In this era of amazing ingenuity, the do-it-yourself spirit is alive and well.

Many people are finding that there are lots of things they can do themselves armed with only determination and YouTube. To those of you who have replaced the garbage disposal in your sink or a heating element in your dryer, we salute you. Keep learning and getting better. This can-do spirit is what makes people like you so awesome!

But when it comes to your health…

While we will almost always encourage the desire to take things into your own hands, we do want to caution people to think through their choices when it comes to do-it-yourself health care. You might be able to find a video online that shows, step-by-step, how to remove an appendix, but you’re really better off with a licensed surgeon, a sterile environment, and anesthesia. Straightening teeth may never be a life-or-death scenario like an emergency appendectomy, but it, too, is something we recommend you put in the hands of skilled professionals in a clean environment.

Straightening your teeth is only half of the equation

The first thing to consider is that straightening your smile, while important, is not all that’s happening during orthodontic treatment. So if a company were to straighten only your front teeth, but in the process, they affect your bite that has naturally developed over the course of your life, then you will have a hard time doing the things you might currently take for granted — like chewing properly. It might even be painful.

In contrast, a treatment plan with an actual orthodontist takes all of those little details into account so that, by the time you complete your treatment, not only will you have an amazing smile, but you will also have the ability to chew and talk without issue. That’s not something we typically emphasize, but it can be a big issue with a lot of do-it-yourself treatment options.

If you’ve been considering DIY clear aligners to straighten your smile, we’d love to invite you in for a free consultation. There’s absolutely no obligation when you visit Reuland & Barnhart Orthodontics. We’ll walk you through the options for your unique case, so you can make the best decision for you or your child.