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What Are the Risks of “Do-It-Yourself” Braces and Is It Safe for Your Smile?

  • True Smile Orthodontics
  • February 10, 2021

For people who are wanting to straighten their teeth, braces are a modern marvel that can make that happen for just about anyone under proper supervision. And while the cost of orthodontics makes some people hesitate, you wouldn’t try a do-it-yourself gallbladder surgery or BOTOX injection, would you?

Everything comes with risks, and the harmful option of doing braces yourself deserves serious scrutiny. It is because DIY braces gone wrong can leave you with a long, painful recovery, not to mention the cost of fixing the damage in the future. It’s no wonder that selling and distributing non-professional do-it-yourself braces is illegal!

DIY braces often involve paper clips, fishing line, floss, and rubber bands. While saving money seems to be the key motivator behind doing your own, the cost of fixing the damage is not worth the risks, which are plenty! Some of the objects used are bad for your health as well as your teeth.

Orthodontic Problems

  • Cavities
  • Damage to the gums
  • Gum disease and infection
  • Issues with the jaw or bite inconsistencies
  • Root shortening or resorption
  • Loss of otherwise healthy teeth

You have to remember that one size doesn’t fit all. So even getting online aligners can cause dentition problems because they need bite pattern customization. It is why you have your bite analyzed by our orthodontist, so a personalized treatment plan is created for your smile.

When it comes to your health, saving money by cutting corners can have serious consequences. You are probably safe to go ahead and paint your walls yourself or lay down flooring because neither of those should harm your health if they are not properly done. However, it is not the same case with your mouth! Our orthodontist is specially trained, and the products and technology used to align your smile are proven to be effective and safe!

Rely on the Experts

Both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) promote orthodontist treatments under the expertise and protection of an experienced, trained, certified professional. You want to make sure someone is monitoring your outcome, and you have resources if there is an emergency or problem along the way. When it comes to your oral health, safety is crucial; otherwise, you risk permanent damage to teeth and gums, including tooth loss!

Some DIYs involve rubber bands to lessen spaces between teeth, which can cause the tooth to rotate or tip. Metal objects like twist ties and paper clips easily injure your soft oral tissues, including your gums, cheeks, or tongue. If left untreated, they can lead to an oral infection. Traditional orthodontics controls the pressure placed on your mouth as teeth gradually shift into their new position. An at-home version can be too loose and ineffective or too tight, loosening your teeth. In some cases, you might end up causing damage that leads you to require emergency dental care with problems to your jaw or gums.

Our orthodontic treatments ensure that your progress and shifting are supervised and controlled, and your smile is healthy when the braces or aligners come off. You don’t want to end up with a smile made worse from mistakes or improper usage. It is why we have you come into the office regularly to adjust your braces or safely switch to your next set of clear aligners.

Questions To Ask Yourself

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) suggests asking yourself the following if you are considering at-home braces:

  • Will this DIY braces’ treatment be based on information from having my X-rays taken, including assessing my skeletal structure with full scans of my teeth and my upper and lower jaws?
  • Will there be a licensed dentist or orthodontist supervising the creation and customizing of my aligners?
  • Are my teeth and gums healthy enough to undergo orthodontic treatment?
  • If there is an emergency, can I see a dentist or orthodontist in person?

Saying no to any of these questions means risking your dental health, and you could end up with decaying or abscessed teeth or worsening gum infections from the DIY orthodontic treatment. So while you can easily save money by painting your home yourself or installing a new deck on your own, it is dangerous to turn to DIY orthodontic treatment.

If you want straight teeth and an aligned bite, we invite you to call our team to schedule an appointment with our orthodontist. If financing is a concern, we offer payment options to help you get the beautiful smile you deserve! Your oral health and your smile are important to us!

Get Started On Your New Smile Today!

When you’re ready, we’ve made it super easy to get started in treatment. Conveniently located in Tulsa, we serve patients from all surrounding areas.

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Our Reviews

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5-Star Care

We’re great at what we do! But, with over 1,000 reviews, don’t just take our word for it…Check out some of these fantastic reviews from so many happy patients throughout the years.

Lesly
Always very friendly every visit! Recommend to everyone
Response from the owner:Thank you, Lesly! Your kind words and recommendation mean a lot to us. We strive to create a friendly environment for every visit. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Lesly
Always very friendly every visit! Recommend to everyone
Response from the owner:Thank you, Lesly! Your kind words and recommendation mean a lot to us. We strive to create a friendly environment for every visit. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
madison K.
True Smile is one of the best offices i’ve been to. They’re super friendly and have such a loving environment. 10/10 recommend
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Madison. We're delighted to hear that you found our team friendly and the environment welcoming. Your recommendation means so much to us!
madison K.
True Smile is one of the best offices i’ve been to. They’re super friendly and have such a loving environment. 10/10 recommend
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Madison. We're delighted to hear that you found our team friendly and the environment welcoming. Your recommendation means so much to us!
Randy A.
The lobby team 5 Stars
The dental assistant crew 5 stars
The doctors 5 stars

Thanks guys for change my smile !
Response from the owner:Thank you for your outstanding feedback! We are thrilled to hear about your positive experience with our team. Your satisfaction is our top priority. Looking forward to seeing your beautiful smile again!
Randy A.
The lobby team 5 Stars
The dental assistant crew 5 stars
The doctors 5 stars

Thanks guys for change my smile !
Response from the owner:Thank you for your outstanding feedback! We are thrilled to hear about your positive experience with our team. Your satisfaction is our top priority. Looking forward to seeing your beautiful smile again!
Yeyson V.
The best ones in town for sure
My smile is so so so flawless thanks Guys
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! It’s great to hear that you're loving your flawless smile. We're dedicated to providing top-notch care and appreciate your kind words! Visit us again soon!
Yeyson V.
The best ones in town for sure
My smile is so so so flawless thanks Guys
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! It’s great to hear that you're loving your flawless smile. We're dedicated to providing top-notch care and appreciate your kind words! Visit us again soon!
Atziry M.
I am very happy at this place. They have great accommodations because multiple times I had to travel and they were great at understanding and rescheduling my appointments.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that our accommodations and flexibility made your visits enjoyable. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we look forward to your continued visits!
Atziry M.
I am very happy at this place. They have great accommodations because multiple times I had to travel and they were great at understanding and rescheduling my appointments.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that our accommodations and flexibility made your visits enjoyable. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we look forward to your continued visits!
Raven B.
Everyone here is super nice and helpful! This is an awesome place to get braces!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We do everything in our power to make scheduling, completing, and following up on patient appointments as seamless as possible.
Raven B.
Everyone here is super nice and helpful! This is an awesome place to get braces!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We do everything in our power to make scheduling, completing, and following up on patient appointments as seamless as possible.
Shonda K
The staff is super helpful and knowledgeable. They have made the entire process so easy foe my daughter to get braces and the appliances she needs to correct her bite.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Shonda, for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear our team made the process smooth for your daughter. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we look forward to continuing to support her journey!
Shonda K
The staff is super helpful and knowledgeable. They have made the entire process so easy foe my daughter to get braces and the appliances she needs to correct her bite.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Shonda, for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear our team made the process smooth for your daughter. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we look forward to continuing to support her journey!
Gladys G.
Es un excelente lugar, siempre te atienden a tiempo! Limpio todo super bien! 😃
Response from the owner:Thank you, Gladys, for your fantastic review! We pride ourselves on cleanliness and timely service, ensuring a pleasant experience for our patients. We look forward to seeing you again at True Smile Orthodontics!
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Braces off, confidence on!! Happy Friday everyone, we hope you have a lovely memorial weekend 😁

#memorialweekend #memorialday #happyfriday #bracesoff
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. Marty, because one day isn’t enough to celebrate you!! Here’s to our incredible doctor 🥳🎂🎉
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Happy work anniversary Anais💙 
From answering phones, juggling schedules, calming nerves, and greeting every patient with kindness! ☺️📋
You’re truly the heartbeat of the front office! Thank you for everything you do! 💐
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Braces, wires, and birthday cake Dr. Marty does it all with style! Wishing a fantastic birthday to the one who gives us all something to smile about!! 🎂🎉🎊

#happybirthdaydr #happybday #ortho
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Debond Friday 😁
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Happy Birthday to our amazing Treatment Coordinator Maria!! From first consult to final smile you’re the magic behind the scenes. Your warmth and organization make every patient feel right at home 🤍✨
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Red, White, and Braces Bright!! 💫 Wishing everyone a sparkling 4th of July don’t forget to show off that star-spangled smile!! 🇺🇸✨
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Today we celebrate a decade of dedication, compassion, and countless smiles!! Happy 10-Year Anniversary to Eliana your loyalty, hard work, and kindness have shaped our dental family in the best way. Cheers to the memories made and the smiles yet to come!! ☺️❤️
#happyanniversary #orthodontist #anniversary
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DEBOND FRIDAY!! Ending the week with some beautiful smiles 😁 

#debondfriday #nomorebraces
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6 years of smiles, support, and excellence! Happy work anniversary to our incredible Lead Dental Assistant Lisa, we’re so lucky to have you leading the way. 🤍✨ #orthodontics #leadassistant #braces
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18002400572617266
See this stunning smile transformation! Whitening done right here in our office. ✨ Ready for your glow-up? Book your consultation today! (918) 364-2222 📆#SmileUpgrade
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Remembering the heroes who gave everything for our freedom 🇺🇸🤍 

#memorialdayweekend #memorialday #honor #freedom
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18187089868311620
Braces off, confidence on!! Happy Friday everyone, we hope you have a lovely memorial weekend 😁

#memorialweekend #memorialday #happyfriday #bracesoff
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18068134801980367
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. Marty, because one day isn’t enough to celebrate you!! Here’s to our incredible doctor 🥳🎂🎉
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18046251710415890
Happy work anniversary Anais💙 
From answering phones, juggling schedules, calming nerves, and greeting every patient with kindness! ☺️📋
You’re truly the heartbeat of the front office! Thank you for everything you do! 💐
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18361572007176189
Braces, wires, and birthday cake Dr. Marty does it all with style! Wishing a fantastic birthday to the one who gives us all something to smile about!! 🎂🎉🎊

#happybirthdaydr #happybday #ortho
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18093002518601460
Debond Friday 😁
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18099609331479104
Happy Birthday to our amazing Treatment Coordinator Maria!! From first consult to final smile you’re the magic behind the scenes. Your warmth and organization make every patient feel right at home 🤍✨
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18514275922051963
Red, White, and Braces Bright!! 💫 Wishing everyone a sparkling 4th of July don’t forget to show off that star-spangled smile!! 🇺🇸✨
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18065605703277823
Today we celebrate a decade of dedication, compassion, and countless smiles!! Happy 10-Year Anniversary to Eliana your loyalty, hard work, and kindness have shaped our dental family in the best way. Cheers to the memories made and the smiles yet to come!! ☺️❤️
#happyanniversary #orthodontist #anniversary
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18049851674410636
DEBOND FRIDAY!! Ending the week with some beautiful smiles 😁 

#debondfriday #nomorebraces
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18275885191261956
6 years of smiles, support, and excellence! Happy work anniversary to our incredible Lead Dental Assistant Lisa, we’re so lucky to have you leading the way. 🤍✨ #orthodontics #leadassistant #braces
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18002400572617266
See this stunning smile transformation! Whitening done right here in our office. ✨ Ready for your glow-up? Book your consultation today! (918) 364-2222 📆#SmileUpgrade
Open post by truesmileortho with ID 18049290158580328
Remembering the heroes who gave everything for our freedom 🇺🇸🤍 

#memorialdayweekend #memorialday #honor #freedom

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