Motto Aligners by Aspen Dental: Everything You Need to Know

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Millions of adults long for a straighter, healthier smile but find themselves caught up in a Goldilocks situation: in-office treatments are too expensive, at-home options lack the supervision they want, and nothing seems “just right.” Motto, by Aspen Dental, aims to fill this gap, offering affordable in-office aligner treatment.

Motto is widely available, boasts a low price point, and has a few interesting features. But is it the right fit for you? In this review, we’ll dig into the pros and cons, compare Motto to other clear aligners, and help you determine whether it’s right for your smile goals.

About Aspen Dental

Aspen Dental is a network of dental care franchises spread out across the United States. While they all boast the same name, each of their 1,100+ offices is individually operated. With a presence in 46 states, they treat over eight million patients a year, catering to people who do not have dental insurance or a regular dentist.

While a licensed dentist owns and operates each location, assistants deliver most of the care. Aspen Dental states that services and office practices vary between practices and that you must contact individual offices to fully understand the types and terms of treatment. It is possible your local location won’t offer Motto, or they’ll charge different prices than what Aspen lists on their website.

How Does Motto Work?

You’ll kick off your Motto treatment by scheduling an initial consultation at an Aspen Dental practice. The staff there will scan your teeth and use those images to create a preview of your projected results. If you give the go-ahead, Aspen will pair you with a Smile Advisor, who will be your main contact throughout treatment, and provide a starter tray, which keeps your teeth in place until your aligners are ready.

Motto aligners are made by SureSmile, one of the largest clear aligner companies in the United States. However, Motto doesn’t disclose who plans treatment or what software they use, so it might vary between practices — but your dentist can clarify this during your consultation.

You’ll return to your Aspen Dental practice four weeks after your initial appointment to get the rest of your aligners. You’ll attend appointments every several weeks and check in virtually in between using their MottoMonitoring app. The company says most patients finish treatment in about 6–8 months and then switch to aftercare retainers.

Is Motto a Good Option? Our Perspective.

Motto just launched in mid-2021, so there aren’t many patient reviews and it’s difficult to give a definitive answer. Based on the information available, We gave Motto 4.1 out of 5 stars in our clear aligner rankings, and in this guide, we’ll discuss their scope of treatment, affordability, convenience, appearance, and patient experience.

We’ll provide a lot more detail on how Motto stacks up category by category, but here’s a quick summary of the biggest pros and cons:

Scope of Treatment

Motto may have an appealing price point, but it’s still an investment — you need to feel confident it will deliver results. The company isn’t clear on what cases it can treat, but their partnership with SureSmile and clinical oversight give us some confidence in their treatment.

Based on their average 6–8 month treatment timeline, it seems like Motto aligners are typically for milder misalignments—but they can handle more complex ones too.

When a company gets results a year faster than leading treatments like Invisalign, it’s usually because they take on milder cases, which take less time to correct than complex ones. Here’s what they say on their website: “Motto clear teeth aligners are designed to address a wide range of orthodontic issues, including mild-to-moderate misalignment cases. However, for more complex cases, we recommend consulting with an Aspen Dental specialist to determine the best treatment plan for you and your smile.”

Plus, some online reviewers reported getting attachments with their Motto aligners, which would make them capable of making more complex dental shifts. So while Motto can technically correct more severe misalignments, it appears that dentists mainly use them for simpler cases. But this may vary depending on the particular Aspen dentist you visit.

Motto aligners are made in SureSmile labs using the same Essix ACE plastic as SureSmile products.

While it isn’t clear if they also use SureSmile’s planning software, just knowing they’re backed by SureSmile and use Essix plastics inspires some confidence. In fact, Motto aligners arrive in SureSmile boxes with SureSmile branding and can incorporate attachments — so you’re basically getting SureSmile treatment.

Direct doctor supervision can help keep your treatment on track.

Motto requires routine virtual and in-person check-ins, and many patients report that technicians oversee their care unless something goes wrong. Thanks to MottoMonitoring, you’ll only see your dentist and their staff for the initial consultation and every several weeks. In between, you simply submit photos of your teeth. However, this remote monitoring isn’t very robust — you just take selfies while wearing a cheek retractor and Aspen uses them to make sure your teeth are moving as expected.

Affordability

Orthodontic treatment is often so expensive that adults put off getting the care they need for years, even decades, just to save up. Aspen Dental specifically aims to help provide dental care that might be financially out of reach with other providers. As a result, Motto is less expensive than other in-office and hybrid options, although it’s still more expensive than some at-home aligners.

Motto aligners cost $2,499 and every plan includes MottoMonitoring and a whitening kit.

Previously, Motto had three different price tiers: $1,895, $2,195, and $2,495. These were based on the complexity of each case, and not all of them included MottoMonitoring.

But now, every Motto treatment costs a flat rate of $2,499, and they all include remote monitoring plus free whitening. For a little context, look at the competition. In-office aligners like Invisalign and 3M Clarity Aligners often cost $3,000–$8,000, while ClearCorrect is often $3,000–$6,000, and SureSmile is often around $2,000–$6,000.

Candid, another hybrid model, costs around $3,000+. Fully remote aligners, however, are slightly cheaper. For example, Byte costs $2,199 and NewSmile goes for $1,495. That said, among other aligner treatments that incorporate hands-on care, Motto offers solid value.

Dental insurance and savings plans might help reduce the bottom-line cost.

If you have dental insurance, it might help cover some of your out-of-pocket expenses—but it depends on your specific plan and provider. Aspen Dental partners with a handful of dental insurance providers, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta, Guardian, Humana, MetLife, United HealthCare, and more. Contact your local Aspen Dental and your insurance provider to find out if they cover Motto.

But not everyone has dental insurance. Aspen accepts 100% of uninsured patients for a savings plan that will cover 10% of clear aligner treatment—no credit checks or health screenings required.

Aspen Dental offers financing plans through CareCredit.

These plans don’t require a down payment, but they do come with 20.90% APR over 60 months. So you’ll only need to pay $68 per month, but over five years, you’ll end up paying $4,048 for your treatment.

Convenience

Cost is the top barrier between adults and their dream smiles, but convenience is a close second. You don’t want a treatment that makes you wait forever to get results or frequently disrupts your schedule. We think Motto’s hybrid option is easier and more streamlined than other in-office treatments, but we’re not sure it’s as convenient as at-home alternatives.

Getting started with Motto is pretty easy. Just schedule an appointment at a local Aspen Dental practice.

With over 1,100 locations across 46 states, most people will have at least one practice nearby. You can book your appointment online or by phone and just need to show up on time. During your appointment, the Aspen Dental team will take a precision scan of your dental anatomy, then show your projected results so you can decide if you want to move forward.

Treatment timelines vary, but most people finish in 6–8 months with relatively infrequent office visits.

Motto advertises shorter treatment lengths than most other in-office treatments likely because it typically handles milder misalignments.

Most people will need to see their doctor in person every several weeks, and your dentist can opt to monitor your progress using their remote monitoring system in lieu of some of your visits. Just keep in mind that their hybrid monitoring isn’t as robust as in-office visits, and doesn’t include a ScanBox or other devices that help you take photos of your teeth (like you’d get with Candid). If you really want remote check-ins, carefully consider each company’s procedures.

Motto doesn’t offer a nighttime-only plan.

Some at-home aligner services — like Byte, AlignerCo, NewSmile, and SmileDirectClub — have alternative wear schedules that only require ten hours of daily wear, typically overnight. But Motto, like all in-office options, doesn’t have a comparable plan. Your dentist might have some flexibility with your wear schedule, but most will advise you to wear your aligners for 22+ hours per day.

Appearance

Adults usually want the most discreet orthodontic treatment possible. Right now, that option is clear aligners. Usually, people won’t have a clue you’re wearing them. But not all aligners look the same and certain features can make them easier to see.

Motto aligners are clear and slightly textured.

The clear plastic is slightly shiny — which, in our opinion, doesn’t exactly mimic the look of our natural teeth, since our enamel appears matte because it’s porous. But you might like that kind of gleam in your smile. The texture, however, matches the natural surfaces of your teeth, which we think makes the aligners a bit less noticeable.

They also trim your aligners to match the gum line.

Aligner companies can either cut their aligners straight across, or “scallop” them to follow the gum line. Straight-cut aligners cover the gums, which helps them exert more force, although people might notice that slight overlap. We think Motto’s scalloped cut makes their aligners slightly more discreet.

Attachments and elastics increase the visibility of your aligners.

Attachments and elastics make your aligners more powerful, but they also make them stand out. Your attachments should be tooth-colored and your elastics clear, but they are still noticeable, especially at certain angles. Attachments aren’t necessary for every case, so your dentist may or may not recommend them.

Don’t wear your Motto aligners while eating or drinking anything besides plain water. They use stain-resistant plastic but it isn’t stain-proof. So without the right care, they can make your teeth look discolored.

Patient Experience

The quality of support you receive can make or break your experience. Your aligners could be perfect, but if the doctor or company you are working with falls short, it can ruin the whole thing. Your Aspen Dental practice will handle your entire Motto experience, so you’ll get personalized care from people who know you and your smile well.

Motto’s customer support can be exceptional, but your experience will vary by practice.

This isn’t just the case for Motto aligners; it’s true of all in-office treatments. Some practices are highly organized and patient-oriented, while others aren’t. In most cases, we think that direct supervision and interaction make for a supportive, individualized patient experience. However, some Aspen Dental practices have received negative customer reviews for poor customer service and results, so look into the specific practice before scheduling an appointment.

You can call the practice during their office hours to get customized assistance.

If anything goes wrong, you can get hands-on care within hours in most cases. This is especially beneficial if you need adjustments to your treatment plan or refinements after it’s complete. While these aren’t often necessary, knowing the option is there is reassuring.

If you don’t get the results you want, Aspen will provide more aligners for free.

Sometimes teeth can be stubborn, refusing to move as planned. It rarely happens, but if you reach the end of your treatment and don’t see the smile that Aspen initially promised, they’ll issue refinement aligners for free. Just make sure to follow your aligner plan exactly and submit your refinement request within 30 days of finishing treatment.

Best Alternatives to Motto

Not sold on Motto just yet? No worries! There are plenty of options to consider. Below are Motto’s most compelling in-office and at-home competitors.

Byte $2,199

Byte and Motto offer very different advantages. Byte claims their aligner plans last just 4–5 months on average, and they don’t require a single office visit, making treatment more affordable. Like Motto, Byte also offers a high-frequency vibration device (the HyperByte). The company says it may reduce discomfort, and there’s some evidence that devices like this might encourage fast dental shifts as well.

Candid $3,500+

Did the option for remote oversight draw you to Motto treatment? If that’s the case, look into Candid! Their remote monitoring is more robust, using a phone attachment to take detailed images of all your teeth, and they say their average treatment plan length is 8.5 months.

SureSmile $2,000–$6,000

If you want a treatment that is almost identical to Motto, look at SureSmile. They create Motto’s aligners, but the full system can treat even more severe cases. SureSmile doesn’t offer a hybrid option like Motto, but if you are looking to make bigger shifts with your alignment, we think they’re a great choice.

Summary: Is Motto Right for You?

If you ask us, Motto is an excellent choice for people who want in-person treatment without the typical price. It includes SureSmile products, so we are confident that the science and materials behind it are solid. Still, there are other options that could be a better fit for you. Ultimately, the right choice comes down to your preferences, budget, and priorities.

To get a better idea of which option might best suit your situation, check out the resources below.