Have you ever been scrolling through TikTok when you come across a video similar to one you liked just hours before, only to find that it’s not nearly your taste? The TikTok algorithm does its best to anticipate the content you’ll want to see, but it’s no match for your best friend who knows exactly which video will make you laugh until you cry.
The difference between the two is the level of personalization. Your TikTok feed can only guess what you’ll like based on its code, but your friend knows you personally.
Mail-order orthodontic treatment is like the TikTok algorithm. It offers a treatment plan similar to what you want, but it doesn’t have that pinpoint precision that your best friends at Petrunic Orthodontics do. And when your smile is on the line, similar just isn’t good enough.
Mail-order orthodontics looks like the real thing, but when it comes to personalization, quality, and results, you’ll want to stick with the professionals like Dr. Petrunic. If you’re looking for straight teeth and are weighing the pros and cons of mail-order alignment, keep reading below to learn why you should choose to work with a trained orthodontist instead.
Here’s What You Should Know About Mail-Order Aligners
An increasing number of companies offer mail-order aligners that work exactly as the name suggests: shipping a set of clear trays to your door without visiting an orthodontist. The biggest problem with mail-order aligners is that they make promises that sound too good to be true and can’t deliver as a professional orthodontist can.
#1. You Won’t Get a Professional Orthodontist
Mail-order orthodontics programs claim that you won’t need to visit a trained professional for your care. Instead, they’ll tell you to use an app that monitors your progress and tells you when to change your trays. From your first impressions to choosing when to wear your trays, you’re your own orthodontist with this treatment option — and unless you went to school for about ten years like we did, that should scare you!
#2. You Won’t Get A Personalized Treatment Plan
The typical, high-quality orthodontic treatment process requires you to meet for an initial assessment with a professional orthodontist to determine the right treatment plan for you. Depending on the severity of your case and your personal smile goals, Dr. Petrunic will design a custom treatment plan that meets your specific needs and requirements.
Mail-order aligners treat orthodontics like a one-size-fits-all process, however. This approach can be highly problematic for the success of your treatment plan because it won’t take your body’s response to braces into account, and it won’t be able to adapt along with your smile.
It’s also important to remember that not everyone is a good candidate for clear aligner trays. Some people, especially those with more serious conditions like a severe malocclusion, need traditional metal braces for treatment to work. Without a professional orthodontist designing and overseeing a treatment plan just for you, you may end up with the wrong form of treatment.
#3. You Won’t Get the Quality for Your Money
Mail-order orthodontic companies usually claim that their services are cheaper, but that discount comes at a price. When you choose mail-order orthodontics, you miss out on the quality orthodontic treatment you and your smile deserve, including meeting with a professional in person.
On the other hand, when you visit Dr. Petrunic in Prattville, we’ll make sure your investment in your smile is worth it. And with our flexible payment plans, we make treatment affordable, so you don’t have to sacrifice quality.
#4. You Won’t Get Total Orthodontic Care
When you visit Petrunic Orthodontics, we don’t just look at the visible part of your smile. Dr. Petrunic is trained to dig deeper, using X-rays and other tools to get a complete picture of your jaw below the gums. Doing so ensures that we make a comprehensive care plan that takes all of your facial structures and bones into account.
You won’t get an initial in-person assessment from a trained orthodontic with mail-order aligners, so your treatment plan won’t account for your entire bone structure. Many orthodontic problems start below the gum line, so without the X-ray assessment, treatments like jaw widening, bite correction, and rotation correction can’t be completed as well as they can with a trained professional.
#5. Too Good To Be True
When looking for any new or alternative medical product, you should use caution. Mail-order orthodontics can be a little gimmicky, and the general rule of thumb is if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. It’s a common tactic for bigger companies to lead customers astray by trying to sound “sciency” on the cheap without the training to back it up.
Beware of loaded words like “Smart” or “Pro.” These words should raise red flags when you aren’t sure of the person’s background or the company using them. Look more closely at products that feature extreme discounts. Read customer reviews, and when in doubt, call a professional.
Choose the Professionals at Petrunic Orthodontics
Your oral health is Don’t settle for a lower-quality treatment plan than you deserve! Trust Dr. Petrunic to take care of your smile. With years of experience and training, orthodontic treatment is his specialty, and you’ll love the results.
Thinking about getting orthodontic treatment? Schedule your free consultation at our office today!