DIY dentistry may seem easy – no appointments needed and conveniently offered at a lower price than most offices. Their colorful and frequent marketing may have you hooked on the idea that it’s a good choice. We’re here to tell you its NOT. In fact, you may end up costing yourself thousands of dollars more for fixing DIY dentistry mistakes.
DIY dentistry can be summed up with one word: DANGEROUS! Here are some cons of popular products in DIY dentistry:
- Charcoal Toothpastes: though marketing strategies show that a white smile is yours with their product, charcoal toothpaste leaves damage behind. Charcoal toothpaste crystals have been found underneath the gums of teeth by dental hygienists. Commonly, gums appear red and inflamed. Gum health is crucial as gums help protect your teeth and bone from bacteria. If your gums are compromised by redness and swelling, they may not be doing their job to protect your teeth from damage. Also, patients who have been using charcoal toothpaste have newfound issues with enamel, the protective, glossy coating on teeth, wearing away. Enamel is important as it protects teeth from damage from acidic foods and drinks, bacteria, and wear and tear.
- DIY Aligners: Would you trust yourself to do dentistry without any previous training? That’s what companies like Smile Direct Club expect of you! From the initial box you receive in the mail, things could go wrong. The very first thing you have to do in order to start your treatment is take an impression of your bite with clay and send it back. We put one of our own highly trained dentists to the test and their impression didn’t turn out well. What does this mean for yours? As far as having future problems from clear aligners, there are several reports of patients coming to dentists for emergency appointments because severe pain caused from their DIY aligners. In the worst cases, multiple teeth get fractured from incorrect forces consistently being applied to teeth.
As Dental Urgent Care, we are founded on the fact that we can provide easier, faster, cheaper, and better dentistry to all of our patients. Please call us if you are looking into dental treatments to hear about our treatment options.
Outside of the country, DIY dentistry is also trending. Check out this news feature:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZJjjNjO3ro