An orthodontist in Santa Clarita is talking about the potential dangers of at-home liner kits that claim to safely and effectively straighten the teeth without the supervision of a dental professional.

Dr. Megan LeCornu of Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics noted that these at-home kits have typically been available to the public without an exam, radiographs or analysis of the bite. 

“Because of this, things can go greatly wrong,” LeCornu said. “We have a lot of patients now in our office that we’re re-treating from do-it-yourself home liners, and they end up getting problems from the bite when it’s not being treated correctly and it’s caused damage.” 

Related: Orthodontist In Santa Clarita Partnering With 3M To Advance Treatment Technology In 2020

LeCornu has seen patients with chipped or fractured teeth as a direct result of the at-home liner kits they were previously using. Not only do these patients now need to repair the damage, but they also need to start their orthodontic treatment over to correct additional problems. 

“Not only do you now have to go through the orthodontic treatment to correct the bite that was messed up, now you need to pay for a crown or an implant to treat the damage that was done,” LeCornu said, noting dental insurance typically won’t cover these costs. “That can become very, very expensive.” 

Further, individuals with periodontal disease or unknown bone issues in their mouth could even lose teeth if they attempt to move their teeth before a professional can treat their condition, LeCornu added. 

“The damage that can be done is irreversible, and that’s what people don’t realize,” she said. “People think, well, if it’s offered to the consumer and it’s something that we’re allowed to do, then it must be ok, it must be safe, and that’s simply not true.” 

To help combat this problem, a new law was recently passed in California to protect consumers by requiring that certain “clearances” are obtained before at-home liner kits can be used, according to LeCornu. 

“They are requiring that those do-it-yourself at-home liners have a dentist evaluate x-rays and look at a clinical exam and get clearances to go through orthodontic treatment,” she said. “It’s really, really important that you get that clearance and that you’re passed to make sure that you go through orthodontic treatment safely.” 

Ed. Note: This article is a KHTS Community Spotlight based on a recent radio interview with Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics.

Dr. Steven Gilbertson, Dr. Megan LeCornu and Dr. Pete Weber of Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics — formerly Gilbertson and LeCornu Orthodontics — have a solid reputation in the community as the premiere Santa Clarita orthodontist office for children, teenagers and adults using Invisalign and traditional braces. Together, they strive to provide orthodontic excellence and five-star customer service in a friendly, caring environment that makes each patient feel like a member of their family. Residents have voted Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics as Best Orthodontist in Santa Clarita for eight years. Anyone looking for an “orthodontist near me” can contact Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics today. 

Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics

23206 Lyons Avenue, Suite 206

Santa Clarita, CA 91321

(661) 259-2388

27891 Smyth Dr. Unit A

Valencia, CA 91355

661-295-8288

Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics – Santa Clarita, Valencia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2IGnxJBqc0

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