Both Invisalign and Smile Direct Club treat the same problem. They move misaligned teeth into a good position and ensure they’re straight. However, they take two different approaches to get the desired results. At Peters Family Dentistry, we make sure our patients understand the difference between the two options and decide which one is best for them. Here’s an in-depth look at Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club
Call our Ladera Ranch office
at (949) 799-4644 Today! Call our Riverside office
at (951) 685-3355 Today!
1. What Are They?
Invisalign is a treatment to straighten a patient’s teeth through a series of aligners. Patients need to visit their dentist for fitting to ensure the aligners deliver good results. The dentist will map your teeth and create a comprehensive treatment plan. Dentists play a very hands-on role and will tailor the treatment according to the patient’s requirements.
SDC also offers clear aligners that will move the teeth back to an ideal position. However, that’s where the similarity ends. Patients need to create the mold at home as per the SDC directions and send it to the company. SDC will consult with their network of dentists to create aligners for you. Those aligners will be sent to your location through the mail. While dentists are involved in this process, they have a hands-off approach and there is no direct contact with or monitoring of the patient’s teeth.
2. Measurements For The Aligners
SDC has SmileShops at different locations to conduct full 3D scans of your mouth, but this network isn’t very widespread. Most patients have to make a mold of their teeth at home and send it to the club. If you make a mistake while creating a mold, you will have to deal with aligners that don’t fit well.
Invisalign has a more personalized approach. Patients need to visit their dentist to get a comprehensive 3D scan of their mouth. The dentist will take several scans to ensure they have a clear picture before they send it to Invisalign. This process reduces the margin for error and ensures you have better aligners in place.
3. Wearing The Aligners
SDC aligners are easy to wear and don’t require any special preparation. You just fit the tray on your teeth for the required amount of time and let it do its work. You can switch aligners throughout the treatment until your teeth are at the desired position.
Invisalign treatments work a little differently. Our dentist will add attachments to your teeth to ensure the treatment progresses properly. The dentist has more control over the movement of your teeth and can ensure there are no problems with the alignment.
4. Risks Involved
Wearing clear aligners might seem like a simple procedure, but it can cause a great deal of harm if not handled correctly. That’s why it is important to ensure a qualified professional is watching over the procedure as much as possible. SDC doesn’t offer much professional assistance. You can have a phone consultation with a dentist, but that is all you get. This means your treatment is unsupervised and not managed by a professional. Sometimes, the teeth might get pushed too far back into the mouth.
Invisalign has more professional supervision. Dentists will watch over every aspect of the process to ensure your treatment is progressing smoothly. There is no risk of tooth damage or any other problems.
5. Costs
Many people choose SDC because it is a cheaper alternative to Invisalign. If you get the process right and are careful about how you use their aligners, it may prove to be a good option. However, if you make mistakes, it will be more expensive because you will have to repeat the process to fix the problems that have been created by the aligners.
Invisalign includes professional consultations and regular visits to the dentist clinic. This means it is a little more expensive compared to other options. However, this treatment is safer, more comfortable and reliable and provides much better results as well.
If you want to know more, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Peters Family Dentistry today!
Call our Ladera Ranch office
at (949) 799-4644 Today! Call our Riverside office
at (951) 685-3355 Today!