Dentists warn over 'disastrous' clear braces on Instagram

Braces from Smile Direct Club (SDC) are said to straighten teeth faster and cheaper but could actually cause lasting dental problems.

Dentists and orthodontists believe customers who use these products are unaware of the danger, especially if they are not fitted by a dental professional.

Dentists told the BBC that people have been left with damage after wearing these products commonly advertised on the popular social media platform Instagram.

Canva - Jamie said he was unable to unable to 'bite into an apple' after using using this dental product (Image: Canva)

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Jamie, a father from Glasgow told the broadcaster that he turned to Smile Direct Club after being quoted £4000-£6000 to straighten his teeth.

The US-based Smile Direct Club offered him aligners for around £1,800 without the need for an in-person dentist.

However, he said that he would never do it again, adding: "I can't bite into an apple because I can't trust that my front teeth are strong enough anymore."

Before starting his treatment, he was sent a 'DIY' impression kit to mould his own teeth because the 3D scan at one of the company's in-person stores was closed due to the lockdown.

After six months of this, he told a forum on Reddit: "One of my front teeth has become wobbly, my enamel feels all funny, like the aligners have rubbed some of it off, the aligners have made my gum recede making it agony."

Jamie isn't the only person to have had issues with SDC with people across the world sharing their negative experiences with the brand.

Dentists warn results of using clear braces from Instagram could be 'disastrous'

Dentist Dr Victoria Sampson said that many people might be underestimating the force such aligners put on your teeth, adding that if decay and gum disease are missed, people could lose some of them.

Dr Sampson recently treated someone who lost their front tooth after using these dangerous products.

She said the aligners moved the patient's teeth too quickly, causing her roots to be too short and her teeth too weak to withstand much pressure.

Dr Anjli Patel from the British Orthodontic Society said that the results of these DIY aligners could be "disastrous" while Dr Eddie Crouch of the British Dental Association expressed his concerns about people going ahead with treatment without the proper information.

The Smile Direct Club said of these reports that it is the user's "responsibility to see a dentist," something it does not require proof of.