A city dentist has warned people off buying cheap treatments online.

Dr Anam Sadozai, who works at practices around the county including Shrubbery Dental Practice in Worcester, has labelled DIY dental aligners a “dangerous concept”.

She explained that people who use them risk permanent jaw damage and tooth loss.

Dr Sadozai said: "Straight smiles are not always healthy smiles.

"I would urge all of my patients to never risk their dental health in attempts to get cheaper treatment."

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Worcester News: Dr Anam Sadozai is a fully trained cosmetic dentist, having graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2011Dr Anam Sadozai is a fully trained cosmetic dentist, having graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2011 (Image: SWNS)

Her warning comes as companies offer budget versions of the cosmetic treatment online and social media, enticing customers with discounts of up to nearly 50 per cent.

Aligners are used to straighten teeth and are worn over a period of several months or years.

READ MORE: One in 10 people have performed DIY dentistry, poll finds

But Dr Sadozai, a cosmetic dentist who works in practices across Worcestershire, says some patients are straightening their teeth without being assessed, posing a huge threat to their dental health.

Some people are even taking their own impressions at home, which can lead to a number of errors and distortions.

Dr Sadozai said: "These companies aren't screening for decay and gum disease or assessing the jaw joint health of their customers.

"I've had to refuse patients' orthodontics requests for having poor oral hygiene or gum disease. But [companies] will happily sell to anyone.

"The price is so cheap for a reason. And users are suffering recurrent headaches, jaw damage and tooth loss as a result of their new teeth position.

"As these companies are becoming more popular on social media, more and more lawsuits are being launched against them."

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Many disgruntled customers have taken to the internet to share their experiences of cheap dental alignment treatments, saying they've been left with long-term health problems as a result of the procedure.

Taking to Reddit, one said: "My wife…she could no longer bite down with her front teeth.

"Her dentist told her that her bite is now seriously messed up.

Another added: "I used DIY aligners for 6 months and almost lost a tooth because of them.

"Only after basically buddy-taping my front lateral incisor to the neighbouring teeth, was my dentist able to salvage it."

A third said: "I have had to undergo jaw surgery as result of using the aligners, and the company I used wasn’t supposed to have even admitted me as a patient."

*AMENDMENT*

The article previously stated Dr Anam Sadozai was the owner of Shrubbery Dental Practice. However, this has now been changed to say that Dr Sadozai works there. The practice is owned by Sally-Anne Clarke and Jessica Crawford-Clarke.