Innovations in orthodontic treatment are happening all of the time! Companies like Align Technology, the makers of Invsialign for example, have created one of the leading treatment options for straightening teeth. With its invisible trays, quicker treatment times and priced at the same cost of traditional braces, the popularity of this option grew exponentially over the years. With all of the hype surrounding the success of Invisalign, other companies have begun to create business models and methods to offer this same experience at a fraction of the cost. Most convenient of all, they send all of the trays you need at once and straight to your door.
But as the old adage goes: if it seems too good to be true, it most likely is! As similar as they may seem, the major difference between these two treatment options is that you would need to start your Invisalign treatment while under the care of an orthodontist. Smile Direct Club, SmileLove and others offer tele-orthodontic services which means that you do not meet with an orthodontist during the course of your treatment.
What’s the Difference?
Dental professionals across North America continue to advocate for Invisalign and have advised against using services from companies such as Smile Direct Club. As convenient it may seem, at-home treatment may actually cause major issues for your overall dental health down the line. At the cost of quick treatment times and home delivery, patients may be unknowingly sacrificing the health of their teeth, tissue and bone. With Invisalign, your results are assured without compromising any areas of your mouth!
Surveillance by a licenced orthodontist
Dentists and orthodontists aren’t acting as mere ambassadors for clinical treatment. They are professional doctors that take your health and the potential of your smile very seriously.
This means that during your Invisalign treatment, they closely assess the overall health of your teeth, gums and bone before determining the best form of treatment and are consistently monitoring your case every step of the way. They will make adjustments as necessary and are also available to address any problems that may impact your final results.
Health of teeth, bones and gums as a factor
There is a very good reason for the initial assessment and consult directly with the orthodontist. With at-home treatment, you may visit a brick and mortar location just once and only to have your mouth scanned with a 3D scanner. There is no way to tell the condition of the surrounding tissue and bone with this scanner.
In a clinical setting, your dental professionals work together to fully understand the overall conditions of your mouth. If you aren’t a proper candidate but continue to undergo orthodontic treatment, this can have very serious consequences including, loose teeth, bone recession and it may even cause your teeth to fall out! That’s why it is crucial to meet with a dental professional to assess your case first and get the right treatment tailored specifically for your case.
Tooth reshaping options
Everyone’s mouth is different and has specific needs. Along with the adjustment of the position of your teeth, the orthodontist may recommend reshaping options for teeth that are too small or too wide. Tele-orthodontic treatments have no way of offering these options to you. The result is that your smile will never reach its full potential. If this sounds like your case, you may be left with noticeable differences between the size of your teeth and your overall smile may not be correctly aligned either.
With Invisalign treatment, the orthodontist can customize the adjustments so that they can reshape your teeth if necessary. This allows for a much more even and proportioned smile!
Correcting your overall bite
A large part of achieving the perfect smile that you will feel confident in, is in the resulting bite. Your dentist and orthodontist will assess the way in which your top teeth sit on your bottom teeth. They then make the necessary adjustments to create an achievable, aesthetically pleasing smile that feels comfortable.
Having an uneven and uncomfortable bite puts unnecessary stress on your muscles and may even go as far as developing a TMJ disorder. This occurs when the joints in your jaw are damaged and can lead to jaw pain, clicking, ear pain, headaches and more.
Invisalign treatment has come a long way, and is able to correct a number of bite issues with the same efficiency as traditional braces.
Invisalign’s longer track record & experience
Invisalign has been around for about 20 years. Since then, Align Technology has improved on their invisible aligners and overall methods. Whether you have minimal issues with crowding and spacing or your case is much more complex including an overbite or underbite, Invisalign is offered as a viable treatment for a large range of different cases!
If you’re looking into options for correcting your smile, we are currently offering complimentary consultations for new patients. Dr. Savita Chaudhry and her team are happy to meet with you to discuss your options for treatment and our flexible payment plans. Give us a call at (416) 742-2300 to reserve your free consultation today.
