AlignerCo Canada Review

What is ALIGNERCO?

ALIGNERCO is a clear aligner company that offers at-home teeth-straightening at an affordable price. The company is relatively new. It was founded in May 2019 and currently operates in the US, Australia, and Canada.

Clear aligners are transparent plastic trays that apply gentle pressure to slowly reposition teeth. They're an effective alternative to traditional braces for most teeth misalignment issues.

Some features of ALIGNERCO include:

• Totally remote treatment (no physical locations)
• WorryFree Plan for 6 years of additional retainers
• Financing options with 0% interest

ALIGNERCO treatment costs $1,285 for a one-time payment. This is 60% more affordable than Invisalign. In addition, ALIGNERCO is much faster than Invisalign, with an average treatment time of 4 to 6 months compared to Invisalign’s 12 to 18 month timeframe.

ALIGNERCO can treat mild cases of:

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Spacing
• Overjet

ALIGNERCO also offers nighttime aligners. However, these have a longer average treatment time of 6 to 8 months versus 4 to 6 months for the daytime option. There are also concerns regarding the safety of nighttime teeth alignment. 

For this reason, NewMouth recommends ALIGNERCO’s daytime aligners only.

For Canadians with mild cases of teeth misalignment, ALIGNERCO may be a good option, given the speed and affordability of treatment.

ALIGNERCO vs. Invisalign: What Are the Differences?

There are several important differences between ALIGNERCO and Invisalign:

At-Home vs. In-Office Treatment

Unlike Invisalign, ALIGNERCO is an at-home aligner company. This means there are no mandatory visits to the dentist's office. 

It also means costs will likely be lower since treatment is entirely remote.

Invisalign treatment involves a mandatory consultation, as well as check-up appointments every 6 weeks. This makes treatment monitoring more in-depth but less convenient. 

The added convenience of remote orthodontic treatment is one reason people choose at-home aligners like ALIGNERCO.

Affordability

Treatment with ALIGNERCO costs $1,285, making it much more affordable than Invisalign. 

By contrast, the cost of Invisalign in Canada ranges between $2,000 and $8,000 on average. This varies by location. For example, Invisalign in Vancouver may cost between $7,000 and $12,000.⁷

This significant price difference makes ALIGNERCO an affordable alternative to Invisalign for minor teeth alignment issues.

Fast Treatment Times

ALIGNERCO treatment can fix minor teeth misalignment in 4 to 6 months. 

Invisalign treatment can be as fast as 6 months but generally ranges between 12 to 18 months. Sometimes it can take up to 24 months.

Variety of Treatable Issues

ALIGNERCO only treats mild cases of teeth misalignment. 

On the other hand, Invisalign corrects moderate to severe alignment issues.

How Does ALIGNERCO Work?

ALIGNERCO treatment is completely remote, meaning the only way to start treatment is to have an impression kit sent to your door.

Here’s how it works:

1. Order an impression kit online.
2. Once the kit arrives, take impressions of your teeth and send them back.
3. A Canadian dentist or orthodontist will review your impressions and determine if you’re a suitable candidate for treatment. 
4. If they approve you, they will create a series of aligners for each stage of your treatment plan. Next, you’ll submit payment for treatment. 
5. The entire series of aligners will arrive within 3 to 4 business days.

Once you receive your aligners, you’ll wear them for 22 hours per day, changing them out weekly. You can remove them to eat, drink, brush and floss your teeth or play an instrument or sport. 

You’ll wear each aligner set for 10 days before changing to the next one in the series. Total treatment time can vary but is usually between 4 to 6 months.

How Much Does ALIGNERCO Cost?

A one-time payment for ALIGNERCO aligners costs $1,285. This is less expensive than other Canadian at-home aligners and significantly more affordable than braces or Invisalign.

ALIGNERCO also offers two payment plans: 

• SmileFlex —  $107 per month for 12 months with 0% APR. A credit check is required.
• SmileFlex Easy — $100 per month for 12 months with a $310 down payment. No credit check is required.

Regardless of how you choose to pay, all purchases of ALIGNERCO treatment include:

• Impression kit
• Smile Projection (3D image of what your smile will look like post-treatment)
• Retainers
• Free shipping anywhere in Canada

Note: If the dentist or orthodontist does not find you suitable for treatment, you’ll receive a refund for the cost of the impression kit or scan. There is no obligation to purchase aligners after the scan.

Does Insurance Cover ALIGNERCO?

Canadian Medicare does not cover dental care. Instead, the majority of dental and orthodontic treatments are paid with private insurance or out-of-pocket.

According to the Canadian Dental Association (CDA), private insurers will generally pay for 50% of dental and orthodontic expenses.⁵

ALIGNERCO accepts both HSA and FSA for payment.

ALIGNERCO Costs vs. Other At-Home Aligner Brands

If you’re not sure whether ALIGNERCO treatment is right for you, here are some other options to consider:

ALIGNERCO vs SmileDirectClub (SDC)

SmileDirectClub pioneered at-home aligner treatment, first introducing the idea in 2014. They started operating in Canada in 2018. 

Despite multiple companies since entering the industry, SDC still has unique features, such as:

• More payment plans than competitors, two of which are interest-free
• Physical locations in multiple Canadian cities, including Toronto and Vancouver
• Payment plans with no required credit checks

SmileDirectClub treatment costs $2,825 and takes an average of 6 months. This is more expensive than ALIGNERCO, but the ability to begin treatment in-person may make it worth it.

We recommend Smile Direct Club for mild cases of teeth misalignment.

ALIGNERCO vs NewSmile

NewSmile is a newer, Canadian-based clear aligner company that offers teeth realignment for 75% less than braces. 

It can correct mild-to-moderate teeth crowding or spacing in 4 to 6 months. A one-time payment for treatment costs $1,649.

Pros of ALIGNERCO

• Customer service available by phone, email, or chat
• Relatively affordable at-home aligner
• Financing options with 0% interest
• Can help with some overjets and overbites
• Faster treatment time and 60% more affordable than Invisalign
• Free shipping within Canada
• Complimentary post-treatment retainer
• Refunds for impressions if not found suitable for treatment
• WorryFree Plan for 6 years of additional retainers

Cons of ALIGNERCO

• No in-office consultation means higher chance for treatment errors
• Can’t fix as many issues as Invisalign or braces
• Not covered by insurance
• Works with both orthodontists and dentists