DIY Braces: When Not to Do It Yourself

The DIY craze is still going crazy with many people wanted to do their own work and save money than rely on the expertise of professionals that can cost a pretty penny. There are many areas of course that this make a lot of sense, but DIY is not always the best for safest path to take.

For example, deciding to paint the living room to save some money on renovations is not a hard decision to make and most people can easily do it. However when you move to doing your own plumbing or electricity it becomes more difficult because a high level of skill is needed to make sure the job is done accurately and you stay safe while doing it.

Here are certain situations when you hire a professional instead of trying to do it yourself.

When You Lack Self-Confidence

DIY is not for everyone and if you tend to get real nervous doing new things and being out of your comfort zone, then DIY projects might not be for you. You need to be confident in your skills to get the job done correctly; otherwise your fear will get the best of you. Sometimes when we doubt our abilities we are not able to reach our potential.

When Technical Requirements Are High

Confidence is only going to take you so far though. You need to have the skills and experience to back it up. You are only going to be putting yourself in danger if you start fooling around with electricity without knowing the important safety precautions to take so you don’t get electrocuted. And then what if you don’t do it correctly and cause damage to your home and end up having to spend a lot of money to fix your mistake? There are reasons people study their craft for years. You can just read a couple of how-to manuals and get to work when it comes to more complicated projects. These are real issues you need to take into consideration when deciding whether or not to go DIY or not. Weigh each project carefully.

When Education is an Important Criteria

Having the right education and experience is important too. You should always make sure you have the skills and education to do the job right. You wouldn’t someone without a medical degree prescribing you medicine do you? Sometimes it is better to pay professionals to do the job for you instead of taking shortcuts and risking problems.

When You Don’t Have the Right Resources

Even if you are a quick learner that might not be enough to make your DIY project a success. You need to have enough money or access to the right tools and resources to get the job done accurately and safely. Otherwise all the corners you cut will come back to bite you.

One area that DIY can be really dangerous is with DIY braces. While it can be tempting because orthodontic work is of course not cheap, you are putting your oral health at risk by trying to straighten your teeth yourself.

What are DIY braces? Basically it means that you make them yourself whether with a 3-D printer or simply using everyday items like rubber bands, aluminum foil and paper clips. This can be very dangerous because there are no safety protocols to keep you safe. Those DIY braces tutorials that are all over the internet can lead you down a dangerous path.

Here are some reasons to avoid DIY braces:

• The damage being caused might not be noticeable at first. The health of your teeth is so much more than just the appearance of your smile. While DIY braces may appear to work as evidenced by before and after photos of people who have done it, there is no way of knowing what is happening inside the teeth and gums or with the jaw structure. You need X-rays for that and that means seeing an orthodontist. Doing this on your own without any expert supervision can lead to a host of problems down the line.
• You may cause damage to your bone and gums and make your bite issues worse. If your DIY braces move your teeth too fast or into the wrong position, you will be damaging your teeth instead of making it better.
• You will feel more discomfort and pain. Because these are not custom fit for you by a professional, then most likely you will experience more pain and discomfort wearing your DIY braces then you would if you went to an orthodontist for your braces. With orthodontist-approved braces, some discomfort in the beginning is expected, but that eventually fades away as you get used to the braces. That pain while you are wearing a DIY version is a warning sign to you that the tooth are not being moved in the correct way.
• There is also an increased risk of infection. When you are putting everyday items into your mouth, you are putting yourself at risk for infection. There is no way of knowing what kinds of germs are on them and you don’t know if you will have an allergic reaction to having these foreign objects in your mouth. Also the inappropriate movement of your teeth can cause teeth to be pushed into each other which can also lead to infection.
• You are more likely to experience a relapse and end up spending a lot more fun to get things fixed.

If the sticker shock of braces really is a problem for you, don’t worry too much. Safer alternatives to DIY braces do exist. With a little research you can find orthodontists who donate their services to those with economic challenges. This is great option if you are already living paycheck to paycheck. Another option is to find an orthodontist who offers a payment plan that will work for you. Many orthodontists are very willing to offer flexible payment plans.

Want to learn more about how to straighten your teeth the safe way? Contact Orthodontics Limited for more information.