Teeth straightening at home: what you need to know

What is at-home teeth straightening?

At-home teeth straightening is when you order clear aligners over the internet, often without seeing a dentist first. Clear aligners are near-invisible plastic moulds that fit over your teeth and gradually move them into place.

Lots of companies sell these aligners online. They’re often marketed as a quick, cheap, and convenient way to straighten your smile.

You might also hear them called:

• DIY aligners
• DIY orthodontics
• DIY braces
• online aligners
• at-home straightening kits
• direct-to-consumer orthodontics

To get started, you usually fill out a form, pay online, and wait for the company to send you an impression kit in the post. You use this kit to take moulds of your teeth and send them back. The company then makes your teeth aligners based on these impressions and posts them to you. Sometimes, you might be asked to visit a clinic to have a scan of your mouth taken in person, but this isn’t always the case. While it may seem convenient, this kind of treatment doesn’t guarantee support from a dentist.

Does at-home teeth straightening work?

Online clear aligners might work if your teeth only need moving slightly. But every mouth is different. Your teeth might stick out, overlap, have gaps, or not line up properly. Or they might not be healthy enough to handle the pressure of braces. That’s why it’s important to get the right type of braces for you, and only a dentist or orthodontist can help with that. Without the right advice, you might not get the results you want, and it could lead to problems later on.

Why are at-home aligners cheaper?

At-home teeth straightening kits are often cheaper than getting orthodontic treatment from your dentist. That’s partly because the service doesn’t include ongoing face-to-face support from a dental professional. But without seeing a dentist or orthodontist in person, any problems with the health of your teeth could be missed. You might not get the smile you paid for and could end up spending more fixing problems that could have been avoided with face-to-face professional care.

Is it safe to straighten your teeth at home?

DIY braces are delivered straight to your door, and don’t usually include routine check-ups. This might sound convenient, but orthodontic treatment is complex. Dentists and orthodontists undergo years of training to help you achieve a long-lasting straighter smile without damaging the health of your teeth and gums.

Before you start any treatment, a professional should check your teeth and gums. They need to make sure everything’s healthy enough to withstand the pressure of aligners. If you have an underlying condition like gum disease, tooth decay, or short roots – and don’t know about it – at-home aligners could make things worse.

DIY kits can also move your teeth too fast. This can damage your teeth and gums, or cause your teeth to shift back into their original positions after treatment.

How can I straighten my teeth safely?

If you’re thinking about straightening your teeth, make an appointment to see a dentist or orthodontist. They’ll check your teeth and talk you through your options. Here are the steps they’ll follow.

Step 1: Check your teeth and gums

Your dentist or orthodontist will start by examining your mouth to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy. They might take a dental X-ray to check the roots and bones inside your gums are strong enough to handle the pressure from braces. They might take a mould (impression) of your teeth, or use a 3D scanner to help plan your treatment.

Step 2: Talk through your options

Next, your dentist or orthodontist will explain the types of braces that might work for you. These could include fixed braces like metal braces, clear ceramic braces, or lingual braces  (which go behind your teeth). Or they might recommend removable aligners, like Invisalign.

Step 3: Gain your consent

Your dentist or orthodontist will explain all the risks and benefits of orthodontic treatment clearly. You’ll have time to ask any questions. If you’re happy to go ahead with treatment, you’ll be asked to give your full consent.

Step 4: Personalise your plan

Your dentist or orthodontist will create a treatment plan that’s tailored to you. When your braces or aligners are ready, they’ll invite you back to fit them and tell you how to take care of them.

Step 5: Track your progress

Once your braces are fitted, or you have your teeth aligners, your dentist will ask to see you regularly. They’ll check your teeth are healthy and moving as planned, and make any adjustments if needed.

With advances in technology, your dentist or orthodontist might be able to monitor your progress remotely. So they might not need to see you in person for every appointment.

Step 6: Give you a retainer

Once your treatment is finished, you’ll need to wear a retainer to help keep your teeth in their new positions. You might get a fixed retainer (glued behind your teeth), a removable one to wear at night, or both. Your dentist will tell you how often to wear it.