Reveal Clear Aligners Review: Are They Worth It?

Visit Website

Never heard of Reveal Clear Aligners? You aren’t alone. Launched in 2019, they are young for a company offering in-office aligners and don’t yet have the brand name recognition of Invisalign or a large conglomerate behind them, like 3M Clarity. Despite this, they are quickly gaining steam, with a process, results, and aligner appearance that both dentists and patients love.

But the big question is: are they right for you? That’s why we’ve created this guide! Here’s everything you need to know to decide if Reveal is a good fit.

How Does Reveal Work?

Reveal Clear Aligners launched in 2019, and despite having just a few short years in business — some of which were during quarantine — the company has seen rapid growth. Most major cities have multiple providers, as well as many suburbs and some rural areas.

A subsidiary of Henry Schein Orthodontics, a company with over four decades of experience making orthodontic appliances, Reveal is backed by plenty of research, trial and error, and excellent manufacturing processes. So despite its youth, we think there is still a lot to inspire confidence.

Designed to compete with at-home aligner systems, Reveal lets you get started with an online assessment. If they feel you are a good fit, they’ll connect you with a local provider for a more detailed in-person assessment. Your doctor collaborates with Reveal’s software to plan treatment, and you’ll schedule in-person or virtual check-ins about every 4–10 weeks.

Like remote aligners, Reveal is meant to move the teeth through shape alone — though they can incorporate attachments if necessary — and the system is designed for correcting mild-to-moderate misalignments with its base tier. Its higher tier can correct complex cases, but not all providers offer it. Most dentists and orthodontists will only offer Reveal if they feel confident it can resolve your case in 60 weeks or fewer.

Pros and Cons of Reveal

We think Reveal is a solid, research-backed system that offers several unique and appealing features. But they aren’t perfect and won’t work for everyone. This guide will discuss their scope of treatment, affordability, convenience, appearance, and customer support. You’ll find the details below, but to kick things off, here are the top pros and cons to keep in mind.

Scope of Treatment

Like all aligner systems, Reveal is an investment. Before you spend thousands of dollars on it, you need to know that Reveal can tackle your alignment issues. And since it’s often limited in its scope of treatment, this is a legitimate concern.

Reveal typically treats mild-to-moderate misalignments, mainly class I or II malocclusions.

If you’re worried that your misalignment is too severe for Reveal, you can start with an online assessment through their website. You’ll answer a few questions and upload an image of your smile. Then, the team at Reveal will go over your form and determine if you might be a good fit.

If they think you could benefit from Reveal treatment, they’ll connect you with a doctor in your area to receive a thorough assessment. It’s possible this will uncover deeper issues that exclude you from treatment, but most likely, you will be able to move forward with their aligners. The Reveal website claims their aligners can treat the following issues:

• Crowding
• Crooked teeth
• Spacing
• Overjet
• Open bite
• Certain cases of overbite
• Certain cases of underbite
• Certain cases of crossbite

Remember that Reveal has two tiers of treatment: their basic system, just called Reveal, and Reveal Plus. The higher tier includes additional features that expand the scope of treatment, including:

• More fine-tuned control of the case
• Carriere Motion 3D protocols
• Tooth movement tools
• Elastic slits
• Bite ramps
• Smart Rx default clinical preferences
• The ability to add or adjust attachments

Reveal is competing more with at-home aligners than other in-office options.

Both general dentists and orthodontists can offer Reveal treatment, but the system leans more towards dentists. It’s simple, intuitive to use, and meant to tackle more straightforward cases. While it can address complex cases, this isn’t the focus, and many providers don’t offer moderate-to-severe misalignment treatment. Essentially, if you have a case that qualifies for at-home aligner therapy, you should qualify for Reveal.

Reveal’s treatment plans don’t often incorporate attachments.

Essentially, Reveal avoids using attachments with their aligners in any cases that don’t require bite adjustments. If you do need bite adjustments, Reveal providers typically only incorporate attachments until they achieve the desired results; not the rest of treatment.

Attachments help the aligners grip your teeth better, improving their control and range of dental movements. Reveal says their software and manufacturing allow for a more precise fit directly against the teeth. However, attachments could still expand their scope of treatment.

Reveal aligners use a proprietary plastic called ClearWear.

This material is very stiff and designed to provide a precise fit. Henry Schein Orthodontics developed it, and other aligner brands use it as well, but besides being BPA- and phthalate-free, there’s not much information on it.

Affordability

The number-one barrier standing between most adults and their dream smile is money. Most orthodontic treatments are prohibitively expensive, and until recently, there weren’t any alternatives to pricey systems sold through dental and orthodontic offices. But with the emergence of at-home aligners, traditional companies need to compete, and Reveal does.

Reveal treatment costs $2,000–$5,000 on average, according to the company’s website.

While your costs might fall outside this range, most people will find the price of treatment lands somewhere in the middle. This makes Reveal one of the most affordable in-office aligner systems on the market. Compare it to Invisalign and Clarity, which cost $3,000–$8,000. Even Six Months Smiles, Reveal’s closest in-office competitor, typically costs more, ranging from $3,500 to $5,000.

When you put Reveal up against at-home aligners, though, the savings aren’t as significant. AlignerCo, the most affordable remote aligner company in the US, is just $995. NewSmile is close behind at $1,595, while Byte is just $2,199. It can cost less than Candid, though. As a hybrid option, Candid is the most similar to Reveal, and it starts around $3,500+.

There are a lot of factors that can impact the price you pay, so don’t go into your consultation with a specific dollar amount in mind.

According to Reveal, case complexity and the specifics of your treatment plan affect your price the most. However, there are many other variables in play. For example, if you are in a high-cost-of-living area, your dentist will need to build overhead like utilities and rent into their fees. And if you need to treat other oral health issues first, this will drive up your total costs as well. The good news is that your Reveal consultation is free when you get started online, so you don’t need to pay anything to kick things off.

While it’s affordable compared to most in-office systems, you might find that the cost of Reveal is more than you can manage out of pocket.

If you have dental insurance with adult orthodontic coverage, it should pay for part of your treatment. In most cases, insurance will cover 50% or less, though some policies have a lifetime limit per person or policy instead. Due to Reveal’s low cost, if your policy has a lifetime limit, your insurance could pay for your treatment in full. If you don’t have coverage or your out-of-pocket costs are still high after using your benefits, you can also use an HSA or FSA account, if you have one.

Your last option to consider is financing. Reveal does not offer payment plans directly to patients but most dental offices will. If yours doesn’t, third-party financiers are another option, just be sure to read the fine print to avoid high interest and fees.

Convenience

Among customers who have used both systems, many say that clear aligners, on the whole, are easier to use than braces. That said, each system offers its own level of convenience. Reveal can’t match the convenience of at-home treatments, but we think it’s typically more convenient than other in-office systems.

Reveal is a relatively new system, so it has somewhat limited availability.

If you live in or near a major city, it’s pretty much a guarantee you’ll have at least one provider within easy driving distance. The more rural you are, the more spotty availability gets. But unlike lesser-known systems, you could still find a dentist offering it near you. When we used their find a provider feature, we noticed many in suburban areas and some in rural-adjacent areas.

If you have a provider nearby, getting started can be pretty easy.

You can kick things off with an online assessment — something few in-office companies offer — and the in-person evaluation process is straightforward. If the dentist approves you for treatment, they’ll draw up a plan and send you a preview of your potential future smile. If you give the go-ahead, they’ll order your aligners, which should arrive at the office in 3–4 weeks.

Reveal’s treatment timeline is slightly shorter than some of its in-office competitors.

Reveal wants their maximum treatment length to be 60 weeks. For many, treatment only takes half that. This means that you can expect to get your final results in roughly a year or less.

During that time, you’ll have office visits every 4–10 weeks, with many doctors leaning more towards the high end of that range. Some doctors also might offer remote monitoring, but it’s not standard. You’ll need to speak to your doctor to see if it might work for you.

Appearance

Most people think the best-looking aligners are the least visible ones. You might expect all clear aligners to look the same, but there are slight variations between providers. Reveal considers its aligners’ appearance to be one of their biggest selling points — but we’re not sure if they have an advantage over the competition.

Reveal rarely uses attachments. They only incorporate them when bite adjustments are required.

As noted above, this makes their aligners less effective, but it also boosts their appearance. Even discreet attachments are visible at certain angles since they stick out from the teeth. And some attachments, like elastics and buttons, are never easy to hide. Unless you have a complex case, attachments won’t be an issue with your Reveal treatment.

The company claims that their aligners are clearer than those from leading brands.

Whether that’s a good thing is a matter of personal preference. Frosted aligners tend to reflect light similar to the way enamel does, which we think can help them blend in with teeth. But being ultra-clear can ensure everyone sees right through them; in our opinion, they don’t blend into the teeth so much as they are just less visible overall.

The issue here is that ultra-clarity also means the aligners are more reflective, while the teeth are matte. We think this contrast might make it easier for some people to realize you are wearing aligners, although some people prefer a slightly shinier smile.

Reveal also claims their aligners are more stain resistant than others.

In fact, on their website, they guarantee the aligners won’t stain or cloud. While you should still remove them when eating and only wear them for the 1–2 weeks prescribed, you have less to worry about with your morning coffee, afternoon tea, or red wine.

Patient Experience

Your Reveal experience starts with an initial consultation and ends with a beautiful smile — but what about all the minutiae in between? From modes of communication to what happens when things go wrong, your patient experience colors how you view your treatment. Patient support depends on the provider you choose, but we think in-person care is usually highly personalized and helpful.

Your doctor determines the available channels of communication.

For many offices, this means phone calls or in-person conversations only — but times are changing. More and more doctors are offering other methods of communication, including web chat and texting through patient portal apps. If you need a specific mode of communication, screen providers for it before signing on for treatment.

Support quality varies across providers, but we think direct oversight can personalize your experience and help treatment go smoothly.

This is the main reason to consider Reveal over at-home aligner systems, which leave you on your own aside from occasional virtual check-ins. Even if you find a Reveal provider who uses remote monitoring, you still check in with the same person each time, someone who knows you well and has seen you in person.

With these visits, your dentist can catch any potential issues early on. You also get the chance to ask questions and get advice. They may not always be convenient, but there are clear benefits to office visits.

Guarantees and warranties depend on your doctor.

Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist direct questions about things like refunds, broken aligners, and treatment results that don’t match your goals. You need to know that if things go wrong, you’ll be properly protected. While it varies between providers, most will have solid policies in place.

Best Alternatives to Reveal

We think that Reveal could work well for anyone seeking to correct mild-to-moderate misalignments, who wants oversight blended with convenience, or just needs affordable treatment. Still, they aren’t the only option. From comprehensive treatment to the best in remote aligners, here are three alternatives to keep in mind.

Invisalign

This is the brand most people associate with clear aligner therapy — and with good reason. They’re the originators, have continued to innovate over the decades, and can treat nearly any bite or alignment issue. You’ll spend thousands more for treatment if you choose Invisalign over Reveal, but if you have a complex case, it’s a good idea to consider it.

Want a closer look? Read our in-depth review of Invisalign.

Byte

If you are drawn to Reveal because of its price and convenience, give Byte a look. They claim an average treatment plan length of 4–5 months and charge $2,199 for complete treatment — just below the low end of Reveal’s price range. This price includes the HyperByte, a device that Byte says may reduce discomfort and that certain studies suggest might encourage faster tooth movements for some customers.

Interested? Read our in-depth review of Byte.

Candid

Many people are attracted to Reveal because it is convenient but affordable. Candid can sometimes have a higher price point (treatment starts at $3,500) but as a hybrid option, we think it blends the best of remote and in-person care. This means you get the benefits of both, seeing your dentist in person at the start and finish, and checking in directly with them through an app in between.

For more info, read our in-depth review of Candid.

Summary: Is Reveal Right for You?

Reveal might be a newcomer to the world of clear aligners, but we think it offers some excellent features, including a low price, fast treatment times, and impressive availability.

If you have a complex case, want matte aligners, or are looking for something even more affordable, you might need a different system. Still, in our view, many people can benefit from Reveal’s offerings.