While it is no surprise that modern day orthodontia is expensive, it is even more surprising that some people opt to offset costs by doing it themselves. The professionals do not recommend doing any orthodontic procedure on your own, because of the damage that it can cause teeth.
D.I.Y. Ortho?
According to an article in the New York Times, do-it-yourself orthodontia has become an upsetting trend. Just a cursory search of the web will leave you with multiple videos of people telling tales of how they closed their gap with rubber bands or other household items. While this may seem like the easy way out, it is far from it. In fact, most orthodontists have found that D.I.Y. teeth treatments can lead to the permanent loss of teeth and harm to your mouth.
The article details the story of one man who as a child attempted to close his own gap with rubber bands. The rubber bands got stuck under his gums and caused his two front teeth to protrude until he eventually lost both teeth at the root. This was a traumatic experience for a child, and one that made him need a great deal of professional dental work to fix the problem.
So, before you attempt to close that gap or fix your smile at home, consult an orthodontist. As professionals in their crafts, they can explain all of the best treatment options by price, and based upon what treatment best suits your teeth. For the best results, see a professional, it is worth any price.
