ClearCorrect Review: Best Clear Aligner Option in Australia?

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Clear aligners are the most popular alternative to braces, and one name dominates the landscape: Invisalign. But it’s not the only quality option available in Australia. ClearCorrect is a highly effective in-office clear aligner brand that delivers stunning smile transformations, often for a lower price than Invisalign. But is it the best option for you?

In this review, we take a deep dive into ClearCorrect treatment — from the effectiveness of their products to their patient support — and look at how it stacks up against the competition.

How Does ClearCorrect Work?

All clear aligners make dental shifts by applying pressure to the teeth, pushing them in the right direction. The first aligner in your series is slightly different from your current teeth position, and by the time you finish wearing it (you’ll wear each one for 1–3 weeks, depending on your plan), your teeth will perfectly match its shape.

Then, you’ll switch to the next aligner in the series. Once again, it will be just slightly different from your teeth, but after 1–3 weeks, your teeth will match its shape. Each subsequent aligner will make another tiny shift until your teeth are perfectly straight.

Once you finish your treatment, you’ll need retainers to keep your teeth in place. You only need to wear them full time for a few weeks, but after that, you’ll wear them overnight for the rest of your life.

Is ClearCorrect a Good Option? Our Perspective.

ClearCorrect is a legitimate company offering high-quality orthodontic treatment. It has a documented history of success and earned approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration as well as other regulatory agencies across the globe. Some people might call it an Invisalign knock-off, but it’s a genuine treatment that stands on its own merits.

Overall, ClearCorrect is a good option for many patients. But it isn’t right for everyone. Here is a quick overview of the system’s pros and cons.

Effectiveness

Although it’s more affordable than other in-office options, ClearCorrect is still a significant investment, so you want to make sure it can deliver the results you want. And ClearCorrect delivers excellent results for most patients. Thanks to consistent in-person care, top-notch materials, and supplemental attachments, their treatments boast exceptional effectiveness, especially when compared to fully at-home aligner options like Byte.

ClearCorrect can treat almost any misalignment, including bite issues.

The hands-on care you’ll receive from your dentist, plus the orthodontic attachments they can apply to your aligners, make ClearCorrect capable of correcting a wide range of dental and jaw misalignments, including:

• Crowding
• Spacing
• Crossbite
• Edge-to-edge bite
• Excessive overbite
• Open bite
• Midline shift
• Deep bite

ClearCorrect’s proprietary attachments, called “Engagers,” are tooth-colored shapes affixed to your teeth surfaces that help the aligners make more significant and complex movements. Only a dentist or orthodontist can apply them, so at-home treatments can’t incorporate them to achieve the same power.

Regular appointments with your dentist will ensure that your smile transformation is safe and monitored continuously.

One of the biggest advantages of any in-office treatment is the amount of face-to-face oversight you get. With ClearCorrect, you will see your doctor every 4–10 weeks, depending on your needs and treatment plan.

Frequent office visits can be inconvenient, but the oversight they provide is extremely beneficial. Every few weeks, your doctor will evaluate your progress and take a quick look at your general oral health. If necessary, they will add attachments, make adjustments, and provide feedback on any other treatments or support you might need.

ClearCorrect uses state-of-the-art materials and technology to design your aligners.

ClearCorrect previously used materials that were thinner than their competitors. As a result, their aligners were less powerful and patients said they wore down quickly. In 2020, however, ClearCorrect switched to a high-performance material called ClearQuartz — a premium dental plastic designed with three layers:

• An outer shell with low porosity.
• An inner elastic layer.
• A second outer shell with low porosity.

Each layer is equally thick. The outer shells help maintain the aligners’ strength and prevent stains, while the inner layer allows a small amount of flexibility that increases comfort.

ClearCorrect aligners slightly overlap the gums, increasing their power.

There are two different ways to cut clear aligners: scalloped to match the gum line and straight across the top. Originally, ClearCorrect chose the scalloped cut because it doesn’t overlap the gums, decreasing its visibility.

However, research emerged that showed straight-cut aligners generate greater force than scalloped ones. Researchers also discovered that scalloped aligners are more likely to cause gum pain and injury since they can dig into the area where the gums meet the teeth.

Today, ClearCorrect uses straight-cut aligners. This gives them an advantage over their competition, since they’re the only well-known company that harnesses the force of the straight cut with the additional leverage of attachments.

Affordability

No matter which company and dentist you choose, orthodontic treatment isn’t cheap. ClearCorrect is often less expensive than other in-office treatments, but it’s still typically pricier than at-home competitors. Of course, that cost gets you a powerful treatment and the reassurance of in-person oversight throughout the process. Plus, insurance coverage and financing might help make the price more reasonable.

ClearCorrect can cost anywhere between $3,500 and $12,500, depending on the severity of your case.

ClearCorrect treatment doesn’t have a set price. The company charges doctors flat rates for their products, but the price you pay includes much more than just the cost of aligners. Some factors that can affect your cost include:

• Your doctor’s level of experience.
• The location of the dental or orthodontic office.
• How many aligners you need.
• The complexity of your misalignment.
• The frequency of your office visits.
• The various fees your doctor includes in the cost of treatment.

ClearCorrect costs somewhere between $3,500 and $12,500. This is a wide range, but there is a good reason for it. ClearCorrect offers different price structures based on your needs, one of which gives you access to as many aligners as you might need for up to five years. However, they charge less in lab fees than Invisalign, so most cases fall on the lower end of that range.

It ultimately depends on your specific condition. Severe misalignments require more time, aligners, and office visits, so they’re often more expensive to correct.

ClearCorrect’s multiple pricing models choose the most cost-effective one for your condition.

The Unlimited model is the most comprehensive, providing as many aligners and revisions as you need for five years. It’s also the most expensive. However, if you have a milder condition, you can go with one of their limited plans. Their Mini plan gives you 12 aligners, One gives you up to 24, Two provides up to 48, and Three includes up to 72. Plus, they have a more flexible alternative that’s appropriately named “Flex.” This plan allows you to pay per aligner, so if you only need 15 aligners, you won’t pay for anything extra.

These plans are similar to Invisalign’s Express and Limited models, which cost less than their standard treatment and are best suited for mild cases. At-home aligners usually just have one pricing option.

You’ll typically only get insurance coverage from private plans.

Medicare rarely covers dental treatments. It will sometimes cover orthodontic care that benefits your overall health. However, most ClearCorrect patients are making alignment changes that are either cosmetic or only address oral health concerns, which means they do not qualify for treatment.

If you have a private dental policy, it might offer some coverage. Just keep in mind that if you are only making cosmetic changes, ClearCorrect treatment could be excluded. Verify with your policy provider before starting treatment.

Many dentists offer payment plans or financing for ClearCorrect, but they often require a credit check.

Even on the low end of its typical price spectrum, ClearCorrect isn’t cheap, and the average person likely won’t be able to pay the entire cost up front. Many doctor’s offices offer in-house financing plans, but they usually require a credit check, a down payment, or both. That’s why it’s nice that some at-home aligner treatments provide in-house financing plans that don’t require a credit check.

There are also third-party lenders who can help you fit treatment costs into your monthly budget. Whether from an office or a third party, most financing plans include interest, so you’ll end up paying slightly more overall.

Convenience

Aside from the cost, one of the biggest barriers to pursuing cosmetic dentistry is the significant time commitment of traditional orthodontics. Invisalign and ClearCorrect might be able to tackle severe misalignments, but they also often take a year or more to do it, and they require office visits every step of the way.

Those office visits, plus longer treatment times, make ClearCorrect less convenient than fully remote options like Byte and SmilePath, although ClearCorrect and other in-office options have more streamlined startup procedures.

Getting started with ClearCorrect may be easier than getting started with home aligners.

Starting ClearCorrect treatment is pretty simple: find a provider, schedule an appointment, get your teeth examined, have a few diagnostics taken, and talk about your smile goals. The hardest step is the first one — finding a doctor who works with ClearCorrect. It’s one of the largest in-office clear aligner companies, but doesn’t have nearly as many providers as Invisalign. Even on their official website, ClearCorrect acknowledges that you may need to ask multiple doctors for leads before you find a provider.

The diagnostics are fairly simple. Most providers will use a digital scanner to create a 3D rendering of your teeth, plus take some photographs. In rare cases, they may also take X-rays. They upload everything into the ClearCorrect treatment planning program, allowing your doctor and the algorithms to design your treatment plan collaboratively.

This is much simpler than using an impression kit to make moulds of your teeth, like you’d have to with some at-home aligner companies. It’s tough to make perfectly accurate impressions by yourself, and some customers need multiple tries to get it right. An office visit ensures you’re getting perfect dental images on the first try.

Regular office visits keep your treatment on track, but they’re also a time commitment.

ClearCorrect treatment revolves around your office visits, which are required every 4–10 weeks, depending on your condition and treatment plan. These visits provide the benefits of face-time with your dentist and more reliable results, but it still means taking time out of your busy schedule.

You might need to fit in 18 appointments or more before your treatment is complete. Considering most doctors are only open during typical working hours, you may have to take time off work or school to fit them in.

ClearCorrect treatment lasts 6–18 months, depending on your condition.

You’ll no doubt be itching to see your new smile from the day you begin treatment. If you choose ClearCorrect, you might see results sooner than you would with other in-office treatments.

ClearCorrect’s average treatment time ranges from six to 18 months. Thanks to its straight-cut aligners and attachments, it can exert significant force on your teeth, moving them efficiently. Of course, treatment timelines vary between patients. If you do not follow your treatment plan or have significant changes to make, you can expect a longer treatment.

Appearance

The most appealing part of clear aligner treatment for many adults is their invisibility. Unlike braces, aligners blend into the teeth and are barely noticeable at all. With that said, each brand looks slightly different, and which one you prefer depends on your particular tastes and style.

ClearCorrect aligners are smooth and translucent, which doesn’t perfectly match your natural teeth surfaces.

You might not realize it, but your teeth have slightly textured surfaces. This is because they are porous, which makes them look matte rather than shiny, and leaves them vulnerable to stains.

ClearCorrect’s ClearQuartz material is much smoother and more translucent than their previous materials, which appeared textured and frosted. Some people think that this makes the teeth look unnaturally shiny, while others prefer a translucent aligner for the way it makes their teeth gleam.

Since they overlap your gums, ClearCorrect aligners can be slightly more visible.

Another key aspect of aligner appearance is their cut, and ClearCorrect’s cut can make them slightly more visible. They cut their aligners straight across at the top instead of trimming them to match the gum line. So when you flash a big smile, people nearby might notice the slight overlap between your aligners and gums.

ClearCorrect can add attachments and elastics for more power, but they will also make your aligners more visible.

As we mentioned earlier, your dentist may need to supplement your ClearCorrect treatment with Engagers, tooth-colored buttons that blend in with your teeth fairly well, similar to Invisalign’s SmartForce attachments. They make your aligners more powerful, but also more noticeable. At-home aligner systems can’t incorporate any attachments, which makes their aligners less powerful, but also more discreet.

Remove your ClearCorrect aligners before eating and drinking to avoid stains.

ClearCorrect aligners are reasonably stain-resistant, although we certainly wouldn’t recommend drinking coffee, red wine, or other dark liquids while wearing them. To be safe, you should only drink water while wearing your aligners.

Patient Experience

When comparing aligner companies, it is easy to focus on things like effectiveness and appearance. But that’s not the entire patient experience. Sure, straighter teeth and good-looking aligners will boost your confidence, but how will your provider field and resolve questions and concerns?

Consistent in-person care makes ClearCorrect’s patient experience a lot more personalized and supportive than most other clear aligner treatments, especially at-home ones that put you in touch with a remote representative instead of a doctor who knows your teeth intimately.

As an in-office clear aligner brand, ClearCorrect has helpful and individualized customer support.

Most dental offices are available by phone during working hours, and many are embracing more modern methods, including patient portal apps that allow for secure text messaging.

When you reach out with a question, concern, or problem, you don’t want to wait too long for a response. Doctors’ offices are pretty responsive — contact them during office hours on a weekday and you’ll likely get an instant response, or at least an answer within a few hours. However, over the weekend or in the evenings, you’ll usually need to wait longer. But when you do get in touch, you’ll reach someone who knows you and your teeth personally, and who can provide highly individualized support.

Compare this to at-home aligner companies, which use teams of remote support representatives instead. They can still provide solid customer service, but it’s not as personal or streamlined as in-person care.

ClearCorrect’s consistent oversight can help address problems mid-treatment to keep your smile on track.

Every 4–10 weeks, your doctor will examine your teeth in person, and this can make a significant difference in your results. If your teeth aren’t moving as planned, your doctor can make adjustments to get you back on track.

With home aligners, you can submit a request to speak with your dentist online, but you have to wait for their response. And some providers have long wait times for support. During office visits, however, your dentist can alter your wear schedule or even add attachments on the spot, so you won’t need to wait if your treatment is not going according to plan.

Refund and Warranty Policies

ClearCorrect does not offer any refunds. However, your doctor might. Talk to them about the specifics of their policies before you pay for treatment.

However, if your finished smile doesn’t look like the one from your treatment preview, you can get refinement aligners — potentially for free, depending on your plan. ClearCorrect’s Mini and Flex plans don’t include any refinements, the One plan includes one, Two includes two, and Three includes three. If you opt for the Unlimited plan, however, you get all the aligners you need for five years, including refinements.

ClearCorrect offers a 90-day warranty on all aligners from the day your dentist receives them, but that’s between them and your doctor, not you. Like other in-office treatments, all the contracts are between the company and your provider.

Best Alternatives to ClearCorrect

ClearCorrect offers incredible treatment, and if you choose them, you’ll likely be thrilled with your experience and results. However, some aspects of their treatment aren’t ideal for everyone. Maybe you aren’t up for the office visits, or perhaps the cost doesn’t fit your budget. Whatever the case, you’ve got other options. Here are the top three we recommend.

#1 Byte: $2,749

Byte is our favorite clear aligner service. They started selling their treatment kits in the U.S. in 2018 and began operations in Australia in 2020. They boast a highly efficient treatment — many customers see results in four months. Plus, they offer an affordable cost of treatment, quality customer support, and a lifetime guarantee.

#2 EZ Smile: $2,499

EZ Smile was the first company in Australia to offer at-home aligner treatment, though SmileDirectClub took it more mainstream. While they don’t have the best treatment times or as many included items as Byte, they do have affordable prices and great customer service. Most customers are very pleased with their treatment, and we’re confident that if you choose their service, you will be too.

#3 SmileDirectClub: $3,149

SmileDirectClub has served more than 1.5 million customers worldwide — they’re the most experienced at-home clear aligner provider by far. SmileDirectClub offers nighttime-only treatment, prorated refunds, and a lifetime guarantee on your smile. Plus, they boast several retail locations where you can schedule a free intraoral scan to begin your treatment. With SmileDirectClub, you’ll receive convenient treatment from a highly experienced provider.

#4 SmilePath: $1,674

SmilePath doesn’t have as many bells or whistles, but that helps them maintain the lowest price in the industry: just $1,899 for the full treatment. And low costs don’t mean inferior quality either; you still get great aligners and results. You’ll also get to choose from multiple financing options to make it even easier to pay.

Final Thoughts

ClearCorrect might be the right choice for you if:

• You have severe alignment issues.
• You want in-office oversight at a lower cost.
• You want a company with a long record of success.
• You already have a doctor in mind and it’s the clear aligner brand they offer.

However, ClearCorrect isn’t the only quality clear aligner brand available. We encourage you to compare your options before making a final decision!