Updated on February 12, 2024
7 min read

Are at Home Teeth Aligners Safe?

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Are At-Home Aligners Safe (According to Orthodontists)?

For those with mild cases of malocclusion, at-home aligners are safe and effective when used according to the instructions of a dentist or orthodontist. 

“Patients with mild cases make excellent candidates for at-home aligner treatment. Also, patients who have demanding work schedules or are worried about making the time for office visits appreciate the independence that comes with this option. Additionally, patients who are very committed to their treatment timeline and will be able to keep themselves on track see the most success with this treatment plan.” 

Dr. Elvi Barcoma

While most orthodontic and dental professionals agree on the safety of at-home aligner treatment, it does have some critics. 

One concern is that at-home aligners have a lower quality of treatment than in-office brands. While remote treatment is more convenient, there is a greater risk of errors when an orthodontist cannot personally examine your bite.

In addition, some cite the fact that at-home aligners are fairly recent, so it’s hard to have solid data on their efficacy.

Nevertheless, most users of at-home aligners seem satisfied with their treatment. One study found that at-home aligners had an 87.5% user satisfaction rate.8

Straighten your teeth at a fraction of the cost. Learn about clear aligners.

What are At-Home Aligners?

At-home clear aligners are a convenient orthodontic alternative to in-office options like Invisalign and ClearCorrect. They can be used to treat a variety of teeth alignment issues from the comfort of home.

close up of person putting on clear aligner

Unlike Invisalign, which involves numerous visits to the dentist or orthodontist, at-home aligner treatment is mostly or entirely remote. 

Popular at-home clear aligner brands include:

Another popular clear aligner brand is Candid, which is a hybrid between in-office and at-home treatment. 

With Candid, you have to visit a CandidPro Provider (licensed dentist or orthodontist) for initial scans and impressions. The rest of the treatment is monitored remotely, except for one final office visit at the end.

How Do At-Home Aligners Work?

At-home clear aligners mostly follow the same process to begin treatment:

  1. Order an impression kit
  2. Once the kit arrives, take impressions of your teeth and send them back
  3. A dental professional reviews your impressions to see if you’re a suitable candidate for treatment
  4. If you’re approved, a treatment plan is designed for you (if not, you usually receive a refund)
  5. A series of clear aligners are sent to your house

You wear each clear aligner for 22+ hours per day, only taking them off to eat, drink, brush, or floss (or play sports or music.) Every 2 weeks, you’ll switch to the next clear aligner in the series. 

During the course of treatment, at-home clear aligners slowly move your teeth into their correct positions. Total treatment time varies depending on the brand and your level of malocclusion (teeth misalignment).

Some at-home brands have telehealth apps, where you check in with a licensed dentist or orthodontist every couple of weeks. You can also use the apps to ask questions about your treatment.

After treatment is finished, the last aligner usually serves as a retainer, which you’ll wear nightly to keep your teeth straight.

Are Cheap At-Home Aligners Safe?

A study from 2020 shows nearly 88% of at-home clear aligner patients report positive treatment outcomes.8 Just 6.6% reported having to visit their dentist or orthodontist to correct an adverse outcome.8

This includes budget at-home aligner brands like NewSmile and AlignerCo.

It should also be noted here that these brands, along with all the at-home aligner brands mentioned:

  • Work only with licensed dentists and orthodontists
  • Have mostly positive reviews
  • Use FDA-approved, medical-grade material for their aligners

Most dental professionals prefer in-office treatment over at-home aligners because in-office treatment reduces the chance for error. It’s also easier to make adjustments as necessary.

No medical treatment or procedure is risk-free. 

However, as long as instructions are followed, at-home clear aligner treatment is reasonably safe and effective for mild-to-moderate cases of malocclusion.

Find the best at-home clear aligners for mild misalignment. See our expert recommendations.

How to Ensure Safe Home Aligner Treatment

Here are some tips on how to minimize any risks when doing at-home aligner treatment:

  • Follow the provided instructions to make sure your teeth impressions are as accurate as possible
  • Don’t undergo at-home aligner treatment if you have moderate-to-severe malocclusion
  • Listen to what your dentist or orthodontist says regarding your treatment plan
  • Wear your clear aligners for 22+ hours per day
  • Maintain regular oral hygiene — remove your aligners to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth 
  • Make sure to clean your aligners throughout the day to prevent bacteria build-up
  • Wear your retainer every night after treatment to keep your teeth aligned

What is the Safest At-Home Aligner? 

The two best and safest alternatives to in-office clear aligner treatment are:

1. Byte (100% Remote Option)

Byte stands out in the at-home aligner industry for its affordability, strong customer reviews, and fast treatment times (4 to 6 months).

hyperbyte

This is made possible with the HyperByte — a device that emits high-frequency vibrations that’s included in every treatment plan. This dental movement acceleration device should be used for 5 minutes a day.

Byte claims that daily use of the HyperByte can shorten treatment time. 

Read our article comparing the positives and negatives of the HyperByte and similar vibration-based aligner therapies. We also talk about the risks of moving teeth too fast.

Byte also offers night aligners. These aligners can be worn while you sleep. There are several drawbacks to this option. Aside from being more expensive than their traditional daytime aligners, they take longer to straighten your teeth. 

There are also questions regarding how safe it is to move teeth in this way. For this reason, NewMouth recommends using Byte’s All-Day Aligners only.

Byte All-Day Aligners can currently be purchased on Byte’s website for $1,999.

2. Candid (Hybrid Option)

Candid uses a hybrid model of care that combines in-office consultations with the convenience of remote monitoring. 

Candid

To begin treatment, you must visit a licensed orthodontist or dentist. There’s also one more in-person consultation after treatment ends to make sure there are no issues.

After that consultation, a licensed orthodontist designs and monitors your treatment. Orthodontists specialize in teeth-straightening, giving Candid an added layer of thoroughness to their treatment process.

However, this added thoroughness does come at a price, with Candid aligners being significantly more expensive than Byte. Candid aligners cost $3,300 on average, with factors including your CandidPro provider and where you live impacting the price.

Candid treatment also takes longer (4 to 12 months), and they don’t offer night aligners for safety reasons.

3. SmileDirectClub (In-Person Scan Option)

While still operational, SmileDirectClub (SDC) pioneered the mail-in aligner industry and is still the most widely known. SDC offers both daytime and nighttime clear aligners for thousands less than braces.

The company announced its bankruptcy liquidation on September 2023, ceasing aligner treatments and ending its lifetime guarantee. 

Its global operations closed on December 2023 after failing to secure the funds needed to buy itself out of bankruptcy.

How this affects you will depend on which stage of the treatment process you’re in. You can read our customer guide for SmileDirectClub

Straighten your teeth conveniently at home. Compare the best clear aligner brands.

When are Invisalign or Braces the Safer Option?

Most dentists agree that in-office aligners and braces are safer than at-home treatment. They’re also better for more severe cases of malocclusion

Invisalign is effective at treating most moderate-to-severe cases of malocclusion. 

Braces are particularly effective for complex cases because they can move your teeth more precisely. 

This means they can rotate your teeth back into their correct positions. They can also move individual teeth in different directions, unlike most clear aligners.

Some instances where braces may be a better option include:

  • Severely crooked or crowded teeth
  • Backbite issues
  • When teeth need to be moved vertically
  • For those who lack the self-discipline to wear aligners at least 22 hours a day

However, these options also often cost tens of thousands of dollars and are inconvenient for many. For those with mild-to-moderate malocclusion, at-home aligners are a convenient and affordable treatment option.

What’s Next?

Discover the best fit for your smile.

Explore top at-home clear aligner brands.

Last updated on February 12, 2024
8 Sources Cited
Last updated on February 12, 2024
All NewMouth content is medically reviewed and fact-checked by a licensed dentist or orthodontist to ensure the information is factual, current, and relevant.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only cite from current scientific research, such as scholarly articles, dentistry textbooks, government agencies, and medical journals. This also includes information provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
  1. AlignerCo. “Teeth Straightening made affordable with Invisible Aligners.www.alignerco.com.
  2. Byte. “Get a smile you’ll love to share.www.byteme.com.
  3. Invisalign. “Join the 11 million smiles.www.invisalign.com.
  4. NewSmile. “Clear Aligners For 75% Less Than Braces.newsmilelife.com.
  5. The Orthodontists. “Invisalign Vs Braces (The Pros and Cons of Each).www.theorthodontists.com.au.
  6. SmileDirectClub. “New looks good on you.smiledirectclub.com.
  7. SnapCorrect. “Truly Invisible Aligners.snapcorrect.com.
  8. Wexler, Anna et al. “Direct-to-consumer orthodontics: surveying the user experience.Journal of the American Dental Association vol. 151,8 : 625-636.e4. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2020.02.025
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