Book your free consultation* Find a practice About Testimonials Teeth straightening Before & after Cost of braces Blog Refer The difference between at-home and in-practice teeth straightening by Total Orthodontics on in Braces, Invisible braces, Orthodontics You might be familiar with at-home teeth straightening, sometimes known as ‘DIY braces’. In the last couple of years, multiple at-home teeth-straightening kits have come to market and are being promoted as a new solution to straighten teeth. As experts in teeth straightening, we’ve been asked many times if they’re safe and effective and how they work. We spoke to Richard Jones, a specialist at Total Orthodontics, to understand how at-home braces work, how the experience differs to in-practice teeth straightening and if they’re safe. How do at-home teeth straightening kits work? To apply for a teeth-straightening kit, you typically fill out an online form and if you’re deemed suitable by the provider, you’ll receive an impression kit in the post. Using the kit, you take moulds of your teeth and send these back to the provider for analysis. Alternatively some providers have smile clinics that you can attend for a scan. Once your impressions have been reviewed, you’ll receive a set of clear, removable aligners in the post. When you finish your treatment, in some cases, you’ll be offered removable retainers to wear at night. We always recommend you seek a thorough examination from an orthodontist before investing in any teeth-straightening treatment. Are at-home teeth straightening kits safe and do they work? At-home teeth straightening kits include clear aligners and are aimed at people with simple teeth straightening needs. Orthodontist Richard Jones explained, “There are many reasons why you might seek orthodontic treatment, for example overcrowding, prominent teeth, gaps or even bite issues… Each case is unique and there are many options to choose from. You need to make sure you opt for a treatment that is safe and best suits you. “For this reason, I strongly recommend you visit an orthodontist for a professional consultation in practice, so they can talk you through the different choices available. An orthodontist will carry out a thorough clinical examination and take diagnostic records such as scans, photographs and X-ray images as necessary to ensure there are no underlying issues, which might impact the recommended treatment and desired results. “What concerns me, is that some people are seeking at-home teeth straightening for complex orthodontic issues, which is completely inappropriate and could do more harm than good.” Choosing the wrong type of orthodontic treatment, or having it when your teeth aren’t suitable, could cause permanent damage to your teeth, so always seek professional guidance from an orthodontist. What are the main differences between in-practice and at-home teeth straightening? The most significant differences between at-home and in-practice teeth straightening treatments are: Choice: At-home teeth straightening kits include clear aligners aimed at simple tooth straightening needs. An orthodontist providing a face to face consultation and examination will give you guidance on all available orthodontic treatments and can treat complex cases. Treatment journey: When you get your teeth straightened at a Total Orthodontics practice, you’ll attend regular appointments and your treatment is closely monitored. Reassurance: Some people aren’t confident following a teeth-straightening plan at home. Seeing an orthodontist in practice often gives people reassurance that their treatment journey is directly monitored by a professional. One-on-one care: When you attend a practice you can ask questions; the orthodontist monitors your progress and adjustments can be made to your braces if necessary. Price: There is a difference in cost, which reflects both the type of teeth straightening technique being used and the personalised and professional care provided. With orthodontic treatment in practice, you’ll see a specialist orthodontist for an initial consultation, as well as regularly throughout the course of your treatment. During your treatment, typically you’ll see your orthodontist every six to eight weeks. They carefully monitor your progress and dental health to ensure you get the results you want. It isn’t always easy to predict how the teeth will move during orthodontic treatment, so regular appointments with an expert allow for alterations to your treatment plan if needed. If necessary, your orthodontist can adjust your braces throughout your treatment, which could involve small tooth-coloured attachments or reshaping your teeth to get the best result. What are the benefits of having your orthodontic treatment in practice? The three main advantages of having your teeth straightened by an orthodontist in practice are: Clinical expertise you benefit from a detailed one-on-one consultation by a trained orthodontic specialist and ongoing care. Greater choice you get access to a range of orthodontic treatments, and your orthodontist will help you choose which is the most suitable for you. Safety your orthodontist will take X-rays and clearly explain which type of braces you’re suitable for, so you can decide which is the best option for you and answer any questions you might have. What are the benefits of having at-home teeth straightening? The two main benefits of using at-home teeth straightening kits are considered to be: Cost you don’t have ongoing consultations with an orthodontist and the kits are not used for complex cases, so this affects the price. Convenience you don’t need to find time in your diary for appointments and consultations. You take the moulds yourself at home and receive the braces and retainers in the post. Who can legally perform teeth straightening, and who regulates at-home teeth straightening kits? In the UK, orthodontic treatment is carried out by a dentist or orthodontist who is registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). One of the UK’s leading orthodontic societies, the British Orthodontic Society, has raised concerns about home-straightening kits and the lack of clinical supervision you receive with them*. Will at-home teeth straightening treatment last? Typically, no orthodontic treatment lasts without an effective retention programme, this means wearing retainers after your treatment to make sure your teeth don’t move back. I’ve used an at-home teeth straightening kit and it hasn’t worked. What should I do? You should find out who’s responsible for fixing treatment issues with at-home kits as soon as possible. If you have treatment in-practice (in the UK) your care is closely monitored by a UK-based GDC registered specialist who takes responsibility for your treatment. Want to discuss your orthodontic options? We’d be happy to offer you a free consultation* to discuss which treatment options would suit you. *British Orthodontic Society: www.bos.org.uk/News-and-Events/BOS-Statements/BOS-Statement-Do-it-yourself-braces What is considered an orthodontic emergency during COVID-19? Comments are closed. Read More Articles Braces (26) Christmas (1) Confidence (1) Cosmetic dentistry (4) Dental health (6) Emergency Care (1) Fundraising (1) Invisalign (2) Invisible braces (10) NHS orthodontics (3) Orthodontics (9) Retainers (3) Tips (8) Total Orthodontics (5) Book your free consultation* Preferred practice Beckenham Belfast Blackburn Brighton Camberley Cockermouth Colwynbay Cranbrook Crawley Crewe Downpatrick EastbourneUppertonRoad Harrogate HaywardsHeath Hull Kidderminster Lewisham Macclesfield Maidenhead Maidstone Marlow Ormskirk Preston Sevenoaks Sheffield Slough Stockport Tonbridge SuttonColdfield TunbridgeWells Uckfield Warrington Wigan Windsor Wokingham Wrexham Preferred contact method Phone Email How did you hear about us Email Google Other search engine Facebook Website Instagram In practice Leaflet Outdoor advert Newspaper/magazine *Terms and conditions: 1. Consultations over the telephone or a video application are free of professional charges. A consultation in-practice is free of professional charges (excluding consultations at Total Orthodontics Belfast, Ormeau Road where a professional charge will apply) but a COVID-19 safety tariff will apply. 2. Consultations are to discuss options and suitability for treatment. Subsequent clinical examinations and diagnostic tests required, and any associated costs will be discussed prior to treatment commencing. 3. Consultations subject to availability. We recognise that when you give us personal information (which includes health information) you’re trusting us to take good care of it. Please see www.bupa.co.uk/privacy for more information about how we collect, use and protect your data. If you don’t want to receive marketing about Bupa products and services that we think are relevant to you, please contact us at optmeout@bupa.com. brace pain Braces Braces Cost braces tips Charity Children in Need chocolate Christmas Clear Braces Cosmetic Dentistry Cost of Braces dental health dental impressions Easter Fashion Show fixed braces Fixed Retainers Fundraising Invisalign Invisalign i7 Invisible Braces Lingual Braces NHS Braces NHS Orthodontics NHS Waiting Lists oral hygiene Orthodontic Consultation Orthodontics Orthodontist Private Orthodontic Care Private Orthodontic Treatment Removable Retainers Retainers Smile Specialist Orthodontic Practice Specialist Orthodontist Specialist Orthodontists Straight Teeth teeth Teeth Straightening Tooth Decay Total Orthodontics Valentine's Day Veneers Wisdom Teeth Book your free consultation* Take the first step towards a confident smile; send us your details and a member of our friendly team will be in touch to arrange your free*, no-obligation consultation. Preferred practice Beckenham Belfast Blackburn Brighton Camberley Cockermouth Colwynbay Cranbrook Crawley Crewe Downpatrick EastbourneUppertonRoad Harrogate HaywardsHeath Hull Kidderminster Lewisham Macclesfield Maidenhead Maidstone Marlow Ormskirk Preston Sevenoaks Sheffield Slough Stockport SuttonColdfield Tonbridge TunbridgeWells Uckfield Warrington Wigan Windsor Wokingham Wrexham Preferred contact method Phone Email How did you hear about us Email Google Other search engine Facebook Website Instagram In practice Leaflet Outdoor advert Newspaper/magazine *Terms and conditions: 1. Consultations over the telephone or a video application are free of professional charges. A consultation in-practice is free of professional charges (excluding consultations at Total Orthodontics Belfast, Ormeau Road where a professional charge will apply) but a COVID-19 safety tariff will apply. 2. Consultations are to discuss options and suitability for treatment. Subsequent clinical examinations and diagnostic tests required, and any associated costs will be discussed prior to treatment commencing. 3. Consultations subject to availability. We recognise that when you give us personal information (which includes health information) you’re trusting us to take good care of it. Please see www.bupa.co.uk/privacy for more information about how we collect, use and protect your data. If you don’t want to receive marketing about Bupa products and services that we think are relevant to you, please contact us at optmeout@bupa.com. Orthodontic blog The difference between at-home and in-practice teeth straightening You might be familiar with at-home teeth straightening, sometimes known as ‘DIY braces’. In the last couple of years, multiple […] Read more What is considered an orthodontic emergency during COVID-19? We’re delighted that most of our practices across the UK are now open for different levels of face-to-face care. At […] Read more How to look after your braces while self-isolating We’re delighted that most of our practices across the UK are now open for different levels of face-to-face care. At […] Read more © Total Orthodontics Ltd Site Last Updated December 2021 WordPress by loopmill Brighton Terms of use Privacy policy Complaints policy Braces blog Sitemap Contact Cookie settings Cookies help us provide you with the best user experience We use cookies to analyse our website performance, to enhance and customise content and for advertising purposes. To consent to our use of cookies please click “Accept cookies”. To find out more or to object please click “Cookie settings” and use our cookies manager. Accept cookies Cookie settings