Online Orthodontic Treatment

Fairwood and Mercer Island Orthodontics

You may have recently noticed that online direct-to-consumer companies have been making orthodontic treatment sound quick, easy, and affordable. While it may sound like a good idea to save money and purchase your clear aligners directly online. The reality is…you aren’t getting the treatment for less. You are simply purchasing a product and opting out of the many important aspects that make orthodontics work.

Before you decide to proceed with a direct-to-consumer company for your orthodontic care, Dr. Lauren, Dr. Kortne, Dr. Jack, and their team, as well as the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) believe there are a number of factors you should consider.

Consider this question: What other transforming medical treatment would you undergo without an in-person, pre-treatment evaluation or ongoing in-person supervision from a medical professional?

Orthodontic treatment is a major medical procedure. This is precisely why orthodontists require extensive training and education before they can begin performing treatments. Proper orthodontic treatment must include:

• X-rays of your teeth and jaws.
• Clinical examination of your jaw alignment, teeth, bite, and relationship of your teeth to your bone structures.
• Digital scans and/or impressions of your teeth.
• Access to a licensed professional who can immediately help if you have an issue or emergency during your treatment.
• Regular, in-person consultations to evaluate the progress of your treatment and make necessary adjustments.
• Multiple available treatment options explained by a licensed professional who can provide the best recommended course of treatment and determine if you are even healthy enough for orthodontic treatment.

Remember…orthodontic treatment is not a product or device. Orthodontic treatment is a professional medical service. When your care is personally supervised by an orthodontist, like Dr. Lauren, Dr. Kortne, Dr. Jack, you are assured that they have spent years in a post-doctoral residency program focused on providing orthodontic treatment to patients.

If you are thinking about ordering aligners online without seeing a licensed orthodontist first, we strongly encourage you to visit our website to learn more about the orthodontic treatment process, clear aligners, and the other orthodontic options we offer.

Before making any decision about orthodontic treatment, consider scheduling an in-person initial consultation with Fairwood and Mercer Island Orthodontics.