Teeth-straightening treatment has come a long way in the last two decades. Metal brackets are no longer the only way to perfect your smile. Companies like quip have given adults the option of having doctor-directed clear aligner treatment delivered to their homes.
quip is often more convenient, and affordable than traditional orthodontic treatment, but is it the right option for you? This guide contains everything you need to know about quip, so you can make a confident, well-informed decision.
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Pros and Cons of quip Treatment
quip is one of the most unique clear aligner services out there, and they offer a lot of benefits. But there are also a couple of drawbacks you should keep in mind.
Pros
- quip connects you with an orthodontist, who you’ll meet to begin treatment, and who will monitor your progress every step of the way.
- quip can treat more severe cases than most other at-home clear aligner services.
- If you run into any issues during treatment, you can schedule an office visit with your orthodontist.
- They have three different pricing tiers, so if you have a mild misalignment, you’ll pay less.
Cons
- quip is currently only available to residents of New York City. But they’re expanding their orthodontist network to increase their reach.
- If you have a moderate or severe case, quip’s pricing is more expensive than other home aligner treatments.
What Is quip?
Two industrial designers in Brooklyn launched quip in 2015 as an oral care subscription service that delivered toothbrushes, toothpaste, and more directly to consumers. But as they’ve increased their customer base, they’ve expanded into the clear aligner space as well.
quip is a hybrid between in-office expertise and at-home convenience. They connect NYC-based patients to a partnering orthodontist, who they’ll visit for a consultation and teeth scan before beginning treatment. This orthodontist then virtually oversees treatment from start to finish, and patients can schedule another office visit if any issues arise.
What Sets quip Apart?
Unlike other at-home aligner companies, quip gives you direct access to your orthodontist throughout treatment and the option to make additional appointments for in-person care. Other companies offer remote monitoring and virtual photo check-ins, but those check-ins are with a customer support team rather than a dentist or orthodontist.
Because quip provides direct orthodontist oversight and can incorporate office visits, their treatment can correct more severe cases than other remote aligner services. This provides a measure of reassurance that you might not get elsewhere. Plus, if you have a mild misalignment, their aligners are only slightly more expensive than many competitors.
To help you maintain great holistic oral health throughout your treatment, quip includes a quip Smart Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss with your aligner package.
Who Is a Good Candidate for quip?
Right now, quip’s clear aligners are only available to New York City residents. This will surely change as quip expands their operation, and on their website, you can join a waitlist to be notified if quip brings their treatment to your area.
Normally, at-home aligners are restricted to treating mild-to-moderate cases of crowding and spacing in the front teeth. Since quip features an initial in-person appointment with an orthodontist — and can incorporate further hands-on care — they treat cases that would typically be too complex for typical at-home clear aligners.
How Does quip Work?
Before starting treatment, you’ll need to submit some photos of your teeth and answer a few questions on quip’s website. After you upload your photos, you should hear back from quip within 72 hours. They’ll let you know if they think you’re a good candidate for treatment and, if so, include a link to book an appointment with a local orthodontist.
This appointment will include teeth scans and a checkup to ensure you don’t have any oral health issues that could interfere with treatment. It also serves as an opportunity to meet the orthodontist who will be overseeing your treatment.
The photo evaluation and initial consultation are free. And if you decide to proceed with treatment, you’ll need to purchase your aligners. After receiving your aligners, you’ll wear them for 20–22 hours a day. You’ll also submit regular photo updates through the quip app for your orthodontist to review, ensuring that your treatment stays on track.
Treatment times depend on the severity of your condition, but it can range from under six months to closer to a year. Though quip can take longer than most at-home clear aligner brands, they can treat more severe cases than competitors who only offer remote treatment.
Paying for quip
quip set out to fuse the power of in-office orthodontia with the ease and convenience of at-home treatment — and their prices reflect that middle ground. quip is priced higher than your average at-home aligner company, but provides significant savings compared to Invisalign and other in-office options.
Treatment costs
quip has three different pricing tiers, based on the severity of your condition and how long it will take to correct. For milder cases, level one costs $1,995 for under six months of treatment. Level two is for cases that will take between 6–9 months and costs $2,495. Level three treats cases that will take over nine months to correct and costs $2,995.
This price range is pretty wide, but quip will provide an estimate when they respond to your photo evaluation.
Payment Plans
quip offers payment plans through Klarna with no money down. The exact price of the monthly payments depends on your credit score, but could be as low as $99/month for level one treatment, $124/month for level two, and $149/month for level three. Paying for your treatment outright will save you money in the long run, as you’ll avoid interest and fees from the third-party lender — but we know that’s not always an option.
Insurance
If your insurance coverage includes orthodontia, your provider may contribute to quip treatment. Call your insurance provider to find out how much they might contribute.
Freebies
Quip makes an entire line of quality dental supplies, and they include some in your aligner package. In addition to an aligner case and a complimentary set of retainers, you’ll also receive their electric toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. You’ll be ready to take excellent care of your smile throughout treatment — and afterward too.
On top of that, you’ll get a ScanBox — a device that helps you take photos of your teeth — which makes it a lot easier to complete your regular check-ins.
Does quip Offer Any In-Person Locations?
quip works with select providers, but they do not have their own storefronts. That makes it a little more like Invisalign, where a local orthodontist office partners with quip to administer treatment.
After the first appointment, your orthodontist will monitor your progress remotely via virtual check-ins. Unless an unforeseen issue arises, you’ll complete your entire treatment from home. If you need to see an orthodontist again, you’ll have an in-person appointment at the same office where you got your scans.
Who Oversees My quip Treatment?
When quip responds to your photo evaluation, they will connect you with a local orthodontist’s office to make an appointment. This orthodontist will oversee your treatment from start to finish, monitoring your progress via the quip app. You’ll be asked to upload regular photos so they can ensure that your treatment stays on track.
Final Thoughts
quip has spent years proving they’re dedicated to helping people prioritize their oral health. Though they’re still in the infant stages of incorporating clear aligner treatment into their offerings, we look forward to watching quip grow as they expand their operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I have my new smile with quip?
Treatments with quip can range from under six months to over nine. It all depends on the severity of your treatment. Once quip evaluates your photo submission, they’ll give you an estimated treatment time.
Can I eat while wearing my aligners?
You shouldn’t. For one thing, it can be a bit uncomfortable. But more importantly, the pigments of your food can stain your aligners. It’s best to remove your aligners before a meal and brush your teeth before putting them back in again.
Can I drink coffee or tea while wearing my aligners?
You’ll need to remove your aligners to drink anything besides water. Hot beverages like coffee and tea can warp the plastic of your aligners.
How often should I replace my retainer after treatment?
It varies from person to person, but you’ll typically need to replace your retainer every 6–12 months.
Will clear aligners give me a lisp?
At the beginning of treatment, while you’re getting used to your aligners, you may have a lisp. This is usually temporary and should go away once your tongue gets used to its new roommate.
Do I need to wear a retainer after treatment?
Yes. After you complete any teeth-straightening treatment, you’ll need to wear an overnight retainer indefinitely. This helps keep your teeth in their new positions.
Do any other clear aligner providers offer this hybrid form of treatment?
Yes. Another company, called OrthoFx, offers this combination of at-home clear aligners convenience with in-office oversight.
Can I get a cavity filled during clear aligner treatment?
It’s best to fix your cavities before getting clear aligners. But if you get a cavity during treatment, you’ll need to get it filled. Clear aligners are manufactured to fit snugly around your tooth and if a filling changes your tooth’s shape, it can affect that perfect fit. In some cases, a filling will change your tooth shape so much that you’ll need to have new clear aligners made, extending your total treatment time.
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