Why Choose Invisalign Over Other Clear Aligners? Pros & Cons

With clear aligners, you can straighten your smile without braces. But if you’ve been thinking about getting Invisalign in Washington Court House, OH, you may be wondering if it’s really the best option. After all, there are lots of other clear aligner companies out there, such as ClearCorrect, SureSmile, and even mail-order options like Byte.

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Are any of these other providers a good alternative to Invisalign? What’s the difference, anyway? In this guide from Washington Court House Dental, we’ll discuss everything you need to know, including the pros and cons of choosing Invisalign treatment.

Invisalign Is The Original Clear Aligner Company

If you’ve heard of clear aligners, you’ve probably heard of Invisalign. That’s because they were the company that invented and pioneered “transparent braces” that straighten teeth with clear plastic aligners instead of wires, metal brackets, and rubber bands. Align Technology, the parent company of Invisalign, was first founded way back in 1997.

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Invisalign was first used to treat patients in 1998 after FDA approval and grew in popularity throughout the 2000s. Today, it’s the most well-known system of clear aligners. The term “Invisalign” is even sometimes used generically to refer to all types of clear aligners, though this is technically incorrect.

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Since it has such a long history of successful treatment, Invisalign has a powerful brand reputation, and this has made it the most popular type of clear aligner therapy used in dental offices. It’s offered in more than 40,000 offices in the United States alone, which is more than any other competitor.

Understanding Invisalign’s Biggest Competitors

So, Invisalign is the most popular type of clear aligner treatment. But are there any popular Invisalign alternatives? The answer is “yes!” Broadly speaking, they can be split into two categories: in-office clear aligners and virtual/mail-order clear aligners.

invisalign alternative

In-office clear aligners

There are a few Invisalign competitors that are growing in popularity at dental offices. The most popular Invisalign alternatives include brands like ClearCorrect, SureSmile, and 3M Clarity. These treatments are delivered by a dentist or orthodontist under close supervision and require frequent check-ups to make sure that each patient’s treatment is on track.

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From a patient’s perspective, these types of clear aligners are very similar to Invisalign. There are differences in aligner materials, treatment planning workflows, software, and lots of other things, but these are mostly things that dentists will notice.

Virtual and mail-order clear aligners

If you’ve been comparing mail-order aligners like NewSmile, AlignerCo, or Byte vs. Invisalign, we’re here to tell you that choosing a virtual provider for clear aligner therapy is a bad idea. With mail-order aligners, you usually only see a dentist once to get a scan of your teeth.

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Then, a provider like Byte will develop your treatment plan and send you aligners to wear in order to straighten your teeth. In most cases, your only checkups will be virtual. You won’t need to see a dentist for regular checkups.

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This sounds great in theory. But in reality, mail-order aligners are a very bad idea. Results are much more limited compared to in-person aligner treatment with Invisalign, and you could even face serious complications like tooth damage.

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They may claim to offer similar results for a lower price and a more convenient treatment approach, but clear aligners like Byte, NewSmile, and AlignerCo are not good alternatives to Invisalign, or to other in-office clear aligner treatments like SureSmile and ClearCorrect.

The Pros And Cons Of Choosing Invisalign

If you want to straighten your smile, investing in Invisalign is certainly worth it. But just like any other dental treatment, Invisalign has its own pros and cons compared to other types of clear aligners and traditional braces. Here’s what you need to know:

Invisalign pros

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• Nearly invisible when worn – Invisalign trays are made from very thin, transparent plastic and are designed to fit perfectly over your teeth. This means that you’ll be able to straighten your smile without the obvious appearance of traditional metal braces.
• Advanced aligner materials – One of the things that makes Invisalign different from other aligners is its patented SmartTrack plastic. This is a special type of multi-layered plastic that helps move teeth faster while maintaining patient comfort.
• Lots of different treatment plans – No two patients are alike. That’s why Invisalign offers a wide variety of treatment plans that dentists can pick from depending on your unique needs. For example, if you only have minor tooth alignment issues, you may qualify for Invisalign Express 5, which requires only five sets of aligners to straighten your teeth.
• Reputable, experienced providers – Because Invisalign has been around for a long time, dentists have had plenty of time to study the process, learn about treatment techniques, and get hands-on experience with Invisalign. They even offer a certification program that certifies dental offices based on their level of Invisalign experience. This makes it easier to pick a qualified dentist for Invisalign treatment.

Invisalign cons

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• May be more expensive – Since it’s a popular brand, Invisalign sometimes costs a little bit more than competing clear aligner providers like ClearCorrect and SureSmile. This isn’t always the case, though, and treatment costs will vary depending on each patient’s specific needs.
• Won’t work for everyone – Just like other types of clear aligners, Invisalign can’t be used to correct severe orthodontic issues. If you have very crooked or crowded teeth or a severe overbite, underbite, or crossbite, you may need treatment with traditional orthodontics like metal braces or transparent braces.
  
  
• Requires patient commitment – Unlike with braces, you can take Invisalign out to eat and drink, and to brush and floss. But don’t be tempted to leave your aligners out of your mouth for too long. If you’re not diligent about wearing your aligners for at least 20-22 hours per day, your treatment could fall behind. This will lead to delays and additional treatment costs, too!

Learn More About Invisalign At Washington Court House Dental

If you’re interested in Invisalign in Washington Court House, OH, Dr. Michael Pappas and our team are here to help. Dr. Pappas is a certified Invisalign Gold provider, and has years of experience with clear aligner therapy. 

So don’t wait! Give us a call at (740) 333-7290 or contact us online to book your first appointment with Dr. Pappas and the team at Washington Court House Dental today. Your dream smile is closer than you may think.