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Clear aligners are a treatment option for anyone who wants a straighter smile. Many people prefer them to wired braces as they are transparent and therefore a lot more discreet, and they’re removable too. You tend to wear clear aligners for at least 22 hours per day, although some options don’t require that. Once you’ve had your initial impressions taken, you’ll be sent customized molds that you swap out every couple of weeks. Each new set will slightly shift your teeth more until you get the results you want.

The good news is that there are various different providers of clear aligners, which means you can choose the one that suits you best. If you want the cheapest, most straightforward option then AlignerCo offers treatment from just $1,145, plus $40 for your impression kit. The most expensive is Invisalign which can cost between $3,000 and $8,000 depending on how severe your case is. On average you’ll pay around $1,800 although many dental insurance plans include orthodontic treatments, so you may not be totally liable for the cost yourself.

Most providers also offer easy finance options. You’ll pay a little more, since interest will be added to the total, and there’s still usually a down payment to cover, but it means you can then spread the total cost over a number of months.

Read our guide if you want to know more about the cost of clear aligners. Or if you just feel like getting to know the different aligner providers, you can take a look at our reviews here.

The length of time it takes to straighten your teeth with clear aligners varies depending on how severely your teeth are misaligned. On average though, it’s around 6-12 months. If that’s too long, consider byte – they claim an average treatment time of just 4 months. Of course, if your teeth are quite severely misaligned then it could take longer, up to 2 years.

For anyone who doesn’t want to wear aligners all day, there is the option of at-night aligners. You can get this treatment with byte and with SmileDirectClub. Your treatment will last around 10 months with either provider. Find out more about at-night aligners here.

Many people choose clear aligners as they are more discreet, but others just prefer the fact that you can enjoy your treatment at home without ever having to visit a dentist, if you don’t want to. Many providers are at-home only, sending you an impression kit which you’ll use to create your own mold. Once you’ve sent it back to the provider, your custom aligners are then shipped straight to your home. You just need to provide updates either on video calls or by uploading photos to a website or app.

That won’t suit everyone. Some people prefer to be seen by a specialist, and there are clear aligner providers who allow for this too. Whether it’s working with your normal dentist, or having dedicated clinics that you can visit, you’ll find providers who monitor you in person to ensure your treatment is on track. You’ll also get a 3D scan at the start of your treatment, which is more accurate than a mold and removes the risk of making a mistake at home.

Yes – clear aligners do work, and they are recommended by the American Dental Association. If you have mild to moderate issues with misaligned teeth then clear aligners could be a discreet and effective treatment option. They don’t work in severe cases, but your dentist or orthodontist will likely have already addressed these with you. Straightening your teeth with clear aligners has numerous health and confidence benefits, which you can read more about here.