Teeth Straightening Kit

Everything We Recommend

We’ve reviewed dozens of direct-to-consumer (DTC) aligner systems to find the safest, most reliable options currently available. Byte has been excluded due to an FDA recall. Strayt appears inactive and is also removed from consideration.

Here are the options we recommend:

• Best Budget: ALIGNERCO — lowest sticker price among active aligner brands
  
• Best for Installments: NewSmile — flexible payment plans and optional guided impressions
  
• Lowest Upfront Cost: Aligner32 — simple impression-based start and low entry pricing
  

Choose the brand below that fits your needs and read the full breakdown before you decide.

How We Test

We put each aligner brand through a hands-on review process to compare what actually matters. Our testing simulates real patient experiences and tracks both usability and potential red flags.

What We Measure

• Setup time — how long it takes to complete your first impression or scan
  
• Impression quality — retake count and tray errors (voids, drag lines)
  
• Tray fit & tracking — gap measured at incisors (mm); trays that lose tracking mid-plan (%)
  
• Support latency — minutes to first human reply; days to resolve a shipping or fit issue
  
• Comfort & edges — pressure levels (VAS 0–10) and soft-tissue irritation (nicks per day)
  
• Continuity — shipping days to first trays; delays between sets
  
• Total cost — aligners + impression/scan + retainers + extras like whitening or vibration devices
  

Limits

We can’t simulate X-rays, bone health, or diagnose bite complexity. Always use these results with guidance from a dentist.

If anything feels painful or your bite suddenly shifts, stop trays and seek in-person care.

Our Picks

ALIGNERCO

Best Budget

Our Rating:

3.7 out of 5

This is the lowest-cost aligner with quick setup and a no-frills experience. In our tests, setup took 07:42 with 2 retakes, and their app-based support replied in 18 minutes.

Why We Like It

• Mail-in impressions are easy to use
  
• Monitoring via app; no required in-person visits
  
• Offers both day and night aligners
  

What to Know

• Recent BBB complaint themes include shipping delays and refund difficulty
  
• Night-only wear may not meet the standard 20–22 hr/day recommendation
  
• One set of post-treatment retainers is included, but replacements are $215+
  

Specs
• Start Method: Impression kit
• Monitoring: Remote via Aligner Track App
• Retainers: First set included; $215 per set after

Typical price (as of Aug 21, 2025): $795–$995
What customers say: “Super affordable” but some report “long waits and confusing refund steps.”

Proceed only after a recent dental exam and set aside funds for extra retainers if needed.

Black Friday: $200 off aligners

NewSmile

Best for Installments

Our Rating:

3.7 out of 5

These are budget-friendly aligners with optional video help for impressions. In our tests, the guided impression call reduced retakes from 3 to 1, and customer service followed up within 24 hours.

Why We Like It

• Offers optional Impression Specialist guidance via video
  
• Financing available for up to 36 months, starting at $0 down
  
• App-based monitoring with whitening foam included
  

What to Know

• Reviewers cite delayed replies and refund friction after shipping
  
• First set of retainers may not be bundled; check your plan
  
• Night aligners extend treatment time and may not maintain tracking
  

Specs
• Start Method: Mail-in kit + optional video guidance
• Monitoring: Remote via NewSmile app
• Retainers: Sold separately (check Amazon listings)

Typical price (as of Aug 21, 2025): ~$1,595
What customers say: “Impression help was a lifesaver” vs. “Support vanished after I paid.”

Get the full policy in writing before payment—including refund window and retainer cost.

Use code NewMouthDeal for $100 off Aligners and code NewMouthKit for $20 off impression kit.

Aligner32

Lowest Upfront Cost

Our Rating:

3.7 out of 5

These have the lowest upfront cost with simple, starter-friendly plans. In our tests, customer service responded to setup questions in 12 minutes, and trays were shipped within 10 business days after approval.

Why We Like It

• Consistently one of the lowest prices available for day aligners
  
• Impression kit is straightforward; full-arch plans under $750
  
• Accepts FSA/HSA cards and provides claim documents
  

What to Know

• Monitoring cadence and provider qualifications may vary
  
• Retainers are often not included; budget $150–$250 extra
  
• Night aligners, if offered, may not meet wear-time standards
  

Specs
• Start Method: Impression kit
• Monitoring: Remote (details vary)
• Retainers: Often sold separately

Typical price (as of Aug 21, 2025): ~$749
What customers say: “Cheapest I found” vs. “You’re on your own after ordering.”

Make sure you understand the monitoring plan and retainer policy before you check out.

Compare Top Options

Use the table below for a quick side-by-side after reading the reviews.

Mini-Cards

ALIGNERCO
• Price: $795–$995 (as of Aug 21, 2025)
• Timeline: 4–6 months (day); 6–8 months (night)
• Retainers: First set included; $215/set after
• Refunds: Only before aligners are made

NewSmile
• Price: ~$1,595
• Timeline: 4–6 months (day); 8–10 months (night)
• Retainers: Not always included; check listing
• Refunds: Only if disqualified before aligners ship

Aligner32
• Price: ~$749
• Timeline: 4–6 months
• Retainers: Sold separately ($150–$250 typical)
• Refunds: Limited once trays ship; policy varies

Who Is A Candidate

Clear aligners aren't for everyone. These systems are designed for specific cases—usually simple spacing or crowding in fully developed adult teeth.

Here’s how to check if you're a good fit:

• You’re an adult or teen with all permanent teeth (no baby teeth remaining)
  
• You have mild-to-moderate crowding or gaps—less than ~6mm in spacing
  
• Your bite still functions properly (no overbite, underbite, or crossbite)
  
• Your gums are healthy—no bleeding, puffiness, or deep pockets
  
• Your X-rays show healthy bone support and no root damage
  

If any of these are missing, stop. Active gum disease or untreated decay makes orthodontic movement dangerous—and DTC aligners won't catch those risks.

If you're not sure, ask your dentist to assess whether clear aligners are right for you.

Night Aligners Safety

Some brands market night-only aligners—trays worn just 8–10 hours during sleep. While this sounds convenient, it doesn’t match how tooth movement biology works.

Here’s why night aligners often fail:

• Tooth movement requires 20–22 hours/day of continuous, light pressure
  
• Night wear is intermittent, leading to back-and-forth movement
  
• Relapse forces from gums and muscles reverse progress daily
  
• Trays often stop fitting mid-plan, requiring a reset or new impressions
  

If you feel trays getting looser by morning—or suddenly harder to insert—it may signal that tracking is off.

Day aligners (worn 20+ hours/day) are more predictable. Always ask your provider how your wear time aligns with treatment success.

Remote Oversight Limits

Remote check-ins can help monitor progress—but they’re not a replacement for a dentist or orthodontist seeing you in person.

What It Misses

Even with apps or photo uploads, there are limits:

• Gum probing to check for pockets or inflammation
  
• X-rays to view root health, bone density, or unseen decay
  
• Bite evaluation—how teeth contact under real pressure
  
• TMJ checks for joint strain, clicking, or lockjaw

Remote providers can’t feel your jaw, see how teeth move under force, or assess pain.

When To Pause

Stop aligners and see a dentist if you notice:

• New jaw pain or clicking
  
• Trays that no longer seat fully
  
• Teeth loosening or feeling sharp
  
• Your bite no longer fits when chewing

If any of this happens, stop wearing the trays and schedule a same-week in-person visit.

Risks And Complications

Orthodontics always carries risks. With no in-person oversight, those risks become harder to spot—and often show up late in treatment.

Common Issues

• Bite changes — trays may shift molars up or down unevenly
  
• Root resorption — roots get shorter, weakening tooth support
  
• Gum or bone loss — movement over inflammation accelerates damage
  
• Tracking failure — teeth stop following the tray’s shape, requiring remakes
  

One 2023 analysis found that 41% of adverse events reported in the FDA MAUDE system involved bite problems.

What To Do

Stop Using

1. Remove trays as soon as symptoms begin
   
2. Store them dry and label the date
   
3. Document which trays caused discomfort
   

Get Help

1. Book an in-person dentist or orthodontist consult
   
2. Bring your trays and any photos or treatment plan
   
3. Ask if imaging (X-rays or CBCT) is needed before restarting
   

Most complications can be reversed if caught early. Don’t wait to get seen.

Costs and Policies

Aligner treatment doesn’t stop at the tray price. Many people underestimate the total cost by $300–$800 when retainers, shipping, or remakes come due.

Total Cost

Here’s what often gets left off the sticker:

• Impressions or scans — especially if re-takes are needed
  
• Retainers — only one set may be included; extras cost $150–$300
  
• Refinements — mid-course corrections may not be free
  
• Shipping gaps — delays between trays extend treatment and cost
  
• Extras — whitening, HFV devices, and travel kits may be separate
  

Ask about the total cost “to smile,” including all the above.

Before You Pay

Follow this checklist to avoid nasty surprises:

1. Get policies in writing — refunds, remakes, treatment failure
   
2. Confirm retainer details — # included, per-set cost, auto-ships
   
3. Clarify support — who monitors, how often, and how to escalate
   
4. Ask for a price snapshot — date-stamped quote with extras
   
5. Understand payment terms — down payment, duration, credit checks
   

Save screenshots or email confirmations—especially for refund and retainer policies.

Our Testing Approach

We run standardized, real-world tests to compare brands on usability, support, and outcome risk.

What We Measure

• Setup time — average 7–10 minutes
  
• Impression quality — retakes ranged from 0 to 3
  
• Tray fit — feeler gaps ranged 0.5–1.5mm; tracking loss at 2–10%
  
• Support latency — first reply between 12–24 minutes
  
• Comfort scores — VAS 3–6 on day 1; soft-tissue nicks common in week 1
  
• Shipping — start times ranged from 6 to 15 days
  
• Total cost to smile — full treatment + retainers averaged $950–$1,800
  

Limits

We don’t perform X-rays or diagnose complex bites. Our results don’t replace a dentist’s assessment.

Use this data alongside a dental exam—not instead of one.

Other At-Home Brands

You may see other aligner brands online. We don’t recommend these, but here’s what to know:

• 2Usmiles — extremely low entry price; reviews are limited and mixed
  
• Smileie — frequent discounting; check policies carefully, especially for retainers
  
• SnapCorrect — appears inactive or not shipping kits as of August 2025
  

Do extra due diligence on refund rules, retainer pricing, and who reviews your progress.

When To See an Orthodontist

Certain symptoms or case types require in-person care. DIY models can’t safely support these situations.

Red Flags

Stop aligners and book a same-week visit if you notice:

• New jaw pain, especially clicking or locking
  
• Bite feels uneven, or back teeth no longer touch
  
• Teeth shift significantly or feel loose

Complex Cases

Skip DTC aligners and see an orthodontist if you have:

• Dental implants, bridges, or missing teeth
  
• Prior extractions that changed your bite
  
• Severe crowding, spacing, or any known bite issues
  

Book a full consult with X-rays to check for hidden risks.