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Dentistry
General
Malocclusion
Cosmetic
Clear aligners, or invisible aligners, are a transparent and convenient alternative to traditional braces. They are barely noticeable while in your mouth and can be removed at any time.
Each aligner tray is worn for about 2 weeks before being swapped out for another set. This cycle repeats until your teeth are perfectly aligned. For best results, aligners should be worn for 22+ hours a day.
In most cases, aligner treatment takes less than a year (mild to moderate cases). Very minor issues may be fixable in as little as 3 months. But if you have severe teeth misalignment, it might take more than a year.
Everything We Recommend
The Best At-Home Invisible Aligner:
Other Brands:
There are two types of aligners available in Australia: in-office and at-home. Here are the main differences between them:
This aligner treatment is monitored in person by a licensed dentist or orthodontist. You’ll set up an initial consultation, get scans taken, and visit your dentist regularly throughout treatment to check progress.
In-office orthodontic treatments like braces and Invisalign can treat complex misalignment issues. However, treatment is more expensive than at-home aligners. The face-to-face time, extensive treatment options, and additional care make these options pricier.
In-person monitoring means you’ll receive more comprehensive care. For this reason, we recommend in-office options like Invisalign for moderate to severe corrections.
At-home aligners have been gaining popularity in recent years. This is because they are more convenient and affordable than Invisalign.
These companies provide remote orthodontic treatment, which means everything is monitored from home.
The first step is to order an impression kit online from your chosen brand and take them yourself. You’ll send the impressions back to have a custom treatment plan created by a licensed dental professional.
Some brands also have in-person studios for initial 3D scans, while others only have a home impression kit option. A few offer both, providing even more flexibility.
After you accept the 3D treatment plan, the aligners are shipped directly to your door, either all at once or in stages.
Treatment is typically monitored through an app. You’ll send in progress photos of your teeth every few weeks. The assigned dental professional on your case will review them to ensure your teeth are moving properly.
There are many at-home aligner brands to choose from, making it easy to find one that fits your lifestyle, budget, and needs. However, since treatment is monitored remotely, we only recommend them for minor tooth corrections.
Most of the aligners we recommend in this article are at-home options (best for mildly misaligned teeth). This includes slightly crooked, crowded, or gapped teeth.
We also recommend an in-office aligner if you’re looking for comprehensive care, don’t mind paying more, and have moderate to severe misalignment. This includes issues like overbites, underbites, and crossbites.
To help determine which one is right for you, we’ve ranked the 6 best aligners available in Australia. The factors we considered while ranking each brand include:
Based on our research, here are the top aligners in Australia:
Invisalign is the most popular in-office aligner. They are a reputable, trusted brand that has treated over 10 million patients since 1997.
Invisalign is our #1 recommendation because it can treat 90% of orthodontic cases. This includes more severe malocclusions (teeth misalignment) like:
Invisalign aligners use buttons and/or elastics to treat more severe cases. These are small hooks that attach to the tooth surfaces. They act as anchors for interarch bands that apply additional pressure to gradually reposition the jaw, providing more precise results. Small rubber bands help shift the jaw into the correct position.
Unlike at-home options, Invisalign’s treatment process and monitoring are very comprehensive. Seeing your dentist for check-ups throughout treatment is required. These visits allow for quick adjustments to keep you on track.
Cost: $4,500 to $9,000
Payment Plan: Many Invisalign providers offer payment plans, but it depends entirely on your treatment plan and length
Treatment Time: 12 to 18 months, sometimes more or less
Best Overall (Editor’s Pick)
Invisalign is our #1 recommendation because they provide comprehensive, in-person care and can treat more severe cases of teeth misalignment.
Treatment can cost up to $9,000 and lasts 12 to 18 months, on average. We recommend Invisalign for almost all mild to severe cases.
Linea is a popular aligner brand that uses a hybrid model. This option is best if you want some of the convenience of at-home teeth-straightening without sacrificing the quality of care.
To begin treatment with Linea, you’ll visit a licensed partner dentist near you (costs $0-$300). They'll assess your teeth and gums and take 3D scans of your mouth. Then, Linea's orthodontic team will create a custom digital treatment plan for you. You're able to interact with this 3D simulation of your smile transformation before committing to treatment.
Once your aligners are made, you'll visit the same dentist for a 'fitting.' They'll also perform any additional procedures as needed. This may include IPR (interproximal reduction) or attachments (aligner anchors for more precise tooth movement). These add-ons aren't offered by the fully at-home brands mentioned below.
The rest of your treatment is monitored remotely. Your dentist will monitor your progress and dental health throughout treatment. Linea's local team is also available 7 days a week.
Note: Linea doesn't offer at-home impression kits. This is because in-person scans with licensed dental professionals are more accurate and detailed.
Cost: $2,999 (post-treatment retainers included)
Payment Plan: One-off payment or a buy now, pay later plan with Openpay ($149.95/fortnightly)
Treatment Time: 6 to 12 months, on average
Best Hybrid Option
Linea is reinventing the world of aligners by partnering patients with approved dentists. Thorough, in-person scans are required. But the rest of the treatment is monitored remotely for added convenience.
Fill out Linea's Smile Survey to determine if you're a good candidate. If you are, they'll book you an appointment with a Linea partner dentist for an assessment.
Byte is our top recommendation for remote aligner treatment in Australia. They have been around since 2018 but recently expanded to Australia in 2020. Byte works with orthodontists, general dentists, and doctors to create comprehensive treatment plans.
While less established than other brands, Byte has a lifetime guarantee and free retainers post-treatment. They also have excellent customer service and many positive customer reviews.
The only way to begin treatment with Byte is by ordering an impression kit. They don’t have in-person studios like SmileDirectClub and other brands.
Byte works for minor alignment issues, including spacing or crowding between teeth and rotated teeth. The at-home impressions you take will give them the information they need to know if you’re a good candidate. If you’re not, they’ll refund you for the impression kit.
As a Byte customer, you’ll also receive a HyperByte® (a dental movement acceleration device). You only have to use it for 5 to 10 minutes a day. The aligners can straighten your teeth in as little as 3 months with consistent use.
Is the HyperByte safe and effective? Read our review article here.
Cost:
Payment Plan:
* The Byte Protection Plan™ includes 5 years of retainers to maintain your smile, plus coverage for lost or stolen aligners.
Treatment Time: 3 to 6 months, depending on your plan
Best At-Home Aligner
Byte is our #1 recommendation for home teeth straightening. They have excellent customer service, affordable plans, and a lifetime guarantee. Treatment is also 100% remote.
Byte has the quickest treatment time (between 3 and 6 months). Because of this, we only recommend these aligners for very mild cases. More severe corrections require longer treatment times.
SmileDirectClub (SDC) is the most well-known remote aligner. They have treated over 1 million patients since 2013 and expanded treatment to Australia in 2019.
SDC works with registered dentists and orthodontists who create and oversee each treatment case.
There are two ways to begin treatment: order an online impression kit or visit a SmileShop for a risk-free consultation (3D images/scan). There are currently have SmileShop locations in:
If you aren’t a candidate, you’ll receive a full refund on the impression kit. The scans are also free and risk-free (no obligation to approve the plan).
Cost and Payment Plan:
Treatment Time: 4 to 6 months, depending on your plan
First At-Home Aligner
SDC is the oldest at-home aligner company, with thousands of online reviews. Some are negative, while others are positive. Read the ‘safety’ section of our full SDC review to learn more.
Treatment costs $2,825 and lasts up to 6 months. Since everything is remote, we only recommend SDC for mild cases.
Wondersmile is a newer, Australian-based home aligner company. They have a few unique offerings:
You can begin treatment with Wondersmile in two ways: order an impression kit or visit a studio for a 3D scan. They currently have 20+ studios in Australia.
After you take the impressions or scans, your case will be reviewed by one of Wondersmile’s orthodontists. They’ll determine if your teeth are eligible for treatment (typically, mild to moderate cases are accepted). If not, you’ll receive a full refund on the starter kit.
The orthodontist will design your customized treatment plan. This includes a 3D digital model of how your teeth will move. You’ll also receive a personalized walk-through of your treatment plan.
If your teeth shift post-treatment, they’ll help at no extra cost. The guarantee covers the teeth initially involved in your Wondersmile treatment plan. You'll also have to show that you have been wearing your retainers as recommended.
Cost and Payment Plan:
Treatment Time: 6 months (All-Day) to 9 months (NightClear)
Best Flexibility
Wondersmile allows you to begin treatment with an at-home impression kit or at a studio. They also offer free refinements (terms apply) if your teeth move after treatment.
Treatment costs up to $2,760 and takes between 6 and 9 months, on average. Since treatment is monitored remotely, we only recommend them for mild cases.
SmartSmileCo is a newer Australian aligner company that launched about a year ago. You can begin treatment in two ways: order an impression kit online or visit a SmartSmileCo clinic near you. The in-person visit costs $150 and includes:
If you prefer to order a remote kit, it costs $95.
SmartSmileCo currently has multiple locations in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.
SmartSmileCo can treat most malocclusions. This includes spaces between teeth, crowding, rotations, and some bite corrections. If they can't treat your specific case, you'll receive a full refund for the home impression kit or scan.
Cost: $1,999
Payment Plan: $31 per fortnight for 30 months, no deposit and interest-free ($1,999, $40 setup fee, and $8 per month)
Treatment Time: as little as 3 to 6 months
Affordable Option
SmartSmileCo is a newer Australian aligner company that launched about a year ago. You can begin treatment in two ways: order an impression kit online or visit a SmartSmileCo clinic near you.
Treatment costs $1,999 and takes as little as 3 to 6 months. Due to the lack of monitoring, SmartSmileCo may be a good option if you need minor corrections.
EZ Smile is the oldest at-home teeth-straightening company in Australia and New Zealand (since May 2017). The brand has more affordable rates than many competitors. A local-based customer service team is also available to assist patients throughout treatment.
They also have multiple financing options, making them stand out in the industry. You can choose from one of the four:
EZ Smile has a Satisfaction Guarantee. This means free refinement aligners will be provided if your results don't match your 3D simulated treatment plan exactly. Conditions apply.
They also have a 90-day money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied that your aligners are shifting your teeth as prescribed. Conditions apply. This guarantee is only valid during the first 3 months of treatment.
To begin, order an impression kit and send them back. Or, you can book a free 3D scan at a location near you. The impression kit will be refunded when the completed kit is returned. There is also no obligation to purchase the aligners.
Your first set of retainers is included in the cost. You can order a new set for $149 or two sets for $249 through the patient portal. We recommend replacing them every 6 to 12 months.
Cost and Payment Plan: $2,149 (affordable payment plans listed above)
Treatment Time: 4 to 8 months
Best Financing Options
EZ Smile has more payment plan options than competitors, two of which are interest-free. The aligners are also very affordable. However, they don’t offer comprehensive remote monitoring.
Treatment costs $2,149 and takes between 4 and 8 months depending on your plan. Due to the lack of monitoring, EZ Smile may be a good option if you need minor corrections.
SmilePath is the most affordable remote aligner available. Based on reviews, SmilePath has excellent customer service. You can reach a representative quickly by phone, email, or web chat.
The only way to begin treatment is by ordering an impression kit online. The kit comes with enough trays for you to take up to 5 impressions. It includes disposable gloves, a cheek retractor, and a pre-paid return label.
Once SmilePath receives your impressions, a custom treatment plan is made. Treatment typically takes less than 6 months.
SmilePath’s WorryFree Plan also provides you with additional protection. You’ll get 6 years’ worth of retainers to ensure your teeth stay straight.
Cost: $1,899
Payment Plan: $117/mo (SmileFlex plan) or $150/mo for 12 months with a down payment (SmileFlex Easy plan)
Treatment Time: 4 to 6 months, depending on your plan
Another Affordable Option
SmilePath is a very affordable at-home aligner. But they don’t offer detailed remote monitoring. Your treatment may not be overseen by a licensed orthodontist.
While more expensive, we recommend the other options mentioned in this article because they provide more comprehensive care. SmilePath may be a good option if you need very minor corrections.
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