ClearCorrect Review: Everything You Need to Know

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Virtually everyone is familiar with Invisalign, but fewer have heard of ClearCorrect, a clear aligner brand offered by dentists across the country. ClearCorrect hit the market in 2008 and has since stood out by being slightly more affordable than Invisalign.

However, ClearCorrect isn’t the only alternative to Invisalign, and it’s certainly not the perfect choice for everyone. So, how do you decide if ClearCorrect is right for you? In this review, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of ClearCorrect, compare it to other clear aligner brands, and help you decide whether or not it’s the right fit for your smile goals.

How Does ClearCorrect Work?

ClearCorrect’s procedures are very similar to Invisalign’s. Before getting started, your dentist will evaluate your teeth and take a 3D scan to confirm that you’re a suitable candidate. If so, they will take impressions of your teeth before sending everything off to ClearCorrect’s dental lab.

ClearCorrect has multiple treatment options — Flex, Mini, One, Two, and Unlimited. The Flex plan is an a la carte “pay as you go” option, which is best for customers with mild alignment issues who don’t need extensive treatment. The Mini, One, and Two plans are flat-rate options that let you pay for a specific number of aligner sets with one payment, along with your first set of retainers and one treatment plan revision (if necessary). Unlimited treatment is the most versatile of the three options, providing as many aligners and refinements as you need for five years.

Your dentist will collaborate with ClearCorrect to create your customized clear aligners and treatment plan. You’ll even be able to see before and after models of your smile during the process. So, your dentist can make any necessary changes before ClearCorrect manufactures your aligners. Once they confirm your treatment plan, ClearCorrect will mail your custom aligners to your dentist. Then, you can make an appointment to pick them up and try them on before starting treatment.

During your pick-up appointment, your dentist will also review essential instructions for wearing clear aligners. Most importantly, you should keep them in for 22 hours per day and only remove them to eat, drink, or brush your teeth. Your teeth will shift gradually over the next 12-18 months until they’ve reached the desired position.

Is ClearCorrect a Good Option? Our Perspective.

ClearCorrect has become a popular alternative to Invisalign due to its price, which is often less than Invisalign full, but comparable to Invisalign Express and more than at-home aligners like SmileDirectClub and Byte.

As a comprehensive in-office treatment, ClearCorrect can treat just about any dental or jaw misalignment, even severe ones. Their aligners are thinner than Invisalign, but their new material, ClearQuartz, is generally stronger than the plastics used by at-home clear aligner companies.

In this guide, we’ll evaluate ClearCorrect based on five elements: effectiveness, affordability, convenience, appearance, and customer support. We’ve provided a lot more detail on how ClearCorrect stacks up category by category, but here’s a quick summary of the biggest pros and cons:

Effectiveness

Although it is more affordable than other in-office options, ClearCorrect is still a big investment. So, you want to make sure it will give you the results you’re looking for. And ClearCorrect delivers excellent results for most patients. Thanks to consistent in-person care, top-notch materials, and supplemental attachments, ClearCorrect’s effectiveness is exceptional, especially when compared to fully at-home aligner options.

Similar to Invisalign, ClearCorrect uses attachments, which they call “Engagers,” that are placed on individual teeth to enhance treatment.

These supplemental attachments are small, tooth-colored “buttons” that make it possible for ClearCorrect to treat more complex issues. The engagers allow for more detailed movements and can only be attached by a dentist. So, they aren’t offered with home aligners.

But while they’re effective for a majority of conditions, some are simply too severe. If your case is too complex, a more thorough treatment option like braces may be a better fit. Like Invisalign, one of the most significant advantages to ClearCorrect is being able to meet with your dentist in person. Unlike home aligners, you’ll choose the dentist that will deliver your treatment. You won’t be given a dentist at random.

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

ClearCorrect is a very hands-on treatment — your dentist can change your treatment plan at any time to better suit your needs. This matches the most intensive in-person oversight of any clear aligner system, allowing your dentist to keep you on track and head off any issues before they become serious.

Certain at-home services, like SmileDirectClub and AlignerCo, employ remote monitoring systems where you’ll upload photos of your teeth for their teams to review every few weeks. That might provide some peace of mind, but there’s only so much they can do from afar. It’s not quite as intensive as regular hands-on care.

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

To craft their aligners, ClearCorrect uses a premium tri-layer plastic called ClearQuartz, which they say has superior durability, power, and comfort, making it a worthy competitor with Invisalign’s SmartTrack material.

ClearCorrect also gives providers access to software called ClearPilot, which was developed based on feedback from real dentists, It gives them significant control over your treatment design, customizing it to your unique conditions.

With their in-person oversight, specialized attachments, and manufacturing precision, ClearCorrect is one of the most effective clear aligner treatments out there.

Affordability

Some cosmetic dental treatments can be a significant financial burden. And although ClearCorrect is cheaper than other in-office aligners, it’s not quite as affordable as at-home aligner services.

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 much more reasonable.

ClearCorrect treatment typically costs $3,000–$6,000, largely depending on the severity of your case.

The higher cost of in-office clear aligner treatments mostly comes from your monthly dental visits. Home aligners save you this added cost by offering treatment entirely from home —  no office visits required. So, if you don’t mind working with a dentist remotely, home aligners are a much cheaper alternative. However, if your top priorities are choosing your own dentist and having the option of in-person appointments, or if you have a severe misalignment, ClearCorrect is worth the price.

The good news is that ClearCorrect is typically more affordable than other comprehensive in-office treatments like Invisalign. Plus, ClearCorrect’s Unlimited plan includes retainers for free. Unfortunately, ClearCorrect’s Flex treatment does not include aftercare retainers, so you’ll need to purchase them from your dentist separately. The retainers usually cost about $100, and are crucial to prevent your teeth from shifting after treatment is complete.

ClearCorrect has a few different pricing models, and you can 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. As such, it’s also the most expensive. However, if you have a milder condition, you can go with one of their flat-rate plans. Mini gives you 12 aligners, One gives you 24, and Two gives you 48. These plans often cost less than Unlimited, if your dentist offers them. Or, you can opt for the Flex plan, where you’ll pay per aligner, potentially saving money if you only need a few.

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.

Many dentists offer payment plans or financing for ClearCorrect, but they often require a credit check, and your approval isn’t guaranteed.

Like Invisalign, your dentist will likely offer a financing or payment plan for ClearCorrect. ClearCorrect itself partners with CareCredit to make financing more accessible to patients, and your dentist may have other plans too. These plans allow you to stretch out the cost of treatment over time. But, they typically require a down payment and a credit check, so if your credit is an issue, you may not be approved. That’s why it’s nice that some at-home aligner treatments — specifically Byte, AlignerCo, and SmileDirectClub — provide in-house financing plans that don’t require a credit check.

Interest rates for financing programs can also be pretty hefty, especially if your credit is below average. To get a better sense of your options, it’s best to compare dentists and their financing programs to make treatment more budget-friendly.

ClearCorrect offers a more affordable option than Invisalign, but the cost of treatment is still high, and you aren’t guaranteed approval for a financing program.

Convenience

Aside from the cost, one of the biggest barriers to pursuing cosmetic dentistry is the long 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 AlignerCo, although ClearCorrect scores some points with a streamlined startup process.

The average ClearCorrect treatment takes about 12-18 months to complete.

With a treatment time very similar to Invisalign, ClearCorrect is a great option if you’d prefer to see a dentist in person during treatment. However, there are quicker treatments on the market. Home aligners only take about six months to correct most misalignments. This difference is often because ClearCorrect is used for more severe conditions, which take longer to correct, while at-home aligners are normally only viable for minor misalignments.

Also, keep in mind that if you have a mild condition and choose one of ClearCorrect’s flat-rate models, your treatment might not be quite as long.

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

Your first step will be to schedule an appointment with a dentist to begin treatment. However, unlike home aligners, you won’t need to take any impressions or photos of your teeth yourself. Your dentist and their team of technicians will take your photographs and impressions in-office, ensuring that they are accurate and precise. So, all the hard work is done for you.

Your dentist will send the impressions off to ClearCorrect’s lab to create your custom treatment plan. It typically takes a few weeks to produce the aligners and ship them to your dentist. Then, you can schedule an appointment to pick them up and begin treatment. You’ll have a chance to try on your aligners before leaving the office, and your dentist can make any necessary changes or request a new set if you aren’t happy with the fit.

ClearCorrect makes it very simple to get started since your doctor will be doing most of the work. However, the lengthy treatment time and required monthly dental visits can be significant drawbacks.

Appearance

Most adults agree that the best-looking orthodontic option is the least visible one. Since they’re completely translucent, all clear aligners are much less noticeable than braces, so they tend to score well in terms of appearance. ClearCorrect is no exception. Their aligners are very inconspicuous, so most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them.

However, not all clear aligners are exactly the same. They should all be made from transparent, BPA-free plastic, but variations in manufacturing processes cause each brand to look slightly different.

ClearCorrect aligners are frosted and cut straight across the gumline. So, they are less noticeable and blend in with your naturally matte teeth.

Our teeth are porous, which makes their surfaces appear matte. Some home aligner brands use a shiny plastic material, which can look unnatural, so frosted aligners might be more discreet. Still, some customers actually like the shininess of other brands, as they feel it gives their smile a gleam. It’s an entirely personal preference.

Clear aligners can be cut two different ways: straight across or scalloped to match your gum line. Most home aligners are cut straight across, which allows them to apply up to 4X the amount of force. ClearCorrect’s aligners are cut straight across, giving them that extra force and making up for the slightly thinner material used.

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 can make your aligners more noticeable, but it’s important to keep in mind that no brand of clear aligners is entirely invisible. At-home aligner systems can’t incorporate any attachments, which makes their aligners less powerful, but also more discreet.

Like other clear aligner brands, ClearCorrect aligners should be removed before eating and drinking to avoid staining.

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.

Their frosted appearance makes ClearCorrect aligners look more natural but their cut and attachments can make them slightly more noticeable. Still, it largely comes down to your personal aesthetic preferences.

Patient Experience

You have a general idea of how ClearCorrect works and how much you might pay, but what about everything in between? Customer service, office procedures, satisfaction guarantees, and quality assurance are equally important parts of the process.

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 you and your teeth intimately.

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

Call your dentist’s office anytime (during their business hours) and you’ll speak to someone who knows you and your condition. They can answer questions about your treatment, billing, appointments, and more. Plus, if you have any serious concerns, you can schedule an office visit where your dentist can address them directly.

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

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

Although home aligner companies allow you to contact your dentist virtually to ask questions, there is no substitute for seeing a dentist face-to-face. With ClearCorrect, you’ll visit your dentist regularly, so they can provide hands-on assistance if you have any concerns. Of course, the quality of customer service does vary depending on the dentist you choose.

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 make changes to your ClearCorrect aligners on the spot. So, you won’t need to wait if your treatment is not going according to plan.

If you’re not happy with your results, ClearCorrect can provide refinements for no extra cost.

If you’re on ClearCorrect’s Unlimited plan, you’ll receive as many aligners as you need for five years. The typical treatment only lasts 12-18 months, so you have some leeway for further adjustments. If your results don’t match what you initially expected, your dentist can rescan your teeth and order refinement aligners for no extra cost. So, you can be confident that you’ll get the smile you want.

The Mini and One plans each include one refinement in the price, and the Two plan includes two. If you choose the Flex plan, however, you’ll need to pay an additional fee for each refinement aligner.

Hands-on customer support and monthly in-person appointments make ClearCorrect an excellent choice for patient experience.

Best Alternatives to ClearCorrect

ClearCorrect is a great choice if you’re looking for an effective clear aligner treatment that’s very similar to Invisalign, but not as expensive. They might be a highly effective and reputable clear aligner brand, but they’re hardly the only option.

From comprehensive in-office clear aligner competitors to at-home options that emphasize convenience, there are a lot of excellent clear aligners out there. In the end, the best fit for you depends on your unique condition and priorities, but here’s a rundown of three of our favorite ClearCorrect alternatives.

Invisalign ($3,000–$8,000)

This is the brand that sparked the clear aligner revolution. And today, Invisalign is still the most established and widely used aligner brand in the U.S. Through regular office visits and supplemental orthodontic attachments, their aligners can treat just about any dental misalignment you throw at it, just like ClearCorrect.

Invisalign is the longest-standing clear aligner brand, but that comes with a price, and it’s typically slightly more expensive than ClearCorrect. Still, it’s tough to beat Invisalign’s power, support, and versatility. Plus, they have a lot more providers than ClearCorrect, so it could be easier to find one in your area.

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

Byte ($1,895)

Byte’s main claim to fame is their “HyperByte” device, which they include for free in their aligner packages. This high-frequency vibration device is intended to make treatment faster and more comfortable, as it helps your teeth shift into place more easily. For this reason, Byte claims shorter treatment times than ClearCorrect (four months on average).

At just $1,895, Byte is also typically much more affordable than ClearCorrect. Plus, they offer the option to straighten your teeth while you sleep with their premium “Byte At-Night” aligners, which only require 10 hours of wear per day. However, this option costs a bit more ($2,295).

Finally, unlike ClearCorrect, Byte treatment comes with a lifetime guarantee. With the Byte for Life warranty, your smile is protected forever. If your teeth ever shift out of place, Byte will send you new aligners for free to realign them (as long as you’ve been replacing your retainers every six months as advised).

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

Candid ($3,500+)

Unlike Byte or ClearCorrect, Candid offers a unique blend of in-office and at-home care. You’ll start your treatment in a local dentist’s office (there are 200+ in Candid’s network). After that, you’ll complete the majority of your aligner plan at home, submitting photo check-ins every 14 days, so your dentist can collaborate with Candid to keep you on track. This CandidMonitoring model is more robust than at-home aligners, yet more streamlined than ClearCorrect.

At $3,500+, Candid is often around the same price as ClearCorrect, but you’re getting a more streamlined treatment option that still incorporates hands-on care. Their hybrid model could be a great fit for anyone who likes the convenience of teledentistry, but also likes the idea of having some face-time with their dentist.

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

Summary: Is ClearCorrect Right For You?

ClearCorrect is best if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to Invisalign with the same level of intensive hands-on care. However, if you don’t mind administering the entire treatment remotely, and you have a mild or moderate misalignment, home aligners are more affordable and convenient. Home aligners also offer the shortest treatment time currently available, so you won’t have to wait as long to straighten your teeth.

To get a better idea of which option might be the best fit for you, we encourage you to check out the resources below.