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Teeth aligners, or clear aligners, are a type of orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear plastic trays to gradually move teeth into their desired position. They are an alternative to traditional metal braces - and they are much more discreet and comfortable to wear.
Aligners are customized to fit each patient's teeth and must be worn for at least 22 hours a day, for a period of several months to a few years, depending on the severity of the case. They can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing, but should be worn consistently for the best results. They also do not require you to go to a dentist or orthodontist, saving you time and money.
Wednesday, February 19th
2U Smiles is a teeth aligning company based out of California. They match you with an orthodontic specialist and create a computer-generated model of your teeth to give you the greatest chance of a straighter smile.
Custom 3D model for your teeth
The aligners from 2U Smiles are made from a specially engineered plastic. This plastic is intended to be durable and comfortable for the wearer. 2U Smiles uses a material and manufacturing process to limit the amount of bacteria that can grow in the teeth aligners due to the textures. They use a 3D model of your mouth to computer generate how your teeth will align. This allows them to make sure your teeth aligners are custom to your teeth. You are also assigned an orthodontic specialist to follow you through this journey. They will keep track of your progress and make sure everything goes smoothly.
It starts with an impression kit
There's a 3-step process to get started with 2U Smiles.
2 bundle options
After you have sent away your impressions, 2U Smile will determine if you are a good fit. As long as you are approved to continue, you can choose between 2 teeth aligner bundles. The first is the All-day Quick Effective. This will cost $1,495 or $104 per month for 11 months after a $399 down payment. At the time of this review it was on sale for $1,295. With this option, you will wear them all day, see results in 4-8 months and they recommend you wear them 22 hours a day. The second bundle is Night Comfort, which is for nighttime only, will see results in 10-14 months and it is recommended you wear them for 10 hours a day. This bundle is $1,695 or $118 per month for 11 months, plus a $399 downpayment. This option was also on sale during our visit, for $1,445. Both bundles include the impression kit, aligning kit, whitening kit and a free set of retainers.
Comprehensive services offered
You can expect 2U Smiles to support you all through your pre-treatment, during treatment and post-treatment.
Lifetime guarantee
2U Smiles offers a lifetime guarantee on their teeth aligners. If your teeth move out of alignment after you finish your treatment, they will send you another new impression kit and set of aligners. This will be at no cost to you. In order to qualify for the guarantee, you must wear your retainer regularly. This is 22 hours a day for the first two weeks, then 8 hours a day after the first two weeks. You will also need to replace your old retainers at the proper time. This would be once every 6 months, although the doctor could require you to change it at a different time.
Check your insurance
Some insurance companies will cover 2U Smiles. You can email them with an attachment of the front and back picture or scan of your insurance card and the policyholder's name and date of birth. They will be able to look into if your insurance will cover any of the teeth aligners. They also accept HSA/FSA from most flexible spending and health savings accounts. You are able to split the difference between your HSA/FSA and a personal card if you need to.
5-star customer reviews
When looking at customer feedback to see how 2U Smiles worked for them, you'll see almost nothing other than a 5-star rating. This is across their social media platforms. There are no customer reviews available outside of these currently. The only complaint we found was a customer upset with how long shipping took - and 2U Smiles apologized and sent them an extra retainer for free as an apology. Out of approximately 55 customer reviews, we only found that single negative one. Everyone else gave 5 stars to the company.
#1 for teeth aligners
2U Smiles is a top contender for purchasing teeth aligners. This is due to their 100% guarantee, personal medical professional following your journey, affordable packages and strong customer reviews. They also take some insurance and most HSA/FSA. 2U Smiles is an excellent choice to purchase teeth aligners from and earns our highest recommendation.
Byte is based out of Los Angeles, California and has licensed orthodontists nationwide. They are a member of the American Teledentistry Association. Their goal is to provide a beautiful smile to everyone, instead of just those in higher income brackets.
Straightforward package
When choosing Byte for your teeth aligning journey, you will receive many parts. The first is the impression kit. After that is done, you will receive your aligners, HyperByte device and teeth whitening kit. After the treatment is complete, you will order your retainers. All of these are included in the price.
HyperByte
One unique part about Byte is their HyperByte device. This device is FDA cleared. It is a high frequency vibrating device that can help speed up your treatment. The gentle vibrations act as a personal gum massager and makes wearing the teeth aligners more comfortable. The vibration also helps your aligners settle in the proper place on your teeth. You will use this every day for 5 minutes.
How they work
You will begin by sending an impression of your teeth to Byte. They will create your custom teeth aligners and send them to you. Each set of aligners should be worn for 7 days. Sometimes, they will ask you to wear them longer. While wearing the aligners, you may not drink anything other than water - even with a straw. Make sure you keep all of your aligners, even after the 7 days, as you may need to go back to a set. Every week you will send in pictures of your smile to licensed orthodontists to determine the next week's plan. After you are finished with your aligners, you will move into a retainer.
All-day aligners
If you choose to purchase the all-day aligners, you can expect to wear them for 22 hours a day for approximately 4 months. The cost will be $1,999 for the entire package. You will need to wear these almost all the time, minus eating and drinking. The process will work faster though, due to constantly having them on.
At-night aligners
If you choose to do the night time aligners instead, you can expect to wear them for 10+ hours a day for at least 5 months. This will cost $2,399 for the entire package. You can simply wear these at night and while you are sleeping. The process is slower, but you won't have to wear them while you are out and about.
100% guarantee
Byte stands behind their product with a 100% guarantee. If your smile moves out of alignment and is no longer straight, they will assist you in getting it back. This is a lifetime guarantee and at no additional cost to you.
High customer reviews
Byte has earned an "A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau. They also have a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on the BBB website. Some customers state the aligners did not straighten their teeth. One customer said that they used them for 4 months and had not achieved final results. Byte does advertise that 4 months is a minimum though, so that can be expected. Other customers state that they began seeing results within a few months. Most customers are satisfied with their purchase of teeth aligners from Byte.
Excellent choice
Byte is an excellent choice for purchasing teeth aligners. They have licensed orthodontists to follow your progress weekly. Their HyperByte is a unique device designed to further assist your teeth aligning properly. They also offer the lifetime guarantee and have satisfied customers. Byte is one of our top two choices for teeth aligners today.
Strayt is a dental company based out of Idaho. The company offers both daytime and nighttime aligners to choose from. They have a vibration tool that sets them apart from their competitors to speed up your teeth straightening.
2 options to choose
You will have 2 options when looking at Strayt.
2 places to scan
When it comes to getting your impression scan done, you have 2 options on where to do it. The first is in-home scans which take about 15 minutes and are done at your home. The other option is an in-office scan where you go to one of their offices and receive your scan.
3 pricing options
There are 3 price options for the Strayt teeth aligners. First is paying monthly. This will cost $87 for 24 months after a $248 down payment. The second option is to pay it outright for $1,848. The third option is a 12-month payment plan of $154 per month for 12 months after a $199 down payment. At the time of the review, all of these options were on sale and actually cost less. Check the website for discounts.
Note - at the time of the review, all of these options were on sale and actually cost less. Check the website for discounts.
You get a lot for your money
When signing up for Strayt, you might be wondering what you will get. Included in your kit will be either Strayt Clear Aligners or Strayt Night Aligners, depending on which you choose. You will also get an orthodontist-directed treatment plan. They add in a Premium 3-in-1 whitening system, StraytVIBES light and vibration therapy device. You also get your first set of retainers, free shipping and their lifetime alignment guarantee.
StraytVIBES
Strayt sets themselves apart with their StraytVIBES light and vibration therapy kit. This is a high-frequency vibration therapy that will encourage quicker teeth movement. There is also an anti-inflammatory red light and a blue light that speeds up teeth whitening.
30-day guarantee
One major bonus with Strayt is that they offer a unique 30-day guarantee. While most offer a refund if you are not a good candidate for their system, and a few offer a lifetime guarantee of tweaks, Strayt offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If you are not happy with your aligners and they can't make it better, you may be refunded within 30 days of delivery. They also offer a refinement for after your treatment. This includes a new impression and up to 5 additional sets of aligners. This does cost $498 to utilize.
Not many customer reviews
There are not many customer reviews out there on Strayt. The ones that are out there are positive. We were only able to find 33 reviews, and Strayt earned a 4.9 out of 5 star rating. Customers praise the success they have had with these teeth aligners.
Decent choice
The biggest aspect keeping Strayt out of our top spot is their lack of customer reviews. Other than that, they are an excellent choice for teeth aligners. They offer a 30-day guarantee plus the option to purchase extra aligners if your teeth should shift. They also have the StraytVIBES to assist in speeding up the teeth alignment. Give these teeth aligners a look if you don't like what you see in its higher-ranked rivals.
Smile Direct Club was founded in 2014 by Jordan Katzman and Alex Fenkell. It is based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Most of the business is done online. However, they have 300 retail locations across the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Smile Direct Club's teeth aligners are made with a BPA-free plastic that creates a smooth and comfortable feeling. They are designed to not irritate your cheeks and gums.
3 steps to start
When looking where to begin with Smile Direct Club, there are 3 simple steps to follow.
Lifetime smile guarantee
Smile Direct Club offers a 30-day money-back promise. It also comes with free aligner touch-ups throughout your treatment. After your treatment is completed, if you require a touch up, they offer free aligners for that too. You will need to wear retainers and replace them every 6 months. As long as you do this, you will be able to receive a free aligner touch up every year.
Straightforward pricing
Smile Direct Club offers both regular aligners and night time aligners. For both aligner options you can expect to pay $2,050 outright or $89 per month. The difference is the regular aligners you will wear for 22 hours a day and the nighttime aligners will be worn for 10 hours, primarily while you sleep. The regular aligners should take approximately 4-6 months to reach your desired look. The nighttime aligners should take approximately 8-10 months. When you complete the treatment, it is suggested you purchase the custom-fit retainers from Smile Direct Club. These will cost $99 for one set. You should plan to order them 4-5 weeks before you finish your treatment so they have time to arrive.
Mostly favorable reviews
Smile Direct Club has earned an "A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau. They have earned above average ratings from 474 reviews. Customers appreciate not having to go to the dentist or a physical office for their dental appointments. They have had great success with the program. Some customers state that if they didn't get into a retainer immediately their teeth shifted back, causing them to have to restart the program again. It is a pretty even split on success stories and not so lucky customers.
Standard offering
If you are interested in using Smile Direct Club for your teeth alignment, there is nothing wrong with them. They don't offer extra things that set them apart, but they do offer the standard items. Smile Direct Club teeth aligners are not the cheapest option, but also not the most expensive, and definitely cheaper than metal braces. It's a great choice to keep in reserve if you don't like what you get with a higher-ranked service.
New Smile is a dentistry company specializing in teeth alignments. They are a proud member of the American TeleDentistry Association. The company shares that the benefits to using their teeth aligners instead of braces are that it costs 75% less, takes 3-4 months to have straighter teeth and that the retainers and whitening are included.
Includes the basics and free shipping
When you look at New Smile for teeth aligners, you can easily find what they include in their package. You will receive an impression kit, treatment preview, invisible aligners, retainers and whitening. They also have free shipping and a risk free guarantee.
3-step process
When you order your kit from New Smile, there are some steps to follow.
$100 gift card for purchasing aligners
New Smile offers different payment options. The first is paying outright. This option will cost $1,595. You can also choose to pay monthly. This will cost you $58 per month for 36 months. At the time of this review, there was also a promotion on the teeth aligners. As a bonus, they were also offering a $100 Visa gift card via email after you purchase your teeth aligners. The price is the same for both regular aligners and night aligners. The difference between the two options is how long you will wear them overall and the length they are on your teeth each day.
Risk-free guarantee
If it is determined that you are not a viable candidate for the teeth alignment, you may request a refund. There is no risk to getting the impression made and checking if you are a good candidate. There is nothing on the website, however, about if your teeth were to shift after the treatment. So it does not appear that New Smile offers any type of warranty or guarantee for their products long-term.
Mixed customer reviews
New Smile has mixed customer reviews. There are multiple reviews from patients who were told they had to travel hours to a clinic due to needing more assistance. The company offers no refund for those who did not wish to travel the extra distance. There are also complaints about the product not working to align their teeth. Some said that the final results didn't match the 3D image they were shown. Other customers express satisfaction after getting great results. They received exactly what they were shown. They say customer service was excellent and the aligners were high quality.
Just your average teeth aligners
New Smile is your average teeth aligner product, with nothing overly noteworthy about how they work or the services offered. They do have mixed reviews but a majority were about needing to travel and not the success of the product. When it comes to the actual results, there were more positives than negatives. We give New Smile an average rating.
Candid is a company based out of New York. Aiming to provide oral health care at home, they help with teeth alignments using both local doctors and virtual scans. In this way, Candid takes almost a hybrid approach to teeth alignments. Their website has sections for patients and sections for doctors. Double check that you are looking at the correct information.
Use a local doctor
One aspect of Candid that is different from their competitors is that they begin by having you physically see a CandidPro Doctor. There are plenty in each state and you are able to search by zip code. If there is no CandidPro Doctor in your area, there is an option to fill out a form to let your dentist know that you are interested in Candid. This allows them the opportunity to provide Candid services.
3 easy steps
Using Candid's program is as simple as 3 steps.
No prices listed on their website
Are you wondering how much Candid will cost you? So are we. Unfortunately, they do not advertise their pricing on their website. Our guess would be that because each case is dealt with at a local level first, that each dentist is able to set their own pricing. We have scoured their website looking for prices, but are unable to find anything. We did look at outside websites and they say the cost is an average of $1,895 to $3,300, however, we don't know for sure how accurate that is. The outside website also says that you will need to purchase retainers after your treatment and these will cost an additional $99. These will need to be replaced every 6-9 months.
No guarantee
Candid's website does not speak of a guarantee at all. If you would require a return, those are done on an individual basis. Depending on your situation, you may be able to get a refund, however, there is no way of knowing when signing up.
Strong customer support
Candid has earned an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. They also have 4.71 out of 5 stars on the BBB website. Some customers have stated issues with getting more aligners when the initial amount did not straighten their teeth. Others complained that the company went downhill in the 2 years they were using the aligners. However, many patients rave about the company for having great communication and different payment plan options. Candid has success stories from customers as well.
Website lacks details
Candid would be a strong contender based solely on its customer reviews. However, the website lacks important details such as how much it costs, whether or not you can use insurance, and what sets them apart from competitors. If it wasn't for the strong customer comments, Candid would be scoring much lower.
Alignerco is a company based out of New York. They are proud members of the American TeleDentistry Association. This is a newer organization for dentists in the teledentistry field. They offer a very in depth website, full of information. As an added bonus, the website has articles about the teeth straightening process.
Three simple steps
There are three simple steps to getting your teeth aligners. First you will do the impression kit. You can purchase this on its own for $59.99 or as one of their many packages. You will take your dental impressions at home and mail them back to the company. Next, their specialists will create a custom alignment treatment based on your impression. Every treatment plan is reviewed by a US trained and licensed orthodontist. Third, you will wear your aligners for the designated amount of time and watch the results.
Directions for wear
When wearing your teeth aligners, you will have to keep a few things in mind. Never eat in them as it can break or damage your aligners. You do not want to drink anything other than water when the aligners are in. Also, you will need to change your teeth aligners every 10 days with Alignerco. The company also discourages wearing the aligners during high impact sports as it can damage them.
Difference between regular and night only
When looking into the teeth aligners, you may be wondering what the difference is between the regular aligners and the night only aligners. The regular ones will need to be worn for 20-22 hours per day. The night time only aligners will need to be worn for 8-10 hours, mostly while you sleep. The night time only will also have a longer treatment duration due to you not wearing them as long each day.
Refer a friend for $50
If you enjoy your experience and results attained by using Alignerco, you may refer your friends. You will receive $50 for each friend you refer, and your friend will get $25 off of their clear aligners.
Payment plans available
There are multiple payment plans available to attain your Alignerco teeth aligners.
Alignerco also offers Night Only clear aligners, which also come with payment plans.
No guarantee
Alignerco does not offer any type of guarantee if your teeth shift after treatment. The only refunds are if you are not a good candidate based on your impressions. If you are not happy with your treatment, you can send in photos and they will determine if you need more aligners. You also have the option of paying $200 for a refinement.
Not successful for all
When looking into if customers have found success with Alignerco, there are multiple customers stating they did not. Their final results looked nothing like what the computer model suggested it would, requiring them to purchase a refinement to correct their shifting teeth. There are also multiple complaints that once you sign up for the teeth aligners, communication with Alignerco becomes an issue.
Keep looking
Overall, unless price is the only factor, you may want to keep looking. With the lack of guarantee on their teeth aligners plus the numerous customers stating the teeth aligners did not work as they should, Alignerco is not a top choice for us. They are affordable and offer ways to earn/save money though, so if price is an issue, you can take your chances.
Snap Correct is a dental company based out of Vancouver, Washington. They claim that they take extra steps to ensure you have a successful journey to straighter teeth. However, read on to find out that this isn't exactly the case with these teeth aligners.
3 steps before getting your aligners
When looking into how Snap Correct works we discovered that you have a 3-step process to complete before you get your aligners.
Treatments can range between 3 and 19 months. After you finish the treatment they strongly encourage you to wear the retainer at night to prevent your teeth from shifting.
Full dental checkup
Snap Correct requires a full dental exam prior to starting the teeth alignment journey. They require this to make sure your dentist feels you are a good fit. Also, they want you to have all required dental work done prior to starting their treatment.
Includes all of your aligners and first set of retainers
When you purchase your aligners from Snap Correct, you will receive all of your aligners at one time. Your first set of retainers will also be included. They include instructions on how to care for your aligners, a SnapWhite gel to whiten your teeth, and Daily White Fusion whitening foam. They also do require a signature for delivery to ensure that your package gets delivered to the correct person.
No hidden fees
Snap Correct prides themselves in having no hidden fees associated with their teeth aligners. You may make a one-time purchase of $1,749. They also offer monthly payments through Affirm. You will be able to choose between 6, 12 or 24 months of making monthly payments. The longer you pay, the more interest you will accrue. However, your overall monthly payments will get cheaper the more you spread them out. The Affirm interest rates are between 10-36%. Some cases also require a down payment while others do not. Snap Correct will also include a retainer, valued at $99, in for free.
Negative reviews
The Better Business Bureau has blasted Snap Correct with an "F” rating. Multiple customers state that the aligners made their teeth worse. Also, it changed their bites (overbite and underbite) and they had to go seek outside orthodontic care. Customers also say that it is impossible to get anyone in their customer service department when problems arise, and there seem to be a lot of problems.
Find a better choice
Looking at what customers have to say, quite a few warn to pick a different company. There are many better ones out there that could fix your crooked smile. This company is more likely to give you a bigger headache and a worse smile. Snap Correct is one that you should avoid when looking for teeth aligners.
Smile Love is an online dental company that specializes in teeth alignment. The company is based out of Utah and comes with harsh warnings from the Better Business Bureau. According to some articles, the company is no longer in business, however, they are still accepting orders. This means they will take your money, your order may never ship and there is no one there to return the money.
3-step process
There are 3 steps to success with the aligners. Step 1 is the impression. You will make dental impression molds at home and mail them back in. Step 2 they will create aligner trays for you. You will wear each soft aligner in your treatment plan for 5 days and each hard aligner for 7 days, then move on to the next step. Step 3 is the free retainers. Smile Love includes your retainer for free with their program.
Wear the aligners for 22 hours
When wearing the teeth aligners, you will need to keep them in for 22 hours a day. You can take them out to eat, drink and brush your teeth. If you do not wear them for 22 hours a day, they may stop fitting properly. If this happens, you will need to pay for new impressions and aligners. It will take an average of 6-8 months to achieve your desired goals.
Basic costs of the aligners
To purchase Smile Love, it will cost $1,895 as a base price. With this your entire treatment is covered. 95% of their customers only require this base price to complete their treatment. However, if you have a complex case, they charge an extra $300. This will provide you with extra time focused on you from the dental team and more aligners. Instead of 20 aligners, you will need to complete 40 of them. You will be made aware if you are going to need the Complex Case Adjustment option when you receive your treatment preview. Smile Love offers a monthly plan where you can choose between 12, 18 or 24 months of payments with a downpayment and 0% APR.
Smile Love Guarantee
Smile Love guarantees you will love the results from their product. If you don't love your preview or you aren't an adequate fit, they will refund the cost of the aligners. There is no guarantee offered though if your teeth shift in the future.
Out of business?
Smile Love took a financial hit during 2020 and never recovered. According to numerous sources, they have actually been closed ever since. The issue with this is that they are still accepting orders on their website. You most likely will not receive your order if you choose to proceed with this company.
BBB warnings
The Better Business Bureau has not only given Smile Love an "F” rating, they have issued a warning to consumers. The warning states that they have received a high number of complaints about customers not receiving their teeth aligners. This is most likely due to the fact that they are not currently operational. When looking at what customers have to say it is review after review of people who ordered and nothing came. They have no way of getting a refund either, other than filing a dispute with their credit card company.
Don't do it
If you were considering Smile Love for your teeth aligners - don't. They have not been operational since 2020, but have no issue taking your money. There are warnings on numerous web pages including the Better Business Bureau. You will almost certainly be out your investment if you send your cash to Smile Love.
The average price of teeth aligners is $2,500. This can be higher or lower depending on which program you choose. Most dental insurances will cover the teeth aligners, depending on what your plan says about braces. When looking at the price, almost every company also includes teeth whitening kits with their aligners. You may not get whiter teeth included in the price at your dentist.
Always double check with your personal dentist before starting a teeth alignment regimen. There are certain cases where at-home teeth alignment can cause tooth loss or improper shifting.
Overall, teeth aligners work by using gentle pressure to move your teeth into proper alignment over a period of months. They are a popular alternative to traditional metal braces because they are virtually invisible, removable, and require fewer office visits.
When thinking about shopping for teeth aligners, here are some additional factors to keep in mind:
To assist you in finding the best teeth aligners, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked some of the most popular teeth alignment options. We hope this leads you to a relaxing and calm experience picking the right teeth aligners for your beautiful new smile!
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