At-Home Aligners: Questions to Ask Before You Start or Switch

Aligners mailed to your door can sound simple. You send a scan or impressions, trays arrive in the mail, and you follow the steps. Before you start, or if you are thinking about moving your care to a local office, a few plain questions show you who is looking after your teeth and what happens if something comes up.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) publishes a consumer alert with questions for anyone looking into direct-to-consumer orthodontic treatment. Most of the questions below come from that list, in plainer words. Ask them of any company or practice you are considering.

Questions about records and the first look

Aligners move teeth, but planning starts with a full picture of your mouth. The AAO suggests asking whether diagnostic records, like X-rays, are taken before treatment begins.

• Will anyone take X-rays of my teeth and jaws before I start?
• Will someone examine my bite and how my jaws line up?
• Are photos of my face and teeth part of the process?
• How are my scans or impressions taken, and who looks at them?
• If records are not included, where would I get them, and who pays for that?

Questions about who is in charge of your care

You would want to know the name of any doctor treating you. The same goes here.

• Which dentist or orthodontist is responsible for my case? Can I see their name before I sign up?
• What is their training, and where are they licensed?
• Will I see a dentist or orthodontist in person? If so, how often, and what happens at those visits?
• Who do I talk to when I have a question, and what is their background?
• How do I reach the dentist or orthodontist during treatment?

If the answers are vague, ask again. A clear name and a clear way to reach that person are fair things to expect.

Questions about whether aligners fit you

Aligners are one way to move teeth. Braces and other appliances are others. If a company offers only one option, the AAO suggests asking how anyone knows it is the right one for your mouth.

• Do you offer only aligners? If so, how do you decide they suit my teeth?
• Who makes that decision, and what is it based on?
• Who checks that my teeth and gums are healthy enough to start?
• What are the possible risks for me, both health and financial?

Questions about what happens if something comes up

Plans hit small snags. A tray may not seem to fit, or you may have a question that cannot wait for an email reply. Find out ahead of time who handles it.

• Who is responsible for spotting problems during treatment? Is that me?
• If something comes up, who handles it?
• If I need to be seen in person, is there a dentist or orthodontist I can visit? Who covers that visit?
• How do I reach someone if it feels urgent?
• If I am unhappy with my care, how are disagreements handled?
• Can I read every form you ask me to sign before I start?

If you are thinking about switching to an office

Some people start at home and later want a local orthodontist to take a look, partway through or after they finish. A practice can talk that through with you. Before you call, ask the company for copies of your scans, photos, and treatment plan, so you have them in hand.

Questions for the practice:

• Do you see patients who started with an at-home aligner company?
• What would you want to see at the first visit?
• What should I bring? (Any trays I have, plus records, scans, or photos from the company.)
• What should I do with my current aligners until I see you?
• How would you decide what comes next for my teeth?
• How do you set fees for someone who started treatment elsewhere, and can I get that in writing?

For the general questions every first visit should cover, like training, options, and visits, our consultation checklist pairs well with this list.

Ready to talk to someone in person?

Whether you are still deciding or already partway through, an in-person visit lets an orthodontist look at your whole mouth and answer these questions face to face. Browse orthodontists in the LocalSmileFinder directory, pick a few to call, and bring this list. You are allowed to ask every question on it.