Having a “million dollar smile” is a physical trait many people want to have. However, most people aren’t born with perfect teeth. Many people grow up with crooked teeth that need straightening later on in life. In the past, the term “metal mouth” was a common term for kids who wore traditional metal braces. It would take months, sometimes even years, of uncomfortable monthly adjustments and dentist visits before the “million dollar smile” could be achieved.
The good news is that those days are now in the past and you no longer have to suffer through painful monthly tightenings and food being stuck in your braces.. There are now a number of options to achieve that perfect smile, no metal braces needed.
New orthodontic technology gives an easier and more comfortable option for straightening teeth over traditional braces. Clear aligners are now an easy and widely-accessible option for orthodontic treatment to achieve the smile you want. Over 55 million people have used clear aligners around the world.
For people who want to straighten their teeth, or maybe fix an underbite or overbite, this treatment is for you. Clear aligners are custom made, clear, plastic aligners that fit over the top and bottom teeth to safely move teeth into their desired position. They are removable, nearly invisible and the best part is that they give you the smile you want.
Two of the most popular brands of clear aligners available in the market today are Suresmile and Invisalign.
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Let’s take a look at Suresmile vs Invisalign:
Invisalign
When most people think of clear aligners, the brand that usually first comes to mind is Invisalign. The company started in 1997 and are the pioneers in the industry. Invisalign is arguably the more popular brand when compared to Suresmile and boasts transforming 9 million smiles around the world.
The Invisalign treatment has 3 easy steps. Once you decide that you want to explore using clear aligners, you meet with an orthodontist to discuss your treatment options. You and the orthodontist will discuss what you want to achieve – is it a straighter smile or to fix an underbite? You’ll work together to come up with the best orthodontic treatment to achieve the teeth you want.
During this office visit, your orthodontist will take a fast and precise 3D digital scan of your teeth using the Invisalign trademarked iTero Element scanner. This scan will be used to create a custom-made aligner especially for you. This will also be the basis of the entire treatment.
Step 2 involves picking up the custom aligners that have been made for you and having the dentist check how they fit. If the aligners fit as they should, you bring them home and begin your treatment plan. For best results, Invisalign aligners should be worn 20-22 hours a day and each set of aligners worn for one to two weeks each. The best part is that they can be removed while eating, drinking, and for special occasions. On average, Invisalign treatment takes 12 to 18 months from your first dental visit to your achieving your best smile.
Every 6 to 8 weeks, you’ll have face-to-face doctor visits to check your teeth’s progress and pick up new aligners.
The last step after you’ve completed your treatment using the clear aligner. Invisalign offers a special Vivera retainer that they recommend using after the aligner to maintain your beautiful new smile. Just like after wearing traditional braces, retainers are used to prevent teeth from re-shifting.
Invisalign takes pride in its patented technology, such as SmartTrack material, which makes Invisalign aligners more comfortable and durable than other brands of aligners.
Suresmile
Another well-known brand of clear aligners is Suresmile. More and more orthodontists are beginning to provide Suresmile treatment to their patients. One major factor that differentiates it from Invisalign is that it is more affordable compared to Invisalign. However, it is important to note that many insurance plans cover the cost of treatment.
Similar to Invisalign, Suresmile starts with a digital scan of the patient’s mouth. It uses Primescan™ intraoral scanner, which processes more than 1,000,000 3D points per second giving an accurate representation of your teeth.
The scan is then submitted to their Digital Lab where clinical experts decide on the best treatment for patients. The plan will determine how many aligners you’ll use and how often they need to be changed. Suresemile boasts of laser trimmed aligners with polished edges that offers a comfortable and more precise fit compared to other aligners.
Suresmile guarantees that your treatment is the right one for you – it’s important that the plan is not rushed that wearing the aligner becomes uncomfortable and not too slow that you’ll need a longer treatment period before you see results.
After your receive your first set of clear aligners, you start wearing them and continue living your life as usual, wearing the aligners 20 – 22 hours each day. Make sure to rinse and brush your aligners gently at night to keep them fresh and clean.
From the start of your treatment until the time you achieve your perfect smile can take anywhere from 6 to 18 months with Suresmile.
So, which should you choose – Invisalign or Suresmile?
To be honest, there is not much orthodontic difference between an Invisalign clear aligner vs. a Suresmile clear aligner. They both offer a customized treatment plan to their patients using their own patented technology. Both brands also offer face-to-face consultations with dental experts to help you on your path to straighter teeth. Invisalign is a pioneer in the field and has perfected its orthodontic technology while Suresmile is a newer company but its product offers the same benefits.
The best way to decide is set up an appointment with dentists who offer each brand and decide which dental office you’re more comfortable working with on your treatment.
Whether you choose Invisalign or Suresmile, your teeth will thank you and you’ll achieve the smile you want, without having to turn to traditional braces.
Invisalign and Suresmile Alternatives
Byte is a very affordable, at-home aligner system that is a popular alternative to Invisalign. The company is based out of Los Angeles, but the orthodontists and dentists that oversee the treatment plans are located all over the country.
With Byte, you receive an impression kit for you to take teeth impressions at home. Based on those impressions, Byte’s orthodontic team creates your custom clear aligners made of BPA-free, medical grade, polymer film.
They are meant to correct your teeth safely and slowly, so you wear each aligner for one week and then move on to the next set of aligners. You will need to commit to wearing the aligners for 22 hours a day in order to achieve the fastest results.
In addition, you will have to use HyperByte for 5 minutes each day. Hyperbite uses a vibration-based therapy that can help reduce the discomfort of the aligners and get them to fit around your teeth better. The end result is that the treatment time ends up being much quicker than with other Invisalign alternatives.
On average, it takes 2-4 months for your teeth to be corrected. Overall it is widely-regarded as one of the best Invisalign alternatives.
Read our full Byte review here and our Byte vs Invisalign comparison here.
Pros
- BPA-free, medical grade, polymer film
- Quick results
- Exclusive Hyperbyte system
Cons
- Need to wear aligners 22 hours a day
Candid
Another popular Invisalign alternative is Candid. Candid is unique in that it offers the option for you to either have an impression kit delivered to your home to take your teeth impressions, or if you prefer, you can visit a Candid studio and have your impressions done there.
Unlike some other companies that only require 3 photos, Byte requires 8 photos of your face and teeth to go with the impressions or digital scans.
Another thing that makes Candid different from its competitors and other Invisalign alternatives is that they work exclusively with licensed orthodontists. Many aligner companies work with a dentist or orthodontist, but Candid focuses on the fact that orthodontists go for more schooling, which is better for you as the patient.
Once you receive your aligners, you will notice that you get a series of them so that you gradually move your teeth into the corrected position. As you progress, you will take scans from your phone and check in with your orthodontist remotely, every 10-14 days. And, each time you have a check-in, it will be the same orthodontist so they can properly track your teeth’s progress.
The aligners from Byte are durable and stain-resistant, as well as BPA-free and phthalate-free. The average time to see results is 6 months.
See how Candid vs Invisalign compare here.
Pros
- Option to do at home or in office
- Work only with licensed orthodontists
- Frequent check-ins
Cons
- Can be a longer process
AlinerCo
AlignerCo is another Invisalign alternative that provides at-home aligners, offering a cheaper option that doesn’t include office visits. You will order an impression kit in order to get the process started.
Once you receive the kit, you will take your dental impressions at home, mailing it back in to AlignerCo so that they can create your custom aligner treatment plan for you. The aligners are not only customized for you, but are also handcrafted and trimmed to the gum line, which really optimizes their comfortability while you wear them. Since you need to wear them 20-22 hours a day, comfort is key here.
Each set of aligners is worn for two weeks, at which point you change to a new set that will help to gradually correct the alignment of your teeth. Typical treatment time for patients is 6 to 12 months.
Pros
- Less expensive
- Handcrafted and trimmed to the gum line
- Impression kit includes cheek retractor, gloves, practice putty, and a pre-paid shipping label
Cons
- Longer treatment time