Although many dentists and orthodontists consider Invisalign the gold standard for clear braces, there are a few drawbacks. First, Invisalign costs on average, $3,000-$7,000 per clear aligner treatment. Next, treatment for Invisalign may take several years, depending on the severity of your case. Invisalign alternatives solve both of these issues by offering a cheaper and faster way to straighten your teeth.

For our list of the best Invisalign alternatives, I evaluated several online providers based on cost, offerings, customer service, reputation and availability of continuing support and care.

Fixing your smile can be a massive undertaking, but companies like Smileie simplify the clear aligners process. Instead of going to an orthodontist in-person for clear braces (also known as aligners), Smileie’s process is virtual. You’ll first fill out a survey, use an at-home dental impression kit, and meet virtually with a provider to receive a personalized plan. To hold yourself accountable you’ll upload progress photos every two weeks, and you can meet with a provider virtually at any time to refine your treatment plan.

The Smileie plan also comes with free teeth whitening kits and two retainers, to maintain your progress. We spoke to a representative from Smileie who said it aims to provide a more accessible invisible braces process: “We strive to make orthodontic care more accessible by offering at-home clear aligners designed for people with busy lifestyles,” they explained.

“Our mission is to provide a comfortable and cost-effective alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment, helping people achieve their best smiles without the need for in-office visits or lengthy treatment timelines.”

Featured Partner Offer

Smileie Aligners

$749

Smileie offers an impression kit, two sets of retainer, and tooth whiteners for $100 off

Growing up, the entire experience of getting braces felt as though it lasted forever. But usually— from start to finish — it usually doesn’t take much longer than a year. Even clear braces or aligners, from brands like Invisalign generally don’t take very long. But how long does Invisalign take to work its magic? And how does that compare to old-fashioned metal braces? Woman’s World spoke with dentists and orthodontists to determine a timeline for both.

It turns out the timeline for aligners can depend on several factors, including customer compliance. The timeline could be equal to that of metal braces, but it may take longer, based on your commitment to wearing them. “The success of your results depends on how disciplined you are in wearing the aligners,” Dr. Bruce Tasios of Tasios Orthodontics in Ontario, Canada, explains via Woman’s World. “You should wear them 22 hours a day. They won’t do what they should if you are lax in wearing them.”

Dr. Rohini Agarwal of Smile Family Dental in Dallas, Texas adds that wearing a retainer after finishing with Invisalign is crucial. That way, you can keep the results afterwards, and you won’t need them again in the future. “Teeth always move every so slightly. Once the Invisalign treatment is complete they can start to misalign over time,” she explains. “Hence wearing a retainer at night after the treatment is complete is necessary to keep the alignment intact.”

Beauty

I Had Invisible Braces. Here’s What I Wish I’d Known First

For most of my life, I was unhappy with my smile. More specifically, I had a gap in my front teeth, and I would rarely smile in pictures due to being self-conscious about showing my teeth. In 2020, I decided to do something about it and researched braces and invisible aligners. I decided that invisible […]

In decades past, fixing your teeth sometimes involved multiple forms of orthodontics (a retainer, braces, a palate expander and head gear — sometimes all at the same time!). Aside from being very expensive, it also took quite a bit of time, and could be quite painful. However, modern orthodontia makes it far easier to obtain a straighter smile with technology like invisible aligners. But if you’re deciding between braces vs. aligners, you might be wondering: What’s the difference?

Dr. Chelsea Perry, DMD, from Elite Dental Studio says the differences between the two dental technologies mainly lie within how it all looks. While braces tend to be more noticeable and more permanent, aligners are often clear and they can be removed for both cleaning and meals.

“For the most part the difference is purely aesthetic,” Dr. Perry explains via Woman’s World. “With that being said, metal braces are better for more complex cases.”