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At-home Tooth Straightening Kit vs Orthodontist: Which Is Best?

Love Yourself, Love Your Smile

at-home-tooth-straightening-kit-1024x684
  • Dr. Monica Madan
  • October 13, 2022

If you find yourself hiding your teeth while your friends are showing off their pearly whites, an at-home tooth straightening kit may seem like a good option to get the smile you want. After all, in the past two years, we’ve become used to doing a lot of things at home, things we never imagined would be possible—so why not this? 

But are these kits really a viable alternative to in-person care? By taking a closer look at at-home tooth straightening vs. orthodontic care, you’ll see why transforming your smile shouldn’t be a DIY project.

At-Home Tooth Straightening Kits

The introduction of clear aligners in the 1990s changed the way we think about teeth straightening and allowed people of all ages to get the smile they want. In recent years, the introduction of at-home tooth straightening kits promised to revolutionize teeth straightening once again by eliminating the need for orthodontist visits and allowing you to undergo aligner treatment in the comfort of your own home.

At first glance, at-home kits can seem very appealing. Most don’t require in-office visits before, during, or after treatment. Check-ups are completed remotely. And because treatment does not involve extensive expert oversight or in-person appointments, an at-home tooth straightening kit may cost less than orthodontic care. 

However, these kits are far from an ideal solution and come with significant downsides:

  • Unpredictable results: While the lack of in-person monitoring may be convenient, it can seriously compromise your results. Relying solely on scans, impressions, and virtual visits means that nuances may be missed and you lose out on valuable opportunities to fine-tune treatment.
  • Limited scope: At-home kits are only designed to treat minor alignment issues and cannot be used to address more moderate to complex cases.
  • Lack of comprehensive care: Treatment with an at-home tooth straightening kit is standardized and does not take into account other oral or overall health issues you may be experiencing (such as bone loss or gum issues)
  • Potential for Damage: Without the direct supervision of an orthodontist, aligners can actually damage your oral health. As the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) says:

Orthodontic treatment involves the movement of biological material, which could lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changed bites, and other issues if not done correctly. 

DeWayne B. McCamish, DDS, president of the AAO, adds:

What most people don’t understand is that moving teeth is a biological process that involves bone that dissolves and re-builds as teeth are moved into their new positions. Moving teeth is best done under the direct supervision of an orthodontist after an assessment, including complete diagnostic records.

For these reasons, the AAO advises against at-home tooth straightening kits. 

Your smile deserves more than an at-home kit. That’s why tooth straightening should always happen under the in-person guidance of an orthodontist. 

The Value of Orthodontists

If you want to transform your smile, an orthodontic practice is your biggest ally. Drawing on years of training and experience, they will:

  • Fully assess your needs and goals
  • Identify issues that digital scans or impressions can’t reveal
  • Answer any questions you have
  • Create a truly personalized treatment plan based on a holistic understanding of your health

If they determine that clear aligners are right for you, they will create an appropriate treatment plan and map out each movement in each tray. This is a very specialized process. And aligners aren’t their only tool; orthodontists use a variety of innovative methods to achieve the best results, which allows them to take on complex alignment issues and offer accelerated treatment options. Regardless of what your treatment entails, they will continuously monitor your progress, make any necessary refinements, and help you stay on track.

With an at-home tooth straightening kit, you are essentially left in charge of your own orthodontic journey, sometimes with unintended consequences. But with the care of an experienced orthodontist, you aren’t alone; you have an expert guiding you every step of the way.

  At-Home Kit Orthodontist
Results Unpredictable. Treatment typically does not account for underlying conditions or issues that arise during treatment. Predictable. Treatment is designed with a holistic view of your health and progress is continuously assessed to achieve the best results.
Type of Care Absent or remote consultants; no in-person consultations. Comprehensive in-person care from start to finish.
Cost May not be covered by insurance. Covered by many insurance plans.
Scope of Treatment Minor to moderate cases only. Minor, moderate, and severe.

Get the Treatment You Deserve

Whether you have dental anxiety, want to minimize costs, or just don’t know how you’ll fit office visits into your busy schedule, an at-home tooth straightening kit can seem like a great option for finally getting the smile you want. But tooth straightening is a specialized medical service that can have a tremendous impact on your physical and emotional health. An orthodontist will ensure you get the best possible outcome so you can enjoy the results for years to come. 

At Beverly Hills Orthodontics, we offer personalized care and exceptional treatment experiences. From cutting-edge orthodontic techniques to flexible scheduling to a comfortable office environment, we make sure that every aspect of your care works for you. With our guidance, you get the treatment you truly deserve and a smile you’ll love.

Your Smile Is More than just two rows of teeth - it's how you show your personality to the world.

Let Dr. Madan and her team help you help keep your smile looking (and feeling) better than ever.
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Dr Madan is truly the best. From the moment I entered her office for my first appointment, and every single appointment after this, I was greeted with warmth, kindness, and received the... most incredible care. She is an absolute perfectionist, her team are equally fantastic and I feel very grateful for their attention to detail in getting me to my perfect smile! I cannot recommend Dr Madan and Beverly Hills Orthodontics enough.read more
DEE W.
Very friendly and professional - had a very comfortable experience and am glad I chose to proceed with them.
Eunice K.
Before finding BHO, I had consultations both telling me traditional braces were my only option. I knew my case would be a bit challenging but as an adult, metal braces weren't going to work... for me, aesthetically speaking. I'm so glad I followed my instincts and gave BHO a shot! From the moment I walked in, I knew this was the place. Modern amenities with a super friendly staff explaining everything along the way - what a great first impression! I just started my treatment and can't wait to see my results! Dr. Madan and her team are legit! Don't hesitate to get the smile your deserve!read more
Nydia J.
Our entire experience with the staff and services at Beverly Hills Orthodontics has been fantastic. Their knowledge, advice and care has been exceptional and I have no hesitation in... recommending them to anyone looking for first class orthodontic care. Special shout outs to Dr Madan and Gabriel for their above and beyond care❤️read more
Juliet P.
What a wonderful experience. Dr. Madan and the entire staff are professional, kind, and very understanding. So far they have made the experience of Invisalign extremely easy. I just wish I... had gone there sooner!read more
Claire P.
I recently relocated to Los Angeles and not long after being here needed to have some repair dental work done and did not know where to turn. I was given a referral to Dr. Madan and could... not be happier. I was able to receive an appointment really quickly and was advised of an immediate plan of action to get my corrective work going. Dr. Madan is extremely knowledgeable about her craft and to top it off, she has a great temperament that instantly put me at ease and made me feel like she genuinely cared. Her Beverly Hills office is vibrant, with really friendly & pleasant staff, who make you feel comfortable and bring all the right vibes! No question I would recommend Beverly Hills Orthodontics to anyone looking to have work done on their teeth and perfect their smile.read more
Dionnee H.
Tia literally invented the Invisalign game. Changing lives one smile at a time.
William S.
Great overall service staff was very helpful with explaining process. Would highly recommend as it was a smooth process with no surprises along the way.Would like to highlight the... multiple locations which make it easy for scheduling appointments dependent on where you live or what part of LA you will be in that day.read more
Sean M.
I started my Invisalign treatments here and the staff was really friendly and patient with all my concerns and questions. Love it!
Jana M.
Super great experience! Came in for my consultation around the beginning of the year with a plan in mind to have my teeth straight before graduation through Invisalign and the BHO team... completely surpassed my expectations. My USC graduation is in 2 weeks, I just got my brackets off and smile is looking awesome. Annabel and Gabriel were so welcoming, friendly, and made the experience that much better. Dr. Madan was awesome she was always around and extremely hands on, great personality! Definitely come here if you’re looking for an orthodontist!! 10/10! :)read more
Eva P.
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