Don't Try This At Home

DIY Orthodontic Treatment

Don’t you just love the internet? Anything you ever wanted to know is available to you online. Need to build a bookshelf? You can find how online. Want to change the oil in your car? There are tons of Do-it-Yourself videos online. Isn't it nice how the internet makes us feel like we can do anything and everything ourselves? 

You may have already seen the new trend that has taken the internet by storm, but unlike other Do-it-Yourself videos available online…we don’t want you trying this one at home. 

DIY Orthodontic Treatment is a new, dangerous trend. And while it's cool to do things on your own, when it comes to the health of your teeth and gums the Do-it-Yourself approach can leave you with very little to smile about. 

Photo provided by aaoinfo.org

A series of YouTube videos have appeared showing people how to create their own braces. We want you to know that anyone trying this is putting their teeth, gums and jaw bones at risk for serious damage. This quick fix offers rubber bands as a DIY orthodontic solution.  People are being told that simply by putting a rubber band around their teeth the spaces or gaps will close. Because of the known risks, orthodontists consider the unsupervised movement of teeth to be below the standard of care which can result in permanent tooth loss. 

Photo provided by aaoinfo.org

Your teeth are connected to your gums and your blood supply. Trying to move your teeth without the supervision of an orthodontic specialist puts you at risk for infection, tearing of the gums and damaging the attachment between the tooth and gums so the tooth no longer gets the support it needs. Any time a dental procedure is taken on by an untrained, unsupervised individual there is a substantial risk for irreparable damage. 

For the health and safety of the public, The American Association of Orthodontists is urging anyone considering any type of teeth straightening procedure to see an orthodontic specialist. 

Dr. Mark Lenz is a trained, qualified specialist who can diagnose and treat dental and facial irregularities to correctly align teeth and jaws. If you are seeking orthodontic treatment please contact our office and never consider Do-it-Yourself short cuts. 

If you're concerned about the financial obligation involved in receiving orthodontic care from a qualified specialist like Dr. Mark Lenz…don’t be. At Lenz Orthodontics our goal is to provide you with affordable, high-quality orthodontic treatment that fits within your budget. We offer competitive pricing with a variety of payment options, including no-down-payment, interest-free payment plans, credit card payments and outside financing.