Clear braces are a great way to improve your smile! For clear braces, most of the material and concepts are similar. Using a series of clear aligners, they put small amounts of pressure on the teeth and periodontal ligaments in the desired direction. The pros of clear braces are that they can be more comfortable and esthetically pleasing. However, since they are removable, compliance in wearing them 20+ hours a day is a must to obtain optimal teeth movement.
There are several ways you can obtain the clear braces. 1. DIY at home 2. General dental clinic 3. Specialist orthodontic clinic
1. DIY at home
There are a lot of different vendors for DIY clear braces. SmileDirectClub is one of the more well known. The price advertised on their website currently is:
“With Single Pay, make a one-time payment of $1950 which is up to 60% less than other teeth straightening options. You can also pay over time with SmilePay™ for a down payment of $250 and $89 a month for 24 monthly payments.”
The cost may be less if you can coordinate the use of your dental insurance. Overall, this option is good for patients whose case is relatively minor and will have high compliance in wearing the device. You will take the impressions yourself. Then you send in the impressions and receive the aligners in the mail.
2. General dental clinic
We will send in a pre authorization to your dental insurance so you can view your upfront cost. Most insurance companies cover ~50% of orthodontic costs. Financing is available if desired. Diagnostic casts and final impressions will be made in the clinic along with photos and updated x-rays to evaluate teeth position and planned movement. The fabricated aligners can be given to the patient all at once if desired. Monthly checkups are highly recommended to track progress. Make sure to ask Dr. Yang if you’re interested!
3. Specialist Orthodontic clinic
For patients with more complicated cases (severe crowding, malocclusion, etc), it is advised to seek treatment with an orthodontic specialist. While clear aligners are a great advertised product, some cases do require the traditional metal braces to help pull the teeth into position and help with patient compliance. Most orthodontists will also offer clear braces as well. It is a great idea to check and compare prices/clinics to see what is the best fit for you.