A patient’s guide for choosing the best invisible aligners treatment (2023)

Cost of clear aligners plays a huge role in selecting a brand. Generally, invisible aligner treatment is expensive in the case of in-office brands like Invisalign, as it requires you to make frequent visits to the dentist’s office throughout your treatment.

At-home clear aligner brands are cost-effective as they do not require anything else other than purchasing the aligner plan. The patients will be responsible for taking their dental impressions and can effectively manage their treatment from home. SmilePath has been termed as the most affordable brand in terms of clear aligner treatment.

With the purchase of SmilePath clear aligners, you will get the initial impression kit included in the cost of the plan. Brands like Byte and SmileDirectClub charge extra for the initial impression kit which increases the overall treatment cost.

Your aligner treatment does not simply depend on straightening your teeth with clear aligners. There are several other products needed to complete your treatment. At-home aligner brands have started offering these products as part of the aligner plan which saves up a lot on the total cost of the treatment.

Brands like SmilePath offer an initial impression kit as part of the aligner plan. Moreover, the aligner kit also includes a free teeth whitening kit and the first set of retainers. You will need to buy the initial impression kit separately if you are going for SmileDirectClub and Byte clear aligners. With SmileDirectClub, you will also need to purchase your first set of retainers after your aligner treatment ends, as it does not include any in the plan. Like Byte and SDC, EZ SMILE also requires you to pay for the impression kit, however, you always have the option to book a free scan.

Standard health insurance typically does not cover orthodontic treatments such as traditional braces or at-home invisible aligners. Dental insurance may offer orthodontic benefits, including coverage for at-home invisible aligners. However, it depends on whether the insurance company considers invisible aligners a cosmetic treatment option.

For more information, patients can check the Insurance page on an at-home invisible aligners brand’s website. They will require them to provide the necessary information about their insurance company to determine if they have coverage. Standard health insurance plans don’t cover routine dental procedures.

Brands like Byte and SmileDirectClub accept insurance, and you can send them your insurance company’s information to check your coverage. SmilePath does not accept insurance. However, it provides you with all the necessary documents or receipts required to make an insurance claim with your provider.

At-home invisible aligners brands offer a variety of promotions on their products. Some common types of discounts offered by these brands include referral discounts, seasonal discounts, and military discounts.

Referral discounts are typically offered to individuals who refer friends or family members. In SmilePath’s case, if you refer a friend, you will get $100 while your friend will get a discount of $25 on their purchase. Seasonal discounts are offered during certain times of the year and military discounts are available to active-duty service members or veterans. Brands like SmilePath, SDC and Byte offer military discounts.

To learn more about these promotions, it’s best to reach out to the brand’s customer support. The support agents can provide you with more information about your eligibility for the available promotions.