Smile Direct Club

Is Smile Direct Club a viable option for me? I can’t get to my dentist with all the closures from Coronavirus. Plus, I just received a Groupon offer for them which makes it very affordable. Have you had any experience with them?

Destiny

Dear Destiny,

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I have done some research into this program because I’m always on the lookout for options that are both good and bad for my patients both as a means to keep abreast of what is available and to protect them from unscrupulous perveryors of medicine.

Smile Direct Club is one I’m not just concerned about but wonder how it is even legal. First, let start with the fact there is no pre-examination. Any reponsible dentist would do a complete exam before beginning any orthodontic treatment. There are good reasons for this. First, you could have some underlying gum disease. If you move forward with braces of any kind while you have gum disease, you could end up losing some teeth. Other issues this exam would look for is TMJ Disorder and / or decay.

Another concern I have about this program is the impression. The mold of your bite is one of the most important steps. Without a proper impression, your whole treatment plan will be off-kilter. Most dentists won’t even let their assistants do it. There can be no defects, including bubbles or tears in the material. Somehow, they are expecting you to do this with no training at all.

Finally, inaequate monitoring. Most people end up needing extra space in order to get their bite straight. There is too much crowding. Sometimes to make that space you will have a tooth extracted. Other times, it requires soms shaving at the sides of the teeth. You need a dentist invested in your treatment. That is not going to happen with mail order ortho. Many times, our teeth do not cooperate. Each person’s bite responds differently to their treatment. Sometimes the teeth do everything exactly as they are supposed to. Other times, teeth don’t turn the way they are supposed to and the dentist needs to intervene in the treatment.

Unfortunately, for patients using Smile Direct, there isn’t anyone there keeping an eye on whether or not your teeth are doing what they’re supposed to. You won’t know either, which means your smile could end up not correcting properly.

Why Invisalign Is a Better Option

Though it may mean waiting for a bit to get your teeth straightened, because of the pandemic, I would wait until you can get your treatment done properly with Invisalign.

You’ll get a complete and comprehensive exam to ensure your bite is ready to have shifting done without risk to your teeth. You’ll have an accurate impression. Then, every two weeks, your dentist will be checking to be certain the teeth are moving as they should and no more shaving needs to be done for there to be enough room.

Invisalign also has a hidden benefit. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. Your dentist can provide you with professional strength teeth whitening gel to wear in your aligners during your treatment. By the time you are done with your treatment plan you will have a mini smile makeover, with a straight, beautifully white smile.

This blog is brought to you by Louisiana Cosmetic Dentists of Camellia Dental.