At home clear aligners:
Smile Direct Club and Even28 at-home

YOUR HOME IS YOUR NEW DENTAL OFFICE!

A comparison of 2 different at home clear aligner systems

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By now, most of you have heard of clear aligner and are somewhat familiar with what they are. Clear aligners are a series of firm, plastic trays that gently move your teeth into a new more desirable position. In other words, they straighten your teeth as you go through your series of aligners over the course of several months (sometimes years).

Clear aligner technology was developed as an alternative to traditional braces. Clear aligner technology has been around for over twenty years now. Aligners have proven again and again that they are quite capable of fixing patients smiles. Around 10 million patients have fixed their smiles using clear aligner technology during the past two decades. Most orthodontic conditions are good candidates for clear aligner therapy. This includes teeth crowding, gap teeth, overbites and orthodontic relapse cases.

At home clear aligners are the newest fad in the clear aligner industry. Traditional aligner programs were only offered directly through your dentist or orthodontist. In contrast, at home aligner programs don't require much or any dentist involvement. At home aligner therapy can be performed from the convenience of your own home. Typically, at home aligner programs are far less expensive than dentist-delivered alterantives. For example,  the most popular dentist delivered clear aligner program,  Invsialign®, cost about $3,500-7,000 depending on who you choose and the complexity of your orthodontic condition. On the other hand, all at home aligner programs cost about $2,000. That's nearly half of what Invisalign® and other dentist-delivered clear aligner programs charge for their clear aligner program.

 

CLICK HERE TO TAKE OUR AT HOME ALIGNER ASSESSMENT QUIZ TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR AT HOME ALIGNERS

 

There are several different at home clear aligner programs to choose from. We're going to discuss two different at home teeth aligner programs here: Smile Direct Club™, the pioneer of at home clear aligner business and Even28 at-home™, an innovative newcomer to the clear aligner industry that offers at home aligners through local dentists. We will compare their programs, prices, financing options and other important information.

BYE-BYE DENTIST, I'M STRAIGHTENING MY OWN TEETH!

How do you get started with at home aligner programs?

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There are pros and cons t having to see a dentist to start at home clear aligner treatment.

Smile Direct Club™ and Even28 at-home™ offer clear aligners which work wonders when it comes to straightening your teeth without having to wear braces. Both programs offer affordable clear aligners which are comfortable, easy to wear and effective. Smile Direct Club™ relies on a DIY starter kit or Smile Shops™ to start your treatment. You can purchase their starter kit online and take your own impressions. Alternatively, you can go into one of their physical stores, known as a Smile Shop™, to have your teeth scanned for you.

There are no actual dental office visits required for any of Smile Direct Club™'s programs. At no point will there be any type of physical contact between you and a dentist or orthodontist under Smile Direct Club™'s business model. So how does Smile Direct Club™ design their clear aligners if there are no dentists involved in your treatment? It turns out that there is an actual dentist in charge of designing your aligner program. However, your dentist is located remotely in a corporate office. The dentist assigned to your clear aligner case will receive your teeth models and study them on his or her computer. The lab maps out an aligner treatment to straighten your teeth, the dentist approves it and the company manufactures your clear aligners for you. All of this is done remotely. While not as effective as meeting your dentist in person, this remote treatment model seems to work for many of Smile Direct Club™'s clients.

Even28 at-home™ works a bit differently than Smile Direct Club™. There's no option to obtain Even28 clear aligners online. You must visit an Even28 Clear Aligner provider to begin your Even28 at home™ clear aligner therapy. As you'd imagine, there are pros and cons to having to see a dentist before starting clear aligner treatment. Obviously, you can't start Even28 at-home™ therapy if there are no providers near where you live. However, there are numerous benefits to starting your at home aligner program under dentist supervision. Here's a list of the benefits of receiving at home aligner therapy through your local dentist or orthodontist:

Get your ortho clearance from your dentist

Your Even28 Clear Aligner dentist will examine your teeth and gums to make sure they are strong enough to support orthodontic treatment. It's dangerous to wear aligners on top of teeth with cavities or gums infected by periodontal disease. Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums and give you clearance to start your clear aligner program.

Better treatment planning

Your Even28 Clear Aligner provider is responsible for taking your impressions, scans, photos, bite, etc. Your end results are only going to be as good as your initial impressions. And who's more qualified to take accurate impressions/scans of your teeth than your local dentist or orthodontist? Plus, your dentist works closely with the lab technician to design your 3D tooth movement animation (known as EvenCheck) to come up with a custom aligner plan that's going to give you the best possible results. Working with a remotely located dentist does not give you the same results since they may see scans of your teeth, but they never get to see your cheeks, chin, nose and the rest of the person that's attached to these scans!

Support and guidance throughout your smile journey

Having access to a local dentist is great in case you have a question or run into an emergency. In contrast to Smile Direct Club™ and other do-it-yourself clear aligner programs, Even28 at-home™ gives you full access to an experienced local dentist. This means you can visit your Even28 Clear Aligner dentist at any time throughout your program. Should your aligners, teeth, gums or anything else cause a problem, you can visit your dentist to have it examined. Figuring out solutions to emergency problems is a big problem when there's no dentist available to you.

CLEAR ALIGNERS FOR UNDER $2,000?

Teeth straightening that everyone can afford!

Braces and dentist-delivered clear aligners are not cheap. Be prepared to shed out some serious dough to straighten your smile if you choose braces or Invisalign®! Here's a ballpark estimate of what these programs are going to cost you:

  • Standard braces: Braces typically costs anywhere between $2,800 to 5,000+ based on where you live and how long your braces treatment is expected to take
  • Clear braces (ceramic brackets): Expect to spend a few hundred dollars more for better looking ceramic brackets instead of standard metal brackets
  • Lingual braces: Braces that sit on the inside of your teeth typically cost nearly double that of ordinary braces
  • Invisalign® clear aligner system: Dentist-delivered clear aligners typically cost a bit more than braces. Invisalign® clear aligner system costs anywhere between $3,000-7,000 depending on who you choose and how long your clear aligner treatment is expected to take. Invisalign® charges dentists based on the number of aligners they use, so the more aligners you require the more you're going to haev to pay.
  • Alternative dentist-delivered clear aligner systems: You can always choose a less expensive dentist-delivered clear aligner program such as Clear Correct™ or Even28 at-dentist™. But you'll still be looking at no less than $2,500 for most clear aligner systems offered through your local dentist or orthodontist.

There's almost no way to get braces or dentist-delivered clear aligners for under two-thousand dollars. In contrast, at-home aligner cost right around $2,000. Thanks to at home and DIY aligner programs, you now have the option of straightening your teeth for under $2,000. Before you get too excited about at home aligners you need to make sure that you qualify for them. Keep in mind, only the simplest of all orthodontic conditions qualify for at home clear aligner programs. But if you do, you can have your teeth straightened for a quite the bargain!

At home clear aligner programs such as Smile Direct Club™ and Even28 at-home™ cost less than $2,000 for your whole treatment. Smile Direct Club™ delivers all of your teeth aligners for the low price of $1,895 (if not financed) plus the cost of your starter kit. Even28 at-home™ offers their clear aligner program $1,995 (no finance charge if under a year) plus your initial consult fee. Click on the links below to learn more about the costs of different at home clear aligner programs :

COMPLEX ORTHODONTIC TREATMENTS

What happens if I don't qualify for at home aligner programs?

Not everyone qualifies for at home clear aligner therapy. Simpler orthodontic tooth movements do just fine with at home clear aligners. However, more complicated tooth movements always require dentist-delivered clear aligners. At home clear aligner programs will leave you disappointed and feeling like there's still more work to be done. Consider going with dentist-delivered clear aligners like Invisalign® or Even28 at-dentist™ to treat more complicated orthodontic conditions.

But what benefits do dentist-delivered clear aligner programs offer? Don't be surprised that your clear aligner provider actually does more than just hand you a bunch of aligners. Your dentist performs helpful treatment to guide your clear aligner program in the right direction. Ultimately, you get better results which last a longer time. Let's take a closer look at some common treatment your dentist may perform during dentist-delivered clear aligner therapy:

Creating room for proper tooth movement

If your teeth are super-crowded, you can't just move them by wearing a bunch of teeth aligners. Clear aligners may move your teeth but they will soon relapse back to their original position. Without creating additional space for proper tooth movement your teeth won't remain in their new position. Dentists perform a treatment known as tooth contouring, or IPR (interproximal reduction), to create the space required for better tooth movement.

Rotating and tipping stubborn teeth

Wearing clear aligners alone does not place enough force to rotate or tip teeth. At home aligners can only shift teeth and they are not capable of rotational movement. In order to fix these more stubborn teeth your dentist needs to place what's known as a button, or attachment, on your teeth. Buttons are tiny white fillings which enable aligners to apply rotational forces. This is another reason you need to see a dentist or orthodontist to fix more complex tooth movements.

Monitoring and correcting your bite

Your "bite" refers to how your back teeth come together once you close your mouth. Having a good bite is a big deal. In fact, correcting bite problems is the cornerstone of orthodontic treatment. Without a good bite you will break teeth, crack fillings and develop head and neck pain as you age. Bite correction always require direct dentist supervision. At home aligner programs like Smile Direct Club™ can not correct your bite issues. In fact, unsupervised clear aligner therapy is more likely to screw up your bite than fix it! Any type of bite correction should always be supervised by your dentist or orthodontist. We recommend you choose a dentist direct clear aligner program such as Invisalign® or Even28 at-dentist™ to fix bite problems. Wearing braces is your other option for correcting more extensive bite problems.

Providing general guidance, emergency care and accountability

Having access to an experienced local dentist is always a great bonus. After all, stuff always comes up:

  • You may develop a cut, lesion or abscess
  • Your teeth may start to hurt and you're not sure if it's from your aligners or something serious is going on
  • One of your aligners may feel awkward, hurt or break

It's nice to have access to a local dentist for these type of situations. Your dentist can instruct you on how to wear your aligners and address any emergency situation that comes up. Consider going with dentist delivered aligner programs like Invisalign® or Even28 at-dentist™ to treat more complex orthodontic conditions. Having access to a local dentist can be quite useful for these longer and more complicated treatments.

Maintaining your straight smile over the years

Choosing the right clear aligner program is important to maintaining long-term results. Band-aid treatments may produce satisfactory results right now but they fail in the long-run. If your teeth are forced into their new position without reliving the underlying orthodontic condition, sooner or later they will relapse back to their original position. Consider going with dentist-delivered aligner programs such as Invisalign®or Even28 at-dentist™ for more complicated orthodontic conditions to get results that are going to last. Otherwise, be prepared to redo your treatment within a couple of years when your teeth are back to where they used to be!

THE MOST AFFORDABLE WAY TO AN EVEN SMILE

How much do at home clear aligner programs cost?

We haven't made any price comparisons and there's good reason for that. Smile Direct Club™, Candid Teeth™, Even28 at-home™ and all other at home aligner programs pretty much the same:

  • Smile Direct Club™ price: Smile Direct Club™ is currently charging customers case price of 0$1,895 plus a fee for the at home starter kit. If you want to finance your treatment then your cost is about $2,300.
  • Candid Co.™ price: Candid Co™ charges $1,900 plus the cost of their aligner starter kit. They charge about $2,200 if you're interested in monthly payment plans.
  • Smile Love™ price: Their aligner package costs $1,895
  • Byte™ price: Byte charges the same $1,895 for their aligner package 
  • Even28 at-home™ price: Even28 at-home™ costs $1,995 plus some dentists charge for their consultation. However, there is no finance charge for Even28 at-home™  so long as you pay off your clear aligner program within one year.  

You get the picture by now. It seems like you'll be spending around $2,000 for any of these at home clear aligner programs. So there's no reason to stress over how much each program costs since they all cost nearly the same. Instead, focus on each clear aligner program's reputation, services, accessories, dentist network and other important criteria.

CASH AND PAYMENT PLANS

How can you pay for your at home clear aligner program?

Not only are at home clear aligners very affordable but they also offer many different ways to pay for your program. Both Smile Direct Club™ and Even28 at-home offer flexible monthly payment options. Smile Direct Club™ is currently offering monthly financing for $85 per month over a 2 year period with a $250 initial down-payment. This amounts to about a 12% interest if paid in full within the two year period. Luckily, there is no credit check required for Smile Direct Club™ financing. Click here to learn more about Smile Direct Club™'s financing options.

Even28 at-home™ offers financing through its network of participating Even28 Clear Aligners. In other words, your treating dentists will finance your treatment. Even28 dentists offer plenty of attractive financing options for those of you who are interested in monthly payment plan options. Financing options range anywhere from 6 months up to 5+ years. Plus, you don't have to put any money down to finance your Even28 at-home™ aligners. Payments could be as little as $50 a month depending on the terms you choose.  Typically, there are no financing fees if you pay off your treatment within one year. Talk to your Even28 Clear Aligner provider to learn more about payment plan options they offer. Most participating dentists offer affordable monthly payment plans through CareCredit, LendingClub or other third-party financing companies. Some dentists also offer in-house financing where they charge your credit card each month.

There's other ways to pay for your clear aligner treatment aside from monthly financing. For example, you can use your HSA or FSA funds to cover your ortho treatment. There's also a chance that your dental insurance will pay a portion if you have orthodontic coverage. It's even been rumored that some dentists barter their services, so if you can code, fix cars or paint their office you might get an additional discount ... okay, we're just kidding on this one! But as you can see there are many different ways to afford your clear aligner therapy. This means there should be no more excuses to live with crooked teeth.

CLEAR ALIGNERS FALL UNDER ORTHODONTIC BENEFITS

Does dental insurance cover at home clear aligner therapy?

Your dental insurance may cover a portion of your clear aligner treatment. First, make sure that you have orthodontic coverage. Also be sure that you meet your insurance company's criteria to make sure you qualify.

You can never fully rely on your dental insurance since they could end up rejecting your claim. Unfortunately, at home aligner programs usually does not qualify for insurance coverage. This is because at home aligner therapy is not dentist supervised and insurance companies usually consider them as cosmetic treatment. This means that your insurance probably won't cover you treatment.

Keep in mind, if you move your back teeth, then treatment is considered medically necessary. In contrast to at home aligners, dentist delivered aligners move your back teeth which means you have a better chance of being covered. If insurance coverage is important to you, it's better to go with a dentist-delivered clear aligner program like Invisalign® or Even28 at-dentist™ instead.