Get started on a new smile for the new year without the bulky, metal appearance and semi-permanent nature of traditional braces by using invisible braces instead. These clear aligners offer an alternative that can be more comfortable and appealing. We found a number of companies you can look at while shopping for them for yourself.
However, clear aligners (aka invisible braces) come with several big caveats. There are a few different options, too. This can make it difficult to make the right choice for your needs. Companies such as Invisalign will require some in-office appointments with a dental professional. On the other hand, several direct-to-consumer sites will take molds remotely and send you aligners without any checkups. For the most part, direct-to-consumer sites are more affordable. However, many dental and orthodontic professionals, including the American Dental Association, generally don’t recommend these options.
To help you navigate the necessary medical guidance to safely adjust your teeth at home — while keeping the affordability and convenience factors in mind — we dug into the world of invisible braces to put together this list.
Background on invisible braces
After SmileDirectClub shut down in December, leaving many customers in the middle of their treatment, the ADA issued a general statement (which did not name any particular company) about the potential dangers of straightening your teeth at home without medical oversight. In some cases, moving teeth without knowing the full picture of someone’s oral health can cause bone loss, teeth loss, gum issues, bite problems, pain in the jaw and permanent issues, the ADA said.
This isn’t to scare you out of a treatment you want, but it’s an important reminder that our teeth are an important part of our body — the head — and safely straightening your teeth needs to be considered in the context of your gum health, bone health, the roots of your teeth, your jaw and more, according to Dr. Kami Hoss, orthodontist and founder of SuperMouth, an oral care company. You can’t understand that context without an examination by a doctor and some X-rays, Hoss said.
He doesn’t recommend direct-to-consumer aligners for the majority of people (more on that below), but people who are interested in straightening their teeth solely at home should be sure to get an exam of their oral health before they go ahead, Hoss said. He added that many orthodontists already offer free consultations, so there’s a chance you’ll be able to finesse a no-cost dental exam before you make your decision. (Here’s a provider-finder link from the American Association of Orthodontists, or you can call your local dentist.)
“If you are gonna be in that group where you absolutely want to do this at home, at least get the orthodontic consultation,” Hoss said. “Get a feel for how complex your case is.”
‘Appointment-required’ aligners vs. ‘at-home only’ aligners
If you’re going the in-office aligners route, an exam of your mouth and dental X-rays should be included in the company’s care plan and whichever doctor’s office you’re working with. Dentists and orthodontists can become providers with different aligner companies, including the likes of Invisalign, Spark, Reveal and Candid. You’ll have appointments along the way to check your progress, but the frequency of your appointments and what your care plan will look like depends.
In addition to having oversight by a doctor who can adjust treatment if something isn’t working, Hoss said another plus of these clear aligner companies is that they offer attachments in many cases. Attachments are small, often unnoticeable little nubs attached to some teeth that hook to the aligner and help them move. He compared attachments to handles on furniture.
“If you want to open a cabinet or move it around, it’s a lot easier to have a handle on that cabinet,” he explained.
If you prefer your treatment strictly from home (direct-to-consumer), you’ll normally sign up through the company’s website and wait for your shipment of an at-home mold to provide an impression of your teeth. Then, the company’s medical network will review the results of your mold to determine whether you can go forward with treatment. You’ll be shipped new aligners every couple of weeks or so, depending on the company and your individual plan. Because at-home only companies are just that — at home — you won’t get attachments.
According to Hoss, people who could benefit from a direct-to-consumer alignment option include what he calls “minor relapse cases.” These are people who may’ve already had braces, but their bottom teeth have moved a little and they need some minor aligner treatment to straighten them back up again.
Again, he stressed the importance of having confirmation that your teeth and everything else are healthy. In some cases, evidence of damage caused by unsafe teeth alignment may show up years later when someone goes to the dentist for another problem, according to Hoss. Also, he said, straightening your teeth with aligners — even if effective at first — may miss the root of the issue, and ignoring the cause of the problem may cause problems or cause teeth to revert back after initial treatment.
Wherever you get your clear aligners, they’ll typically need to be worn throughout the day, unless you’re eating. Some people may also choose a “night-time only” plan.
While what’s best for you will depend on your needs, here are some companies to consider.
Best invisible braces of 2026
Pros
- Doctor supervision
- Trusted brand
- Can treat more complicated cases than direct-to-consumer aligners
Cons
- As expensive as traditional braces for most people
Invisalign is the name that kicked the whole idea of invisible braces into the mainstream. It works similarly to “traditional” braces in that you’ll need to find a doctor to start your treatment and work alongside for your entire treatment plan. You’ll find a provider in your area, come up with your treatment plan, get fitted for attachments or whatever you need and then be on your way to straighter teeth.
The cost is comparable to regular braces, Invisalign says, although how much you’ll end up paying will depend on your specific needs. Depending on your plan, dental insurance may cover up to $3,000 of the cost, according to Invisalign, and you can use your FSA/HSA dollars. Because you’ll be working with a doctor, you may also be able to work out some sort of payment or installment plan.
After treatment, your doctor may recommend you use a retainer to keep your teeth in place. How that looks will depend on your treatment plan.
Pros
- Doctor-involved treatment plan
- Advertises “clear” clear aligners
Cons
- Not as well known of a brand as Invisalign and Spark
Reveal is similar to companies like Invisalign and Spark because it requires checkups and appointments with a dentist or orthodontist to keep you on track throughout your treatment.
We’re including it on this list because the claims the company makes on its website may make it a good aesthetic option for people more concerned about the clarity of their aligners. Reveal says that its aligners are guaranteed to maintain their clarity after two weeks of wear and drinking things like coffee. The company also says it’ll minimize its use of attachments, which are typically used for clear aligners since they help teeth move but some people may want to minimize them.
To get started, find a provider in your area by searching your ZIP code. Reveal says its prices are between $2,000 and $5,000, and the company has a monthly payment option.
Pros
- Most affordable option
- Fixed price
Cons
- No doctor appointments required
- No direct contact with provider leading your plan; concerns forwarded through “Smile Crew Member”
AlignerCo is a direct-to-consumer company, so it’s best to get a clean bill of oral health from your dentist — and ideally a consultation with an orthodontist — before going this route so you can make sure you’re the right candidate for this treatment.
If you get the all-clear for at-home aligners, AlignerCo seems to be one of the most affordable options out there. The company offers a flat rate of $995 (or a discounted price of $795) for a one-time payment, which includes the cost of the impression kit and retainers. AlignerCo also offers the option to divide the cost into 12 monthly payments with Affirm. There’s also a six-month plan.
The company isn’t working with any insurance providers, but you can use your FSA/HSA. You can always try to submit a claim after the fact to your insurance company.
If you have concerns about your treatment along the way, AlignerCo says you can contact your “Smile Crew Member,” which is a designated person who will pass along your requests to a dentist. If you want direct contact with a healthcare provider leading your treatment plan, this may not be ideal.
On its refund and return policy page, AlignerCo says you need to go through your entire treatment and follow your treatment plan’s rules in order to be eligible for “additional aligners.” While it doesn’t appear to give refunds for its treatment once you’re approved and started on your plan, you’ll get a refund for your impression kit if it turns out you’re not a candidate.
Pros
- Hybrid model may reduce potential risks with direct-to-consumer model
- Virtual check-ins offer support with hands-off approach
Cons
- May not be as good for comprehensive care as other clear aligner companies
Candid started out as a strictly direct-to-consumer company but made the switch to requiring some doctor involvement. The result is a pretty cool model that may help allay some doctors’ fears of unmonitored or hands-off teeth alignment while blending in the benefits of telehealth, like virtual check-ins and a majority at-home approach.
To start, you’ll need to find a provider to meet with you to start your treatment. Then, you’ll share updates on your progress through an app and your provider may have you come in again if they sense something is going off track.
For information on price, ask your provider, but Candid’s hybrid model is meant to make the aligners cheaper than traditional braces. Candid also sells retainers in a similarly hybrid model, for which you can use your HSA/FSA dollars.
We selected clear aligner companies with different models by taking into account concerns people may have over medical oversight, affordability, type of care needed and how well-known the brand of aligners is. When applicable, we also took into account what makes a company different.
Direct-to-consumer vs. provider-assisted aligners: Generally speaking, companies selling clear aligners that require patients to work alongside a dentist or orthodontist in person are considered safer (and potentially more effective) because a provider will be able to tell you whether your teeth can be moved without risk of damage, and they can also correct the treatment plan if something isn’t turning out the way it was predicted to.
Health of your mouth: It’s crucial to get a clean bill of oral health, ideally including some X-rays, if you decide to go the direct-to-consumer route. Oral health includes factors like your jaw, your teeth and bones, your teeth’s roots and your gums.
Reason for wanting invisible braces or clear aligners: People with minor or moderate alignment issues may be good candidates for clear aligners. Whether you should go direct-to-consumer or opt for a provider-assisted approach also depends on your needs; people with minor spacing issues may be good candidates for at-home kits, while someone who suspects they have a jaw issue or more moderate concerns should consult with a provider about whether clear aligners or traditional braces would be better for them.
Consistency: Whether you’re able to wear your aligners every day or stick with your treatment plan, will make or break your invisible braces journey. If you don’t think you’ll be able to stay consistent with your plan, consider traditional braces or speak with a dentist or orthodontist about finding another option.
It depends entirely on your individual oral health, bone health, your reasons for choosing invisible braces and the company you’re going through. Many experts, including the ADA, have said that direct-to-consumer dentistry has the potential to cause long-term damage because there is a lack of medical oversight that would otherwise catch issues that could make at-home teeth-straightening dangerous.
Because it may be impossible to know everything about your jaw and dental health, the safest thing for anyone considering invisible braces to do is at least get a check-up with your dentist or orthodontist before choosing a treatment plan or company.
If you’ve been deemed a good candidate for them by a dentist or orthodontist, and you follow your treatment plan consistently, invisible braces are an effective alternative to metal braces.
Just as with traditional braces, it’s best to wait at least until most — if not all — of a child’s adult teeth have come in. As adult teeth come in for a child, their alignment shifts and the placement of their teeth will adjust, which could disrupt the process. This typically happens around 12 years old.
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