Invisalign® vs. ClearCorrect®: How They Actually Compare

Invisalign® and ClearCorrect® are two treatments that use clear aligners to straighten teeth. If you have crooked or misaligned teeth, both aligners can help improve your smile. Invisalign and ClearCorrect serve the same functions but differ in some aspects. Hence, one aligner may work better than the other based on your needs and partialities.

How Is Invisalign Different From ClearCorrect? 

Here is how Invisalign and ClearCorrect compare.

Design and Cut

Both aligners use computers to scan your mouth. That helps them get a precise image of your teeth's positions and alignments. Afterward, your dentist forms the aligner using a three-dimensional printer. The printer helps create a set of aligners that are accurately measured to fit your teeth.

Then, the dentist trims the aligners to fit around your teeth but differently. Invisalign scallops its edges to fit your gumline, whereas ClearCorrect makes straight cuts across the top of your teeth. That way, your teeth move into their correct position faster. 

On matters of thickness, both treatments use clear plastic. But ClearCorrect’s plastic is thinner, making them much less visible.

Treatment Time

Invisalign treatment can take 12 to 18 months to straighten your teeth. But the treatment duration can also be as brief as six months, based on your case. Treatment time for ClearCorrect aligners is between eight to 18 months, based on your tooth alignment problem.

Both treatments need you to wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily. Invisalign requires you to wear each tray set for five to seven days, depending on your dentist's assessment of your tooth movement. With ClearCorrect, patients wear each tray set for two to three weeks and see their dentist every six or eight weeks for follow-up.

Mouth Comfort

Invisalign and ClearCorrect do not use the same plastic material for their aligners. Invisalign uses its own original thermoplastic material, while ClearCorrect uses plastic that Invisalign used several years back.

Invisalign's plastic material has gone through eight years of study and thorough testing. The aligners are gentler and feel more comfortable in the mouth because they put less pressure on your teeth. Invisalign aligners are also easier to wear and remove, offering more mouth comfort than ClearCorrect aligners.

Longevity

Because Invisalign aligners are thicker, they are more resilient to wear and breakage. That means they may be more durable than ClearCorrect aligners.

Cost and Affordability

The cost of Invisalign and ClearCorrect depends on the severity of your teeth alignment problem and other factors. Generally, ClearCorrect aligners are more affordable than Invisalign.

Which One Is Right for You?

Invisalign and ClearCorrect aligners can correct several minor teeth alignment problems. These include tooth-spacing issues, crooked teeth, underbites, crossbites, overbites, and open bites.

While both aligners have similar functions, they differ in durability and affordability. If you are unsure which option is more appropriate, your dentist can help you choose. Your dentist can explain the two options and help determine which one will work for you. Are you thinking of straightening your teeth using clear aligners? Call your dentist today.

For more on Invisalign and ClearCorrect, call Concierge Smile Boutique at (424) 404-6400 to reach our office in Culver City, California.