Since Invisalign was invented, several other clear aligner systems and adult orthodontic treatments have been introduced. These include systems only available at your dental office and brands marketed for home use.
Orthodontic treatments available in your dental office are more expensive, but treatment plans tend to be more highly customized. Therefore, if you have more complex orthodontic problems requiring correction, it’s probably better to visit a dentist or orthodontist for treatment. In-office treatment can also be good for anyone who would prefer to have their treatment provided by a dentist or orthodontist and wouldn’t be comfortable relying on a home-use kit. For example, this might be someone who doesn’t want to work remotely with sales staff and instead wishes to work with a proper dental professional and doesn’t mind paying for this treatment.
If you have more mild problems to correct or perhaps have had an orthodontic relapse, a brand just for home use may be okay. An orthodontic relapse occurs when someone has had orthodontic treatment earlier but hasn’t worn their retainers as recommended upon finishing treatment and has seen their teeth shift back to their original positions. Unwanted tooth movements can also occur due to age.
Home use kits can be suitable for anybody on a tighter budget or who lacks the time to make regular trips to their dental office and who doesn’t mind working remotely with sales staff rather than a dental professional.
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Which Are the Best at-Home Kits Instead of Invisalign?
Some of the better kits for home use are outlined below.
Byte
This kit includes a high-frequency vibration device that is supposed to help the aligners fit more comfortably and potentially encourage faster tooth movements. When you sign up for this service, you get a customer service adviser who you can deal with each time, and you also get a lifetime guarantee, so if your teeth shift later, you can get a new set of aligners to realign them. However, this guarantee does depend on purchasing retainers every six months and using them as directed. If you do this, in theory, your teeth shouldn’t move. This system is best for people with mild to moderate problems affecting their bite and where treatment is mainly cosmetically oriented, focusing on only the front teeth.
NewSmile
This system is one of the cheaper ones available, and with it, you get an impression kit so your aligners can be made, a set of retainers, and a home teeth whitening kit. You can expect to finish treatment within six months, and there is the option of only wearing aligners at night so that treatment can be very discreet.
AlignerCo
This company is a relative newcomer to the home aligner market but offers an extremely low price that is hundreds of dollars less than other treatments. It should take six months or less to finish straightening your teeth. You get started with a home impression kit, and there is remote oversight to help track your progress. However, this can be far less reassuring than the oversight of a qualified dental team.
Which are the Best In-Office Treatments Instead of Invisalign?
Your dentist can offer good alternatives to Invisalign, including the following systems.
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ClearCorrect
This company is the nearest competitor to Invisalign and is very similar. It has been around for over 15 years and is renowned for providing high-quality results that can be more cost-effective. ClearCorrect can keep prices competitive by charging dentists less for their lab fees. Dental impressions are taken using a proprietary system, and because you are under the care of a dentist, a far greater range of bite problems can be treated. These include issues like overbites, underbites, and crossbites.
The system also has an application that allows attachments to be added to the aligners, similar to a system used by Invisalign. These attachments help improve more complex tooth movements and provide greater accuracy.
The actual price of these aligners depends on the complexity of your bite problems, and your treatment plan is fully customized. Because ClearCorrect is not as widely used as Invisalign, finding a dentist offering this system can be harder.
SureSmile
This company has been around for a while and can treat a similar level of malocclusions (a poor bite) as Invisalign. Its main advantage over Invisalign is its price. If you only require minor adjustments, the cost could be similar to using a home aligner kit, with all the advantages of being under the care of a dental professional.
Just like Invisalign, treatment is planned using sophisticated software, giving your dentist complete control over the predicted tooth movements, so there is less need to make adjustments after completing treatment. Two plans are available, as you can choose to cover the total cost of all aligners needed for three years or purchase them as needed.
While a great system, it is quite hard to track down a dentist using SureSmile.
3M Clarity Aligners
3M is a company that produces numerous dental products, including these aligners. The aligners can produce excellent results as they are made from high-quality plastic and have attachments to ensure tooth movements are more accurate and faster. These attachments are also smaller than other aligners, so it is easier for your dentist to locate them discreetly. Advanced software allows for accurate treatment planning, and even complex tooth movements can be achieved. However, the price is similar to Invisalign.
Candid
Candid is a bit different as it is a hybrid system, so you must visit a dentist combined with remote monitoring. Because it is hybrid, it can offer more comprehensive treatments than other home-use systems, and your dentist is kept informed throughout the process. Therefore, if you need additional dental visits, then these can be arranged.
Overall, treatment times are supposed to be shorter than Invisalign, and the system can be less expensive depending on your dentist’s fees. Once you have visited your dentist, your progress is monitored remotely, and your dentist can receive digital scans every couple of weeks to evaluate your progress continually. Any adjustments can be made as necessary, but this isn’t as good as in-office dental care.
Also, Candid cannot treat the same range of malocclusions as Invisalign, and this company doesn’t have nearly the same track record in teeth straightening as it is much newer.
Fixed Braces
Another option is to have fixed braces instead of removable aligners. This treatment would need to be supplied by your dentist or orthodontist but can sometimes be a better option than removable aligners. Although understandably, most adults prefer having removable aligners because treatment is so discreet, it’s worth considering fixed braces. The modern systems available are also designed to be discreet and far less noticeable than traditional metal braces.
Fixed braces can have clear or tooth-colored brackets attached to very thin wires. Sometimes, the wires are also tooth-colored. The brackets may be self-ligating, meaning there is no need to wear elastics. Several systems are available, and some can be fitted lingually on the inner surfaces of your teeth so they cannot be seen.
The advantage of having fixed braces is that they work continuously to straighten your teeth, so you don’t need to worry about forgetting to wear them, and they can provide extremely accurate tooth movements, which can be great when more complex problems need correction.
However, with fixed braces, you do need to watch your diet and avoid foods that are hard or crunchy, which could damage or break the braces, get stuck around them, or be difficult to remove. You also need to be vigilant about oral care, using the proper tools to clean around the brackets and wires thoroughly after each meal.
Compared to aligners, you simply remove them whenever you want to eat or drink anything. You can follow a normal oral care routine with clear aligners, just ensuring you clean the aligners thoroughly each time you remove them and reinsert them.
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How to Choose the Right Orthodontic Treatment?
Even if you want to use a home straightening system, it’s still an investment, so you must take the time to ensure you pick the right treatment choice. Ideally, it’s better to see a dentist first so they can assess your bite and discuss problems that require correction, determining if these issues are quite straightforward or more complicated.
In general, if your orthodontic treatment is complex, it’s always better to see a dentist. While at-home systems could provide great results, it’s worth taking a longer-term view as this is your dental health. If you are worried about the cost, try to choose a more affordable brand than Invisalign.
Otherwise, if you opt for Invisalign, you are assured of getting predictable results. You can also see the predicted results before you buy, as the software produces digital images showing how your new smile should look once you complete treatment. Also, many dental offices offer low-cost or zero-interest repayment schemes so you can afford high-quality dental care from a professional.