Zenyum vs Invisalign vs WonderSmile vs Dr Clear Aligners: What are the Differences?

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If you are considering getting an invisible braces or clear aligners treatment, you've come to the right place. Lately, the number of options for invisible braces and clear aligners have increased, thus making it complicated when it comes to choosing the right one.

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, Zenyum and Wonder Smile are just a few brands of clear aligners which have become popular in Singapore. In fact, there are many brands in the market available today. 

In this guide, we will cover the essentials you need to know about Invisalign, Zenyum, Wonder Smile, Dr Clear Aligners and Smile Direct Club.

1. 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. 

2. 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.

3. WonderSmile

WonderSmile is an Australian company which declares itself the easiest way to straighten teeth in about 6 months on average. It has arrived on Singapore shores and now has two WonderSmile branches in Orchard and Raffles Place.

You will first need to book a 3D scan session at one of the WonderSmile clinics in Singapore. At the session, you would begin your journey with a 3D scan of your teeth and a quick consult with their orthodontist. This initial assessment costs $80. Once you decide to proceed, your WonderSmile aligners will be delivered straight to your doorstep and from there on, you’re really on your own. Unlike Zenyum where they have an app for the dentist to monitor your progress, the WonderSmile treatment works more like a DIY aligners treatment that you will need to do independently on your own, e.g. ensure you wear it for 22 hours. 

The cost of the WonderSmile treatment is $2,400 and it includes one 3D scan, one X-Ray with dentist consultation and ALL YOU NEED to get started with your WonderSmile standard treatment. After dentist checks, you may be advised to go through different dental services such as teeth cleaning, filing, etc, based on your teeth situation with extra costs charged by the dental clinic.

4. Dr Clear Aligners

Dr Clear Aligners offers custom clear aligners to rectify crooked teeth and large space gaps. They sell comfortable and budget-friendly braces in their branches in Malaysia and Singapore.

Its licenced cosmetic dentists assist clients every step of the way from consultation to delivery.

Unlike conventional braces that scar your mouth just to treat your dental features, Dr Clear aligners feel smooth and light in your teeth.

Clients can attest to this fact throughout the entire 9 months of their smile transformation journey.

Their treatment process involves the client filling out their assessment form online. It’s incredibly easy to do this thanks to their concise form with dental issue graphics.

According to clients, they have a cordial staff to assist you with your dental case. Also, if you have any questions, they can answer them and help out with anything else that you might need.

About 90% of customers praised their wonderful service, which makes Dr Clear Aligners a solid choice compared to other brands.

5. Smile Direct Club

Formed in 2014, Smile Direct Club was founded by Jordan Katzman and Alex Fenkell. They offer their standard 22-hour wear aligners and nighttime aligners.

Their braces are fitted to treat mild to moderate misalignments and biting problems only. There’s no in-person doctor supervision with this—only virtually the entire time.

In terms of comfort, Smile Direct Club is the same as Invisalign, which is to say, it’s pain and ulcer-free. Their clear plastic trays work similarly and gently move the teeth to the right position.

Most clients were good with how the braces felt for them. They didn’t report any pain and discomfort even when they wore them all day.

You can book a free 30-minute consultation with the team. Once you’re at the clinic, they will assess your teeth condition, design a custom treatment plan, and perform a 3D dental scan.

After a while, they will ship your invisible braces by post to your address. From there on, you can wear your braces to treat the mispositioned teeth and all doctor interactions will be done virtually.

After your treatment (which will be done in 4 to 6 months), you can come back to your dentist so they will see how the treatment went for you, and you can also buy a set of retainers.

We observed that there’s no Smile Direct Club branch in Malaysia. Their closest location is in Singapore.

Invisalign vs Zenyum vs WonderSmile

Invisalign vs Zenyum vs WonderSmile average prices in Singapore:
  • Invisalign: $8,000
  • Zenyum: $2,590
  • WonderSmile: $2,400
Credit: AfterClinicHours.com

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 these newer brands like Zenyum and WonderSmile 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 WonderSmile may be great options for you. Bear in mind that these options have little to no dental supervision — Zenyum uses an app to virtually post photos of your progress to update your dentist, while the WonderSmile treatment does not provide dental supervision so there isn’t anyone checking on your smile progress.

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


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