighter mouthpieces.
Is There’s a Drawback to In-Home Braces?
It may seem, at first glance, like it would be a good idea to try in-home braces. It’s simple, saves you time, and appears to save you money. For the majority of people who try this approach, unfortunately, things don’t normally go as well as they hoped:
- Your teeth can be harmed: Your orthodontist will examine your teeth and jaw to determine if there are any pre-existing problems before they install your braces. That’s where X-Rays and oral exams really help. But most of the time orthodontist exams aren’t included with in-home treatments. And that can actually result in damage to your teeth. You cant observe hidden damage which in some cases has led to broken teeth from in-home braces.
- Refunds are hard to get: So, can you get your money back if something goes wrong with your in-home braces? Regrettably, robust legal documents appear to be more relevant to some of these companies than effective tooth straightening technology. It can be very hard to get your money back even if you have a terrible experience due to these contracts.
- Your teeth don’t always respond as anticipated: Your teeth might adjust too quickly or too slowly to the in-home aligners. This could result in teeth that end up looking more crooked than you desire. In the worst cases, this misalignment can even lead to teeth that are morecrooked than when you started. There are certainly some instances of people who have ended up with an overbite because of poor in-home braces. In large part, that’s because good braces rely on a thorough examination of your mouth and your jaw alignment and include constant adjustments depending on how your teeth respond.
In-Home Braces Are Not Your Only Budget Solution
Part of the allure of in-home braces is tough to ignore: they don’t cost a whole lot. At least, that’s the idea. But thinking about in-home braces as a budget item is misleading in a couple of ways. If your in home braces cause damage to your teeth, they will end up costing you more than conventional solutions.
Second, there are ways to keep your braces affordable without resorting to in-home options. Some of the ways you can make your braces more reasonably priced include:
- Financing: You don’t usually have to pay for your braces all at once. You can look into financing options. Choose a financing option that provides you the best possible interest rate to keep your costs down.
- More economical materials: You’ll pay a premium for state-of-the-art materials and cutting edge technology. But you can substantially cut costs by limiting the number of office visits you will need and staying with the basics.
- Insurance: Many dental insurance plans offer discounted rates for braces and other orthodontic requirements. Exploring finding the correct insurance option in advance will make the whole experience smoother.
Inevitably, you deserve a smile that brings you joy.