Many patients try to fix their dental problems with do-it-yourself dental treatments, often with disastrous results. Many Americans have valid reasons for trying at-home dental treatments. Below Wolter Advanced Dental Care will describe the good, the bad, and the dangers of these DIY dental treatments.
Different Types of At-home Dental Treatments
As the name suggests, DIY dentistry is do-it-yourself dentistry. Today, you can buy any number of DIY kits from the internet and restore your teeth in the comfort of your own home. This includes everything from “simple” treatments such as whitening your teeth yourself, to fillings, extractions and even straightening your teeth. Let’s look at some examples of DIY dental care and its pros and cons.
1. Fillings at home: There are DIY filling kits to restore missing fillings or crowns. The mistake many people make is relying on DIY dental fillings as a long-term solution instead of seeking the right treatment. Doing it yourself can be dangerous, with the risk of painful infections, gum disease, and even tooth loss.
2. Closing gaps: An increasingly popular trend is the technique of closing gaps at home using gap strips. As ligaments move along the surface of teeth and gums, they can damage soft tissue and bone, causing tooth loss. Before attempting to use gap strips, keep in mind that they may cause tooth irritation, infection, or severe damage.
3. Orthodontics at home: Many people are drawn to the idea of straightening their teeth at home, quickly and easily. However, DIY braces or aligners are a bad idea without direct dental supervision. Orthodontists receive extensive professional training outside of dental school, allowing them to develop a safe and effective treatment plan that focuses on perfecting your smile. Home improvement tools, on the other hand, can cause problems, including moving teeth too quickly or damaging teeth and bones.
4. Tooth extraction at home: Parents often resort to DIY tooth extraction methods such as tying one end of a string to a loose tooth and the other to a doorknob and slamming the door shut. Failure to remove loose teeth in children can lead to soft tissue damage or infection. Some people resort to pliers to remove painful teeth. Like other DIY trends, there are risks associated with doing it yourself. You could end up with an infection, or worse, the tooth could crack, causing excruciating pain and costly dental treatment.
Dental Treatments Are Not One Size Fits All
Veneers, night guards, and other dental work are custom-made. Your oral anatomy is like your fingerprint – unique to you. There is no one-size-fits-all solution in dentistry, and mass-produced veneers and braces are not worth the money… no matter how affordable they look at first. Using these products can do more harm than good. A device not designed for your unique mouth can force your teeth to misalign, change your bite, and even damage your jaw joint.
Talk To Your Dentist
When it comes to your oral care, the dentist’s supervision is essential for positive and long-lasting results. Dentists understand that every patient has different needs and that each person faces unique challenges. A good dentist is willing to work with their patients to address their concerns about appearance, discomfort, cost, and more. The only way to get a proper diagnosis is with a professional dentist, which requires regular dental checkups every six months.
If you are looking for a dental office in Chambersburg, PA, Wolter Advanced Dental Care is ready to help you achieve your dream smile with restorative, general, and cosmetic dentistry. Call 717-496-9093 to make an appointment with our experienced team.
