Investing in your smile is a smart use of your money. It helps build your confidence so that you are ready to socialize and show off your smile to everyone. Invisalign clear braces have certainly changed the way people look at braces since the product first made its way into the market. It has overcome the challenges that traditional metal braces once had, which is the unpleasant look of the metal wires on teeth. Nowadays, it is possible to fix your teeth and achieve your best smile with the use of clear braces.
What if you cannot afford to get Invisalign braces? Does it mean that you have to live with your misaligned, crooked, or overcrowded teeth? Thankfully, getting the smile you want is now easier with many at-home Invisalign alternatives in the market. These affordable options are non-invasive and cosmetically appealing, just like their more expensive counterpart.
Below are some of the alternatives for those who would like to fix their teeth without using Invisalign.
Smile Direct Club
In the list of Invisalign competitors, this is the name that is most prominent. Smile Direct Club is a company that operates online and sells clear aligners. It is considered as one of the best Invisalign alternatives because it offers cheaper products with the same results (as it claims). The reason why Smile Direct Club is cheaper is that it has eliminated the “middleman” in the equation. They work directly with licensed orthodontists to provide your treatment plan so you can get your aligners at a cheaper price.
The process starts by getting your dental impression so that your aligners can be custom-fitted based on your existing problem. There are two options available for getting your dental impression. The first one is to visit a SmileShop so that your impressions can be scanned. You can also opt to receive a 3D dental impression kit sent to your home address so you can perform the scan yourself.
Once they have a 3D model of your teeth, the licensed orthodontist will create a treatment program that is best suited to your individual case. The treatment plan will be sent to you and you can review it for approval. If you approve of the treatment plan, you must pay for the clear aligners so the custom-made ones can be sent to you. On average, the treatment plan will last for six months, but it can vary depending on the extent of the dental problem.
To make it easy for patients to afford, there is an option for a one-time payment or for the program to be paid in monthly installments. You can also purchase retainers for $99 so that you can wear them once you have completed the program. The use of the retainers is recommended to ensure that the teeth won’t shift back into their old position.
Clear Correct
Clear Correct is another highly recommended alternative to Invisalign braces. The company, like Smile Direct Club, also works with its licensed orthodontists to create clear aligners that are used to straighten teeth. The cost of the entire system is definitely cheaper than Invisalign; however, there are claims that their clear braces are also thinner and less sturdy. On the flip side, this makes them more discreet as they are less visible.
For those who have tried using Clear Correct aligners, they have cited that the results are comparable to that of Invisalign. The only advantage that Invisalign has is that it comes with planning software that will make for successful monitoring of treatment. Nonetheless, Clear Correct aligners are tailor-made and developed with the supervision of licensed orthodontists. This gives you the confidence that they will work effectively based on your dental care needs.
Another reason to try Clear Correct as an alternative is that it uses the same material that Invisalign once did. This is no longer the same, though, since Invisalign switched to a patented material, which many of its users cite as more comfortable to use.
Candid
Candid is another company that produces clear aligners in a direct-to-consumer format. Like most of the other companies listed here, treatments are also overseen by an experienced and licensed orthodontist. The main advantage is that it won’t require an in-office visit and you can implement the entire treatment program at home.
Just like Smile Direct Club, you will be sent a 3D impression kit. You will also be asked to take photos of your teeth to be sent along with your 3D model kit. All of these will be used by the orthodontist to design a treatment plan. Once your plan is devised, you will be given access to an interactive preview so you can better understand how the treatment plan will work. Once they have your approval, your aligners will be custom-made based on the proposed treatment plan. All of the aligners will be sent to your home address so you can use them over a period of six months (or less, depending on your case).
The cost of Candid treatment plan is a one-time fee of $2,400 or a monthly payment of $900.
What Is the Best Alternative to Invisalign?
A few more Invisalign alternatives that you should consider are Dandy, AlignerCo, SnapCorrect, and Smilelove. Most of these (except Dandy that requires some in-office visits) can be used at home. The cost of the systems ranges from $1,100 to as much as $2,600 with an average treatment period of 6 months.
If you want to improve your smile to the next level, you can add a teeth whitening system to your dental care routine. The Go Smile Double Action Teeth Whitening System is a 12-day kit that comes with everything you need to brighten your smile and remove surface stains. This system features a proprietary whitening serum that boosts the whitening action on your teeth such that it can address even the deepest stains.
When it comes to mild to moderate cases, at-home alternatives to Invisalign is a good option. Most of these companies are working with licensed orthodontists so you can still get the expert care you need. At the same time, it is very convenient to use because you can get everything done at home. You can also get your aligners shipped directly to your address. When choosing which system to use, make sure to consider various factors such as the quality of the treatment plan, cost, effectiveness, convenience, and reputation of the company.
There is a reason why Invisalign is expensive–it set the standard for clear aligners and braces. If you must choose an alternative, it is better to go for the ones that are most comparable in terms of the quality of care provided.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
