Best Invisible Braces in 2020

Smile Direct Club

Smile Direct Club lets you straighten your teeth online.

To get started, visit the website and order an impression kit. You’ll create your impressions at home and send them in for processing. The 3D model the company makes will determine the custom aligners you need.

Within a few weeks, you’ll receive a package with your full treatment plan: a series of aligners you will swap out every two weeks.

It differs from Smilelove by having a few storefronts for people that would prefer to consult a dentist in person before starting treatment. If you fall into this category, you can visit a shop, have a technician scan your mouth, and get a licensed dentist who will assess your needs.

Regardless of whether you do everything online or in-store, Smile Direct Club offers a flat rate of $1,850. It also allows you to finance your smile plan if you desire.

Smile Direct Club Pros

• Flat rate: You won’t have to make assumptions about the cost. All plans are $1,850.
• Online or in-store service: If you want to do everything online, you can. If you would prefer to talk to a technician in a store, you can do that.
• Monthly payment plans: If you don’t want to pay in full or don’t have the budget to pay at once, you can choose a monthly plan.

Smile Direct Club Cons

• Wait time: The custom aligners can take 4-5 weeks to ship.

For a limited time, get $100 off aligners with code MARCHSMILES.

Best Orthodontists: Candid

candid

Candid is an online retailer of invisible braces that seeks to perfect your smile in about six months.

Similar to the other invisible braces companies on our list, Candid lets you work with dentists and orthodontists remotely so that you never have to sit in a waiting room.

Candid has the most experienced professionals. According to the company, the average orthodontists have 20+ years of professional experience.

At $1,995, Candid is priced slightly higher than some of the other clear braces providers. Still, the price is much lower than traditional metal braces.

The company partners with Affirm should you wish to finance your braces.

Candid Pros

• Flat rate: All plans are $1,995.
• Best orthodontists: Candid claims that its orthodontists average 20+ years of experience.
• Finance options: Candid partners were Affirm so you can space your payments out over time rather than pay everything up front.
• Fast service: Candid seeks to straighten your teeth in six months or less.

Candid Cons

• Higher price: Candid is slightly more expensive than other invisible braces companies.
• No add-on benefits: Candid does not offer free teeth whitening like some of its competitors.

byte

byte was developed by celebrity cosmetic dentist Dr. Jon Marashi. The company aims to perfect your smile in three months.

When you begin, byte will send you an impression kit. Take impressions of your teeth, and send them back to byte. The company will send your sets of aligners directly to your door.

There’s no need to visit a dentist. Everything with the orthodontists happens online. In addition to aligners, byte will also provide free retainers and whitener.

The company further differentiates from other invisible braces companies by offering a byte-for-Life guarantee. This guarantee promises that customers will have straight smiles for the rest of their lives for the one time cost of $1,900.

byte Pros

• Fast results: byte seeks to perfect your smile in three months. More complicated cases will take longer.
• Online-only service: There’s no need to visit a dentist or orthodontist to get your teeth fixed. Visiting an orthodontist can take a lot of time, so having things sent to your door is convenient.
• Financing options: byte partners with affirm to provide financing options.
• Free retainers and whitening treatment: byte includes retainers and whitener free of charge.

byte Cons

• Higher price: These services are slightly more expensive than competitors’ options.

Metal vs. Invisible Braces

If invisible braces are less obtrusive, why are metal braces still on the market?

There are pros and cons to both. Let’s take a look at them.

Metal Braces

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Metal braces work better for severe cases. If your teeth are extraordinarily crooked, invisible braces might not work.

Here are the pros and cons of metal braces.

Pros

• Metal braces are better at correcting severely crooked teeth and severe underbites and overbites.
• These braces are permanent so that you don’t have to worry about losing them.
• Treatment time can be faster than invisible braces because you are forced to wear them 24/7.

Cons

• Metal brackets and wires can hurt the sides of your mouth.
• This option is less attractive than invisible braces or clear braces.
• Metal options are not suitable for people who play contact sports.
• Brushing and flossing can be more difficult with metal braces.
• You have to wait to do teeth whitening until after you are done.

Invisible Braces

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Invisible braces are more attractive than metal braces and often more comfortable.

Here are the pros and cons of invisible braces.

Pros

• Invisible braces are more attractive. The appearance is one of the main reasons that people don’t want to wear braces. An invisible option is more attractive than metal options because they’re nearly invisible.
• This option is less painful than metal braces as they lack metal wires.
• You can floss your teeth and bleach them if need be because the braces are removable.

Cons

• Invisible braces are easy to lose because they’re removable.
• These require more self-discipline than metal braces.

Who Are Invisible Braces For?

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While anyone can wear invisible braces, they’re best for adults.

Clear options are the best braces for adults who want the flexibility of removing their braces during important events. Adults also tend to be more responsible and are less likely to lose their trays.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that metal braces still be used for situations that need more extreme repair. Invisible braces are also best for people who need a slight correction. Invisible options won’t correct an overbite or underbite as well.

As people get older, their teeth can move. Invisible braces are great for adults who had braces as children but whose teeth have moved and become a bit crooked in adulthood.

In general, you’re a candidate for invisible braces if you have the following:

• Mild overbites
• Crowded teeth
• Mild open bites
• Gapped teeth
• Mils crossbites
• Slightly crooked teeth
• Mild underbites

Like traditional braces, invisible braces can help remove problems that cause teeth grinding. Both treatment options can fix front teeth, back teeth, and bites.

How Long Does It Take for the Invisible Braces to Straighten Teeth?

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Depending on the severity of your case, invisible braces can take anywhere from six months to a year to work.

It also depends on the user. If you follow your orthodontist’s advice and wear your invisible braces 22 hours or more a day, they’ll work faster.

However, if you tend to take them out more than you should, or only wear them at night, expect treatment time to take longer.

More extreme cases may need longer. Talk to your orthodontist or another dental professional to find out if you’d need six months, nine months, a year, or longer in your specific case.

How Much Do Invisible Braces Cost?

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You might assume invisible braces are more expensive than metal braces. But you’d be wrong.

Invisible braces are comparable in price to metal braces.

The cost will depend on the severity of your case and how much you need your teeth adjusted, but invisible braces typically range from $3,000 for a simple correction to $8,000 for something more complex.

As a comparison, metal braces typically range from $3,500 to $9,000.

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The best invisible braces can take your smile to the next level. Use this guide to help you get started with your teeth improvement plan.