Clear Aligners in General
If you're looking into straightening your teeth as an adult, you've almost certainly heard of Invisalign. It's been around since 1999 and has done an enormous amount to make clear aligner treatment mainstream. ClearCorrect is a strong competitor that's been growing in popularity, particularly among dentists who want to offer aligner treatment without being locked into a single company's ecosystem.
Both systems work the same way: a series of custom-fitted trays gradually shift your teeth into alignment. You wear each tray for a week or two, then move to the next one in the series.
Where They're Similar
For the majority of cases — mild to moderate crowding, spacing, and bite issues — the clinical outcomes between the two systems are comparable. Both use thermoplastic material, both are removable, and both are virtually invisible when worn.
The aligner material and tray thickness are slightly different between brands, but in terms of tooth movement capability, both handle routine cases well.
Where They Differ
Cost
ClearCorrect tends to be more affordable, both for the dental practice and for patients. That's part of why we chose to offer it. We wanted to be able to provide aligner treatment without the price premium that often comes with the Invisalign brand name.
Provider Network
Invisalign has a large provider network and a tiered system where providers who do more cases get access to more advanced treatment planning tools. ClearCorrect is used by a wide range of general dentists and orthodontists and doesn't have the same tiered structure.
Treatment Planning
Both companies provide digital treatment planning software that lets us simulate your tooth movement before you ever wear a tray. We use this simulation in your consultation so you can see the projected outcome before committing.
Who's a Good Candidate for Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners work well for adults and older teens who have all their permanent teeth and are dealing with:
- Mild to moderate crowding
- Spaces between teeth
- Mild overbite, underbite, or crossbite
- Relapse after previous orthodontic treatment
More severe bite problems — particularly significant skeletal issues — may still require traditional braces or a combination approach. We'll give you an honest assessment at your consultation.
What We Offer at Hallmark
We offer ClearCorrect as our clear aligner system. If you've been curious about straightening your teeth but weren't sure where to start — or if you looked into Invisalign and balked at the cost — it's worth coming in for a consultation to see if ClearCorrect is a good fit.
The consultation is straightforward: we take records, look at your bite, and give you a realistic picture of what treatment would involve, how long it would take, and what it would cost.
Have questions? Call us at (256) 734-1866 or schedule a consultation.