SureSmile and Invisalign are not the same product. They’re two separate clear aligner systems made by different companies, using different materials, different scanning technology, and different pricing structures. Both straighten teeth with a series of removable plastic trays, but the similarities mostly end there. Understanding where they overlap and where they diverge can help you figure out which one fits your situation.
Different Companies, Different Materials
Invisalign is made by Align Technology and uses a proprietary plastic called SmartTrack. This material is designed to apply gentle, constant force to teeth, and it has a high elastic recovery, meaning it snaps back into shape consistently throughout each wear cycle. That translates to more predictable tooth movement, especially for fine adjustments.
SureSmile is made by Dentsply Sirona and uses a plastic called Essix. It’s a durable, comfortable material, but it’s generally considered less precise than SmartTrack for small, controlled movements. For patients who need only minor corrections, this difference may not matter much. For more complex cases requiring tight control over final tooth positioning, Invisalign’s material gives orthodontists a slight edge in predictability.
How Each System Plans Your Treatment
Both systems use 3D digital scans of your teeth to map out a treatment plan, but they use different scanning technology. Invisalign relies on iTero digital scanning, which is widely regarded as producing higher-resolution 3D models. SureSmile uses a system called OraScanner to build its models.
Once your teeth are scanned, both Invisalign’s ClinCheck software and SureSmile’s planning software use automated segmentation to separate individual teeth in the digital model and calculate how each one needs to move. A study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that these two systems did not significantly differ in how they planned tooth movements when given the same virtual setup. Both rotate teeth around a point near the bone level, roughly 1 to 2 millimeters below the gum line. So while the scanning hardware differs, the digital treatment planning is comparable.
One Key Structural Difference
SureSmile offers something Invisalign doesn’t: a hybrid approach. SureSmile treatment can begin with traditional brackets and custom-shaped archwires to make larger corrections first, then transition to clear aligners for refinement. This gives orthodontists more flexibility when dealing with complex alignment issues that clear trays alone might struggle with.
Invisalign is a clear-aligner-only system. It handles complex movements through specially shaped tooth-colored attachments, small composite bumps bonded to specific teeth that give the aligner something to grip. These attachments come in rectangular, circular, or triangular shapes depending on the direction the tooth needs to move. They’re effective for a wide range of cases, but the system doesn’t incorporate wires or brackets at any stage.
Cost and Treatment Time
SureSmile typically costs between $3,000 and $6,000, while Invisalign ranges from $3,500 to $8,000. The final price for either depends on how many aligners you need and how complex your case is, but SureSmile is generally the more affordable option.
SureSmile treatment usually takes 6 to 18 months. Mild cases with minor crowding or spacing can wrap up in 4 to 6 months. Moderate cases tend to fall in the 8 to 12 month range. Complex cases may take 12 to 18 months or longer. Invisalign timelines are similar for comparable cases, though Invisalign’s larger library of case data (it’s been on the market since 1997) means providers have more reference points for predicting exactly how long treatment will take.
Clinical Performance
A study published through the National Institutes of Health compared SureSmile’s bracket-and-wire system against conventional orthodontic treatment and found that SureSmile patients finished about 7 months faster, with better scores for tooth rotation and closing gaps between teeth. However, SureSmile scored worse on root angulation (how well the roots of teeth are angled in the bone), and the SureSmile patients in the study had less complex cases to begin with, making a direct comparison difficult.
Head-to-head clinical trials comparing SureSmile aligners specifically against Invisalign aligners are limited. Most of what we know comes from material science research and provider experience rather than randomized studies. In practice, the skill of your orthodontist or dentist matters at least as much as the brand of aligner they use.
Which One Is Available to You
Invisalign has a much larger provider network. Because it’s been the dominant clear aligner brand for over two decades, most orthodontists and many general dentists are certified to offer it. SureSmile is available through dentists and orthodontists who work with Dentsply Sirona’s system, which is common but not as widespread.
Your choice may ultimately come down to what your provider offers. Many dental offices carry one system or the other, not both. If your provider offers SureSmile and your case is mild to moderate, you’ll likely get comparable results at a lower price. If you have a complex case requiring precise, incremental movements, or if you want the most established system with the largest body of clinical data behind it, Invisalign has the longer track record. Either way, both systems accomplish the same basic goal: straighter teeth without metal braces.