Why You Shouldn’t Attempt DIY Dentistry: The Dangers of 3D Printing Your Own Braces

Today almost every task has an easy, cheap, and seemingly convenient do-it-yourself (DIY) solution, and apparently, there are many that believe that this mindset can be applied to dental care.

Some individuals are turning to 3D printing for their orthodontic needs—often to less-than-perfect results.

People turn to DIY dentistry for a number of reasons. Perhaps they are of afraid of the possible costs of dental services, or perhaps they want a quick solution for their dental care issues. It is even common for patients to avoid scheduling dental appointments and turn to DIY treatments out of fear and anxiety of dental exams.

Social media can often be counterproductive in the correct education regarding DIY dental treatments, and often seemingly successful at-home dental treatments quickly become viral inspiration.

However, as the popularity of DIY dentistry grows, the number of avoidable dental emergencies grows as well.

At All Smiles Care, we urge our clients to understand the dangers of self-treating your dental care needs, especially when these treatments include attempting braces without a licensed professional. The results are often much worse than the original dental issue, and what could have been an easy solution quickly becomes a dental nightmare.

Let’s take a look at some of the common practices of DIY dentistry and the serious problems that they cause.

 

3D Printing Your Own Braces

Last year, a college student who created his own teeth-straightening program and used a 3D printer to make his own braces gained an incredible amount of praise across several social media platforms.

The student’s self-designed dental straightening treatment included a twelve step system with a new set of braces for each step. At the time of his initial fame, he had been wearing his self-made braces for 16 weeks and his teeth had quickly transformed.

This quick transformation, along with the fact that the process only cost him sixty-dollars, lead to his instantaneous fame.

However, many orthodontists are quite concerned with this DIY method.

 

Where it Could Go Wrong

Although this student’s teeth appear to be improved and healthy on the outside, it is very probable that serious damage has been done.

For instance, these teeth moved much too quickly over the course of sixteen weeks. When teeth are moved too fast, it can cause serious damage to areas such as the bone and gums.

Even when teeth are moved and appear more straight, if they are not moved to a precise position it could cause additional damage to the teeth through the pressure of an unaligned bite.

Once teeth finally become straightened, it is of equal importance to return to your dentist in order for them to supervise the movement of your teeth. That’s right. Even though your teeth may have become straight, they could still move back into their previous positions without proper care.

 

Other Types of DIY Dentistry

3D printed braces are not the only form of DIY dentistry that is currently being attempted. Here are more types of DIY dentistry that could cause serious damage to your teeth:

  • Rubber Bands for Tooth Gaps
  • Temporary Filling Material
  • Prepackaged DIY Dentistry Kits
  • At-Home Teeth Whitening Products

 

5 Ways That DIY Dentistry Can Destroy Your Teeth

There are numerous ways that DIY dentistry can result in the damage of your teeth and oral care. Here are five common issues that could be caused by at-home dental treatments:

  • Damage to Tooth Enamel
  • Tooth Extraction
  • Harm to Bone and Gums
  • Damage to Roots
  • Worsened Crooked Teeth

In addition to all of these issues, it is important to remember that people choosing to take their oral health into their hands, also face the risk of overlooking many common dental care problems. Without professional dental training, problems such as cavities, gum disease, and underlying issues are easily missed and can cause further damage. 

Braces and Invisalign in Westminster MD

Although DIY dentistry may seem tempting, it is better to avoid the serious potential dangers that accompany it. No matter what your dental concerns may be, your professional family dentist in Westminster MD is the most safe and beneficial solution.

Patients requiring braces in Westminster MD can feel confident that a licensed professional at All Smiles Care can take care of their dental issues with ease, and avoid the dangers caused by DIY dentistry. As part of our services, we even provide Invisalign in Westminster MD.

Contact us today for more information about how to properly care for your dental issues. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff is eager to assist you in finding the right solution for all of your oral health concerns, so that you can achieve and maintain a beautiful smile.

 

About the author

A practicing dentist since 1982, Dr. Gary Imm, provides advanced cosmetic dentistry, including smile makeovers, sedation, implant and TMJ services. He is committed to progressive, extraordinary care for his guests. All Smiles Dental Care trains at least 300 hours each year at such prestigious centers as the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dentistry. (LVI)

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