When looking at options to straighten teeth, correct overbite, underbite, and other conditions, Invisalign® clear aligners are a very popular choice, but there are alternatives that may work for you.
Invisalign clear aligners are provided through in-office treatment and can correct mild to severe issues. However, they can be costly (usually around $5,000), they require regular office visits, and they take some time to work. Below, we will discuss other in-office options and at-home options that may work for you. In general, at-home clear aligners are more appropriate for less severe issues such as mild straightening or correcting spacing.
In-Office Clear Aligner Options
ClearCorrect®
ClearCorrect is Invisalign’s only direct competitor. Like Invisalign, your dentist will develop and oversee your treatment, adding attachments and appliances when necessary to correct a wider range of conditions than at-home systems can. Like Invisalign, ClearCorrect can correct more severe conditions and a wider variety of issues including overbite and underbite.
Some advantages to ClearCorrect are that it can be less expensive, and it uses a thinner plastic that can reduce their visibility (but could make them less durable).
In general, ClearCorrect is more affordable option that allows you to treat the same types of issues that Invisalign can treat.
Six Month Smiles®
Six Month Smiles offers clear braces and aligners that are fitted by a dentist. With this treatment system, regular visits to the dental office are required, however, since your treatment will usually take only about six months, these visits will be fewer than with options that take longer to work. This can sometimes reduce the cost of treatment, making them more affordable than options such as Invisalign.
Six Month Smiles is a good option for people who have minor alignment issues they want to resolve quickly, but with face-to-face oversight from a dentist. The shorter treatment time does mean that these aligners provide similar results to at-home treatments and are not able to resolve more complex issues like overbite, underbite, etc.
At-Home Clear Aligner Alternatives to Invisalign
In general, at-home alternatives cannot match the intensity of treatment offered by Invisalign. However, many at-home alternatives can be enough to allow you to get the results you desire. The following at-home alternatives may work well for you.
byte®
byte is a good alternative for people who want fast results but don’t mind that there is more work on the customer’s end, as the company has no physical locations. byte’s aligners usually work in just three months, versus Invisalign, which usually takes 12-months of treatment. byte also offers a treatment that allows you to wear the aligner for just 10 hours a day, rather than the 22-plus hours required for Invisalign.
With byte, customers have to take impressions of their teeth on their own, which some people find difficult. Then each customer is assigned a personal customer service advisor who will check in throughout treatment. byte does guarantee its treatment, with a “byte-for-life guarantee,” so if your teeth shift even years after treatment, the company will create new aligners to re-adjust them.
Candid®
Candid has several advantages you will want to consider when looking at at-home alignment options. On average, Candid treatments are complete in about six months. While it is much less costly than Invisalign, it is more expensive than other at-home aligner systems, and financing plans require a credit check to qualify.
Aligners from Candid are similar to Invisalign in how they are structured and how they look. The company works only with orthodontists, which is not always the case with at-home companies, and offers excellent customer service. In fact, it is the only at-home aligner company that has a Remote Monitoring service to help your assigned orthodontist monitor your progress throughout treatment. With this service, you will check in with your assigned orthodontist every 7 to 10 days throughout the process. Candid also does have some physical locations.
AlignerCo®
A major advantage of AlignerCo is that it is one of the least expensive at-home systems and offers several financing plans that most people can qualify for. AlignerCo’s system costs a little more than $1,000. Also, credit checks are not required for financing.
Like byte, AlignerCo does not have physical locations, so customers must make their own teeth impressions to begin treatment. The company works with orthodontists and general dentists, so you won’t know for sure if you’ll have orthodontic specialists managing your treatment.
SmileDirectClub®
One of the most well-known and popular at-home aligner company is SmileDirectClub. Treatment is convenient, and the company has more than 300 physical locations around the country. Your impression will be taken at one of these physical locations (called SmileShops), so you won’t have to try to do it on your own as with some of the other options described here.
The cost for treatment with SmileDirectClub aligners quite affordable compared to Invisalign, with a price-tag right around $2,000. Treatments include aligners that can be worn only at night. Other aligners, including Invisalign, require patients to wear them 22 hours a day.
With SmileDirectClub, every customer can qualify for financing and payment plans without a credit check. This can vary somewhat among specific providers.
SmileDirectClub aligners are more limited, however, in what conditions they can treat. They generally are used for mild to moderate tooth crowding and spacing problems.
How to Choose?
Your choice will depend on many factors depending on what you want to correct, how much you want to spend, and personal preference on how you receive your treatment. A consultation with a dental health care provider is the place to start to make sure that no matter which treatment option you choose, you will get the outcome you desire.