I’m considering SmileCareClub to straighten my teeth mostly because it’s more affordable than other options. Does it work or will I be getting what I’m paying for? — Samantha
Samantha,
There’s no doubt you can save quite a bit of money over brands like Invisalign. While that can be a good thing for your wallet, it’s best to ask yourself if you’re ok with cutting corners when it comes to your most prized accessory — your smile. With that said, it’s probably safe to say that SmileCare works just fine for the majority of patients, but there are still risks you should consider.
First, if there is a chance that you have gum disease, clear braces will only make it worse. So how does SmileCare tell simply from photographs whether or not you have gum disease? Pictures can only show so much. It takes x-rays and probing of the entire mouth to diagnose gum disease. There may be certain cases that could be diagnosed from photos, but if it isn’t a clear case it’s pretty easy to just give approval.
Another problem scenario could be when the teeth need to be shaved on the sides to make room for crowded teeth to straighten. They have you go to a dentist for this, but it will likely be someone you have never seen before. They may not be invested in your case, and it’s a tricky procedure.
And then there can be teeth that are supposed to rotate but don’t, or other things that could go wrong. So again, while most cases probably work out just fine, most dentists would not recommend it based on the reasons outlined above. There needs to be closer monitoring than just by phone and texted photos to be sure you get the result you desire. Hope this helps… good luck.
This blog is sponsored by AACD Accredited dentist, Dr. Stephen Doan. Find out more about the services he provides by visiting his La Jolla cosmetic dental website.