Since the launch of kohe™ Dental, I have encountered a few popular questions about Angel Aligner during the pre-assessment consultation that I would like to address in this comprehensive article.
If you are curious about more affordable alternatives to Invisalign like Angel Aligner but are not ready to start a conversation with a dentist or orthodontist, this article might help answer some of the questions you have about Angel Aligner before you proceed to an actual consultation with a dentist or orthodontist.
What Is The Difference Between Angel Aligner and Invisalign?
The key differences between Angel Aligner and Invisalign are the costs, and their product names.
Angel Aligner costs from $2,000 to $6,000 in Singapore while Invisalign costs from $3,800 to $9,800 in Singapore. Most Angel Aligner moderate cases cost from $3,800 while Invisalign costs from $5,800.
Angel Aligner classifies their clear aligner systems into KiDs, Select 10, Select 20, Select 30, Pro and Unlimited to serve different orthodontic conditions. Invisalign categorises their clear aligners into First, Lite, Moderate and Comprehensive. For a side-by-side comparison of the products and what conditions they are usually used to treat, please refer to the table below.
| Angel Aligner | KiDs | Select 10 | Select 20 | Select 30 | Unlimited | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Used for children below the age of 12 with mixed dentition | Typically used for teeth relapse, slight gaps between teeth or mild alignment issues | Used for orthodontic alignment conditions such as moderate overcrowding, gaps between teeth or protrusion, usually without any extractions involved | Used for complex orthodontic alignment conditions that might require multiple extractions | |||
| Invisalign | First | Lite | Moderate | Comprehensive | ||
Both clear aligner systems serve a wide age group, and perform well on a range of mild to complex orthodontic conditions.
While both Angel Aligner and Invisalign are fantastic clear aligner systems with a good framework for clinicians and patients, dentists and orthodontists might have their own preferences.
My personal preference is to use Angel Aligner for Asian facial profiles because of their extensive experience working with Asian patients. As a clinician, I recommend this particular system to patients who are budget conscious, or who have relapsed teeth and wish to undergo a second round of orthodontic treatment.
I use Invisalign more extensively (Invisalign First) to treat children with mixed dentition and do not want to opt for braces.
Regardless of what clear aligner system you prefer, the ultimate goal of using either one of these clear aligner systems is to correct your teeth and bite to achieve the smile you want.
What does it mean that Angel Aligner focuses on Asian-focused orthodontics?
Asian-focused orthodontics refers to unique dental and facial characteristics that are often found in Asian populations. Asian individuals have different facial proportions and dental arch shapes compared to other Caucasian populations, on which many traditional orthodontic standards are based. Angel Aligner takes these differences into account when planning treatments.
Secondly, there are certain dental conditions that are more prevalent in Asian populations. For example, bimaxillary protrusion (where both upper and lower front teeth protrude) is more common in Asian individuals.
How Much Does Angel Aligner Cost in Singapore?
The cost of Angel Aligner in Singapore ranges from $2,000 to $6,000 depending on complexity of orthodontic condition, the experience of your dentist or orthodontist and whether you are visiting a general dentist or a specialist.
All clear aligner systems rely on the use of transparent trays to gradually shift your teeth into the ideal positions. So the cost of Angel Aligner for you depends on how many trays you require to complete the necessary alignment work needed to perfect your smile. In most cases that I see, most relapse patients can expect to pay $1,700 – $2,000, while moderate cases of overcrowding and overjet can expect to pay $3,000 – $4,000.
What does the total cost include?
The total cost at kohe™ Dental includes the cost of treatment planning, IPR (if necessary), attachments, elastics (if necessary), retainers post-treatment and a period of refinements (depending on how many clear aligners you require to complete treatment. We also include a professional teeth whitening kit at the end of treatment to help you maintain your pearly whites.
What is not included is the cost of consultation (which includes X-rays and 3D intraoral scans), and the cost of extracting teeth (if necessary). To help you plan for your budget, you can refer to our treatment costs for the price range.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes, to help make orthodontic treatment more affordable for our patients, we have collaborated with a partner instalment program Catch22™. Catch22™ allows for patients to pay for orthodontic treatments in instalments based on your treatment duration.
Patients who do not have a credit card are allowed to break down payment for their treatment costs into 3 or 6 months durations, while patients with a valid credit card can break down their treatment durations into as long as the treatment duration has been indicated.
The following chart will show you an example of how the payment breakdown works based on the Angel Aligner Select 30 plan for a patient with a credit card.
| Total Cost of Select 30 | $4,500 |
| Total Duration of Select 30 Plan | 18 months |
| Initial Deposit We arrange for a treatment plan to be done with Angel Aligner. Usually once you have agreed to treatment on the day of consultation. | $500 |
| Lab Fees Payment – 1st We arrange for your clear aligners to be produced with Angel Aligner after you have approved your treatment plan. | $1,000 |
| Lab Fees Payment – 2nd This is the amount that you will pay on the day of your clear aligner fitting. This is usually 7 days after you have approved your treatment plan. | $600 |
| Monthly Instalments | $133.30 per month |
We also accept cards from all major banks. If you have a credit card, your bank will be able to offer you interest-free instalment payments for up to 12 months.
Is Angel Aligner Cheaper In Malaysia?
At kohe™ Dental, we price match our orthodontic services to be level to that of neighbouring countries. If you intend to take up Angel Aligner treatment at kohe™ Dental, the cost range would be from $1,700.
The average cost of Angel Aligner in Malaysia ranges from 10,000 – 20,000 ringgit (about SGD$3,053 – SGD6,082), while the average cost of Angel Aligner in Singapore costs $2,000 – $6,000.
Should I get Angel Aligner treatment in Malaysia instead?
The decision as to whether you wish to get Angel Aligner in Malaysia is really up to your individual preferences. If you are intending to get Angel Aligner treatment in Malaysia because of the cost of treatment, the costs in Singapore and Malaysia are pretty similar.
I usually caution against getting dental treatments that require repeated visits overseas unless you have a preferred dentist or dental specialist located in another country. However, I do understand that there are many good dentists and orthodontists providing Angel Aligner treatment in Malaysia, and it is understandable if you have a particular preference.
Orthodontic treatments require multiple follow-ups with your dentist or orthodontist for review. You will also need to get frequent check-ins every other month to ensure that your clear aligners are tracking with the treatment plan.
While some patients head to neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand for orthodontic treatments because of the reduced treatment costs, it can become more costly for the patient if they are expected to travel in and out of Singapore for treatment.
In some cases, patients might also skip reviews and follow-ups simply because it is too inconvenient to travel in and out for orthodontic reviews. This might result in an extended length of treatment or failure to meet your treatment outcomes.
If you are looking to seek Angel Aligner treatment in Malaysia as a local living in Singapore, it might be good to consider the following questions:
- Are you prepared to travel back and forth between countries for your orthodontic treatment?
- Are you willing to put in the time, effort and additional costs to get orthodontic treatment for a prolonged period of time?
- If there is an orthodontic emergency, are you willing to travel down to your dental clinic in Malaysia to seek help?
Why Is Angel Aligner So Much Cheaper Than Invisalign?
Angel Aligner is cheaper than Invisalign because of their lowered lab fees from economies of scale.
Unlike braces treatment which relies on standard mass-produced brackets that are attached to your teeth to create teeth movement, clear aligners like Angel Aligner and Invisalign rely on transparent customised trays. These trays are slightly different from each other and are changed on a timeline as instructed by your dentist or orthodontist to help move your teeth into the final desired position.
However, to produce such trays, dental clinics have to pay a lab fee to clear aligner companies like Angel Aligner and Invisalign. The total lab fee differs based on how many clear aligner trays you require. For example, with an Angel Aligner Select 30 case, your dentist or orthodontist is paying about $2,100 in lab fees, while with an Invisalign Moderate case, your dentist or orthodontist has to fork out about $3,200 in lab fees.
The higher lab fees contribute to higher treatment costs. To help illustrate this, you can refer to the table below for further information on how much you are actually paying the clear aligner company for each treatment.
The following chart is based on an Angel Aligner Select 30 and Invisalign Moderate case:
| Angel Aligner | Invisalign | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cost of Treatment | $4,500 | $5,500 |
| Clear Aligner Lab Fees Cost | $2,100 | $3,200 |
Is Angel Aligner less effective than Invisalign because it is cheaper?
The answer is no. Angel Aligner is no less effective than Invisalign even though it is more budget-friendly. The kind folks at Angel Aligner have reduced lab fees because they wish to make orthodontic treatment more cost-friendly. They are also able to significantly reduce lab fees because of economies of scale.
Angel Aligner performs the same way as Invisalign. Both systems are used by kohe™ Dental for their reliability and precision in delivering treatment. There is no quality difference to their clear aligner systems.
In fact, many orthodontists and general dentists in Australia, US and Europe use Angel Aligner as an alternative to Invisalign for patients who are more price conscious.
Patients who take up Angel Aligner are often surprised that the clear aligner brand is comfortable to wear, has high stain resistance, and starts delivering results with consistent wear.
If your hesitation with Angel Aligner stems from fear of quality because of the lower costs, there is nothing to be afraid of!
There are so many other clear aligner brands. How do I know whether Angel Aligner clear aligners is not a scam?
Angel Aligner is a clear aligner brand with more than 20 years of research, development and production experience. The company is also listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE).
In the last 20 years, they have successfully treated more than 1 million smiles, many of which are complex or severe orthodontic conditions.
While there are indeed many clear aligner brands, most of these clear aligner brands do not have the history or database that Angel Aligner has to facilitate precise outcomes for patients. As a result, many patients end up with extended periods of refinements post-treatment, non-ideal outcomes, or poor tracking even with patient compliance.
Ensuring that you, the patient, achieves the smile outcome you want requires more than the product. As many of my patients tell me, clear aligners all look the same and fulfil the same purpose. They are not wrong. Your teeth will definitely shift with constant and consistent force – regardless of the clear aligner brand you choose to go with.
However, the key drivers for success lies behind the scenes and is reliant on other factors such as:
- Targeted or handpicked dentists or orthodontists who have experience working with braces or clear aligners
- An excellent and responsive treatment planning team trained to deliver clinical results and brainstorm on difficult cases
- A streamlined treatment documentation to treatment planning solution.
If you are looking for a reliable clear aligner solution with a long history of delivering good outcomes, Angel Aligner would fit that requirement.
If Angel Aligner Is So Good, Why Is It Not As Popular As Invisalign?
There is a simple reason for this. Unlike Invisalign or other clear aligner brands who have direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales channels, Angel Aligner works closely with general dentists and orthodontists to recommend Angel Aligner to patients. This likely means that you might not see constant ads about Angel Aligner, unless a dental clinic or specialist clinic chooses to advertise for Angel Aligner.
By working directly with general dentists or orthodontists, there is reduced need to spend on large-scale marketing and advertising. This strategy reduces their marketing and advertising overheads so that you stand to benefit from lower cost clear aligner treatment. High marketing budgets also means that the clear aligner brands have to offset their expenditure through lab costs that are then passed on to dental clinics.
Another reason for the presumed lack of popularity might also be the expansion strategy that Angel Aligner has adopted. The clear aligner system has its roots in China serving more than 1 million patients. It also has a following in Malaysia. However, in recent years, they have chosen to focus on expanding their following through general dentists and orthodontists in Australia, Europe, the US and the UK because of the larger total addressable market.
The most important thing about getting clear aligner treatment is not about getting the most “popular” or visibly known clear aligners. Marketing simply shows the best sides of the product.
It is up to you and your research to ensure that the clear aligner brand you are working with has the expertise and required technology and resources to deliver the smile outcomes you wish to have.
Angel Aligner Is Made In China. Are You Sure They Are High-Quality Clear Aligners?
Did you know that Invisalign also makes its clear aligners in China? Manufacturing products in China does not indicate that their quality is poor or less. Apart from clear aligners, phone manufacturers like Apple or Samsung also produce their electronic devices in China.
Many clear aligner companies manufacture their clear aligners in China because of the reduced manpower and labour costs. This allows clear aligner companies to price their products in a more attainable manner.
While there is still the stigma of “Made in China” products, the reality is that the technology and precision of manufacturing in China has evolved for good. Listed companies like Angel Aligner run rigorous tests to ensure quality control and consistency. Doing so creates high quality clear aligners for you that you use throughout your treatment.
Angel Aligner is an affordable and high-quality alternative to Invisalign.
Despite being less marketed than Invisalign, Angel Aligner has established itself through 20 years of research and development, successfully treating over 1 million cases.
The key differentiator is pricing, with Angel Aligner ranging from $2,000 to $6,000 in Singapore, compared to Invisalign at $3,800 to $9,800. This price advantage stems from reduced lab fees through economies of scale, not compromised quality. Both systems are manufactured in China and maintain high manufacturing standards.
Angel Aligner particularly excels in treating Asian facial profiles, given their extensive experience with Asian patients. Their system offers various treatment options, from KiDs to Unlimited Pro, addressing different orthodontic needs. The company focuses on working directly with dental professionals rather than direct-to-consumer marketing, which helps keep costs lower.
For patients considering treatment in Singapore versus Malaysia, the costs are comparable, but convenience and consistent follow-up care should be primary considerations. Financing options, including instalment plans through Catch22™, make treatment more accessible for patients seeking a reliable, affordable clear aligner solution.
Dr Amanda Koh
https://kohedental.comDr Amanda Koh is the Founder and Managing Director of kohe™ Dental. She is also known as The Invisalign Dentist.She has a special interest in helping patients achieve their ideal smile outcomes with clear aligners like Invisalign and Angel Aligner and braces.