How Does Invisalign Match Up to Other Clear Aligner Brands

2021 has brought some hope with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. One thing that will not change significantly this year is the prevalence of remote work, which is likely to continue this year and beyond. With the rise in remote work and Zoom meetings, people are conscious about the way they look on the camera, including their pearly whites. 

Looking good doesn’t always imply vanity. Looking good can mean being mindful and disciplined about your life. Your smile can do wonders to your self-esteem, confidence and spread cheer to others in these pandemic times. It reminds me of Gretchen Rubin’s quote, “Outer order contributes to inner calm”.

If you’re looking to improve your smile, there’s good news. Cosmetic and orthodontic procedures have become affordable, and they can much more than just transform your smile. They’re good for your overall dental health as well!

So, it’s a good sign that I’ve been getting queries and requests for dental procedures such as teeth whitening and straightening from my patients across age groups. There is an apparent rise in demand for cosmetic and orthodontic procedures during the pandemic. 

However, there is also a lack of clarity and awareness about teeth straightening procedures and the best options available. Many patients are resorting to affordable DIY cosmetic procedures at home, only to realize that they’ve gone wrong and need to visit the dentist to rectify the errors. 

In this article, we will talk about Invisalign, the pros and cons of Invisalign over other brands such as Byte and Smile Direct Club, and the precautions you need to take before you make the final decision.

What is Invisalign?

There are many clear aligner brands available, and among them, there’s one brand that’s tried and tested - Invisalign. 

Invisalign is a step-up from the traditional metal braces used to correct alignment and bite issues. They are clear aligners that are removable and more convenient compared to metal braces. Invisalign is effective in treating the most simple and many complex teeth alignment and bite problems. 

How Does Invisalign Work? 

Think of Invisalign as invisible braces. 

This orthodontic treatment straightens your teeth with clear aligners set in a progressive sequence of trays. Each tray marginally straightens your tooth up to 0.25 mm more than the preceding tray. You have to wear them for 20-22 hours daily and replace them every two weeks.

The Invisalign treatment lasts for around 12-18 months. However, you need to wear retainers for some time post-treatment so that your teeth don’t shift back to their original positions. You will need to keep visiting your dentist every 4-6 weeks until the completion of the treatment. 

There are certain precautions that you need to take, and following proper oral hygiene is essential. You need to clean thoroughly both your teeth and aligners, which you remove before eating and drinking. You should never eat or drink anything except water when you have your aligners in your mouth, as it could lead to tooth decay. You should also avoid smoking and chewing gum with your aligners in the mouth. 

Apart from Invisalign, there are numerous teeth-straightening products in the market. How does Invisalign match up to the other brands? Let’s find out!

Benefits of Invisalign over Byte and Smile Direct Club

Some clear advantages that Invisalign has over other brands are: 

Doctor-Directed Teeth Straightening Treatment

There are many steps involved in getting your clear aligners to work for you. The first step in the process involves creating a model which is a replica of your teeth and bites. There are two main ways to do so: a digital scan and dental impressions. Once the replica is ready, the fit of the custom trays and adjustments become critical in achieving a perfect bite and smile.

• Dental Scans - With Invisalign or alternatives, while you don’t need a dentist to take a digital scan or take impressions, you need one to approve it. Even with 3D impressions, you can make errors. With an Invisalign-certified dentist, the scan is done at your dentist's office by a trained professional and the chances of errors are reduced significantly. Further, your dentist will screen you for oral pathologies, such as bone loss or cavities, that can affect your treatment plan and outcome. 
• Impressions - If you’re using a take-home kit without visiting the office, chances are you are taking your own impression. While relatively simple and easy, if not done to a high degree of accuracy, a faulty impression will result in unwanted results. Even impressions are taken in the office sometimes need to be re-done because of inaccurate bites or faults with the material.
• Treatment Customization - Each patient’s bite and situation are different. While the trays are custom fit, how each individual’s tooth moves and changes will also vary. If an early tray doesn’t fit properly, it can cause a domino effect without your knowledge. As dentists, we provide interproximal reduction, attachments, rubber bands, fixtures, and custom cuts for each possible variation in an individual. And each of these steps and modifications has to be done by a dentist. A fraction of a millimeter off, and you may irreversibly damage the tooth.

Winner: Invisalign

Since the entire Invisalign treatment is performed under the close supervision of a trained dentist, each step of the process is monitored and adjusted to get you the perfect smile. An at-home DIY kit lacks the personalized attention and a course correction plan that Invisalign provides.

Proven 

Invisalign has been around since 1997 and is proven with over nine million successful cases. The Invisalign orthodontic system is also FDA-approved. Compare that to brands like Smile Direct Club and Byte, which are only recent developments without comparable experience, history, and success rate. 

Byte is a newcomer in the market that was founded in 2017. They claim that their HyperByte technology speeds up the straightening process and achieves results in 3-6 months. However, Byte is neither FDA approved nor is it recommended by the American Dental Association. 

Smile Direct Club started in 2014 and the American Dental Association has even filed lawsuits against it, “out of concern for consumer safety and to enable consumers to take action when negative treatment outcomes occur.”

With FDA approval, over nine million successful cases, and a nod from the American Dental Association as well as the American Association of Orthodontics, Invisalign is the clear winner.

Precision

Invisalign is guaranteed to bring proper teeth alignment with precision and comfort. Invisalign works to correct simple and complex bite and alignment issues. For simple cases, clear aligners work well enough to provide a great solution. For complex cases, tooth-colored attachments are bonded to your teeth, which also help the trays to attach with the right amount of pressure at the right angles. 

Other brands like Byte and Smile Direct Club claim to work well for simple bite and alignment issues. However, what appear to be simple cases may require a more involved course correction and plan adjustments, as teeth move and shift in response to the treatment and new issues, can come up that require professional supervision. 

Clearly, Invisalign has the capabilities to resolve most simple and complex bite and alignment issues, while providing room for adjustment in the treatment plan as unforeseen issues can appear during the treatment period.

Price 

Byte and Smile Direct Club beat Invisalign when it comes to price. Both of them average at a cost of around two thousand, compared to a $3,500 - $5,000 for Invisalign. 

But there’s a catch! 

Without insurance, Invisalign will be more expensive. However, there is a good chance that your insurance covers a large portion of your Invisalign treatment cost. In that case, Invisalign brings more value for its price compared to Byte and Smile Direct Club. 

On the flip side, the extra time that you get with your Invisalign dentist will ensure that your treatment is proceeding exactly as it should and adjustments can quickly be made to your plan if your progress so demands. 

With DIY at-home teeth straightening solutions, if you are not happy with the final outcome, you would need to be seen by a dentist to correct the issues, which could lead to more out-of-pocket expenses. If your treatment is covered by insurance, opting for Invisalign is a no-brainer. 

At Cambridge Dental Studio, Invisalign dentists in Palo Alto, we offer an incredible price of only $3,500 for Invisalign. Book a consultation with our dentists in Palo Alto and see if Invisalign is the right option for you.

Conclusion 

As a primary care dentist, I’ve worked with Smile Direct, Byte, and Invisalign. The most unbiased opinion and the option I can present is this: 

• If you want to save money, be wary of the claims that Smile Direct Club and Byte, or any other brand make. Some are too good to be true, such as the nighttime-only trays. Please do your own research on the pros and cons of each.

• If you still want to try the trays, do it under the close supervision of your dentist. He or she may charge you for the time and adjustments made.

At the end of the day, having a doctor oversee the process is the most important part. If you are going to be spending the time and money, you will most likely want it done correctly the first time around.