Candid Pro and Invisalign Compared

Candid Pro and Invisalign are both clear aligner systems: sequences of removable trays made from a digital scan, changed every one to two weeks and worn about 22 hours a day. They treat the same range of problems. The differences are in who reviews the plan, how progress is monitored between visits, the tray material and the planning software. Pearl32 Dentistry and Wellness mostly uses Candid Pro. The dentist decides after your scan and explains why. Invisalign remains available where it fits the case.

What both systems have in common

Both Candid Pro and Invisalign are sequences of clear, removable plastic trays. Each tray moves the teeth a small amount. You change to the next tray every one to two weeks. You wear the trays about 22 hours a day and take them out to eat and brush.

Both systems start from a digital scan of your teeth, not a putty impression. Both use attachments, which are small tooth-colored bumps bonded to certain teeth, to help the trays grip. Both may use elastics for bite correction. Both treat crowding, spacing, mild to moderate bite problems and relapse after earlier braces.

Typical adult treatment runs four to twelve months for mild to moderate cases. Complex cases take longer. After either system, a retainer is worn at night for life.

How Candid Pro and Invisalign differ

The two systems differ in four practical ways. None of these makes one system right for every patient.

• Supervision model. With Candid Pro, your dentist prescribes and supervises the treatment, and orthodontists on the Candid side review the plan before the trays are made. With Invisalign, your dentist plans and supervises the treatment, and Align Technology makes the trays.
• Materials. Invisalign trays are made by Align Technology from its SmartTrack material. Candid Pro trays are also clear removable aligners. Both are worn the same way and changed on the same one to two week schedule.
• Remote monitoring and visit frequency. With Candid Pro, progress is monitored between visits with a phone-based remote scanning tool, so in-office visits are fewer. With Invisalign, checkups are usually in person every six to ten weeks.
• Planning software. Invisalign cases are planned by the dentist with Align’s ClinCheck software. Candid Pro plans are built from the same kind of digital scan and reviewed by orthodontists on the Candid side before the trays are made.

Both systems treat the same range of problems when the case suits aligners and the trays are worn as directed. The choice is about workflow and fit for your case, not about one brand winning.

Who is a candidate, and who is not

Aligners of either brand suit many adults with crowding, spacing, mild to moderate bite problems, or teeth that have shifted after earlier braces.

Aligners are not suited to every case. Severe crowding, large bite corrections, teeth that need to move down or rotate a great deal, and some jaw discrepancies may need braces or a referral. If your case falls in that group, the dentist tells you at the scan appointment and explains the alternatives, including other orthodontic options.

Wear time matters as much as the case type. If you cannot wear trays about 22 hours a day, aligners are not the right choice for you, whichever brand.

What treatment looks like at Pearl32

Treatment at Pearl32 Dentistry and Wellness follows the same steps whichever system you end up with.

• Digital scan. We scan your teeth with a digital intraoral scanner. There are no putty impressions.
• Plan. The dentist reviews the scan and decides which system fits your case. Most patients here get Candid Pro. When Invisalign fits better, the dentist says so and explains why.
• Trays. Your trays are made from the scan. You receive a sequence of trays and a wear schedule.
• Attachments. Small tooth-colored bumps are bonded to certain teeth to help the trays grip. Elastics are added if your bite needs them.
• Checkups. With Candid Pro, progress is monitored between visits with a phone-based remote scanning tool, so you come in less often. With Invisalign, checkups are usually in person every six to ten weeks.
• Retainers. When the trays are done, you get retainers to wear at night. That part is for life.

The same dentist follows your case from the scan to the retainer. You will not be passed between providers.

What aligners will not do

Aligners of either brand have limits. Knowing them before you start prevents disappointment.

• They will not fix every bite. Large bite corrections and some jaw discrepancies need braces or a referral.
• They will not work while they are out of your mouth. Results depend on wearing the trays about 22 hours a day. Less wear means slower or incomplete movement.
• They will not hold teeth in place on their own after treatment. Retainers at night are lifelong with either brand.
• They will not whiten your teeth. Whitening is a separate treatment. See teeth whitening if that is a goal.
• They will not move teeth faster than biology allows. Mild to moderate adult cases typically run four to twelve months. Complex cases take longer.

What it costs

The fee for aligner treatment is quoted in writing, itemized, after an examination and scan. The case type, the number of trays and any attachments or elastics shape the plan, so the fee comes after the scan, not before.

We are in network with Delta Dental, Aetna, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Humana, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare and other major PPO plans, and the Delta Dental, Guardian and MetLife HMO plans (full list). Orthodontic coverage varies by plan. Call with your plan name and we check what it covers before you come in.

Third party financing is available and the practice is not the creditor, through CareCredit, Cherry, Sunbit and Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub). Details are on the dental financing page.

The practice also offers a membership plan that covers preventive visits for a set annual fee. It is a membership plan, not insurance. Check the membership page for what it includes.

How to start

Call (949) 830-0074, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Booking is by phone.

At the first visit, the dentist examines your teeth and takes a digital scan. You then receive a written, itemized plan that names the system the dentist recommends and the reason for it.

Pearl32 Dentistry and Wellness is at 24022 Calle De La Plata, Suite 450, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Suite 450 is reached by elevator. Street parking and the spaces behind the building are free; the parking structure charges. The office is closed on Saturday and Sunday. More on the clear aligners page and the new patients page.

Questions people ask

Is Candid Pro as good as Invisalign?

Both are the same category of treatment: clear removable trays made from a digital scan, changed every one to two weeks and worn about 22 hours a day. Both treat crowding, spacing, mild to moderate bite problems and relapse after braces. The differences are in supervision and monitoring, not in what they treat. The dentist recommends one based on your case and explains the reason.

Why does Pearl32 mostly use Candid Pro?

Two reasons. Progress is monitored between visits with a phone-based remote scanning tool, so you come to the office less often. And the treatment plan is reviewed by orthodontists on the Candid side before the trays are made, while your dentist still prescribes and supervises the case. Invisalign remains available here when it fits a case better, and the dentist says so after the scan.

How long will I wear aligners?

Typical adult treatment runs four to twelve months for mild to moderate crowding, spacing or bite problems. Complex cases take longer. You change trays every one to two weeks and wear them about 22 hours a day. Less wear slows the movement and stretches the timeline. After the last tray, you wear a retainer at night for life, with either brand.

Can I switch from one brand to the other mid treatment?

It is rarely sensible. Each system plans the full sequence of trays from your starting scan, and the two plans are not interchangeable. Switching means a new scan, a new plan and a new set of trays, which adds time. If something is not working, the dentist adjusts the plan within the same system rather than starting over. Talk to the dentist first.

Do aligners hurt?

Aligners move teeth by applying steady pressure, so each new tray feels tight for the first day or two. That pressure eases as the teeth move into the new position. A tray edge or an attachment can rub the lip at first. If a tray edge is rubbing, call (949) 830-0074. Pain that is sharp or that does not settle is not expected; tell the dentist.

What happens after the last tray?

You get retainers to wear at night. Retainers are lifelong with either brand, because teeth tend to drift back toward their old positions when nothing holds them. If a retainer cracks or stops fitting, call (949) 830-0074 so it can be replaced. Whitening, if you want it, is a separate treatment and can be discussed once the trays are done.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. What is right for you can only be decided after an examination.