Updated January 29, 2024, 9:00 am PT
Amanda Capritto
Why you can trust CNET
It’s 2024, and if you want proper alignment of your teeth, you no longer have to suffer through a heavy metal bite. Invisible braces will leave you with a straighter smile and no splinter residue. And no one will ever know you’re wearing braces unless you tell them.
In this guide, we’ve listed the different brands of invisible home braces available and see how they work for you teeth. You can also find out if you should visit an orthodontist, cosmetic dentist, or other dental professional to discuss your teeth straightening needs before spending a few thousand dollars on Invisalign aligners. Spoiler alert: You should.
A clear aligner is obviously more appealing to many people than traditional braces with metal or ceramic brackets. It’s removable if you want to eat something sticky and most people won’t notice. This is ideal if you are self-conscious about your smile and don’t want metal braces to draw attention to misaligned teeth. When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, a clear aligner is low key.
Editors’ note, Dec. 14, 2023: SmileDirectClub has been removed from this list because the company has closed. Read on for more information.
Where to buy invisible mail order alignment
In a world where you can get birth control online, get a medical diagnosis over the phone, and even get a hormone panel in the mail, it should come as no surprise that there are now quite a few mail order invisible braces companies. Here are five places to get clear aligners without visiting an orthodontist.
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Candid previously offered at-home kits and the option to visit a Candid studio for a consultation, but the company now only offers its product through dental offices. If you have already purchased a home kit, you have until the end of March to use it to make impressions of your teeth and purchase the aligner kit from Candid for $1,895.
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You might be wondering why Invisalign, arguably the most popular pure alignment provider, is not on this list. This is because Invisalign is not a direct-to-consumer company. You must go to an orthodontist to have the Invisalign aligner installed and be treated with Invisalign invisible braces. You must also attend periodic check-up appointments at your orthodontist’s office with Invisalign. Candid, which originally offered aligners by mail order, now also works directly with dentists to offer its aligners.
These are disadvantages if you are purely looking for a clear plastic mail order aligner option that allows you to complete treatment at home, but Invisalign treatment does offer some advantages.
For example, visiting an orthodontist regularly in person ensures that your clear aligners are working as they should and that you are on track with your Invisalign aligner for straighter teeth. Your orthodontist can also check for any new problems that arise with Invisalign braces, such as a gap introduced by the aligners or gum erosion.
Real braces are certainly not the most pleasant thing, but they are necessary for many orthodontic situations.
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“Invisible braces” is another term for what are actually called “clear aligners”. It is also common for people to refer to all clear braces and aligners as Invisaligna brand that seems to have become a generic term, like Windex and Kleenex.
Invisible braces do the same thing as traditional metal braces and braces — they slowly adjust the movement of teeth to straighten them and correct bite problems — except they’re clear splints, made of plastic, and removable. Unlike lingual braces, you can remove the clear plastic aligners to eat and brush your teeth, and you’ll never cut the inside of your cheek on a sharp metal bracket like you do with regular braces (which everyone who wears metal braces knows braces very good).
Most direct-to-consumer alignments include mail-order display kits. You send the impression kit back to the company, where a dentist or orthodontist analyzes it and creates a custom set of clear aligners based on the analysis of your teeth.
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Typically, you will wear your invisible braces 20 to 22 hours a day, so you can expect to wear them while you sleep and for most of your waking hours. You can remove them for eating, brushing your teeth or flossing. Bonus: Since you can remove them to eat, unlike conventional braces, you won’t have to avoid foods like popcorn or nuts.
So how long until you see results from your teeth aligners? Total treatment time usually takes four to 18 months, but will vary depending on your condition (for example, if you have an overbite, crowding, or large gaps).
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Clear alignments aren’t for everyone and they can’t address everything. Most clear aligners can treat overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, small gaps and crowded teeth to some extent.
If you have a severe case of any of these conditions, such as a gap greater than 2 mm, your orthodontist may recommend traditional braces. Other situations where clear aligners may not be right for you include:
- Tooth rotation: If your tooth is rotating due to crowding, clear aligners may not be able to rotate the tooth into the correct position.
- Penetration: Clear aligners cannot correct a tooth that is stuck in the jawbone.
- Extrusion: A tooth that sits high on the bone and is taller than other teeth cannot be fixed with invisible braces.
- Malformed teeth: If you have teeth that are rounded, pointed, or spiked, clear aligners may not fit them properly.
- Movement in the middle: If your teeth don’t line up with the imaginary line that bisects your face (your midline), clear aligners may not correct the misalignment if it’s more than 2mm on either side.
If you have any of the above conditions, it is best to see an orthodontist before trying any brand of clear aligners. And even if you don’t have (or think you do) any of these orthodontic complications, it’s still worth seeing a professional before starting treatment. An orthodontist can spot problems that you can’t, which is why it’s best to get evaluated in person before using aligners at home.
You may have an undetected condition that could be exacerbated by clear aligners, something that only a trained specialist could tell you about at an appointment. For example, orthodontists who do your clean aligner order must rely on photographs to assess the oral health of supporting structures such as your jawbone and gum tissue. Visiting an orthodontist in person allows the doctor to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of your teeth and mouth during your treatment.
“Better safe than sorry” is definitely true when it comes to the long-term dental health of your pearly whites: Either your orthodontist will tell you you’re good to go with mail order and send you on your way, or he’ll send you a recommendation. other ways to safely, healthily achieve straight teeth and a correct bite.
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