Risks of unsupervised treatment

The charity, which has a remit to provide information and support to patients, advises that patients should always have a full clinical examination by a trained dentist before embarking on treatment. 

Richard George, director of external relations, commented: “When it comes to the health of your teeth, cutting corners is a really bad idea. Buying aligners online to straighten your teeth without a clinical examination and then embarking on unsupervised treatment, is risky and could cause permanent damage.”

“When you start treatment with an orthodontist or dentist, a full set of records is taken by clinicians who are trained in clinical diagnosis and treatment planning. By contrast, the selfies taken by prospective patients for DIY aligners and uploaded to a website cannot match this level of care and skill.” 

“Patients should be aware that there is no regulation of websites which are run by non-dentists or businesses operating from abroad and thus there is no protection for patients. The cost of treatment may be lower but the risks to health and wellbeing are far greater.”