As of November 2024, prices rounded, options are my own, I have no connection to any of these companies, and am currently wearing braces. This is just some research for a friend.
byte.com
- impression kit $95, aligners $2,100 // Currently not accepting new patients to do trouble with the FDA.
snapcorrect.com
- impression kit $50, aligners $1750 // seems to have been good 5 years ago, but now has very, very bad customer care. Avoid!
straytteeth.com
- impression kit $24, aligners $1,600 // A legit company, but very little reviews, not my first choice.
newsmilelife.com
- impression kit $30, aligners $1,295 // seems customer care is meh, but has a good product.
2usmiles.com
- impression kit $10, aligners $1,200 // 2022 ish, nothing really to prove them review why's. I'd choose a better know choice.
Caspersmile.com
- impression kit $50, aligners $1,145 // Seems good, I'd do it.
drdirectretainers.com
- impression kit $30, aligners $1000 // smiledirect continuation ish, Meh.
alignerco.com
- impression kit $60, aligners $800 // A legit company, I'd try it for the price.
smileie.com
- impression kit $50, aligners $750 // seems customer care is subpar, meh.
aligner32.com
- impression kit $20, aligners $600 // Rather unproven, competency is not reliable, APP is really poorly made, but works out for some. Meh.
Treatment options
Day & night: Duration: 3-5 months Wear Time: 22 hrs/day (ideally
Night only Duration 5-7 months with a Wear Time of 10 hrs/day
I would avoid night only unless you have a very mild case & really don't like to wear them during the day
https://www.newmouth.com/orthodontics/treatment/clear-aligners/nighttime/
https://sparkaligners.com/en-us/news-and-articles/day-nighttime-aligners-what-are-differences
Low cost in person options
https://www.aspendental.com/mottoaligners/pricing/
- $2500 initial consultation cost: free
here's a review: https://www.newmouth.com/orthodontics/treatment/clear-aligners/motto/
I recommend this, very solid choice middle ground! In person has a lot lower chance of negative experiences.
Comments
- The industry has boomed with very polished look & feel since around 2020, seems investor capitalists are pushing the marketing teams & efficiency models here. Almost like the tech bubble.
- Reliably good treatment requires quality staffing, something properly very much lacking in most of these.
- Customer after care & satisfaction is very lacking for many of these.
- I recommend in person treatment, only consider these if you can't afford that, and have very good oral health according to your dentist, there is little safety net!
The Pixel 3 I have I got used and it still works, although the back glass is broken and the battery health is 85%, and stopped getting updates around a year ago. I'd say it's 5 years run so far (released October 2018) is pretty good. If you know of any other devices that would be useful for 4~7 years please share! I think high end Apple and Samsung devices would, and they are now committing to longer software support, and are likely to carry though.