What You Won’t Get with Mail-Order Aligners

With the entire world practically at your fingertips, it’s easier than ever to get anything you could need or want to be delivered directly to your door. This convenience has even gained popularity in orthodontics with direct-to-consumer, or mail-order, aligners. Mail-order aligners significantly lean on the promise of lower prices and the convenience of avoiding trips to the orthodontist for checkups and adjustments. It only makes sense that you’re considering mail-order orthodontic treatment. Still, you might be surprised that most orthodontists and dentists don’t recommend them because of what you won’t get with mail-order aligners.

No one cares as much about helping you flash the smile of your dreams as much as we do here at Humphrey Orthodontics. Our team takes pride in doing whatever it takes to achieve the best results while delivering world-class customer service. We create orthodontic solutions for kids, teens, and adults with personalized orthodontic treatment to suit your needs, no matter your life stage. Let’s look at some things you won’t get with mail-order orthodontics and how Humphrey Orthodontics can give you a stunning smile!

Lower Cost and Quicker Results

Let’s get this assumption out of the way first. The old saying that you get what you pay for is never more true than when it comes to your orthodontic treatment. While mail-order options may seem quick and inexpensive, the potential risks could prove costly since you won’t get the supervised care that a trained orthodontist provides. 

Utilizing all options specific to your dental situation while under specialized care is the only way to ensure the quickest and most beneficial method to a better smile. Most orthodontists can now compete with the prices that mail-order aligners boast. Here at Humphrey Orthodontics, we offer a variety of patient-specific payment plans and accept most orthodontic dental insurance to ensure treatment is always affordable. Your smile is yours forever, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to receive the best possible orthodontic care whenever you need it.

Initial Clinical Exam

The best way to get where you’re going is to know where you’re coming from to calculate the best route to your destination. While this makes sense for a road trip, it also makes excellent sense for your orthodontic journey. During your initial examination, Dr. Humphrey looks closely at the tissue and bone supporting your teeth using digital photographs, full mouth x-rays, and a digital scan that is so precise it will eliminate the need for goopy impressions. This detailed information ensures clear aligners are the proper route for your individual treatment plan and avoid complications later from cavities, gum disease, and other related problems not picked up in basic impressions or photos. 

With mail-order aligners, the first step is receiving your in-home impression kit. Some options also ask you to include intraoral photos, but generally, the information used to determine eligibility is very basic. Once the impression is mailed back, a dentist or technician will review it and decide if the patient is suitable for clear aligners. This eligibility is based on your current tooth alignment and does not factor in many vital components of the orthodontic process. Without considering all the variables, you may end up with subpar results, costing you more time and money. 

At Humphrey Orthodontics in Wentzville and St. Peters, MO, we believe that your first orthodontic visit is your most important one. Our expert and experienced orthodontist will take as much time as you need to answer your questions and decide what kind of treatment is best for you. Dr. Humphrey and his team will then walk you through the process to explain everything from scheduling to expected discomfort levels, even finance and payment options. 

Customized Treatment Plans

Your teeth and gums should always be in good condition before any tooth movement is attempted to avoid unexpected problems. While clear aligners can be an excellent option for many patients, it isn’t for everyone. Some cases are more severe or require specific treatments, so you may save time and money by opting for traditional metal or clear braces. 

At Humphrey Orthodontics, we always consider your individual needs and goals before creating your treatment plan. We want to be sure the treatment plan we offer will make the best use of your time and goals while utilizing our expertise in ortho care. We use the information gathered during your personal in-office consultation and combine it with the data from your imaging to determine what will fit your lifestyle with the most significant results. 

Professional Supervision During Treatment

During your treatment, your teeth will move slower or faster than anticipated, things can come up that require minor adjustments, or you may need to modify your current treatment plan. Having regular check-ins with your orthodontist is crucial during your aligner process. 

When you opt for mail-order aligners, you get assigned a treatment timeline to follow. This timeline is based on your initial teeth impressions and what should happen over time but does not account for any deviations that may pop up unexpectedly. This hands-off calendar approach can cause severe damage to your teeth, gums, and jaw. 

Dr. Humphrey is an orthodontist, which means that after his eight years of formal college and dental education, he spent an additional two years learning the skills needed to manage tooth movement and guide facial development. This specialization means he is best qualified to guide you on your journey to your perfect smile!

Treatment for All Your Orthodontic Needs

Many orthodontic issues lie below the gum line and with the jaw itself, where goopy impressions and cell phone images can’t capture data. These issues can’t be treated with mail-order aligners and can actually be made worse using mail-order aligners. With this treatment method, processes like widening your jaw, aligning your bite, and correcting rotations can’t be accomplished.

It is more effective to know your specific orthodontic concerns ahead of time so you can have the best possible outcome. Dr. Humphrey will be able to assess your condition throughout the whole process, allowing multiple treatment plans to create your perfect smile and adjust along the way as needed. 

Smile like you mean it with personalized treatment at Humphrey Orthodontics!

As a member of our Humphrey Orthodontics family, you’ll get the best possible treatment using the best technology. As a Gold Invisalign Provider, Dr. Humphrey has extensive experience using Invisalign to successfully straighten smiles. He can achieve stunning results, even if your case is too complex for at-home aligners or less experienced providers. You want an expert to give you a new smile- not aligners you get in the mail.  

Our expert team at Humphrey Orthodontics takes pride in making your experience pleasant and personalized, from the initial consultation to your most recent check-up. If you wonder what the best route to your perfect smile is, schedule your FREE consultation today and let us help you confidently navigate this journey.