Clear aligners are created using special design software that enables us to use impressions that we take of your teeth to digitally plan your orthodontic treatment and how we will achieve shifting your teeth into the correct alignment with clear aligners.
Clear aligners are much more comfortable, hygienic, and convenient than metal braces. Read on in this blog from Colonial Drive Family Dentistry to learn about three popular clear aligner brands on the market.
Invisalign
Invisalign was the first major removable clear aligner system that was promoted as an alternative way to correct orthodontic problems without braces. Invisalign uses a specially developed and patented medical-grade SmartTrack material for its aligners which are cut to fit the contours of your teeth.
This material was developed to shift the teeth gently and efficiently up to 50% faster and with very precise movements. Invisalign can be paired with Invisalign attachments and elastics to correct more severe malocclusions like improper bites.
However, Invisalign is the most expensive clear aligner system because it is the most popular and effective clear aligner system since it won FDA approval in 1998 and has spent decades pouring money into research and developing the best quality product.
Invisalign offers 5 years of unlimited aligners. The average treatment takes 12 to 18 months. Invisalign has also shown to be effective in correcting the alignment of younger patients such as adolescents.
ClearCorrect
ClearCorrect works very similarly to Invisalign, except that it is considered a more affordable clear aligner alternative. The ClearCorrect aligners are made out of ClearQuartz tri-layer plastic materials, which are not as thick as Invisalign.
They also only offer straight-cut aligner trays, which can be effective for shifting the teeth but are less aesthetically and don’t offer options to choose between different trims. ClearCorrect also offers a type of “attachments” known as engagements. These are tooth-colored buttons made of resin that help anchor your aligners. The length of treatment is about the same as Invisalign.
SureSmile
Suresmile offers a choice between scalloped or straight-cut aligners which are made out of ESSIX Ace material, which is considered the next highest quality plastic next to Invisalign’s SmartTrack.
In affordability, SureSmile is comparable to Clearcorrect but on the upper end, when you choose unlimited aligners, you can pay slightly more. The SureSmile design software also gives you the option to conceal missing teeth by color-matching the shade of your natural teeth to fill in spaces that are larger than 3mm. This creates the appearance of an additional tooth when you wear the aligners. Treatment averages at about 12 to 15 months and offers 3 years of unlimited aligners.
Which Is Right for You?
When it comes to the bang for your buck, Invisalign has the highest quality thermoplastic material in their aligner design and also has superior SmartForce attachments which have clinically been shown to increase the precision and efficiency of shifting the teeth.
If you are on a budget, ClearCorrect and SureSmile are palatable alternatives. However, SureSmile offers the ability to fill in gaps that are larger than 3 mm and you can choose the trim of your aligner design.
At Colonial Drive Family Dentistry we offer Invisalign clear aligners and if you’re interested in closing small gaps, correcting crooked teeth, or fixing a misaligned bite, then contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Dorsey.
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