Cheap fashion braces could cause big problems

With fashion braces becoming an increasingly popular trend, a dental surgeon is warning that the seemingly harmless trend could come at a costly price to oral health.

Facing the reality of the growing popularity and availability of fashion braces, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Katheryn Kerr said her primary concern is the health and safety of patients, many of whom may not be aware of the dangers associated with the trend.

“I get nervous for them because, you know, you don’t know what you don’t know,” she said.

Recently, a Montego Bay-based fashion braces provider went viral for offering the accessories for $5,500, facing criticism over the service. But he maintained a defiant stance during a TikTok live post, insisting that, “If you nah wear you fashion braces, you nah seh nothing. If God never want mi mek the money, He would stop me long time and a eight year mi a do braces.”

But Kerr noted that beneath the appeal of fashion braces are many potential oral health complications, particularly when the procedure is performed by untrained individuals.

“The thing is, a lot of times, most people think they’re just putting it on for style. But you’re using bonding. You’re using brackets. And in some cases, a lot of people who aren’t dentists are also using wires and putting pressure and force on the teeth as well,” she said.

She explained that the tension created by these wires can affect the alignment of teeth, potentially causing unintended movement that patients may not immediately recognise. Some people say the fashion braces helped to straighten their teeth, but that was still a concern for Kerr.

“That’s even scarier to me, actually, because that means that they’re not even just having it on. They’re actually creating movement. So, someone untrained is moving their teeth, creating different pressures and push and pull in their mouth,” she said. She further dismissed the notion that wearing fashion braces for a short period is risk free.

“I mean, something as simple as not bonding the bracket on properly can allow for somebody to swallow or choke on brackets. Sometimes even with people who are well-trained, these things can happen. [So] imagine somebody who doesn’t know what they’re doing. The wire that goes around can be scraping, causing infections and the list goes on,” she said.

With fashion braces widely available and there is a general lack of awareness about the distinction between cosmetic accessories and orthodontic treatment, Kerr urged Jamaicans to verify the credentials of anyone offering dental services.

“Once you open the door, you should see your certificate on the front. If not, ask the questions. Ask if this dentist is certified. Ask to see their licence. There is no harm in asking, and anybody who feels ashamed to answer your questions, I mean, I would question them,” she said.

Kerr told THE WEEKEND STAR that she has encountered “multiple” patients in her practice who required attention for problems associated with fashion braces.

“I had a patient more recently who had these fashion braces for about six months, they took it off, but they still had the bond, [it] was left on their teeth. And I don’t know how, but it caused a little sharp area on the gum. And so the gum had these kinds of roughened red areas where the bond was still stuck,” she related.

Kerr opined that the growing demand for fashion braces is partly driven by the cost of authentic orthodontic treatment, as well as the social status some people associate with having braces. She stressed that professionals are not trying to stop anybody from hustling.

“But, I mean, the truth is just the truth. If you’re not trained properly, you can really do some serious harm.”