Why should you avoid mail-order aligners if all you have to do is click it and forget it?
With the entire world practically at your fingertips, getting anything you need or want to be delivered directly to your door is easier than ever. This convenience has even gained popularity in orthodontics with direct-to-consumer, or mail-order, aligners. This unreliable option significantly leans on the promise of lower prices and the convenience of avoiding trips to the orthodontist for checkups and adjustments. It makes sense that you’re considering mail-order orthodontic treatment, but you might be surprised to know that most orthodontists and dentists don’t recommend them.
Have you been postponing orthodontic treatment because you just can’t figure out which route best suits you and your family? Let’s look at some things you won’t get with mail-order orthodontics and how Johnson Family Orthodontics can help you live, grow, and smile!
Lower Cost and Quicker Results
Let’s get this assumption out of the way first. The old saying that you get what you pay for is never more true than when it comes to your orthodontic treatment. While mail-order options may seem quick and inexpensive, the potential risks could prove costly since you won’t get the supervised care that a trained orthodontic team like ours provides.
Utilizing all options specific to your dental situation while under specialized care is the only way to ensure the quickest and most beneficial method to a better smile. Orthodontists can now compete with the prices that mail-order aligners boast. Here at Johnson Family Orthodontics, we offer a variety of flexible, patient-specific payment plans, convenient, automatic bank drafts, and accept most orthodontic dental insurances to ensure treatment is always affordable. Our goal is to give you outstanding value at a reasonable price.
Initial Consultation and Examination
Before starting treatment, it’s best to know what your smile goals are in the first place. The best way to do that on your orthodontic journey is to see where you’re coming from to calculate the best route to your destination. During your initial examination, Dr. Cole Johnson looks closely at the tissue and bone supporting your teeth using digital photographs and Panorex x-rays. This detailed information ensures clear aligners are the proper route for your individual treatment plan, and you avoid complications later from cavities, gum disease, and other related problems not picked up in basic impressions or photos.
With mail-order aligners, the first step is receiving your in-home impression kit. Some options also ask you to include intraoral photos, but the information used to determine eligibility is generally very basic. Once the impression is mailed back, a dentist or technician will review it and decide if the patient is suitable for clear aligners. This eligibility is based on your current tooth alignment and does not factor in many vital components of the orthodontic process. Without considering all the variables, you may end up with subpar results, costing you more time and money.
At Johnson Family Orthodontics in Salem, OR, we believe that your first orthodontic visit is your most important one. Why would you want to skip that? During this visit, Dr. Johnson will give you the opportunity to meet our team, learn more about your smile, and receive a complete exam to find out which particular orthodontic treatment option is best for you.
Customized Treatment Plans
Your teeth and gums should always be in good condition before any tooth movement is attempted to avoid unexpected problems. While clear aligners can be an excellent option for many patients, it isn’t for everyone. Some cases are more severe or require specific treatments, so you may save time and money by opting for traditional metal or clear braces.
Johnson Family Orthodontics always considers your individual needs and goals before creating your treatment plan. We want to ensure the treatment plan we offer will make the best use of your time and goals while utilizing our expertise in ortho care. We use the information gathered during your personal in-office consultation and combine it with the data from your imaging to determine what will fit your lifestyle with the most significant results.
Professional Supervision During Treatment
During your treatment, your teeth may move slower or faster than anticipated, things can come up that require minor adjustments, or you may need to modify your current treatment plan. Having regular check-ins with your orthodontist is crucial during your aligner process.
When you opt for mail-order aligners, you get assigned a treatment timeline to follow. This timeline is based on your initial teeth impressions and what should happen over time but does not account for any deviations that may pop up unexpectedly. This hands-off calendar approach can cause severe damage to your teeth, gums, and jaw and leave you with a result you’ll be less than thrilled with.
Dr. Johnson is an orthodontist, meaning he spent an additional two years learning the skills needed to manage tooth movement and guide facial development. Then he earned another degree in Oral Biology to ensure you get the best treatment. Talk about dedication! This specialization means he is best qualified to guide you on your journey to your perfect smile!
Treatment for All Your Orthodontic Needs
Many orthodontic issues lie below the gum line and with the jaw itself, where goopy impressions and cell phone images can’t capture data. These issues can’t be treated with mail-order aligners and can actually be made worse using mail-order aligners. With this treatment method, processes like widening your jaw, aligning your bite, and correcting rotations can’t be accomplished.
It is more effective to know your specific orthodontic concerns ahead of time so you can have the best possible outcome. Dr. Johnosn will be able to assess your condition during the whole process, adjust things along the way as needed, and create your perfect smile. Many patients find they can get a quicker and more efficient treatment when we use all of our options for your new smile and not being bound to just clear aligners.
Don’t risk your smile! Let Johnson Family Orthodontics make it shine!
You wouldn’t go on a road trip without researching the best route to get you there. Don’t start your orthodontic treatment without the same consideration! Schedule your complimentary consultation today to get a tour of your teeth and your smile possibilities!
Our expert team at Johnson Family Orthodontics takes pride in making your experience a pleasant and personalized one, from initial consultation to your most recent check-up. If you wonder what the best route to your perfect smile is, get in touch with our skilled Salem team today, and let us help you confidently navigate this journey.