Braces Alternatives

What are Braces?

Traditional braces are dental appliances that consist of small brackets. Braces fix to the teeth and the wires connect to the brackets. Braces correct crooked or gapped teeth and irregular jaw or bite alignments. 

The wires of braces gently apply pressure on the teeth, pulling them into the correct position. Brackets are typically metal. Sometimes they feature colored elastic rubber bands.

An orthodontist or other dental professional fits braces. Usually, they will have at least three or more years of specialist training in correctly positioning teeth. However, some general dentists also offer orthodontic services.

Having traditional braces fitted and wearing them is a lengthy and slow procedure. You may have to wear braces for 12 to 24 months. Then, you may need to wear a retainer for 12 to 24 months or longer.

Following treatment, you should clean and look after your teeth as usual by following good oral hygiene. 

Alternatives to Traditional Metal Braces 

There are many alternative treatment options for traditional braces:

Direct-to-Consumer Clear Aligners 

Clear aligners are otherwise known as invisible braces. They are made of clear plastic and fit over the teeth to straighten them.

Patients wear each custom-made aligner for a few weeks or a month at a time. Then they receive a new set for the next stage of treatment. The teeth gradually move into the correct position according to each person’s treatment plan.

Clear aligners are removable and must be taken out before eating, brushing, and flossing. As plastic aligners are removable, maintaining good oral hygiene is much easier than wearing metal braces.

You must follow your orthodontist or dental professional’s instructions on how long to wear clear aligners daily. Typically, clear aligners are worn for 22 hours a day.

Byte Aligners

Byte is a relatively new clear aligner supplier. They use innovative technology to offer quick and effective results, and the company’s customer service is of high-quality.

An aligner-safe teeth whitening kit (BrightByte) is also included with every purchase.

Cost: $1,895 to $2245

Treatment Time: 3 to 6 months

Monthly Payment Plan: Starting at $83/mo

byte®

Quickest treatment time and best value

Byte's All-Day Aligners are worn for 22 hours a day and can straighten teeth in 3 months. The At-Night Aligners straighten teeth while you sleep and can take up to 6 months.

Byte also offers a lifetime guarantee.

Am I a Candidate?

Candid Co Aligners

Candid is a clear aligner company dedicated to quality. The brand strives to offer a premium product and provides consistent results from start to end. 

Cost: $2,400

Treatment Time: 6 to 11 months

Monthly Payment Plan: Starting at $99/mo

Candid Co.

Only works with licensed orthodontists

It's not just about a great smile. Candid is committed to improving your quality of life. Your treatment plan is overseen by a qualified orthodontist with over 20 years of experience. This means you'll receive high-quality care from start to finish.

Am I a Candidate?

ALIGNERCO

ALIGNERCO offers the cheapest invisible aligners on the market.

To begin the teeth straightening process, the first step is to order an impression kit online. These kits are just $39.99.

While more affordable, these aligners are also a newer company with fewer reviews. They also do not work directly with orthodontists and dentists.

Cost: $1,145

Treatment Time: 6 to 12 months

Monthly Payment Plan: Starting at $86/mo

ALIGNERCO

The most affordable aligner

ALIGNERCO is making a name by providing a reliable at-home aligner experience at a budget-friendly price. Treatment costs just $1,145 vs. up to $2,400 for competitors.

Am I a Candidate?

SmileDirectClub

SmileDirectClub is the biggest and most experienced home clear aligner brand on the market. The brand has established more than 300 SmileShops, where clients can receive free teeth scans instead of an impression kit.

The SmilePay program offers financing to every client without requiring a credit check to make the product more accessible.

Cost: $1,950

Treatment Time: 4 to 6 months

Monthly Payment Plan: Starting at $89/mo

SmileDirectClub

The biggest company

SmileDirectClub is the largest, longest-standing clear aligner manufacturer. With hundreds of physical locations, you can choose an in-person consultation or order a mail-in impression kit.

Am I a Candidate?

NewSmile

NewSmile is one of the most affordable at-home aligners, but they are also one of the newest companies.

Unlike most at-home aligner brands, NewSmile aligners do not touch your gums. They are trimmed to comfortably sit along your gum line in a ‘scalloped fashion.’ Not only does this design cause less irritation, but it also makes the trays less visible. 

Once you receive the impression kit, you should get an email to book a time with an Impression Specialist. During this video call, they will walk you through the process to ensure accuracy. You’ll send in progress photos through the NewSmile app to ensure your teeth are moving correctly.

Cost: $1,195 (normal aligners) to $1,295 (night aligners)

Treatment Time: 4 to 10 months

Monthly Payment Plan: Starting at $84/mo

NewSmile

Most comfortable aligner design

NewSmile aligners are trimmed along your gum line to provide a comfortable and less visible treatment experience. They also offer live video chats with a specialist to ensure you make accurate impressions.

Similar to ALIGNERCO, NewSmile aligners are more affordable than other brands.

Am I a Candidate?

Invisalign

Invisalign is renowned for creating the world’s first clear teeth aligners. The brand is the most established and widely-used clear aligner supplier in the United States. It has been running for over two decades, helping customers achieve a straight and attractive smile.

Book an Invisalign consultation on Zocdoc.

Cost: $3,000 to $8,000

Treatment Time: 12 to 18 months

Monthly Payment Plan: Starting at $50/mo

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces consist of the same components as traditional metal braces. However, they are fixed to the back of the teeth instead of the front teeth.

Many people who are looking for a discreet orthodontic option choose lingual braces.

Traditional metal braces use a wire bent in a horseshoe form. However, the wire on lingual braces can be custom fixed to the contours of your mouth. This process can potentially shorten the treatment time.

Lingual braces attach to the back of your teeth where your tongue hits when you speak. Because of this, you may have a temporary lisp or interference with your speech when you first begin treatment.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces also use the same pieces as metal braces.

However, the brackets are created with tooth-colored ceramic or porcelain instead of stainless steel. This makes ceramic braces nearly invisible.

While ceramic braces are more convenient than traditional metal brackets because they blend in with the teeth, they are more expensive. They also tend to break more frequently because they are made from plastic and are not as stable as metal.

If you choose ceramic braces, excellent hygiene is a must because foods and beverages can stain ceramic brackets.

Veneers (Ceramic or Porcelain) 

Veneers are fine layers of material that cover the front of the teeth. They are a cosmetic dentistry treatment designed to improve the appearance of teeth.

Veneers are typically made of ceramic (porcelain).

They are a wonderful option for minor imperfections like uneven sized teeth, small gaps, or irregularly shaped teeth.

Some people will require a short orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign before veneers can be placed. This is because the teeth should all be in the proper position to get optimal veneer results. 

Porcelain veneers are extremely realistic looking and are a permanent cosmetic dentistry procedure. Their color cannot be adjusted after they’ve been applied.

It is essential to consider that veneers are typically used to improve the look of teeth rather than to repair any damage. You might select veneer treatment if your teeth are discolored, stained, crooked, oddly shaped, chipped, or have spacing problems. 

You can only have veneers if your teeth and gums are already in good condition. They may not be suitable for you if you grind or clench your teeth, which can crack and damage the veneer.

Retainers

A retainer holds your teeth in position once they have shifted into the correct place using traditional braces. A permanent retainer is a thin line of metal fixed to the inside of your teeth to prevent them from moving. 

A temporary retainer is the same, except it can be placed in the mouth and removed. A temporary retainer is typically worn only at night.

A retainer may be fabricated from a metal and acrylic bite plate or a plastic similar to clear aligners. Most people have to wear their retainer at night for a lifetime to prevent teeth from shifting.

Are Braces or Clear Aligners Faster?

Clear aligners usually straighten the teeth much faster than braces. A clear aligner applies pressure to all of the teeth together instead of each tooth as braces do. If a customer is strict with wearing their plastic aligners, they are likely to work quicker than braces.

Are Braces or Aligners Cheaper?

The cost of Invisalign treatment is comparable to braces. Braces typically cost around $2,000 to $7,000. Invisalign averages from $3,000 to $8,000. However, many clear aligner suppliers are less expensive than Invisalign.

Only your orthodontist will know what the cost of treatment will be. Other factors affect the price of braces and clear plastic aligners. If your oral health requires more work and attention, this will heighten costs. For example, if you have an overbite, it will take longer to shift your teeth into the correct position.

Other factors include the average orthodontic treatment prices in your city, the brand of clear aligners, and how much your dental insurance plan will cover.

When Are Braces Necessary Over Alternative Options?

Clear aligners can only treat minor cases of misalignment. Invisalign aligners can often treat more moderate cases. However, braces are usually necessary for more severe forms of teeth misalignment and bite dental issues.

Your malocclusion bite refers to how your upper teeth and lower teeth meet and interact when your mouth closes. An improper bite can lead to irregular wear of the teeth, jaw issues (TMJ pain), and chronic headaches.

Malocclusion also injures the teeth as they improperly collide with one another during chewing or speaking. Proper speech development can also be affected when your bite does not function properly.