Invisalign vs Zenyum vs Smile Direct Club: What's the Difference?

If you're considering getting clear aligners, you've come to the right place. With more options now available, it can be confusing to choose the right one. In Singapore, Invisalign, Zenyum, and Smile Direct are some of the popular brands of clear aligners. In this guide, we will provide an overview of the essentials you need to know about these three brands to help you make an informed decision.

What are invisible braces?

Clear braces are a transparent, plastic alternative to traditional metal braces used to adjust and align teeth. They are removable (unlike metal braces) and work by exerting consistent pressure on your teeth, so they shift and straighten over time.

Invisible braces might seem like a modern invention. But in reality, dentists have been using plastic to shift teeth since the end of World War 2.

The problem was it wasn’t the most convenient procedure.

Given technological constraints, you’d need to visit the dentist every time to get new putty impressions of your teeth. It wasn’t until the advent of 3D-scanning technology, and specialised software that dentists could create accurate digital impressions, map out a treatment plan and fast-track the manufacture of plastic aligners at scale.

Invisalign

Invisalign is an established brand that’s been around for such a long time with great marketing that many people think it is the only brand of clear aligners. 

Invisalign is the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, proven by over 9 million satisfied smiles. Armed with their leading 3D image scanning technology paired with their proprietary ClinCheck software for dentists to finetune the shift in every tooth, Invisalign is obviously serious about being the best. They boast better results and also a faster treatment — they estimate the Invisalign treatment to be up to 50% faster with their weekly aligner changes and there are also fewer visits to the dentist. You will need to see your dentist every 6 to 8 weeks until the end of your Invisalign treatment. 

Of course, these added benefits come with a high price tag that ranges between S$5,000-S$9,000. Furthermore, wearing Invisalign may not be possible in cases of severe misalignment. Therefore, Invisalign is only available for patients with relatively mild to moderate misalignment, and hence take about 12-18 months on average to complete. For cases which are very severe and requires extraction, your dentist may advise you on other metal-strung braces options (e.g. metal braces, lingual braces or ceramic braces) instead.

One of the secrets to Invisalign’s success is also its marketing. As part of their marketing strategy, Invisalign groups dentists into ten tiers, according to how many Invisalign cases the dentist performs a year, from low to high volume:

1. Bronze
2. Silver
3. Gold I
4. Gold II
5. Platinum
6. Platinum Elite
7. Diamond
8. Black Diamond
9. Blue Diamond
10. Red Diamond

Dentists who successfully make it into the higher Diamond tiers get more discounts on lab fees paid to Invisalign, so this encourages doctors to do a higher volume of Invisalign cases. The cost savings will then be earned by the dental clinic.

Zenyum

A start up in Singapore, Zenyum is a relatively new clear aligners brand. Zenyum develops 3D-printed invisible braces that are 70 per cent more affordable than most clear braces treatments. Zenyum prides itself on being an affordable and no-frills clear aligner treatment alternative and that means cutting back on dental visits. You will only need to visit your dentist 2 to 3 times throughout your smile journey with Zenyum as most of the dentist supervision and treatment monitoring takes place on their app.

Zenyum has two types of treatments for different case complexity. Mild to moderate cases which usually only require movement of the first 8 teeth can be fixed with ZenyumClear treatment. While ZenyumClear Plus is for customers who have more complex teeth problems that require movement of all teeth.

Zenyum partners up with selected dental clinics in Singapore to help you with your teeth straightening journey. You will first need to fill out a survey on their website to indicate your interest and submit a photo for a complimentary assessment by their board-certified orthodontists. Once it is approved, you will then go down to a partner dental clinic for a physical assessment, 3D scan and X-ray of your teeth. Once you’re satisfied and decide to proceed, your dentist will then send in your order to Zenyum to custom-make your invisible aligners.

You will also have to go down for your Zenyum aligner fitting session and your dentist will give you the information on proper care and wear techniques, how to track your smile progress via the Zenyum app. Afterwhich, you’ll pretty much be on your own.

You do need to upload a photo of your teeth every five days on the app though and you can also reach out to your dentist to chat on the app virtually without actually going back to see him or her regularly, unlike traditional braces and Invisalign treatments. This way, you’ll save a bunch on dental consultations (and time!) while still being able to reach out virtually to an expert for help if you need it.

The cost of the Zenyum aligners treatment starts from $2,590 — less than one third the price of a typical Invisalign treatment! An additional $300 is needed to purchase retainers. All in all, Zenyum is a very wallet-friendly clear aligners treatment option, especially if budget is a main concern. The treatment period with Zenyum takes about 3 to 9 months in general, depending on complexity of the case. 

Smile Direct Club

The Smile Direct Club offers 22-hour aligners that treat mild and moderate misalignments and bite problems. 

Comfort

Smile Direct Club aligners are pain- and ulcer-free. The clear plastics move the teeth gently, and there is no discomfort even when worn all day.

Smile Direct Club treatment process

You will need to book a consultation for an assessment. The dentist will assess your teeth during the consultation, design treatment, and carry out a 3D dental scan.

After the invisible braces are ready, they will be mailed to you. You will wear the braces to treat the mis-positioned teeth. All the interactions with the dentist will be done virtually. Visit the dentist after four to six months for a review.

Price of Smile Direct Club

The Smile Direct Club clear aligners cost S$2,500 to S$3,100. The aligners will treat mild to moderate cases of tooth spacing and crowding.

Advantages of Smile Direct Club

• Day and night-time time aligners are available.
• Support is available 24/7 through texts, phone calls, emails, and video chats.
• The treatment package includes different aligners you need at each teeth straightening stage.
• Aligners are BPA-free.

Disadvantage of Smile Direct Club

Only virtual consultations are available after the initial consultation.

Invisalign vs Zenyum vs Smile Direct

Credit: SingSaver.com.sg

To decide which clear aligner brand is best for you, first consider the complexity of your teeth situation. Do you have extremely overcrowded teeth, a very pronounced overbite or lots of gaps in your teeth? If this is you, Invisalign is still the best clear aligners treatment that is able to treat complex malocclusions. The brand is backed by many years of product knowledge and expertise, and is considered the best in the clear aligners industry. So if you’re the type who wants the best and is willing to fork out a premium for it or if yours is a complex case, go for Invisalign.

If you only have mild teeth misalignment, consider one of these newer brands like Zenyum to enjoy the cost benefits and also the convenience that come along with it. Do note that Zenyum, in particular, specialises in providing aesthetic corrections for the front teeth only. So if your smile issues lie in your front teeth only, Zenyum may be a perfect fit for you.

If you’re the sort who hates going to the dentist, opting for Zenyum and Smile Direct may be great options for you. Bear in mind that these options have little dental supervision — Zenyum uses an app to virtually post photos of your progress to update your dentist.

Conclusion: Which one of the clear aligners is the best?

Ultimately, the best aligner for you is the one that meets your needs and fits within your budget. It's important to evaluate the complexity of your dental issues and choose aligners that will effectively address them. To make sure you select the right aligners, it's a good idea to start by visiting your dentist for an evaluation.

To find your dentist in Singapore, check out "Best Dental Clinics for Braces in Singapore".