Best Invisible Braces

Types of braces

Braces and invisible aligners are both designed to straighten your teeth over time. Traditional braces have been around since the early 1800s; the term “braces” wasn’t coined until the early 1900s, whereas invisible braces have only been around for the past 20 or so years.

Traditional metal braces are comprised of two basic components. A metal bracket is applied to the teeth and a bendable metal wire is then threaded through the brackets to apply pressure on the teeth. In the past, metal braces were extremely noticeable and made it difficult to play sports, eat certain foods, and experience your first kiss. New technology has made the metal braces smaller, less noticeable, and can now move your teeth faster and with less pain. This style is often popular among teenagers. However, there is still a slight stigma around metal braces and many adults opt for other options.

Ceramic braces or “clear braces” used to be a popular alternative to conventional braces as they are made from a ceramic material that is the same color and texture as your teeth. Popular among an older generation because of their discreet look, ceramic braces were once in high demand. Presently, ceramic braces are still offered by some orthodontists; however, they generally are more expensive, stain more easily, and are more brittle compared to metal braces.

Lingual braces (also called inside braces) are attached to the back of the teeth allowing them to be less direct than both the metal and ceramic braces. Orthodontists use scanned images of the insides of the teeth to create a unique, computer-generated bracket that is attached to the insides of the upper and lower teeth.

Invisible braces are a more inconspicuous way of straightening your teeth. The braces themselves aren’t exactly braces; instead, they are made from medical grade plastic using a 3D scan of your teeth. Invisible braces are trays that gradually shift your teeth into place. The trays are made from a putty mold — either taken by you or a dental professional. Upon receiving the impressions of your teeth, a licensed dentist or orthodontist will send a series of aligner trays that will be changed every few weeks. The aligners are custom designed to steadily adjust your teeth over a certain amount of time.

Pros and cons of invisible braces

Invisible braces work great for some people, others not so much. Here are the pros and cons to using invisible braces.

Pros

• Extremely discreet — Invisible braces are just as their name suggests: invisible (at least as close as you can get). Many invisible aligner users have even commented on how most people don’t even realize they’re wearing them until they bring it up. Many adults shy away from traditional braces because they feel they look awkward and gawky, however clear aligners are fitted to your teeth, allowing you to smile and laugh without feeling self-conscious.  
  
  
• Removable — Unlike metal, ceramic, and lingual braces, invisible braces are removable. Users can take them out when eating, teeth brushing, and flossing. More traditional braces are notorious for restricting one's diet as those with braces are told to avoid popcorn, gum, pretzels, apples and more. There are no diet restrictions with invisible aligners. 
  
  
• Easy to clean — Invisible aligners aren’t hard to clean like conventional braces; however, this doesn’t mean they can’t be cleaned. Over time, the trays can become clouded or slightly discolored and will need to be cleaned. Luckily for you, it shouldn’t take longer than two minutes. Using a toothbrush, simply clean them with soap and water or baking soda and water. Some companies, like byte, include a free aligner cleaner in their aligner package.
  
  
• Comfortable — One of the biggest complaints with metal braces is how uncomfortable they are. Wires and brackets are known to cause small nicks, and there are many horror stories of playing sports with braces. Wearing aligners is much more comfortable as the clear plastic is smooth with no sharp edges.
  
  
• Can be done from home — An article by Forbes revealed that only 30 percent of millennials visit the dentist each year. Why? Well the ADA discovered that millennials are not getting dental insurance through their employer, as more than 69 percent of health plans don’t include dental insurance, so millennials are opting to not go to the dentist and spend their money elsewhere. Perhaps one of the best things about the invisible aligner industry is the fact that many companies such as byte, Smilelove, and Smile Direct Club give you the option to get straighter teeth while never having to visit the dentist.

Cons

• Requires diligence — Invisible braces require consumers to wear them for a minimum of 22 hours a day. However, as you’re supposed to remove them for eating and brushing your teeth, you’ll have to remember to take them out for every meal and put them back in when you’re done. This can get annoying, especially when you’re at a restaurant and have to take your aligners out. Additionally, you’re supposed to brush your teeth after each meal, before putting them back in your mouth — meaning you’ll have to brush your teeth several times a day.
  
  
• Expect some discomfort — Some consumers have mentioned sore mouths and occasional aches and pains. That being said, straightening your teeth requires the readjustment of your teeth, and a little discomfort is normal. You can use a pain reliever to help minimize the pain while your teeth adjust to your aligners.
  
  
• Only treats minor to moderate alignment issues — Unfortunately, invisible braces aren’t for everyone, and some orthodontic issues will require metal or ceramic braces. For example, if you have a large gap in your teeth, invisible braces can’t always close the gap. According to The Orthodontists, invisible braces can only reliably close up to 6mm of space per arch (top and bottom teeth).

However, as the industry advances, new technologies are emerging to reduce the current limitations of invisible braces. If you’re curious to see if invisible aligners will work for you, we suggest you read consumer reviews to see if someone else has a similar orthodontic issue, or you can just order an impression kit and get the opinion of a licensed dentist and orthodontist.

Cost of invisible braces

The cost of your invisible braces largely depends on the extent of alignment your teeth need and how many aligners you’ll need throughout the treatment. The average price for invisible braces is between $3,500 and $8,000. However, you’ll need to talk with your dentist or orthodontist to get a better estimate of the final price.

If you choose to purchase invisible aligners online, you could be paying a lot less — especially if you pay the entire amount upfront.

• byte, Smilelove, and Smile Direct Club all charge $1,895 for their aligners
• SnapCorrect charges $1,749
• EasySmile charges a total of $1,880 

This price doesn’t include the cost of the impression kit, which will vary depending on which company you choose, but when compared to other invisible aligner companies, this is a decent price reduction.

Many invisible aligner companies offer flexible monthly payment plans, which is helpful to consumers who don’t want to pay all at once. While you might pay a bit more by choosing the monthly payment plans, it isn’t a huge price difference.

Customers should also be aware that they can use their dental insurance, as well as their HSA or FSA debit card, to pay for the treatment. Many dental plans will cover your treatments the same way they would cover braces. It’s important to talk to your insurance provider before signing up for an invisible braces treatment plan to see if they can help reduce the overall cost.