Unless you’ve been under a rock the past few years, you have probably heard about Invisalign. The treatment has grown in popularity due to its virtually undetectable appearance and its ability to treat a broad range of dental conditions like crossbite and overjet.
Despite its effectiveness, many people are concerned about the price tag or perhaps have been told they do not qualify for Invisalign, leading them to look for alternatives. If you’re looking for cheaper alternatives to Invisalign or are wondering if you can straighten your teeth yourself, here’s what you need to know.
Transparent At-Home Aligners
Cheaper alternatives to Invisalign include at-home aligners that mirror Invisalign without needing to visit a dentist’s office. These aligners stand out for offering a streamlined treatment for moderate and mild dental misalignments. However, although they are cheaper than Invisalign, at-home aligners have several drawbacks.
Convenience
At-home aligner companies may charge anywhere from one-third to one-fifth of the price of Invisalign, potentially saving you thousands of dollars while allowing you to straighten your teeth yourself. While at first glance this may seem more convenient, fitting aligners at home does not always go as smoothly as in the commercials.
For instance, some companies don’t offer retail locations, which means you won’t be able to undergo a dental scan in person to get custom-fit aligners. This means you will have to use a dental impression kit at home instead, and this may be intimidating if you have never used one before. If you don’t use the kit properly or follow all the directions, this may result in ill-fitting aligners that cause discomfort, pain, or ultimately slow your progress.
Reputation
When it comes to cheaper alternatives to Invisalign, some at-home aligners may also be problematic in that they have not yet generated many client reviews due to being so new to the market. As a result, you might have a hard time getting a dependable gauge of former patients’ experiences with these aligners.
For most patients, aligning teeth takes one or two years. So if you are wondering if you can straighten your teeth yourself, you will likely want some longitudinal data—what have been the results after one, two, or even five years? Unfortunately, newer companies may not have established reputations and proven track records, making it difficult to know how effective the low-cost product will be.
Care Level
If you’re exploring alternatives to Invisalign, keep in mind that at-home aligner providers usually provide remote oversight of their customers’ treatments. For instance, some companies recommend participating in virtual check-in appointments. This telehealth approach is usually fine as long as everything is going well.
Yet if you do encounter issues, you will want to visit a dental office for a full scan of your mouth. If you have a more severe case of spacing or crowding, in-person care is often the only way to guarantee results. Investing in a cheap Invisalign alternative that ultimately does not work only makes your treatment more expensive in the long run.
Transparent In-Office Alternative Options
Mail-order is not your only other option. Cheaper alternatives to Invisalign also include other in-office teeth-straightening products. The providers of these solutions may utilize a combination of in-office and at-home care by requiring occasional office visits combined with remote monitoring. In this way, in-office solutions tend to be more comprehensive when compared with at-home aligners. Still, they do come with their own set of challenges.
Quality of Treatment
A major problem with in-office alternatives to Invisalign is that they still cannot treat all of the conditions that Invisalign can handle. That’s because in some cases, the in-office provider’s treatment plans do not incorporate extra elastics or attachments. Furthermore, Invisalign’s material is more durable than that used in some other aligners. Keep in mind, many of these alternatives have intentionally made cuts to offer a cheaper product than Invisalign, so naturally, this will come with some limitations.
Accessibility
Other in-office companies also don’t have as many network providers throughout the United States that Invisalign has. Whereas other companies may have only a few hundred providers, Invisalign offers tens of thousands of providers for your convenience. This means you will have an easier time finding an Invisalign provider near you.
What If You’re Determined Not to Be a Good Candidate for Invisalign?
Perhaps you’re looking for alternatives to Invisalign simply because you’ve been told that you aren’t a candidate for Invisalign. Even if you have heard this from a dentist, you might actually still be eligible for this teeth-straightening option.
Every dentist has her or her own area of specialty. Some dentists and orthodontists may have viewed your case as an unassailable obstacle simply due to their lacking extensive training or experience with Invisalign. However, a dentist like Maria Victoria Abad, DDS has years of experience serving Invisalign patients and is a member of the American Association of Clear Aligners. This means she is well equipped to meet the needs of potential Invisalign patients whom other dentists have turned away.
Choosing Alondra Dental Care for Invisalign Treatment vs. Alternatives to Invisalign
At Alondra Dental Care, we are excited to offer Invisalign due to its strong history of success and track record of happy customers. It is our go-to teeth-straightening option in the Greater Los Angeles area—one we trust and are proud to deliver to our patients. Our Invisalign treatments are perfect for any patients who want to reduce gaps between their teeth, separate crowded teeth, or move crooked teeth into their proper alignment.
If you’re looking for alternatives to Invisalign, you may not need an alternative. Just talk to Alondra Dental! We will take a close look at your dental situation and figure out how we can make Invisalign work for you. If Invisalign truly is not advisable for you, we will outline other treatment options that may help you transform your smile.
Before you write off Invisalign as too expensive or unattainable, talk to us. Schedule a consultation with Alondra Dental Care today!
