Dentists raise concerns over online braces
Dental experts have raised concerns over the safety of online braces following a surge in the demand for clear aligners patients can order on the Internet.
The demand for perfect smiles has driven a sharp rise in sales of clear aligners, which are available from companies, such as Smile Direct Club (SDC). Smile Direct Club provides a remote service, promising results for a fraction of the price of conventional orthodontic services provided by traditional dental clinics.
The company claims that the majority of customers enjoy an excellent experience, but several patients have warned others after developing issues while undergoing treatment using the aligners. Jamie, from Glasgow, decided to order braces from SDC after getting a quote for braces for between £4,000 and £6,000. The Smile Direct Club option cost just £1,800 and required no in-person practice visits.
Within weeks of making a 3D mould of his teeth at home, Jamie was sent a series of aligners with the name of a dentist on the box. He started to wear the braces but found that his teeth felt weak and one of the front teeth became wobbly. After six months, his gums had receded, causing severe pain and he feared that the braces had worn some of his enamel away. SDC promises users they will have regular contact with trained dentists and check-ups during treatment, but Jamie didn’t hear from a dentist once. When he contacted the company to voice his concerns, he was told that the problems were normal and they would dissipate.
Dr Victoria Sampson, a dentist, said that many people go into treatment not realising how much force aligners apply to the teeth. If individuals have decayed teeth or gum disease, which are not detected during a physical examination, this puts them at risk of further complications during orthodontic treatment. She has first-hand experience of treating a patient who lost a front tooth as a result of using aligners, which straightened her teeth far too fast.
Dr Eddie Crouch, from the British Dental Association (BDA), suggested that some patients are making decisions without the necessary information. He analysed three SDC treatment plans provided by the BBC, two of which involved patients with clear signs of gum disease and one that could end up with an “unstable bite.”
There have been hundreds of positive reviews of Smile Direct Club as well as a lot of negative feedback. Dentists have encouraged patients considering orthodontic treatment to get advice from a trained dentist or orthodontist and make a decision following an in-person consultation.
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