Best at dentist clear aligner system
How do you choose the right clear aligner system?
If you're not happy with your smile you're probably looking for ways to straighten your teeth. Basically, there are 2 ways you can go about straightening your smile: braces or clear aligners. The most complex orthodontic conditions always require braces. However, braces can be uncomfortable and a bit of an eyesore. Luckily, less complicated orthodontic cases qualify for clear aligner treatment instead. Clear aligners are more comfortable to wear, less visible, and more gentle on your teeth and gums. Plus, you can remove clear aligners whereas braces are stuck to your teeth throughout the course of your treatment. With clear aligners, you can continue eating, brushing, and flossing your teeth as you normally would. It's no wonder that so many patients choose clear aligners over braces when given a choice.
The first step to straightening your teeth with clear aligners is to find a dentist who offers clear aligner therapy. There are two things to pay close attention to when choosing a dentist:
- Experience: Find yourself an experienced dentist or orthodontist. Try searching for a dentist using Even28's dentist Search Engine. You can look for a dentist near you and browse through their before & after clear aligner photo galleries.
- Clear aligner system: Make sure that your dentist is using a clear aligner system that's going to give you the best possible results.
Finding a great dentist requires doing some research. You can search for a dentist on the internet or ask your family and friends. Choosing a reliable clear aligner system can be a bit more tricky. There are a couple of different dentist-delivered clear aligner systems available out there. Each aligner system has its own characteristics, for instance:
- Different amount of tooth movement per clear aligner
- Varying treatment times
- Unique aligner fit and feel
- Different pricing
So how do you choose a clear aligner system to straighten your smile? Let's discuss a few popular clear aligner systems offered through local dentists to help you narrow down your search.
What are my options for clear aligner treatment at the dentist?
There are a few different clear aligner systems offered through local dentists and orthodontists. The chart below summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of each clear aligner system:
INVISALIGN®
Align Technology founded Invisalign® back in 1997. Invisalign® is the founder of clear aligner technology. Invisalign® offers several different clear aligner programs including Invisalign® Express and Invisalign® Teen to name a few. Invisalign® clear aligners differ from most other clear aligners in that they are scalloped around your teeth edges so that they don't cover your gum tissue for maximum comfort. Just like other clear aligner systems, Invisalign® aligners move your teeth every 1 to 2 weeks over the course of several months (or years) until your teeth settle into their desired final position.
CLEAR CORRECT™
ClearCorrect™ is another dentist-delivered clear aligner system. Founded in 2006, ClearCorrect™ was recently acquired by Straumann group. ClearCorrect™ offers clear aligners similar to Invisalign®. However, ClearCorrect™ clear aligners are usually a bit less expensive than Invisalign® although their aligner system usually takes a bit longer to move your teeth into their desired position.
EVEN28 CLEAR ALIGNERS
One of the newest entrants to the aligner industry, Even28 Clear Aligners are different in that they come in both a dentist-delivered program (Even28 a-dentist™) and an at-home program (Even28 at-home™). Unlike Invisalign® and ClearCorrect™, Even28 at-dentist™ has only one fee schedule and it also comes with unlimited clear aligners. This allows your doctors to focus on aligner therapy instead of having to worry about how many aligners it takes to straighten your smile.
LOCAL DENTAL LABS
Many dental laboratories across the country are now starting to offer their own clear aligner systems. These programs can be a hit and miss, as ultimately your results are only as good as the lab work itself. Local dental laboratories typically charge dentists a fee for each aligner that they manufacture. This means your treatment cost will be based upon how many clear aligners it takes to straighten your smile. This means that if you require 20 aligners as opposed to 10 aligners, your cost of treatment will double.
What to consider when choosing a dentist -delivered clear aligner system?
Now that you're armed with some basic information about the different clear aligner systems, it's time to find the right dentist to straighten your smile. Remember to consider these factors when choosing a dentist:
- Experienced
- Frequency of office visits during your program
- What's included and more importantly what's not included in your treatment
- And of course, their prices
Choosing the right dentist
Make sure to find a dentist who is experienced with clear aligners. Your dentist must be able to visualize your teeth straightening process to predict any unforeseeable issues. Bite problems, orthodontic relapse, and other undesirable outcomes result from a lack of experience with clear aligners. Find an experienced local dentist or orthodontist and you should be in good hands. Your dentist will guide you in the right direction and help you straighten your smile in less time than you'd might imagine.
Selecting a clear aligner system
It's also nice to pay attention to which clear aligner system your dentist uses. A convenient way to familiarize yourself with different clear aligner systems is to search your dentist's Even28 Profile. Scroll to the "Clear Aligner" section of their profile and you can see which clear aligner system(s) your dentist uses. To learn more about different clear aligner systems, click on the following links:
Frequency of office visits
You should also find out how frequently you need to visit your dentist during your program. Each dentist has his or her own rules, most of which are based upon the complexity of your treatment. You may be required to see your dentist every 2 to 3 weeks, or every 1 to 2 months. Be sure that you're not planning on moving away before your treatment is completed!
Cost of clear aligner therapy
Clear aligner treatment can be a bit expensive. Luckily, most dentists who offer clear aligner therapy also offer affordable monthly payment options. This can be very useful as most dentist-delivered clear aligner programs cost above $2,000. Let your dentist know if you're interested in financing options and they will help you come up with a payment plan that fits into your budget. If you have dental insurance with orthodontic coverage, your insurance may cover a portion of your clear aligner treatment. However, you can never count on dental insurance since it's a hit or miss. Contact your insurance carrier to learn more about their orthodontic coverage.
What is and isn't included?
All clear aligner systems include your complete series of clear aligners to straighten your smile. However, they differ in what else comes with their clear aligner program. For example, Invisalign® clear aligners do not include retainers which must be purchased separately. Buying an extra set of Invisalign® retainers (known as Vivera® retainers) could add a few hundred dollars to your treatment expenses. Talk to your dentist to see which dental accessories you need. Consider purchasing these accessories alongside your clear aligner program to save time and money.
Selecting the right clear aligner system
Straightening your smile can transform your life. You must choose the right dentist and the right clear aligner program to get the best possible end results. Try researching local dentists by browsing through their Even28 profile. You can look through their before and after photo galleries to see some of the actual work your dentist has performed. When you're ready, you can book your clear aligner consult right there on their Even28 profile page.