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Last Updated on February 20, 2023
Smile Direct Club Vs AlignerCo Vs SnapCorrect
If the way your teeth are aligned annoys you, it is time to do something about it!
Several home aligner companies, including SnapCorrect and Smile Direct Club, claim to be able to help straighten your smile online – so you’ve got some great options to get them looking amazing. But how do these two home teeth aligner companies compare? Do they work? What do they cost?
The right path to a perfect smile might be invisible aligners. Just like braces, for a lot of people, invisible aligners can adjust and straighten your teeth, without the discomfort or embarrassing impact on your appearance. Anyone who’s used braces before understands: Aside from requiring you to visit an orthodontist multiple times during your treatment, metal braces causes some serious pain throughout the treatment period.
Having been around since the late 1990s, Invisalign® is the biggest name in invisible aligners. Direct-to-consumer teeth alignment startups are beginning to give Invisalign® a run for its money, though it’s the first brand name most people think of when it comes to invisible aligners. Keep in mind Snapcorrect and alignerco offer great customer service or customer support.
When it comes to cost-efficiency and convenience, direct-to-consumer aligner startups can beat out Invisalign®. But, these home aligner companies have fewer testimonials to back them up since they are younger than Invisalign®. To see if one is right for you, let’s discuss in detail two of these new players, SnapCorrect and Smile Direct Club, considering that using one of their products can make a long-term change to your smile (and as a result, your life!). Also, Neither company maintains retail locations like Candid or SmileDirectClub. Keep in mind the Candid also provides extensive remote monitoring, they also provide a free set as well.
First, Let’s Talk home Teeth Aligners
Invisible (usually “plastic”) teeth aligners can attain a straight smile, without all of that metal in your mouth, so metal braces are no longer the only strategy to achieve this. But how do they work exactly?
A series of custom-fitted mouthpieces are involved in this kind of treatment. Fitting tightly over your teeth and work to gradually shift them into the desired position, these are basically little fitted trays that are custom-made. Each one will be worn for typically about two weeks when it will be time for the next one. Until they’re perfectly straight, each home aligner will move your teeth millimeter by millimeter. As your chompers slowly move into position, they are all slightly different, each one designed to take over from the last.
Depending on the initial positioning of your teeth, teeth aligner treatment can take anywhere from 10 months to two years. For adults who had braces as a kid but have experienced mild shifting of the teeth since then, keep in mind that invisible teeth aligners are an awesome choice. You could achieve that flawless smile in as quick as 10 weeks, in this scenario
Comparing Invisible Aligners To Braces.
It’s hard not to wonder whether invisible aligners could be a superior option to traditional braces if you’re seeking straighter teeth. After all, the appeal of a removable, invisible tray over a bulky metal appliance is obvious. But how do these two teeth-straightening options compare side by side?
Keep in mind, as we compare invisible aligners to braces, that braces are usually the best treatment option for individuals with severe jaw or tooth alignment problems. The safest most effective option for you if you have significant dental concerns is visiting an orthodontist. Talking with SnapCorrect or Smile Direct Club, make sure you let them know if you have any major mouth issues so that they can tell you if their solution will work for your particular situation.
Now, let’s review invisible aligners and braces and their main differences:
Appearance During Treatment
Metal braces cannot be hidden. While you can opt for clear rubber bands, for the extent of your treatment, metal brackets and wires are locked on your teeth. That’s a major disruption in day-to-day life for many people – especially adults. On the plus side, it’s not probably going to kick you out of the cool kids club since you probably aren’t in the middle school anymore.
On the other hand, invisible aligners are unobtrusive. They aren’t typically noticeable and won’t have an impact on your appearance as it is made from a clear plastic material. For adults with minor teeth configuration issues and who don’t want to have immediately obvious orthodontics happening, this is a good option.
Comfort
A significant discomfort in braces treatment is brought about by metal which is a weighty material. The metal may scratch the inside of your mouth and after the braces are first applied, may cause your teeth and gums to be sore. Until your mouth gets accustomed to it, wires and rubber bands will be uncomfortable and put significant pressure on your teeth. You probably get what the experience will be like if you had braces when you were a kid.
Invisible aligners aren’t totally discomfort-free, either. It can cause pain during treatment since they are going to shift the position of your teeth. After you first start wearing them, you may also experience a scratching sensation inside your mouth. However, the pain will be less intense than what you would experience with braces since plastic is less abrasive than metal.
Food Restrictions
You’ll have to wave goodbye to all of your favorite sticky, chewy, crunchy, and otherwise dentally-demanding foods, for braces treatment to be safe and effective. This includes chewy pieces of bread like bagels, even hard candy, popcorn, caramels, and corn on the cob. For braces-wearers to enjoy crunchy fruits and veggies like apples and carrots, they have to be cut into small pieces. For the full duration of your braces treatment, you’ll need to follow these restrictions.
You’ll simply remove your invisible aligner before eating, on the other hand. It’s as easy as that! Having no impact on your teeth straightening treatment – you can keep those chewy foods in the pantry and enjoy corn on the cob at your next cookout. Pop-out the tray, eat and put it back in.
Expense
Braces cost between $5,000 and $6,000 on average. Pricier ones can cost upwards of $10k and less expensive braces treatments may cost just $3,000.
SnapCorrect, Smile Direct Club, and AlignerCo, all three of the DTC invisible aligner companies that we’re spotlighting here – cost under two grand. A fraction of how much braces cost.
Generally less expensive than braces is Invisalign®, but not that much. The average cost of Invisalign® is between $3,000 and $5,000 in the US.
DTC teeth aligners and Invisalign®: What’s the difference?
Your choice will likely come down to your priorities if you’re deciding between DTC teeth aligners and Invisalign®. Will you opt for the low cost and convenience of DTC aligners or for a higher level of orthodontic care offered by Invisalign®?
- The Benefits of Orthodontic Care
Now let’s be clear: While in-person orthodontic care provides unmatched benefits, DTC teeth aligners are undeniably affordable and convenient in comparison with Invisalign® or braces.
For one, when you’re seeing an orthodontist, the level of individualization is far higher. Detailed diagnosis can be made with x-rays and digital scans and they’ll have time to address your unique concerns. Seeing an orthodontist will provide the highest quality in care when it comes to teeth straightening and jaw alignment – period. If your treatment plan includes orthodontic benefits you might receive a insurance reimbursement. Snapcorrect and alignerco offer great customer service or customer support. Both companies use orthodontists and general dentists to evaluate smiles. Keep in mind all of them involve a credit check.
That being said, sky-high insurance prices and fast-paced, ultra-packed schedules is the world we live in now. Sometimes, your budget or your daily schedule simply won’t fit with seeing your orthodontist for extended offive treatment. DTC teeth aligners can provide some significant perks in this scenario.
- Cost
As previously mentioned, aligners cost around $3,000 to $5,000, Invisalign® is only a bit less expensive than braces. A significantly less costly option and lead to the same outcome for most people – a straight, perfect smile, are DTC invisible aligners. Keep in mind all of them involve a credit check. Either companies offer financing options. They offer monthly payments and other financing plans as well.
- Office Visits
You don’t have to head back to your dental or orthodontic office for regular visits with DTC home teeth aligner treatment. But you’ll have to dole out cash for office visits throughout the treatment period if you choose Invisalign® since you can only receive it from qualified dental profesionals or orthodontists make it possible to make the process easier. Those copays can add up, generally speaking, since Invisalign® requires in-office check-ins with your orthodontist every 6-8 weeks. On the one hand, that’s a lot of time and money to see them every few weeks, but on the other, you are seeing a real “mouth doctor” in person. Keep in mind not all home aligner companies use the same process. But we feel these are great for home teeth aligner treatment. End od the day it is a dentist or a orthodontist who will evaluate the smile. They also offer free teeth scans.
SnapCorrect vs Smile Direct Club vs AlignerCo: Which one is right for you?
In the race to become the best DTC clear aligner brand are three established competitors – SnapCorrect, Smile Direct Club, and AlignerCo. All these home aligners all have pretty similar benefits at first glance. However, these home aligners are different in some places with price and treatment frame as the main factors to differentiate them. These home aligner companies have also partnered with align technology who are focussed on straightening teeth. They provide free whitening for life,
The clear and comfortable design of their home aligners, which we’ll talk about in more detail below – is emphasized by SnapCorrect and AlignerCo. Several payment options that may reduce the cost to people who have more flexibility to pay bigger amounts (vs. The two players who offer upfront payment or straight financing options) are also offered by AlignerCo. Generally, AlignerCo is the most affordable option we’ve seen.
SnapCorrect Truly Invisible Aligners
For a single price pay of $1,749, SnapCorrect advertises “truly invisible home aligners”. Based on a purchase price of $1,749 at 10% APR for 24 months, the company also offers a payment plan that starts at $80.84 per month. Rates range from 10 to 30% APR.
When we compare DirectClub vs SnapCorrect, With SnapCorrect, you can make your impressions at home and can be sent back to a lab. These impression kits will cost you an extra $95 (or $45 on special which SnapCorrect offers frequently – click here now to see if the special is being offered now), since it is not included in the price of the home aligners. You’ll need to upload pictures of your teeth to the SnapCorrect system for review, in addition to taking the impressions. Your trays and kit that includes a free retainer and free whitening products to further improve your smile are shipped to your doorstep afterward. If you think it is not working for you they offer a full refund. But they have great customer reviews.
A dental team from SnapCorrect, which consists of dental professionals, general dentists, dental technicians and orthodontists, creates the treatment plans, they first evaluate you and if you are good candidate they go ahead . This company offers a effective treatment length that ranges from 3 months to 18 months, with 9 to 10 months being the average, their aligners should be worn for 20 to 22 hours per day. They use first set of clear aligners to shift your teeth and they are reasonably stain resistant. Choose SnapCorrect if you are sticking to a strict budget, even though there are other aligners, these have excellent customer support and are perfect for teeth whitening. They provide free whitening products as well. We recommend you to get started with SnapCorrect. You should wear your aligners for atleat 20 hours a day post treatment.
Their aligners being clearer than competing options is one of SnapCorrect’s big marketing points. Photos of aligners on their site visibly show that SnapCorrect aligners are clearer with contoured edges while the other options from Invisalign® and Smile Direct Club look opaque and textured. You’ll see that a lot of people appreciate how their trays are less conspicuous and look truly invisible when you read the SnapCorrect reviews. Keep in mind Snapcorrect and alignerco offer great customer service or customer support.
Companies like this allow their aligners to fit more closely to your teeth, SnapCorrect doesn’t use 3D printers. Rather than the raised borders seen with Smile Direct Club’s aligners, you’ll notice that SnapCorrect aligners have contoured edges. This creates a more snug and comfortable fit, according to the company.
Smile Direct Club’s Invisible Teeth Aligners
Emerging as one of the most well-known DTC clear aligner companies is Smile Direct Club. With an average treatment time of just 4 to 6 months, their aligners are made from 3D printed, BPA-free plastic. Particularly appealing to consumers today is this super-short treatment time frame. Additionally, a licensed dentist or orthodontist reviews alter as needed, and approves all their treatment plans. The average treatment time is usually more than 6 months.
Smile Direct Club offers Nighttime Clear Aligners for added flexibility in addition to their original 22-hour-a-day aligners. The treatment lasts for 10 months on average, these clear aligners are worn for just 10 hours each night. For anyone who wants to straighten their teeth without the commitment of all-day wear, they’re an awesome option. The clear aligners and nighttime clear aligners from Smile Direct Club are both priced at $85 per month or $1895 total.
For taking tooth impressions, Smile Direct Club gives you two options: order a remote impression kit or book ab in-person visit to one of their “Smile Shops”. All 50 U.S. States, Canada, and Puerto Rico have Smile Shop locations. While the impression kit costs $49, an in-person Smile Shop visit is free. You’ll get to see a free 3D preview of your projected post-treatment smile after you complete either option. You can order you’re clear aligners from there.
To help fit your clear aligners for better comfort, their home aligner kit also includes “Chewies”. Chewed on for 10 to 15 minutes, two or three times a day, Chewies are pieces of rubber you simply chew on until you reach the perfect home aligner fit.
AlignerCo Teeth Aligners
It’s offering of three different plan options is what makes AlignerCo unique: SmileAdvantage, SmileFlex, and SmileFlexEasy. At $1,145 total one-time payment, SmileAdvantage is the most affordable plan. For a total of $1,320, SmileFlex is an installment plan including 12 installments of $110. With a $275 down payment, SmileFlexEasy is an installment plan which totals to $1,320 as well, but with monthly installments of $95 for 11 months. An impression kit, aligners, retainers, an orthodontist prescription, and shipping are all included in all plans.
Taking your dental impression at home with the impression kit is the start of your AlignerCo journey. Their team of orthodontists will draw up your personal treatment plan once you send back the impressions to AlignerCo.
Depending on your prescribed treatment plan, you should wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day, with treatment generally lasting from six to twelve months.
Super-clear aligners that are trimmed to the gum-line is what ALignerCo boasts of. This creates a close, comfortable fit. A manufacturing company that specializes in dental appliances and equipment, Raintree Essix, Inc. USA, creates the aligners using FDA-approved materials. We recommend you to go for this clear aligner service as these are of high quality.
The Verdict: Which DTC Invisible Aligners are right for you?
The right option when it comes to choosing between SnapCorrect, Smile Direct Club, and AlignerCo depends on what you’re looking for. AlignerCo offers the lowest prices on invisible aligners around if affordability is your main worry. Smile Direct Club has the largest number of physical locations for in-person impressions. For anyone who’d rather straighten their teeth overnight, which is now possible with Nighttime Clear aligners, we’d also recommend Smile Direct Club. They also offer some free extras, adn we would not recommed drinking colored beverages while wearing your aligners.
We all like the aligners that are super clear and conform to your gum line from SnapCorrect. For home aligner wearers, this will provide a comfortable fit. SnapCorrect, otherwise, is pretty middle-of-the-road as far as treatment time and price (though they provide retainers for free, which we love). We hope we have given you all the information to make a informed decision.
Think you’ll give invisible aligners a shot? We have reviewed and ranked some of the finest home teeth aligners Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Smilelove
(normally $1895)- Or $66/month, with different monthly payments length available.
- Free Retainers
- Insurance Accepted
- FREE Impression Kit
- FREE Premium whitening kit & aligner case
Straight My Teeth
- Or $80/month with a $250 cash down.
- $99 for the retainer
- Insurance accepted
- $95 per kit or 3D scan
- FREE Premium whitening kit & aligner case
Candid Co.
(Or $80 per months)- Or $80 per month for 24 months.
- FREE Retainers.
- Insurance Accepted
- $95 per kit.
- FREE Premium whitening kit.
*AlignerCo*
- Or $110/month
- FREE Retainers
- Insurance Accepted
- FREE Impression Kit (With one time payment option)
- FREE Premium whitening kit