Everybody wants that smile they've always dreamed of, but no one wants to have metal stuck to their teeth for upwards of 2 years. Luckily, that's not a necessity anymore if you want straighter teeth.
More and more people are turning to clear plastic aligners to help them achieve a better smile. The major benefit of clear aligners is obvious - they're clear and discreet.
There are a couple of different brands out there right now that offer these clear aligners, and it can be tricky to figure out which one is for you.
Two of the most popular ones we've come across are Invisalign and SmileDirectClub. We compared them both to see which one we'd recommend. Here's what we found:
Key Similarities:
- Both are made from clear plastic
- Both are less visible than regular braces.
- Both are designed to give you straighter teeth
- Both are prescribed and monitored by state-licensed doctors
- Both involve check-ins with your treating doctor
Key Differences:
- Treatment with SmileDirectClub costs about $2050
- Treatment with Invisalign costs between $3000 and $5200
- Treatment with SmileDirectClub takes about 6 months
- Treatment with Invisalign takes an average of 12 to 18 months
- SmileDirectClub gives you virtual access to your treating doctor via telehealth
- Invisalign involves regular in-person visits to your dentist
- SmileDirectClub guarantees results for life¹
SmileDirectClub Overview
SmileDirectClub is doctor-directed, which means you will be assigned a dentist or orthodontist who is licensed in your state to oversee your treatment virtually--This doctor looks at your 3D image, medical and dental history, as well as other important information before approving you for treatment.
You can start your Smile Journey™ from home with their impression kit, visit a SmileShop for a 3D image, or book an in-office visit with a dentist in the SmileDirectClub Partner Network - whatever suits you best!
The kit is super easy to use. Once you’ve made an impression of your teeth you send it back in the prepaid mailer, and your aligners are shipped directly to you in just a few weeks. SmileDirectClub never requires you to shave your teeth or have buttons and attachments glued to your teeth.
Treatment takes an average of 4-6² months to complete with their 22-hour continuous wear plan. They also offer Nighttime Aligners™ for people whose lifestyle doesn’t suit wearing aligners during the day. These aligners are worn for 10 hours every night and usually take about 10 months. ³
SmileDirectClub comes with a Lifetime Smile Guarantee™¹ with which you qualify for a free aligner touch-up each year if you ever need one, so long as you wear your retainers as prescribed and replace them every 6 months.
All of this costs only $2050 when you pay upfront.
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Invisalign Overview
To start treatment with Invisalign, you’ll need to visit an Invisalign-affiliated doctor in person to assess your teeth and establish a treatment plan. Invisalign creates and sells the aligners to your doctor, which results in your doctor adding an additional mark-up to the overall price. Invisalign costs $5200 on average.⁴
Some orthodontists may prefer you to shave down your teeth in order to start with Invisalign. They may also require the use of attachments and buttons. Invisalign treatment lengths vary a lot from case to case.⁵
Final Thoughts
It’s important to consider your own needs. If you have a more complex case, Invisalign might be your better bet. However, given the price tag it might be worth seeing if you're a SmileDirectClub candidate first. For those with mild-to-moderate crowding and spacing issues, SmileDirectClub is the clear winner.
SmileDirectClub is so easy, but also effective. You can do it all virtually from home and have the smile you’ve always wanted in just 4-6 months! Not only are they more convenient, but SmileDirectClub costs 60% less than Invisalign⁶ because there are no markups. They even have financing options - choose a one-time payment of $2050 or get started with just $250 down followed by less than $89/month for 24 months.
If you're a candidate for SmileDirectClub you can start your journey as soon as today! Check them out, you won't regret it.
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¹ Based on SmileDirectClub’s Lifetime Smile Guarantee™. Terms and conditions apply. See SmileDirectClub.com/guarantee for details.
² Based on the number of 22 hour wear customer orders (approx. 95%) with treatment plans that are 4, 5, or 6 months.
³ Based on the number of 10-hour Nighttime Aligners™ customer orders (approx. 95%) with treatment plans that are 8-12 months. Results may vary.
⁴ Based on average total fees (including diagnostics and in-person exams) for treatment of mild-to-moderate malocclusion with Invisalign as reported in a 2021 national survey of practicing dentists and orthodontists. Results may vary.
⁵ https://smiledirectclub.com/blog/smiledirectclub-vs-invisalign/
⁶ Based on SmileDirectClub Single Pay vs. average total fees (including diagnostics and in-person exams) for treatment of mild-to-moderate malocclusion with Invisalign as reported in a 2021 national survey of practicing dentists and orthodontists. Price comparison does not include the cost of additional services, such as retainers. Results may vary.