Do it yourself – DIY projects are very popular today. There are numerous ideas of how to update and renovate things in your home and yards to make belongings and spaces seem fresh and new, but a new DIY trend that is dangerous and currently a big topic among teens is DIY braces. While DIY projects around the house and yard are a great idea, DIY orthodontics is a terrible one. Not only is it dangerous to attempt to do your own orthodontia, it can lead to horrible consequences. It may seem as if it could save money at the dentist office, but it actually will lead to very costly problems that will take years to reverse and may lead to unnecessarily causing yourself to need extractions and implants where otherwise, your natural teeth could be healthy and in place.
The American Association of Orthodontics is so concerned about the new trend they have issued a PSA video announcing the dangers that come with attempting to straighten your own teeth from home. The AAO video states “Nowadays it seems like people believe they can do everything themselves, but while it’s cool to do some things on your own, when it comes to the health of your teeth and gums the do-it-yourself approach can leave you with very little to smile about. Trying to close a gap or straighten your teeth yourself can increase the risk of infection and serious damage to your teeth and gums, including tooth loss. Replacing lost teeth is expensive and a person may require multiple replacements over the course of a lifetime.”
There are numerous problems that could arise when you attempt to move your own teeth, the blood supply to the teeth is at huge risk for infection as well as there being a threat of detachment where the tooth is connected to the gum if you try to improperly move your teeth. The other number of problems that could transpire from DIY braces is numerous and all of them are very hazardous to your teeth and overall health as well as being expensive to fix.
Dentists and Orthodontists go through many years of schooling to be educated on how to properly and safely move teeth without risking any sort of damage whatsoever. While orthodontic work may seem expensive, you are paying to safely move your teeth without risking any sort of health issues that can arise from doing it on your own.
Ultimately it is much more costly both physically and monetarily to replace missing teeth than the cost of braces, so if you have gaps and spaces or want to move crooked teeth the best option is to visit your dentist to properly asses the options of orthodontics by an educated dentist and orthodontist.