Do Aligners Really Work To Correct Your Teeth?

Have you witnessed the fever for aligners? Many people are opting for this revolutionary method to straighten their smiles without the need for metal in their mouth … or braces, as it is known

Aligners, or aligners by their English name, are very thin plastic molds that are placed on your teeth to straighten those that have gone out of the lane. After a few months, your smile will look as perfect as a toothpaste commercial. All this with minimal pain, in much less time than braces and at half the price.

And why is this method so revolutionary? Well, in addition to being almost invisible when you wear them, there are many companies that offer this service at home. You read that right, you don't need to go to the dentist.

How do they work?

First you need a 3D image that you can make in an office, or you can make it yourself from home (depends on the company). Then you will receive your aligners and you must wear them for 22 hours every day, for the time indicated by your treatment. When you're done with your aligners, you'll need to wear a retainer to keep your new smile in place.

There are companies that completely dispense with in-person medical consultations and follow-ups are provided through an application, such as the example of Smile Direct Club; Although it is through your cell phone, the person who sees your profile is a certified dentist. This greatly reduces costs, but can put you at risk if you don't follow up properly.

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Other companies like Invisalign and OrthoFX combine practicality with medical care. Both companies do require you to go to the office, but they have the benefit of making home deliveries of your aligners. All these companies agree that using aligners, compared to braces, is equal to or more beneficial for the patient.

However, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has issued alerts on these types of procedures, being skeptical of their benefits. The first risk that stands out is the omission of follow-up medical consultations since, according to a statement, if the procedure is not done correctly "it can lead to potential irreversible and higher-cost damages."

Thus, the AAO has published a list of questions to ask yourself before deciding whether to use aligners or not. These include:

Does the process include tests like X-rays before your treatment?

• Do you have access to medical consultations during your treatment?
• Do they offer you other treatments beyond the aligners?
• Can you confirm that your dentist is certified?
• Who is responsible for detecting any problems with your treatment, you or your dentist?

If you want to know the full list of questions you can access it here:

Remember that any procedure related to your health must be carried out by a professional. Using aligners may seem convenient, but find out if it is an ideal treatment for your case; do not forget to compare the risks and benefits that you can have in said procedure.