If you’ve ever dreamed about getting a perfect smile, but the thought of painful, unsightly braces gives you nightmares, you’re not alone. Luckily, that’s where clear aligners come in. In general, clear aligners are faster, more comfortable, more affordable, and nearly invisible compared to braces.
It’s no surprise that clear aligners have become the best alternative to braces. And as a result, there are plenty of clear aligner brands available across the country. North Carolina is no exception. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options, don’t stress. We’ve done the work for you.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the top clear aligner options in North Carolina. But before we jump in, please note that orthodontic care is a very individualized area. There are lots of different facets to treatment: cost, in-office vs. at-home treatment, treatment speed, company size and track record, treatable cases, and more.
Everyone has different priorities, but we’ve done our best to weigh each of those categories to help you pick the best clear aligners in North Carolina.
Understanding Your Options: At-Home vs. In-Person Clear Aligners
When choosing a clear aligner, the first decision you should make is whether to use an at-home method or an in-person treatment. Both methods use clear aligners, but in-person treatments are administered at a local dentist or orthodontist’s office; at-home treatments are delivered right to your door instead.
At a glance, here are the primary differences between the two types:
At-home treatments | In-person treatments |
|---|---|
| Cost: flat rate; sticker prices range between $1,145 and $2,400 | Cost: variable depending on provider, condition severity, and location, but typically falls between $3,000-$10,000 |
| Orthodontist oversight: minimal; treatment design phase only (exception: Candid) | Orthodontist oversight: constant, from initial consultation to aftercare retainers |
| Office visits: not required | Office visits: required every 6-8 weeks |
| Treatment speed: 6 months on average | Treatment speed: 12-18 months on average |
| Treatable cases: minor cosmetic misalignments only | Treatable cases: Mild to fairly severe cases of misalignment and bite issues |
Why the huge cost variability for in-person treatments? A lot of factors influence the price tag you’ll pay for a product like Invisalign. Nationwide, Invisalign costs roughly $5,000.
In most areas of North Carolina, Invisalign prices are usually close to the national average. And in most areas of the state, there are lots of local providers (with the exception of mountainous rural sections). So if you’d like, there’s a good chance that you can “shop around” to find the provider with the best price point. On average, North Carolina residents can expect to pay between $4,000 and $6,500 for Invisalign, with some of the big-city suburbs boasting the highest costs.
If that sounds like a lot to shell out, consider using an at-home method like AlignerCo. AlignerCo costs just $1,145, so you could potentially save thousands compared to Invisalign.
6 Best Clear Aligners in North Carolina
Now that we’ve established the distinction between at-home and in-person treatments, let’s dig into your top options in North Carolina. Thanks to our research, we’ve narrowed it down to the 6 quickest, safest, and most affordable options:
AlignerCo | #1 Aligner
Founded in May of 2019, AlignerCo is the “new kid on the block” on the clear aligner scene. But they’ve quickly made their mark on the industry as the most affordable option on the market.
Here’s a quick glance at AlignerCo:
- Treatment type: At-home
- Cost: $1,145 ($1345 for nighttime treatment)
- Treatment speed: 6 to 11 months
- Start-up process: Impression kits only, but offers video support
- Financing: Two financing plans (SmileFlex and SmileFlex Easy) make financing accessible to all, regardless of credit score
It’s hard to argue with the sheer value of AlignerCo, so if you’re looking for a cost-effective method, look no further. They’ve also recently introduced nighttime treatments, so they offer flexible treatment options. And since AlignerCo is headquartered in New York, North Carolina residents can expect respectable shipping times, especially compared to someone living on the West Coast.
Candid | #2 Aligner
Candid, our third pick, was founded in 2017. With Candid, you have the option to start your treatment with either an impression kit or a visit to a Candid Studio (the appointment is entirely free, and much easier than an impression kit).
Here’s a snapshot of Candid:
- Treatment type: At-home
- Cost: $2,400
- Treatment speed: Approximately 6 months
- Start-up process: Impression kits or a visit to a Candid Studio
- Financing: offered through Affirm, so a credit check is required
One of our favorite aspects of Candid is their Remote Monitoring program. Unlike most at-home aligners, Candid’s orthodontists will have regular, virtual “check-ins” with you to see how your treatment is going. It’s a great option if you want the peace of mind from oversight without the hassle of office visits.
Unfortunately, Candid hasn’t established any Candid Studio locations in North Carolina yet. But they might do so in the future! Candid is constantly expanding the reach of their retail locations. Thankfully, an impression kit is still an option for North Carolina residents. And there’s no risk to buying a kit. You can get one, take impressions, and if it turns out that you’re not a good candidate for treatment, you’ll get a full refund on the kit price.
Smile Direct Club | #3 Aligner
Founded in 2014, SmileDirectClub is the oldest at-home clear aligner company. There’s a good chance you’ve heard of them already, since they’ve served more than a million customers to date.
Here’s a quick glance at SmileDirectClub:
- Treatment type: At-home
- Cost: $1,895
- Treatment speed: approximately 6 months for daytime treatment; 8 to 10 for nighttime aligners
- Start-up process: Impression kit or scan at a SmileShop location
- Financing: SmilePay adds a downpayment instead of a credit check, for a total cost of $2,290
SmileDirect has established a decent number of SmileShops in North Carolina. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID crisis, SmileDirect had to temporarily close all of their locations nationwide. Now, they’re reopening shops on a case-by-case basis when it’s safe to do so according to local conditions. As far as we can tell, there are currently three locations open in North Carolina: Charlotte, High Point, and Raleigh. For a list of the locations that are currently open in North Carolina (and please keep in mind that this is an ever-changing list), look here. You can also use this link to book an appointment at your nearest shop.
Invisalign | #4 Aligner
Invisalign is, without a doubt, the king of clear aligner treatment; they pioneered the treatment method in the 90s. But unlike the at-home aligners we’ve listed above, Invisalign is only offered in-office by participating dentists and orthodontists. As a result, Invisalign can add in Smartforce attachments and elastics to create a powerful treatment. Invisalign can treat even the most troublesome cases.
Here’s a quick overview of the clear aligner giant:
- Treatment type: In-person
- Cost: $3,000-$8,000 nationwide
- Treatment speed: 12 to 18 months
- Start-up process: Initial consultation with local provider
- Financing: Determined by treatment provider, but almost always available
In North Carolina, there are dozens upon dozens of local Invisalign doctors, especially in the bigger cities (rural, mountainous regions are an exception, but many have a provider within driving distance). All of North Carolina’s providers have varying levels of experience, which leads to a wide variety of price points. That said, regardless of where you live, you can expect to pay somewhere between $4,000 and $6,500 for Invisalign treatment.
Top-Rated Invisalign Providers in North Carolina
With Invisalign, there are so many providers in North Carolina that it can be hard to pick the right one for you. Practically speaking, you can pick almost anyone, but if you want to work with a proven provider, here are some practices to look into:
- Reynolds Orthodontics: Dr. Reynolds has been serving patients for over 20 years, and in that time, he’s served a large portion of his patients with Invisalign treatment. He’s now a VIP Diamond provider, and he serves patients from two locations in Greensboro.
- Clearsmile Charlotte: Clearsmile Charlotte focuses exclusively on Invisalign treatment. So if you want to entrust your smile to someone who knows all the system’s nuances, you should see Dr. Webb, Dr. Chahin, or Dr. Martin. They maintain two convenient locations in Charlotte, too.
- Sellers Orthodontics: With more than 150 5-star Google reviews and counting, Dr. Sellers and his team at Sellers Orthodontics are another fantastic option for Charlotte residents. In 2020, they won their VIP Diamond provider designation, so if you opt for their clear aligner treatments, your smile is in good hands.
- Gladwell Orthodontics: Dr. Gladwell recently made Raleigh’s “Top 40 under 40” list for business leaders, so it’s no surprise that his orthodontic practice has won hundreds of positive reviews. Excellence shines in everything he does, including the smiles he treats. You can find his offices in North Raleigh, Downtown Raleigh, and Wake Forest.
- Blue Ridge Orthodontics: Blue Ridge Orthodontics, affectionately nicknamed “BRO,” is the first office in Western North Carolina to win Invisalign’s VIP Diamond Plus provider. They’ve won hundreds of positive reviews, too, so when you visit one of their locations in Asheville, Hendersonville, or Brevard, you can be confident you’ll get excellent treatment.
ClearCorrect | #5 Aligner
ClearCorrect got its start in 2006 when their founder, Dr. William Pumphrey, had patients who needed clear aligners; he decided to manufacture his own. As a result, ClearCorrect became one of the top competitors to Invisalign in the in-office treatment category. In practice, they accomplish the same thing as Invisalign, but their brand network is smaller.
Here’s a quick glance at ClearCorrect’s features:
- Treatment type: In-person
- Cost: $4,000-$6,000
- Treatment speed: 12 to 18 months
- Start-up process: Initial consultation with local provider
- Financing: Determined by treatment provider, but almost always available
ClearCorrect providers are located in all 50 states, including North Carolina. You can find a provider on their website, but please note that they don’t have nearly as much reach as Invisalign. That said, there are plenty of locations, including Charlotte, Monroe, Raleigh, and more.
Top-Rated ClearCorrect Providers in North Carolina
If you’re leaning towards ClearCorrect, it can still be overwhelming to find the best provider in your area. Of course, this isn’t a comprehensive list, but here are some of the top North Carolina ClearCorrect providers we found:
- Connolly Orthodontics: Dr. Connolly is proud to serve the greater Charlotte area with a full array of orthodontic treatments, including ClearCorrect. He’s won more than 200 positive reviews for his Charlotte practice alone, but you can also find another location in Matthews, where you’ll get the same excellent (just in a different zip code).
- Farless Dental Group: Greensboro is home to Farless Dental Group, where you’ll meet Dr. Farless and Dr. Locklear. They promise to be Greensboro’s friendliest dental team, so when you visit their office for ClearCorrect treatment, you’ll have lots of reasons to smile.
- Merrell Smiles of Monroe: At Merrell Smiles of Monroe, Dr. Merrell wants you to have options when it comes to how you achieve the smile of your dreams. That’s why he offers both ClearCorrect and Invisalign on top of his general family dentistry services. He’d be glad to discuss the right treatment for your goals and budget.
- Royal Oak Dental Group: ClearCorrect is just one of many services you’ll find at Royal Oak Dental Group, a fairly extensive dental network in the greater Triangle area. They currently have 5 locations: Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Cary, Siler City, and Durham.
Six Month Smiles | #6 Aligner
Six Month Smiles first appeared on the scene in the mid-2000s, and true to their name, their treatment lasts 6 months on average. Their treatment is specifically designed for dentists, not orthodontists, allowing for more versatility at their offices. For patients, however, Six Month Smiles presents a unique advantage: you can get clear aligners, clear braces, or a combination of both.
Let’s take a quick glance at Six Month Smiles:
- Treatment type: In-person
- Cost: $3,500-$5,000
- Treatment speed: 6 months
- Start-up process: Initial consultation with local provider
- Financing: Determined by treatment provider, but almost always available
There are Six Month Smiles providers located across the country, mainly in major cities. For example, in North Carolina, you can find providers—including even some Diamond and Platinum providers with extensive experience—in Charlotte, Raleigh, and more. You can find your closest provider with a ZIP Code search.
Top-Rated Six Month Smiles Providers in North Carolina
Not all Six Month Smiles providers are created equal, so if you’re leaning towards this treatment method, you’ll want to pick the best provider you can. We’ve rounded up some of the top-rated SMS providers. This isn’t a comprehensive list, of course, but it might be a good place to start.
- Advanced Dentistry of Charlotte: As a Diamond Six Month Smiles provider, Dr. Bowman is one of the best resources for SMS treatment in all of North Carolina. He also offers Invisalign treatment, so if you’re still on the fence about what method is right for your smile (and your budget and timeline), Dr. Bowman can help.
- Village Dental (Olde Raleigh): Dr. Wheeler, a Platinum provider, spearheads Six Month Smiles treatments at Village Dental, where you’ll also gain access to a wide variety of family and sedation dentistry services. Her teammate, Dr. Martin is also a Gold provider for SMS, so you can see whichever doctor best suits your needs and preferences.
What Are the Most Affordable Clear Aligners in North Carolina?
Honestly, this is a tricky question to answer. Technically speaking, AlignerCo is the cheapest. No other brand can compete with the flat $1,145 price tag. And in our opinion, a flat price is one of the big advantages of at-home clear aligners.
But as you’ve probably noticed, we can’t give you a straightforward answer for in-office clear aligners. There are a lot of reasons for that. Most importantly, your treatment cost for methods like Invisalign and ClearCorrect will largely depend on the severity of your case. Naturally, minor cases cost less. Some treatment providers also charge more or less based on their personal experience with the treatment method. For example, an orthodontist who’s well-versed in Invisalign treatment might charge a bit more for their expertise.
But more specifically, your location dictates a fair bit of your cost, too. Thankfully, North Carolina has a very affordable cost of living (consistent with the rest of the region). When your dentist or orthodontist has low overhead costs, he or she can keep your service bill pretty low. In general, the suburbs of bigger cities like Raleigh and Charlotte have the highest prices.
That said, there are two statewide taxes that will affect your treatment price, regardless of your location. First, there’s the state’s corporate income tax. You don’t pay it directly, but it’s not uncommon for treatment providers to tack on a little surcharge to their invoices to help accommodate. The tax ranges between 2.5% and 7.5%, so it won’t have a huge impact.
The sales tax (which you pay personally) is pretty small, too: just 4.75%. That’s a below-average rate, so it won’t adversely affect your treatment price. All told, North Carolina has manageable prices for in-person treatments.
Unsure How to Compare Your Options?
Ultimately, only you can pick the right option for your unique grin. So, to narrow down your choices, ask yourself: what do you want from your treatment? Speed? Affordability? Convenience? One-on-one time with your treatment provider? Overall value?
If you need the convenience of at-home aligners but want orthodontist oversight, check out Candid. Affordability is AlignerCo’s claim to fame. If you want the biggest brand power, then SmileDirect is your go-to. But if you’re leaning towards in-office treatment and you’re willing to spend more, look into Invisalign.
It’s up to you to do your research to find which is best for you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or you’re leaning towards two specific options, check out our home aligner reviews and service comparisons.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for teeth straightening in North Carolina, you’re in luck; there are plenty of great options. But as we’ve seen, those options can be a bit overwhelming! You need to pick whether you want in-home or in-person treatments, decide how much you’re willing to pay, how long you’re willing to wait to see your perfect smile, and more.
If you’re not sure which treatment fits your priorities, feel free to click one of the links throughout this guide to continue your research.
No matter what your treatment priorities are, you’re sure to find the right treatment to fit your needs. We hope this guide has helped you do just that, and best of luck with your new smile!