Although the recent fad of DIY orthodontics, seen on YouTube and other social media platforms, has become quite popular, the use of elastics in dentistry is not a new development, according to the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. One of the earliest applications of elastics was to extract teeth in patients with bleeding disorders, cardiac problems or mental deficiency. The practitioner simply placed a rubber band around the tooth to be extracted; because of the shape of teeth, the rubber band slowly worked its way up or down the sides of the tooth roots, destroying the bone and soft tissues, and the tooth just fell out, all in about four to six weeks.
Kau says any benefits are far outweighed by the risks associated with this practice. If not treated and corrected by an orthodontist, rubber bands can cause destruction of tissue, which can affect the bite, abnormal development of the teeth and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
“Your teeth could move, but in the wrong direction, and you could cause permanent damage and eventually lose a tooth,” he said.
Associate and UAB Alumni Professor Christos Vlachos, DMD, says he hopes DIY braces does not become an even bigger trend than it is now.
“It’s downright scary because it’s a lot more complex to move teeth,” Vlachos said. “You have to move them in three dimensions, and to do that requires a knowledge of biology of tooth movement, physics, and art to do this properly.”
While some may believe the cost of braces to be expensive, the damage DIY braces cause can lead to more heartache and more money spent.
“This isn’t like fixing a leaky faucet,” Vlachos said. “People don’t do root canals or surgery on themselves, so why would they do this with braces?”
The UAB Dentistry Department of Orthodontics is active in teaching, research and service. Postdoctoral students consistently score in the upper quintile of the National Board Examination. Orthodontists receive two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school and are specialists in straightening teeth and aligning the bite.
