If something breaks around the house, many of us will go
to YouTube to see if there is a video that explains how to fix it. For many
things this can be very helpful, but for others it can lead to bigger and more
expensive problems. There has also been a recent trend where people have been
trying to straighten their teeth with DIY orthodontics. In theory it may seem
like a great idea, but the repercussions of incorrect use can be very damaging.
To straighten their teeth, people are using potentially
dangerous objects. These include paper clips, fake retainers, rubber bands or
string. Even if you get the physics of tooth movement to work, most people fail
to understand that moving teeth is a biological process. It involves bone that dissolving
and rebuilding as teeth are moved into new positions. If not done at the proper
intervals or with forces placed in the correct direction, you can cause serious
problems.
What are some of the problems
you could cause doing DIY orthodontics?
- You can cause the teeth to become too loose and
lead to tooth loss.
- You can tilt the teeth into bad positions that
will to tooth sensitivity or need gum surgery.
- You can create food traps that will lead to
staining, gum disease, or cavities.
- You can create improper forces on the teeth that
lead to fractures.
- You can create problems and pain in your jaw
joint.
The
bottom line is you are likely to cause painful and expensive problems by
attempting DIY orthodontics. In the long run, you would have been better off
paying for the expertise of the orthodontist or dentist to diagnose and
treatment plan your case properly. So do yourself a favor and leave the DIY
projects to things that are much more straight forward and don’t have major
repercussions.
For more information, visit www.dentistwestchester.com.
Lee T. Brown, DDS
Brown and Kupper, DDS
