In a report released Feb. 23, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, revealed that nearly 13 percent of its member orthodontists are seeing patients who have tried do-it-yourself teeth straightening.

The reported ages of people attempting to straighten their own teeth ranges from 8 to over 60 years old.

The AAO survey conducted among its members indicates some of these DIY teeth straightening attempts have caused severe damage including tooth loss and leading to costly repairs.

“The cost of dealing with replacing a lost tooth can easily exceed $20,000 over a lifetime,” said DeWayne B. McCamish, DDS, MS, AAO president.

The AAO reports the most common materials used to attempt do-it-yourself teeth straightening include rubber bands, dental floss, fishing line and paper clips – as well as DIY method such as biting on pencils, creating fake retainers and using rubber band to push teeth together.

“Attempting any self-directed, DIY teeth straightening puts your teeth, gums and overall dental health at risk. Patients may think they are saving time and money by trying to straighten their teeth at home, but the damage caused by unsupervised treatment may ultimately cost the patient more than if they saw an orthodontic specialist from the very beginning,” said Dr. Andrew Harner, California Association of Orthodontists president.

The AAO attributes the trend of DIY teeth straightening to social media video content, such as YouTube video tutorials. “I’ve seen horrific results of patients that have tried mimicking online methods in an attempt to straighten their own teeth. It’s a worrying trend,” said Harner.

Harner added, “Children should visit an orthodontist for the first time at age 7, who will then determine whether they need orthodontic treatment and will map out a safe and effective treatment plan. Seeing an orthodontic specialist for treatment is the only way orthodontic treatment should be undertaken and under no circumstances should anyone attempt DIY, at-home or self-directed orthodontics.”