Many adults wish they had straighter teeth, but don’t have the time or money to spend on traditional orthodontic treatment. If that sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. At-home teeth alignment services administer treatment remotely using telehealth technology — eliminating the need for regular office visits.
We’ve identified and reviewed five excellent clear aligner brands that are available in an affordable and convenient at-home format. Read on as we outline the important details that set these companies apart, discuss the pros and cons of remote clear aligner treatment, and help you find the right option for you (and your budget)!
5 Best Home Clear Aligners
Best At-Home Clear Aligners: At a Glance
If you’re looking for quick info, here’s an overview of the best at-home clear aligner brands, starting with AlignerCo, our top pick for affordability. Keep in mind that there are significant differences between each of these providers. Further down this page we go into much more detail about key differences and things to consider, including special promotions that can help you save on your treatment.
How we Select and Review Clear Aligner Companies
Smile Prep has reviewed a total of 12 clear aligner brands in-depth. Review candidates include not only the most popular brands, but also several lesser known options that, in our view, have something unique to offer.
Smile Prep’s reviews offer the perspective of a well-informed consumer. This means that our views are not professional opinions, and we do not independently verify the claims the manufacturers make about their products. Instead, the value that we offer is to collect the claims that clear aligner companies make about their products and compare them for your convenience. We also analyze customer perspectives, including hundreds of reviews that we gathered directly from Smile Prep’s visitors. In many cases, we have also corresponded directly with company representatives and/or sampled products or impression kits first hand. You can learn more about our review process by checking out our publishing principles.
Are You a Good Candidate for At-Home Aligners?
At-home clear aligners offer an affordable and convenient way to enhance your smile without regular dental visits. However, this treatment format isn’t right for everyone.
Some patients have had disappointing experiences with at-home aligners, often because they had underlying dental issues that weren’t identified beforehand or because their case was too complex for remote treatment.
Before starting any at-home aligner treatment, we suggest:
- Having a recent dental check-up to rule out cavities, gum disease, or other oral health issues
- Discussing your interest in at-home clear aligners with your dentist
- Considering a hybrid option like Candid or Motto if you prefer some in-person professional oversight
This extra step can save you significant time, money, and potential disappointment down the road. Your dental health should always come first!
Detailed Comparison of Recommended Providers
AlignerCo: Best Value from a Proven Provider
AlignerCo offers the most budget-friendly option in the clear aligner industry. What sets them apart isn’t just their competitive pricing at $995, but their reputation for quality service and results. With over 3,000 verified reviews on Trustpilot and numerous positive customer testimonials collected by Smile Prep, they’ve established themselves as a reliable provider in the at-home clear aligner market.
Like other at-home aligner services, AlignerCo’s treatment is fully remote—you’ll take impressions at home and receive your aligners by mail. Their comprehensive package includes your impression kit, all aligners, and your first set of retainers, plus they frequently run promotions that make their already competitive pricing even more affordable.
AlignerCo Advantages
- AlignerCo’s $995 price point is among the most competitive in the industry—potentially saving patients thousands compared to in-office options and hundreds compared to many other at-home aligners. They also frequently offer promotional discounts.
- AlignerCo provides two different financing options, including one plan that doesn’t require a credit check, so everyone qualifies regardless of credit history.
- Every two weeks, AlignerCo’s dental team reviews photos of your teeth to ensure your treatment is progressing as planned, offering more consistent oversight than some competitors.
- AlignerCo has a nighttime-only aligner treatment called NightOnly, which requires ten hours of wear per day and they say takes 6–8 months on average. It costs $1,195 instead of the $995 for standard treatment.
- AlignerCo crafts their aligners using materials from Essix, a well-established dental supplier. This helps them produce aligners that are designed to be both durable and comfortable.
- With a well-established track record and thousands of positive reviews, AlignerCo has proven itself to be a reliable option in the at-home aligner market.
AlignerCo Drawbacks
- Unlike some at-home providers that have offered scanning options, AlignerCo relies exclusively on impression kits, which some customers find challenging to complete correctly.
- If your results don’t match your treatment preview, refinements cost $200 each, which isn’t covered in the initial price.
- Like all at-home aligners, AlignerCo can only treat mild-to-moderate misalignments and can’t correct severe cases or significant bite issues.
Thinking About AlignerCo?
If you’re looking for a highly affordable clear aligner treatment from an established provider and have been confirmed by your dentist as a good candidate for at-home treatment, AlignerCo offers exceptional value.
Special Offer: Get $150 off AlignerCo treatment
*Discount only applies to SmileAdvantage payment option*
Candid: Premium Treatment
Since hitting the market in 2017, Candid has continuously gone the extra mile to deliver a high-quality patient experience. They started as a fully remote clear aligner service, but have recently shifted to a hybrid treatment option called “CandidPro” that combines elements of in-office and at-home care.
After an initial in-person consultation and examination with a local dentist, you’ll check in virtually via their CandidMonitoring service every 14 days for the rest of your treatment. By keeping a local dentist involved for the entire treatment process, Candid offers a level of care that sets them apart from other services on this list.
Candid Advantages
- Although their “CandidPro” hybrid treatment model is fairly new, Candid is one of the most well-established brands that incorporates at-home care. Founded in 2017, they’ve transformed over 100,000 smiles so far.
- You’ll begin treatment in-person with a local dentist who will collaborate with Candid throughout the entire treatment process. Fully remote teeth alignment services like Byte and AlignerCo don’t offer this benefit.
- The CandidMonitoring system allows you to send photos of your teeth to your dentist and the Candid team via their mobile app, so they can evaluate your progress every step of the way. It’s not the same as hands-on care, but — based on our non-expert interpretation — studies show remote monitoring like this is accurate enough for clinical applications.
- Candid’s treatment plans can move all the teeth (when necessary), rather than just the front ones. Other services only focus on the front teeth and premolars.
- Candid crafts their aligners from Zendura FLX, which maintains “50+% greater orthodontic force over time,” according to Zendura.
Candid Drawbacks
- Candid treatment is only available to people who live near one of their 300+ in-network dentists. This limited provider network means Candid may not be available in many geographic areas.
- Because Candid treatment incorporates in-office care, it’s quite a bit more expensive than entirely remote services like Byte. However, it’s often still less expensive than Invisalign.
- While the other services on this list offer nighttime-only treatment options, Candid treatment is intended only for all-day wear. Your local dentist will ultimately prescribe the wear schedule, but you can expect to wear your aligners for 22+ hours/day.
NewSmile: Another Established At-Home Option
All at-home clear aligners are more affordable than their in-office counterparts—that’s a big part of their appeal. NewSmile has been in the market for several years and has established itself as a reliable mid-range option. While not as affordable as AlignerCo, their attractive sticker price, remote oversight, and interest-free financing have earned them a reputation as a dependable treatment option.
NewSmile Advantages
- With a $1,595 price tag, NewSmile is reasonably priced compared to most competitors. Compared to Invisalign and braces, most patients save a few thousand dollars. Plus, they have a financing plan that accepts everyone.
- They provide a nighttime-only plan that only requires you to wear your aligners for ten hours per day. This option costs $1,695 instead of $1,595, but that’s still less expensive than many of their competitors’ nighttime aligners.
- If your finished smile doesn’t match the one they initially promised, NewSmile says they will “work with you to determine what the issue may be, and will help you achieve the results of your original Treatment Preview.”
- NewSmile requires all customers to upload videos of their teeth to their monitoring app every two weeks, providing consistent remote oversight to keep you on track.
NewSmile Drawbacks
- NewSmile does not currently have any retail locations where you can get an in-office teeth scan. Their at-home impression kits are your only option.
- Unlike some competitors, NewSmile no longer includes free retainers with their treatment package, which adds to the overall cost.
- NewSmile can only treat mild-to-moderate teeth misalignments. If you have complex challenges with your smile, you may not be a candidate.
Interested in NewSmile?
NewSmile is smaller than some of their competitors, but their low pricing, nighttime-only alignment plan, and widely accessible payment plans make them a strong contender.
Special Offer: Receive $100 Off NewSmile
Smileie: Newer Budget-Friendly Alternative
Smileie is a newer entrant to the at-home clear aligner market offering competitively priced treatment. They’ve quickly established themselves as another budget-friendly option, with standard treatment starting at $849 and nighttime treatment at $999.
Smileie Advantages
- Smileie offers some of the lowest prices in the industry, with standard treatment starting at just $849 and nighttime treatment at $899, significantly undercutting most competitors aside from AlignerCo, which is typically costs around the same price after standard discounts.
- They provide flexible treatment options including all-day wear, nighttime-only treatment, and single-arch options for qualified candidates (starting at $699).
- Their Smileie Pro option combines in-office care with remote monitoring for those who prefer some professional oversight during treatment.
- Treatment includes two sets of retainers and a free whitening kit, adding extra value to their already competitive pricing.
- They require photo check-ins every two weeks throughout treatment, providing consistent monitoring to help keep your progress on track.
- Financing is available through Affirm, with some interest-free options requiring no credit check for certain plans.
Smileie Drawbacks
- As a newer company in the clear aligner market, Smileie doesn’t have the extensive track record of more established competitors. While positive reviews exist, many are from early-stage customers, and some negative reviews mention customer service delays and difficulties with refunds.
- They have only one physical location for intraoral scans, meaning most customers must use impression kits, which can be challenging.
- Their hybrid “Pro” model is limited to approximately 25 partnering dental offices nationwide, making it inaccessible for many customers.
- Like all at-home aligners, Smileie can only treat mild to moderate cases and focuses primarily on the front teeth rather than comprehensive orthodontic correction.
Motto: Most Conventional Option
Aspen Dental, the largest network of dental providers in the Unites States, launched Motto Clear Aligners in 2021 in an effort to compete on price with popular at-home services.
In contrast with other providers on this list, Motto plans do require periodic office visits. However, subject to approval from your assigned dentist, you may be able to skip some of your check-in appointments thanks to Motto’s remote monitoring technology, MottoMonitoring.
Motto Advantages
- Aspen Dental has more than 1,100 locations throughout the U.S., making Motto easily accessible. They also don’t require an appointment to get started, but we still recommend making one.
- Get started in-person with a 3D scan of your smile and minimize the number of future appointments by checking in using Motto’s app throughout your treatment.
- Treatment can be financed through CareCredit for rates as low as $68 per month. Motto says that 9/10 applicants are approved for this form of financing.
- Retainers and whitening are included.
- Motto is able to address a wider range of moderate-to-severe misalignment issues than fully at-home options.
Motto Drawbacks
- Their remote monitoring doesn’t use a scan box or scope that attaches to your phone, just a cheek retractor to help you take selfies with more of your teeth showing.
- Aspen Dental patients have reported poor customer service, unexpected outcomes, and seeing assistants rather than the doctor at certain practices. We recommend checking online reviews for your local practice.
- The Motto Assured satisfaction guarantee (30 days) is not as generous as some alternatives, for example, Byte’s “Byte for Life” guarantee.
- While Aspen Dental says that it has treated tens of thousands of Motto patients since 2021, there are not as many online reviews documenting patient experiences compared to Byte and Invisalign.
Considering Motto?
If you like the idea of getting started today with aligners from a widely available dental office chain, Aspen Dental’s Motto Clear Aligners could be the right fit for you.
Special Offer: Save $150 on Motto clear aligners
Our Recommendation
Which Clear Aligner Option is Best for You?
We totally understand if seeing all these options feels overwhelming, especially since they look so similar at first glance. But you don’t have to decide immediately. In fact, we recommend visiting your local dentist first, so they can make sure your mouth is healthy enough for clear aligner treatment. They’re the person who knows your teeth the best, and they can advise you on the best teeth-straightening options for your unique case.
If your dentist thinks clear aligners could be a viable option, and you’re ready to commit, we think two brands stand out — AlignerCo and Candid.
Choose AlignerCo if:
You’re looking for a highly affordable clear aligner treatment from an established provider. With thousands of positive reviews and some of the lowest prices in the industry, AlignerCo offers exceptional value.
Choose Candid if:
You prefer having some in-person care alongside the convenience of remote treatment This provides additional peace of mind, though it comes at a higher price point.
Other Options Worth Considering
They might not have made our top five, but there are several other comparable options that we think are worth looking at. Here’s an overview:
Pros & Cons of At-Home Teeth Straightening
As we’ve discussed, at-home clear aligners are more convenient and affordable than in-office options like braces or Invisalign. But this doesn’t mean they’re an appropriate choice for everyone. If you have a severe case of misalignment or a complicated bite condition, you may benefit from face-to-face dental care.
To help you decide if at-home teeth straightening is right for you, take a moment to evaluate these pros and cons:
Pros
- Home aligners cost significantly less than traditional orthodontic treatment—typically somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 the cost of Invisalign or braces.
- Since treatment is administered remotely, at-home teeth alignment frees up time in your schedule that you’d otherwise spend on ongoing dental office visits. However, before getting home aligners, you should still go to the dentist before beginning treatment to make sure you don’t have any cavities (or other issues that need addressing).
- Treatment only takes around six months to complete, which is significantly shorter than the average duration of in-office treatment. However, that’s often because in-office options like Invisalign take on more complex cases.
- At-home clear aligners are designed to be as convenient as possible. Most providers even offer a nighttime-only option for people who don’t want to deal with wearing their aligners for 22+ hours/day.
Cons
- Home aligners are only designed to treat mild-to-moderate cases of spacing and crowding, and minor bite issues. They aren’t effective for severe cases of misalignment.
- Your provider won’t take X-rays of your teeth before creating your treatment plan. Before getting started, we recommend visiting your local dentist to make sure there aren’t any issues with your teeth or gums.
How Should I Evaluate My Options?
Reading through this review, it’s possible that one aspect of at-home clear aligner treatment sticks out to you. Perhaps you like the idea of getting the lowest price point, or maybe you’re looking for the most convenient option available.
As you evaluate all these providers, we recommend looking at five factors: Scope of Treatment, Affordability, Convenience, Appearance, and Customer Experience. For our above rankings, we considered all of these criteria combined, but we’ve also examined each factor individually.
Scope of Treatment
With any orthodontic treatment, you want to be sure you’ll get the results you’re after — otherwise, what’s the point of pursuing treatment at all? That’s why it’s crucial to determine whether a particular clear aligner company can even correct your misalignment.
Certain treatments are better for certain types of misalignment. For example, in-office aligners like Invisalign can treat a wider range of severe cases than at-home ones like AlignerCo. In-person oversight, attachments, materials, and more can all contribute to scope of treatment, and it’s a major factor in determining the best option for your smile.
Affordability
When you’re on a tight budget, orthodontic treatment can seem financially out of reach — but at-home clear aligners are surprisingly affordable. Because they take ongoing dental office visits out of the equation, home aligners eliminate the costs associated with face-to-face care. However, cost varies from provider to provider, so some options may be a better fit for your budget than others.
When it comes to sticker price, AlignerCo easily takes the crown for affordability — but there’s more to the equation than a provider’s upfront price point. We dive into the nitty-gritty details in our review of The Most Affordable Clear Aligners to help you get the most bang for your buck.
Convenience
Compared to traditional orthodontics, at-home teeth straightening is highly convenient because the process is entirely remote. Still, some at-home aligner services are more convenient than others. When you dig into the various providers, you’ll notice some variation in their service offerings that make starting or completing treatment much easier — such as free teeth scanning or expedited treatment times.
For a detailed look at how all the details shake out, check out our review of The Most Convenient Clear Aligners.
Appearance
Every home aligner company makes their aligners from clear, BPA-free plastic, but each one uses a slightly different design. Consequently, certain brands can be more or less visible than others. These discrepancies are small, but might influence your decision if your goal is to find the most discreet treatment option out there.
For an in-depth look at these aesthetic differences, check out our review of The Best-Looking Clear Aligners.
Customer Experience
You never want to think about something going wrong with your treatment, but if any issues arise, it’s important to know your provider will take care of it in a kind and timely manner.
Even if you just have a simple question or concern about the treatment process, it’s comforting to know you have a responsive customer support team to lean on. We evaluated thousands of user reviews to determine which companies offer the most responsive and caring customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the most common questions we get about home teeth aligners.
What About SmileDirectClub and Byte? Why aren't they on this list?
Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to purchase from SmileDirectClub or Byte. SmileDirectClub went bankrupt in December, 2023. Existing SDC customers still in need of support may wish to consider participating in Motto’s Smile Complete Club program which offers $400 in credit toward a Motto treatment plan.
More recently, on October 24, 2024, Byte’s parent company (Dentsply Sirona) announced it would suspend sales of Byte aligners indefinitely. While Byte was previously one of our top recommended at-home aligner options, their aligners are currently unavailable for purchase. We’ve updated our recommendations accordingly to focus on providers that are currently serving new patients.
How do home aligner companies prepare my treatment plan?
After you submit your impression kit or teeth scans, a dental professional will analyze them and use specialized software to create digital models of your teeth and aligners for every stage in the process. The company will send you digital images of the treatment plan for your approval before beginning production.
How long does at-home teeth straightening treatment take?
For most companies, the average treatment time for most cases is six months. Your treatment time largely depends on the severity of your condition — severe misalignments take longer to correct than mild ones.
How do I get started with at-home aligner treatment?
With NewSmile and AlignerCo, you’ll need to order an impression kit. The kit includes putty and trays, which you’ll use to make molds of your top and bottom dental arches, before mailing them to the company. Candid and Motto have every customer begin treatment by attending an appointment with one of their network dentists.
Which conditions can home aligners treat?
At-home aligners are best for mild-to-moderate cases of crowding and spacing, along with some mild bite issues. If your case is severe or includes a jaw misalignment like crossbite or underbite, home aligners might not have the capacity to induce the larger tooth and jaw shifts you’re after.
How often do I need to wear my aligners?
You’ll need to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours per day, removing them only to eat and drink — unless you pursue nighttime-only treatment with AlignerCo, NewSmile or Smileie. This alternative treatment schedule only requires you to wear the aligners at night (ten hours total).
What if my treatment doesn’t go as planned?
Each home aligner company has different refund and warranty policies. In most cases, you cannot receive a refund after you begin treatment, although the company may work with you to adjust your plan and craft new aligners.
Are financing/payment plans available?
Most home aligner companies offer both financing and payment plans. A few partner with third-party companies that provide financing but require credit checks to qualify. AlignerCo, NewSmile and Smileie each offer their own financing options for which everyone qualifies.
What are clear aligners made of?
All the clear aligner companies we reviewed use clear, BPA-free plastic to make their products.
What happens after my treatment is complete?
At the end of your home aligner treatment, you’ll receive or purchase custom-fit retainers to keep your teeth from shifting back to their original positions. Experts recommend wearing retainers indefinitely after treatment. You’ll wear them for close to 24 hours per day for a period of about two weeks. After that, you’ll only have to wear them at night. Some providers include retainers with the initial cost of treatment, while others charge an additional $80–100 for them after you finish treatment.
Does it hurt to wear clear aligners?
Customers often report experiencing tightness or discomfort during the first 1–2 days wearing a new set of aligners, after which the discomfort subsides. Some companies provide “chewies” or other devices to help ensure a more comfortable aligner fit.
Karis Whillans says
Hello I am considering get one of these services for my daughter, She has already had 1000’s of dollars of braces, but a few years back she had some medical issues that required she have her bottom retainer removed, this had caused here bottom teeth to shift. She only need the bottoms done, is there one you would recommend over another.
Smile Prep says
Hi Karis – a challenge with “single arch” treatment (where just the top or bottom teeth are adjusted) is that there’s some risk of negatively affecting an individual’s bite. With that said, this option may be possible with certain providers if the required correction is extremely minor. For more information, please reference an article we recently published: Can I Get Clear Aligners For Just My Upper or Lower Teeth. This article mentions which providers offer single arch treatment, and gives some additional context with regard to when this option may be suitable.
Melanie says
Stay away from SmileDirectClub! The company uses dishonest business practices to trick people into paying for service that they have no intention of providing. They rope you in to pay thinking that they can help you, but If they cannot fix your (upper/lower) problem teeth and can affect your other (upper or lower) teeth, you will be sent one set of aligners for the part of your teeth the service can shift but not for your worst problem, charged full price and expected to pay the fees to correct their deceit.
Smile Prep says
Hi Melanie,
Thanks for your comment, and sorry to hear about your negative experience with SmileDirectClub. We were of the understanding that SmileDirectClub provides its customers an opportunity, after sending in an impression kit or taking a scan, to review their treatment plan before purchasing.
Did you have a different experience? If so, I’d love to know more. Did you have chance to review your treatment plan before you were charged the full price for the aligners? Is there anything you feel we’ve misstated about SmileDirectClub in this article, or elsewhere on this site?
Also, we’ve been working on building a collection of verified clear aligner customer reviews. Would you be willing to help us out by sending in a formal review?
Thanks! – Chris
Melanie says
Hi Chris,
I was not informed that my problem teeth would not be fixed before paying. I have straight teeth on top and crowding on bottom. I never would have agreed to the service if they had told me they were unable to fix my problem teeth.
I advise anyone choosing this service to get the exact treatment to be performed in writing and most importantly, to opt out of “fast track shipping”, as that waives the right to inspect the outcome of the alignment.
I was sent aligners for my straight top teeth and nothing for my problem bottom teeth, and then I was told I had to pay for USP or FedEx registered shipping to return what they sent. Only after filing a complaint with the BBB, did Smiledirectclub provide me a return shipping label.
I have provided a full account of my experience under the formal review section.
Thank you for keeping people informed about dental services!
Melanie
Shanalee says
I am half way through my Byte treatment. I could not be happier with the staff or the results so far. They care about your results and you can tell they want to make the experience pleasurable for you. The whole process seems effortless And efficient. Would recommend.
Smile Prep says
Hi Shanalee – thanks for sharing your experience with byte. So glad to hear it was a positive one!
If you’d be interested, I’d like to invite you to consider leaving a more detailed review with before/after photos. We’re currently offering $20 gift card credit for verified review submissions. You can learn more about this here: https://smileprep.com/clear-aligner-review-opportunity/. Thanks again!
Diane says
Can any of these companies fix a slight overbite or overlap? I’ve been told Invisalign can but it’s twice the cost, plus some. I need to have it corrected though because it is weakening my teeth and making them thinner/smaller.
Smile Prep says
Hi Diane,
All cases are different, though we have heard from patients who have had good results correcting minor cases of overbite using at-home aligners.
We recently wrote an article on this topic, which you may find helpful: Can Home Teeth Aligners Correct Overbite?
In general, since you have a medical concern (weakening tooth enamel), it may also be wise to check with your dentist.
Scottieboy says
Hello there, a lot of good and informative articles here on SmilePrep. I have not seen one regarding fixing an Overjet, look forward to see your next article!
Smile Prep says
Thanks for you comment! So glad to hear that you’re a fan of our articles. It’s always encouraging to receive positive feedback like this form our readers.
Also, we actually do have an article on correcting Overjet! Hope you like it 🙂
– Chris
Kadi says
I am trying out byte. From what I’ve collected, they have positive results and great customer service throughout. Also they do state that they give a free retainer at the end. A benefit to their treatment is they will send aligners out free of charge to extend treatment if you are still not satisfied and will guarantee your smile for life. From what they have said, this means if your teeth shift in the future, they will send out more aligners to fix your smile free of charge as well. So far I have had a great experience and I am currently waiting for my aligners to arrive in just a few days.
Scottieboy says
Hello did you use the all day or all night?
Tiffany says
My husband used Invisalign through his dentist and had attachments bonded to his teeth where the aligners snapped onto. Do these online options require these attachments and if so how and who attaches them? Thank you for all of your research and great info here on this topic!!
Smile Prep says
Hi Tiffany! Online options can’t currently use the attachments that Invisalign treatment sometimes includes since you have to meet in-person with a dentist to have those attachments placed on the teeth.
Haydee says
Notice you stated about SmileLove “The only at-home clear aligner company to offer your full money back if you aren’t satisfied with your results.”. I would love to know your source. I looked at SmileLove’s website (https://smilelove.com/pages/return-policy) and the only time they state they will give a full refund is if you don’t like the preview of your treatment plan and cancel before they are manufactured. “Once you’ve received and approved your preview and production on your SMILELOVETM CUSTOM CLEAR ALIGNERS has started refunds are only allowed for manufacturing defects, including ill-fittings. Manufactured aligners are not eligible for return or refund.” They state “In the unlikely scenario that you are unhappy with the results after your treatment, and you have complied with all the Aligner wear and care instructions, we will work with you to determine a fair refund amount based on a comparison of the original Treatment Preview, and the actual result. ” which sounds like far from a full refund.
I have been trying to decide between SmileDirectClub and SmileLove, and one of the things that is tipping the scales is SmileDirect’s smile guarantee, full refund within 30 days of receiving the aligners. As far as I can tell they are the only company that will give a full refund AFTER you receive them.
Lucy says
Invisalign trims the retainers for a more comfortable fit. Do any of the alternatives listed here offer that?
Smile Prep says
Hi Lucy,
To our knowledge, of the at-home services, only SnapCorrect (see our review) offers a trimmed/scalloped set of aligners that don’t cover the gums. Some of the other companies occasionally send out trimmed aligners, depending on the specific case, but it is not guaranteed. Some people actually find that untrimmed aligners are more comfortable — the edges of the trimmed aligners, while not sharp, can irritate the gumline. So, untrimmed aligners may end up being a more comfortable fit for some people. Hope this helps!
Haydee says
SmileLove does. From their FAQ “our aligners are trimmed to your gum line in a scalloped fashion so that they don’t rest on your gums.”.
Jim Stancil says
Great article and comparisons. I was not even aware that Smiledirect and Candid had two other competitors. I am considering having this done and I will look at the others as well…..it appears that all four are doing the same thing? I wonder if having your teeth scanned in person yields a better result ?
Smile Prep says
Thanks! You raise an interesting question about having your teeth scanned vs taking an impression. I don’t have a complete answer, but I do know that Smile Direct uses Align Tech’s iTero scanning system for in-person scans. Align Tech claims that this scanning system results in fewer rejections and improved aligner fit compared to standard impressions. However, risk of poorly fitted aligners due to a bad impression is quite low as the kit providers will request a new impression in this scenario. In my view, the biggest advantage of having your teeth scanned is that you’ll be able to start treatment a bit sooner, and avoid the possibility of needing to take a second impression.