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Best At-Home Teeth Straightening Kits

Should You Use At-Home Teeth Straightening Kits?

September 26, 2021

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The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.

Do-it-yourself teeth straightening and orthodontic kits like Smile Direct Club and Alignerco have had a recent rise in popularity for a reason — they’re relatively affordable and easy to use without the need for regular check ups or dental insurance — but could they be too good to be true?

RELATED: Best Teeth Whitening Products

We waded through hundreds of consumer reviews and spoke to a board certified orthodontist and a medical researcher to better understand exactly what goes into an at-home teeth straightening kit — and whether or not the savings up front are worth it in the long run.

Below, we’re laying out the pros and cons to at-home teeth straightening and what to take into account before getting started. If you’ve been on the fence about investing in at-home orthodontics, you’ll want to take a read:

What Are the Benefits of At-Home Teeth Straightening Kits?

There are plenty of benefits of at-home dental kits, making them an appealing alternative to more traditional orthodontics — especially if you’re just trying to correct a small issue or make up for the fact that you didn’t wear a retainer after having orthodontic work as a child.

Here are some of the major benefits that make ordering an at-home teeth straightening kit appealing for certain cases and scenarios:

It’s much less expensive than traditional orthodontics: “The main pro of DIY aligners is the cost factor,” says Kashmira Patel, Medical Researcher at the Farr Institute. “Visiting your dentist less frequently during treatment cuts down the cost significantly.”

Everything is shipped straight to your door: Most at-home teeth straightening kits are developed and shipped out directly to the consumer. “The aligners are conveniently delivered to you when you are required to change them which makes adjustment days much less of a hassle,” says Patel.

The process offers expedited results: According to Patel, most at-home teeth straightening kits actually work faster than traditional orthodontics. “They are reported to show the desired effects faster than aligners that require dental visits,” she explains.

What Do You Need to Consider?

The reasons that some people choose at-home straightening kits comes down to convenience and cost. However, according to Anthony Terrana, Board Certified Orthodontist, there are many cons to at-home straightening to consider.

Here are a few major setbacks that might make you want to re-think at-home straightening kits depending on your specific needs and situation:

It could cause tooth loss: Many patients have underlying medical conditions such as periodontal disease, explains Dr. Terrana. “Without proper x-rays and diagnosis from a professionally licensed practitioner, treating cases with underlying periodontal disease with at-home teeth straightening kits can actually lead to tooth loss.”

It might cause TMJ: Additionally, orthodontics is more than just simply aligning teeth. More important is bite correction. “Simply aligning teeth without proper bite correction can lead to TMJ issues down the road,” explains Dr. Terrana. “At-home straightening kits do not address the bite in any way.”

Real tooth movement isn’t truly feasible: According to Dr. Terrana, these types of at-home teeth straightening kits do not come with proper tooth attachments that are commonly used in clear aligner treatment. “Without proper attachments on teeth, most tooth movements are not feasible,” he says.

It could make your bite even worse: “We have many patients who experimented with at-home aligner kits, whose teeth and bites have worsened, and then had to come in and pay for a second round of treatment,” says Dr. Terrana. “In the short term patients think they will save money using at-home straightening kits, but combined with usually needing a second round of proper orthodontic treatment, it ends up costing more.”

You must be extremely disciplined: What’s more, do-it-yourself aligners only work well only if you’re very disciplined. You have to wear them for the prescribed time during the day and night (at least 22 hours per day) for the best results. “Because there is no regular scheduled time with the orthodontist/dentist to check on your progress, the chances of not completing the prescribed treatment are quite high,” adds Patel.

What Are the Top-Rated At-Home Teeth Straightening Kits?

Interested in finding out more about at-home teeth straightening kits? If you’re hoping to correct a small issue or make up for years of neglecting your retainer, an at-home kit might still do the job — but if you’re working with a bite issue or significantly misaligned teeth you might want to speak directly to an orthodontist before moving forward.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most well-respected and top-rated brands that might be worth considering if you’re looking for a simple way to straighten your teeth without the cost and commitment of a more traditional orthodontic treatment:

Smile Direct Club

Smile Direct Club

Smile Direct Club has the most name recognition when it comes to at-home straightening kits and continues to be one of the most well-loved. The company pairs you with an orthodontist who tracks your journey remotely and also offers a ton of freebies like teeth whitening tools and toothbrushes.

Promising review: “I LOVE my new smile. It has given me a confidence boost and I’m excited to share it. The process with SmileDirectClub was so easy and I’m so satisfied with the end result.” — Cassidy

From $89 a month at SmileDirectClub.com

Invisalign

Invisalign

If the idea of at-home teeth straightening has you a little nervous, you might do better with Invisalign. The original aligner company works in tandem with an orthodontist in your neighborhood (not unlike traditional braces) and can alter your treatment based on your progress in real time.

Promising review: “As a musician, every little bit of comfort counts when you're putting your art out there for everyone, and for me, my lower teeth always made me so self conscious that I hated being in front of a camera. I needed to be comfortable singing and Invisalign gave me that little bit of confidence I needed. I love what I do, and I love myself - that's why Invisalign was the right move for me!” — Ryan

From $50 per month at Invisalign.com

Alignerco

Alignerco

Alignerco is best known for its night time approach to teeth straightening and can be a particularly interesting option for those who might not feel comfortable wearing aligners during the day. The at-home kit is also one of the most budget-friendly options on the market.

Promising review: “Great way to straighten my teeth! My teeth were shifting as I was getting a little older. This was an inexpensive way to improve my smile!” — Eileen

From $86 per month at Alignerco.com

NewSmile

NewSmile

NewSmile is a relatively new aligner company but has received praise for both its night aligner plan and regular straightening plan. Keep in mind that night time aligners will typically take longer to see results but are less of a hassle for a busy lifestyle.

Promising review: “The night aligner plan is perfect for me since I talk a lot for my work so it wouldn't affect me in any way.” — Tanner

From $84 per month at NewSmileLife.com

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Update: 2024-05-14