Searching for teeth straightening options? You may have come across a variety of brands and treatments. Among the many names, such as the clinic-based aligners of Invisalign, there is also Smile Direct Club. Smile Direct Club enjoys popularity due to the convenience of the remote treatment model. The number of clinic-based clear aligners versus the direct-to-consumer aligners is often a question for many.
At a casual glance, both treatment options appear to be the same. They both have clear aligners, make the promise of a straight set of teeth, and comfortably substitute teeth treatment with the inverse option of traditional braces. However, if you choose to analyze the two services with the focus they deserve, you will realize that there exists a variety of relative differences between the two that may extend to both the treatment experience and the end result.
One of the most common questions that the team at DentaAesthetica gets asked is whether professionally supervised clear aligners are a better option when compared to remote treatment clear aligners. The answer depends on your dental condition, your treatment goals, and what level of professional guidance you want for your smile transformation. We have put together the options in comparison for you.
Why Have Clear Aligners Become So Popular?
When clear aligners were first introduced, they revolutionized orthodontic treatments completely.
In the past, many adults avoided braces for as long as they could, due to the metal brackets and wires being so conspicuous. Clear aligners provide a solution that is discreet, modern, and customizable. They easily fit into the lifestyle of the busiest professional.
Clear aligners can easily be removed to eat, brush, and floss. They can be worn for work meetings, family gatherings, and special occasions.
With the rise in popularity of this treatment, new models are available to consumers. Some require more visits to the clinic, while others rely more on remote treatment and less on in-person visits.
Recognizing these differences is important in deciding what treatment to choose.
What was Smile Direct Club?
Smile Direct Club was popular because it offered a way to do orthodontics without ever setting foot in the clinic.
Patients could do the process almost all at home by using home impression kits or by going to a scanning centre. From there, the aligners would be shipped to their homes.
The goal was to reduce the number of clinic visits and to make the process more convenient.
This model was attractive to many people who wanted to improve their smiles but wanted to avoid the hassle of going to the clinic every month.
This model did, however, push the dental community to question the treatment plan, diagnosis, and supervision of the process.
Even though Smile Direct Club has pulled from a number of markets, patients still use this model as a point of comparison to clinic-based clear aligners when choosing their orthodontic treatment.
What are Clinic-Based Clear Aligners?
This type of aligner system has a supervising dentist or orthodontist at every step of the treatment.
This process entails:
- A full consultation
- A full mouth scan
- A full mouth exam
- A full bite assessment
- A custom treatment plan
- A series of follow-up appointments to monitor progress
- A custom retention plan after the treatment is completed
At DentaAesthetica, every aligner treatment plan is made based on the patient’s dental condition, their goals for their smile, and their oral health.
While the aligners are a tool for the treatment, the planning and the supervision by the professionals is equally important and a part of the process.
The Importance of a Proper Diagnosis
One major difference we see in clinic-based aligners vs remote treatment models is the introductory diagnosis.
Many patients think the only thing they have is a slight misalignment of their teeth. In fact, a thorough examination could find:
- An overbite
- An Underbite
- A Crossbite
- An alignment problem with the jaw
- Gum disease
- Wear on the teeth
- Hidden dental issues, etc.
Many of these issues are not detectable with just photographs and impressions.
A thorough examination is imperative prior to starting a treatment plan.
It’s like constructing a house. You wouldn’t start decorating the rooms until the foundation is built.
That’s the same with Orthodontic treatment.
Personalized Treatment Planning
Every smile and in turn, every mouth is completely different.
Even patients with the same-looking misalignments of teeth can have jaw misalignments, or even different alignments of teeth and require completely different treatment plans.
The beauty of treatment happening in the clinic is that the dentists are able to examine these and create a personalized plan.
The cutting-edge digital imaging technology aids in the treatment process by planning the movement of each and every tooth step with clarity and precision.
An unbalanced bite and a treatment process that only focuses on the straightness of teeth is not the goal of Orthodontics.
In fact, the goal of Orthodontics is a healthy and balanced bite.
The Importance of Regular Monitoring
Something everyone should know about Orthodontics is that the process of straightening teeth does not always go according to plan. Computer simulations are not always accurate.
Each and every person is different.
With the clinic-based aligners, the staff is able to meet with the patients on a continual basis and monitor them.
- The progress of the treatment
- The fit of the aligners
- Treatment can be modified and improved as issues arise
- The staff is able to answer all of the patients’ concerns and questions
These continual check-ins and treatments allow the patients to always be on track toward their orthodontic goals.
Patients like that a registered professional watches their smile progress at every step.
Don’t Trade Safety for Smoke & Mirrors
Looking good at the end of treatment is not the most important part of this process.
Moving teeth also moves bone, gums, and other tissue.
Making sure the mouth is healthy before starting the aligners is very important.
Unaddressed issues like cavities and gum disease are important to take care of before starting orthodontic treatment.
Treatment done in the office always has these health checks built in.
This is important to lower the possibility of future complicated issues and help improve the overall outcome in the long run.
Is It Worth It?
Treating yourself from home can be very appealing, especially when your schedule is busy. But the convenience of doing your treatment at home will always be offset by the absence of professional oversight.
Think of the safety and peace of mind of swimming if you first learned from an instructor instead of from several online videos.
In the same way, professional oversight of braces ensures that the patient can swim (braces) safely and with peace of mind.
We all know that expense matters.
It is a common idea that remote treatment plans offer affordable braces. But, when considering a price, think of the following questions:
- Who is planning the next steps for my treatment?
- Who is checking that my teeth are on track?
- Are complications beyond normal accounted for?
- What kind of adjustments and post-care will I receive?
- Will I be receiving retainers?
All of these important treatment questions add real value to the services, especially if the price seems lower.
Orthodontic treatment should improve your smile for years to come. So, it should be thought of as an important investment.
Which Treatment Option Is Best?
There is no blanket answer here. Each individual patient has a different scenario.
Some of the aligner systems may work for individuals with very low levels of concern with the overall appearance of their smile.
For individuals with concerns that include bite, crowding, spacing, and all other types of misalignment issues, more comprehensive treatment and more detailed professional oversight may be required in the course of treatment.
At DentaAesthetica, we pride ourselves on our focus on patient safety, taking an individual approach, and very positive treatment outcomes, and do not offer a cookie-cutter system, based on the same treatment process for all.
Conclusion
Clear aligners have improved the overall orthodontic treatment process, as they are more comfortable, less invasive and less obvious when worn. However, the clear aligners are only one element of a successful treatment process.
While Smile Direct Club utilizes a more remote model offering convenience at the sacrifice of quality, other clinic-based aligners administer much more detailed frameworks and diagnostics, allowing individualized treatment with professional oversight and regular reinforcement to ensure a safer treatment process with more predictable, longer-lasting results.
Every patient at DentaAesthetica begins their journey with clear aligners with a detailed in-person consultation to better understand their oral health and design an individualized clear aligner treatment process with the utmost care. If a beautiful smile is your end goal, investing in clear aligners that provide professional oversight and care will protect your oral health and help you achieve confidence in your new smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What differentiates clear aligners available through clinics from Smile Direct Club?
With clinic clear aligners, a dentist or orthodontist diagnoses the condition, designs the treatment plan, and monitors progress, unlike Smile Direct Club, which employs a mostly remote model of treatment.
2. Are clinic clear aligners more secure?
Yes, because clinic clear aligners are used with a full dental checkup, and clear aligners are monitored by a professional, so that any problems that occur during treatment can be recognized and dealt with in a timely manner.
3. How do I know which aligners are best for me?
The best way to know will be to go to a professional for a consultation who can do a full assessment to determine your dental needs and help you with the best treatment plan for your smile.
