Don’t Order Your Orthodontic Treatment Online Before Reading This

Last Updated on January 15, 2021 by Gio Greenard

Orthodontic treatment. It’s easy to do so many things these days with the click of a button. Order shoes? Get a ride across town? Watch your favorite blockbuster movie? Open the app, click the button! It seems like every day there’s a newer and easier way to do almost everything. We’ve been programmed to accept that anything can be ordered online and delivered right to your front door. However, at Beach Braces, there is one thing that we believe has no easy replacement: orthodontic treatment. There is no match for a trained, experienced professional when it comes to your oral health.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) agrees. They just issued a Consumer Alert listing key questions to ask about direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies. You can download a print-friendly version here. Or watch the video here:  (guest starring our very own Dr. Panucci!)

The  issue is that many direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies do not involve the in-person evaluation and/or in-person supervision of your treatment we provide at Beach Braces, which is important because there is more to creating a healthy, beautiful smile than moving the visible portions of your teeth. If not done correctly any dental work can lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changed bites, and other issues.

The Top 10 Questions To Ask

The AAO advises that when researching orthodontic treatment (including treatment models from direct-to-consumer companies like SmileDirectClub, Smilelove, Candid Co., Orthly, SnapCorrect, etc), you should consider many key questions, some of which include:

1. Are comprehensive diagnostic records like x-rays taken before your treatment, as part of your treatment?
2. As part of your treatment fee, do you receive any in-person visits to a dentist’s or orthodontist’s office during your treatment?
3. Is only one treatment type offered (such as invisible aligners or a certain appliance)?
4. If a dentist or orthodontist is involved with your treatment, do you know the name of the dentist or orthodontist who will be specifically involved with your case (for example, is it available on the company’s website or elsewhere)?
5. What are the possible risks (financial, health, etc.) associated with your orthodontic treatment?
6. Who is responsible for detecting any issues that may occur during your orthodontic treatment? Is it you? If it is a doctor not associated with your treatment, who pays for those check-ups?
7. If a doctor is involved with your orthodontic treatment, how can you contact him or her over the course of your treatment? How can you contact him or her if an emergency arises?
8. If an emergency arises, does the company have a dentist or orthodontist in your area that you can see in-person? If not, who would cover the costs associated with seeing a dentist or orthodontist in your area?
9. If you are injured or have another dispute involving your orthodontic treatment, how is it handled (litigation, arbitration, etc.) and what rights do you have?
10. Does the treatment model comply with the dental laws in your state? To check your state’s dental laws, click https://www.aaoinfo.org/state-laws-and-regulations. Information for your state dental board can be found at https://www.aaoinfo.org/aao/state-dental-board-info.

Where You Receive Your Health Care Is A Very Important Personal Decision

Remember that orthodontic treatment is not a product or device – it is a professional, medical service. Dr. Patricia Panucci at  Beach Braces, received her degree from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and the University of Southern California and has spent years providing orthodontic treatment to her patients. She is the only Platinum Invisalign Provider in the Manhattan Beach area and Beach Braces is the only practice to offer 3D imaging and Accelerated Orthodontics.

Before making any decisions about orthodontic treatment, consider doing some research and having a complimentary in-person consultation with Dr. Panucci at Beach Braces. We can’t wait to meet you.

Dr Patricia Panucci

Dr Patti Panucci attended the University of Louisville School of Dentistry for four years, where she graduated with a DMD degree (May 2000) among the Top 10 in her class. Following that, she headed west to Los Angeles to complete her three-year residency at one of the top-ranked orthodontic programs in the country – the University of Southern California.

Along with her certificate in orthodontics, Dr. Panucci earned a master’s degree in craniofacial biology. During those three years, she fell in love with Southern California beach life and decided that this was where her future lay.