clearstep aligners

[Ruzzzz]

hi guys! im from the uk and really need to straighten my teeth. i always knew i needed braces but everytime i bought the subject up with my dentist he said my oral hygiene wasnt good enough..well he said this for about 6 years and i was beginniing to think maybe it was my fault i didnt brush proper but i knew i did..after i turned 18 somehow my teeth were fine to have braces work done -but a catch...id have to pay for them as id turned 18 and no longer would qualify for free braces under the nhs. i was so annoyed and left th practice and now i am with another dentist..here he said i can have braces as i need them..he gave me two options-a referall to a orthodontist to have fixed braces or he dealt with clearstep braces which is the uk version of invisalign. this seemed fantastic. i did my months and months of research and decided this is what i wanted. i had my impressions done (they were horrible and made me gag so bad!), lots of pictures of my mouth and face and xrays of my jaw,mouth and teeth. i agreed to go ahead with the treatment and im now waiting ffor my aligners to come in. they are similar to invisalign but some aspects of how they work are very different. eg they use other invisable appliances with the aligners so they can treat more complex issues, the aligners come in boxes of 8 aligners rather then having all the aligners at once. after you finish a box you have impressions for another box..etc..i just wanted to no have any of you guys had clearstep? how have they been for you? and some more info please lol..
thanks and i hope your all well on your way to happy healthy smiles.!!:)

[gingermanchild]

Hi

I'm also in the UK and on Clearstep, and have been for about 2 1/2 years! My experience of it has been mixed - to be honest after so long with the aligners I'm pretty fed up of it, and my teeth don't look particularly straight yet so I reckon at least another 6 months before I'm done...

On the plus side, they really are invisible and you don't have those nasty attachments that Invisalign users always complain about. After a few weeks the whole teeth-brushing thing becomes second nature, and you even learn to relax a little about leaving them out for longer than you should, e.g. on a well-deserved trip to the pub (don't tell anyone else on here I said that)

Another downside is constantly having to go back to the dentist to get impressions re-done for your next set of aligners, but I guess this depends on how long you're going to be on Clearstep.

But overall I'm glad I'm having it done and I'm really glad I don't have train tracks. If you get fed up just remind yourself why you're doing it and how great your teeth will look when you're done!

GMC

[Ruzzzz]

2 and a half years seems a lifetime! but as you said you have to keep reminding yourself as to why your doing it..my dentist said itl take 18months or so which i was unhappy about as i want quick results but ive taken the plunge and il go ahead with it..i have a few questions GMC you willing to answer?
1) you have to go back during treatment for impressions..after youve had them how long does it take to get the aligners back?
2)dentist has said il probably go through 3 boxes of aligners maybe 3 and a half..when do you reckkon i should start seeing progress in the front of my teeth as they are the ones i am most concerned about
3)approximately how much did you pay for the braces
4) have you seen online any clearstep blogs? everywhere i loook is invisalign lol.

thanks for all your help and time..much appreciated!

[GoofyGG]

I've never heard of them! I'm also in UK but my ortho uses Invisalign. It would be interesting to know what you get for your money, just to compare. It has cost me £4000 and it will be 2 years total treatment. Fixed & bonded retainers are included in the price as is whitening.

[Ruzzzz]

I've never heard of them! I'm also in UK but my ortho uses Invisalign. It would be interesting to know what you get for your money, just to compare. It has cost me £4000 and it will be 2 years total treatment. Fixed & bonded retainers are included in the price as is whitening.

Hi yeah mine cost 2500£ which includes all my aligners and impressions during treatment, all my appointments and if I need any extractions and also a choice of retainers whether I want aligner type ones or fixed ones eg the wire on the back..I got a fantastic deal because now clearstep have become more recognised and put there prices up. However the clearstep people rang my dentist and gave them two cases which were at a discounted price for Christmas so I was the lucky patient :)!

[GoofyGG]

Hi yeah mine cost 2500£ which includes all my aligners and impressions during treatment, all my appointments and if I need any extractions and also a choice of retainers whether I want aligner type ones or fixed ones eg the wire on the back..I got a fantastic deal because now clearstep have become more recognised and put there prices up. However the clearstep people rang my dentist and gave them two cases which were at a discounted price for Christmas so I was the lucky patient :)!

Sounds like a good deal! Keep us posted with how things go.

[Ruzzzz]

Sounds like a good deal! Keep us posted with how things go.

I will let you no how i get on. I'm excited but nervous. The wait is literally killing me I just want the dentist to call and say I have your aligners. But it's not happening. We're off for the Easter break so it'd be a good time to start and I'm only back in uni for another two weeks so I have plenty of time to get use to them etc and more convenient as I won't have to take them out at uni! when we go back in September in hoping a visible difference will be seen! Oh and the price I gave also included my 200£ consultation

[gingermanchild]

Hi Ruzzzz,

The delay after having your impressions done I find quite annoying - it's usually six weeks, but a few times my dentist has messed up the impressions and I've had to go back to get more done, so it has been more like 8-10. But 6 weeks should be the norm.

If you're anything like me, you won't see progress for a loooong time, but don't worry, changes are happening! I too am most concerned about my front teeth (middle top two teeth stick out too far) but they will be the absolute last to move because all the other teeth have to be moved first so there is space for them to slot back into. I can now see some nice big gaps either side of these two teeth so I'm really hoping they'll just move back nicely with the next box! That said, my lower set were sorted out pretty quickly and that involved rotating some of them around.

I paid a LOT more than you did! My mistake was not shopping around, I just picked the dentist that would be most convenient for me to get to.

And I've also had trouble finding any clearstep blogs around, but as the basic principles are kind of the same you can follow most of the advice that you find around for Invisalign I think.

I don't envy you having to follow this regime at Uni!

GMC

[Ruzzzz]

Hi Ruzzzz,

The delay after having your impressions done I find quite annoying - it's usually six weeks, but a few times my dentist has messed up the impressions and I've had to go back to get more done, so it has been more like 8-10. But 6 weeks should be the norm.

If you're anything like me, you won't see progress for a loooong time, but don't worry, changes are happening! I too am most concerned about my front teeth (middle top two teeth stick out too far) but they will be the absolute last to move because all the other teeth have to be moved first so there is space for them to slot back into. I can now see some nice big gaps either side of these two teeth so I'm really hoping they'll just move back nicely with the next box! That said, my lower set were sorted out pretty quickly and that involved rotating some of them around.

I paid a LOT more than you did! My mistake was not shopping around, I just picked the dentist that would be most convenient for me to get to.

And I've also had trouble finding any clearstep blogs around, but as the basic principles are kind of the same you can follow most of the advice that you find around for Invisalign I think.

I don't envy you having to follow this regime at Uni!

GMC

6-8 weeks that is crazzzzy. You could have finished your treatment by now if you add up all the time between impressions etc! Do they do the impressions on the 7th set or 8th. Hmm that's really made me worried now I'd rather have the trays there and if need be have refinements. Hoepfully it'll work out...ooh if space has been made il guess youl see the big changes now as your teeth have room too move. I hope it goes well for you. Show some before and after pics when your done!!

[Ruzzzz]

Sounds like a good deal! Keep us posted with how things go.

thought id keep you posted...well i received my treatment plan from the clearstep people a few days ago and to be quite honest im not happy at all..basically for both the top and bottom arch ive been given two options.. the first options for both require 2 extractions of teeth, using sectional braces for a year!, aligners for a year and then sectional braces for about 4 months. the second options for both require no extractions, alot of ipr (which they are concerned about doing to much ipr), sectional brace to close up gaps from ipr for 4 months in contrast to a year and more and then aligners for 12 months. seriously i am so upset and peed of with the fact that ive paid about 1k and im not entirely satisfied..tbh i aint satisfied at all! im paying for a clear alternative to braces..and wearig braces for a good year and more shouldnt really be a option! i have an appointment in a couple of days to discuss this...i hope my dentist either says he can do something else or gives my money back so i can go elsewhere and try invisalign..kuz i need this treatment done its really getting to me now! :(:(

[robin8]

...im paying for a clear alternative to braces..and wearing braces for a good year and more shouldnt really be a option!

Sorry it hasn't gone well for you so far. Clearstep is not always a clear alternative to braces or a version of Invisalign. Invisalign does not integrate fixed braces into their Clincheck treatment plan; it’s more advanced with optimized attachments, IPR and other orthodontic techniques.

As you said upthread, “(Clearstep) are similar to invisalign but some aspects of how they work are very different. eg they use other invisible appliances with the aligners so they can treat more complex issues …”. Sectional fixed braces is the “invisible” appliance they often use. They are “invisible” because they’re usually placed on your posterior/back teeth so you can’t easily see them from the front. Hopefully that's the case with you. The switching back and forth between aligners and fixed braces will likely extend the total treatment time.

If you have complex orthodontic issues to fix, you’re better off seeking treatment from a certified orthodontist and not a general dentist who has no specialized training in moving teeth and has to rely on someone else telling him how to treat your case, regardless of which orthodontic appliance is used.

[Ruzzzz]

Sorry it hasn't gone well for you so far. Clearstep is not always a clear alternative to braces or a version of Invisalign. Invisalign does not integrate fixed braces into their Clincheck treatment plan; it’s more advanced with optimized attachments, IPR and other orthodontic techniques.

As you said upthread, “(Clearstep) are similar to invisalign but some aspects of how they work are very different. eg they use other invisible appliances with the aligners so they can treat more complex issues …”. Sectional fixed braces is the “invisible” appliance they often use. They are “invisible” because they’re usually placed on your posterior/back teeth so you can’t easily see them from the front. Hopefully that's the case with you. The switching back and forth between aligners and fixed braces will likely extend the total treatment time.

If you have complex orthodontic issues to fix, you’re better off seeking treatment from a certified orthodontist and not a general dentist who has no specialized training in moving teeth and has to rely on someone else telling him how to treat your case, regardless of which orthodontic appliance is used.

Hi thank for the reply. I understand that totally but they've given me like 2 options for both arches one preferred option and one which isn't preferred? That gets me to think that if it isn't preferred it really shouldnt be a option lol?
One option for both involves extraction of two teeth. Braces on the side on 3 teeth for a year whilst the rest of my teeth do nothing, aligners then on my teeth for a year and then braces again for another 4 months. The other option is no extractions, a lot of ipr and sectional braces to close ipr gaps for 4 months then aligners to complete. The first option just isn't good enough for me personally I mean if they had aligners working at the same time as the sectional Brace then yes I wouldn't hesitate. There's a vast amount of difference in time for these options and also I believe in the saying "if it's not broke don't fix it"- referring to pulling out 4 healthy teeth to make space :(!
I've paid the dentist for taking my moulds etc and this price is taken off the treatment. But on sending my moulds X-rays off etc I had to pay 900£ which I have. If I don't go ahead with the treatment will I have to leave my money or will I get it back? It's a hell of a lot of money for just getting a treatment plan back!! :( thank for the help much appreciated

[robin8]

... If I don't go ahead with the treatment will I have to leave my money or will I get it back? ...

That depends on your dentist, your contract/agreement with him (any non-refundable clause?), your negotiation skills, and whether you were given complete treatment information during consultation, e.g. the sectional fixed braces, extractions, separate/serial treatments by aligners & braces, etc.

Some other info …
- You made the contract for ortho treatment with your dentist and all your payments went to your dentist, who ordered Clearstep for you.
- Invisalign does not charge doctors anything until they approve the Clincheck treatment plan to give the go-ahead for production. i.e. Invisalign supplies the preliminary treatment plan for free. (Of course, doctors have to spend time processing the case and some experienced doctors do their own detailed planning.) Not sure about Clearstep.
- If you paid for the x-ray, you could ask your dentist for a copy for your next ortho consultations.

[Ruzzzz]

That depends on your dentist, your contract/agreement with him (any non-refundable clause?), your negotiation skills, and whether you were given complete treatment information during consultation, e.g. the sectional fixed braces, extractions, separate/serial treatments by aligners & braces, etc.

Some other info …
- You made the contract for ortho treatment with your dentist and all your payments went to your dentist, who ordered Clearstep for you.
- Invisalign does not charge doctors anything until they approve the Clincheck treatment plan to give the go-ahead for production. i.e. Invisalign supplies the preliminary treatment plan for free. (Of course, doctors have to spend time processing the case and some experienced doctors do their own detailed planning.) Not sure about Clearstep.
- If you paid for the x-ray, you could ask your dentist for a copy for your next ortho consultations.

I actually haven't signed any contract or anything. In meant to do the consent forms etc if an when I approve the treatment plan. Which I don't think I will as I don't want sectional braces on my teeth for ages. I have an appointment in about 3 hours so il see what happens. I actually don't no what to say? I feel a but rude saying if I don't go ahead will I get my 900£ back lol. But then again it is my hard earned cash! Any idea on what to say r ask him? Thanx

[GoofyGG]

Tell him exactly what you've said on here: You wanted clear braces and it seems he can't deliver what you asked for so I'd say you are entitled to a refund (less costs such as your x-ray) or a change in treatment (do they do Invisalign there?). Don't be shy about it or feel rude or sign any agreements. Good luck, I hope you get some satisfaction from your appointment.

[Ruzzzz]

Tell him exactly what you've said on here: You wanted clear braces and it seems he can't deliver what you asked for so I'd say you are entitled to a refund (less costs such as your x-ray) or a change in treatment (do they do Invisalign there?). Don't be shy about it or feel rude or sign any agreements. Good luck, I hope you get some satisfaction from your appointment.

I understand that he took time for my moulds X-rays pics etc so he can keep that fee that seems fair to me. And also he spent time coming up with a treatment plan with an ortho at clearstep so that seems fair to take a bit too. But most definitely not the whole 900£! Lol he did say that on making each box of positioned wel take a payment. He's taken a payment and I've not said yeah for aligners to be made so... Hmm but of a sticky situation. Shall see how it goes. I just wanna opt out and go to a premier provider of invisalign ad have that done with acceledent!

[clearstep]

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