Clear Aligners in Kent and Sammamish, WA
Comprehensive clear aligner treatment starts at $5,000, and Angel Aligners and Invisalign are priced the same. Every case is planned using digital records and clinically indicated imaging and personally supervised by an orthodontic specialist, board-certified by the ABO. Dr. Freelove recommends Angel Aligners for most adults and selects Invisalign when it is clinically appropriate.
Reviewed and approved by Dr. Cameron Freelove, DDS, MS · Last updated
The final fee depends on the complexity of the case, not the appliance, so braces and clear aligners share one fee schedule. See the braces cost page for the full schedule.
Who Plans and Monitors Aligner Treatment
Clear aligner treatment at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design is planned, monitored, and adjusted by a specialist orthodontist, not delegated to a technician or a software auto-setup. Every case is reviewed at the consultation to determine which aligner system fits the clinical need, which pricing tier makes sense, and whether aligners or braces will deliver the more predictable result.
Cameron Freelove
Orthodontist
Dr. Freelove personally positions each tooth in the 3D aligner treatment plan before trays are manufactured. No technician defaults, no software auto-setups accepted without review.
Why Freelove Leans Toward Angel Aligners for Most Adults
How Freelove Chose Its Primary Aligner Platform
Dr. Freelove prefers Angel Aligners for many cases because their integrated elastic buttons and trimline options fit the treatment mechanics he wants to use, and he finds their planning software easy to use. In his experience, the integrated buttons reduce the need for bonded elastic buttons and related repair visits. He also offers Invisalign when appropriate, and uses in-house, uLab-planned aligners for selected simpler cases or finishing after braces.
- Integrated aligner buttons reduce the need for bonded buttons and reduce emergency visits.
- Extended trimlines provide greater control over tooth movements.
- Easy-to-use treatment planning software.
- Fast manufacturing turnaround, so patients wait less.
Angel Aligners vs Invisalign: Honest Comparison
| Feature | Angel Aligners | Invisalign |
|---|---|---|
| Price at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design | From $5,000 | From $5,000 |
| Elastic Buttons | Transparent angelButtons built in | Metal buttons bonded to teeth |
| Marketed To | Orthodontists only | Orthodontists + general dentists + patients |
| Refinements | Included | Included |
| Retainers | Included | Included |
Who Is a Good Candidate for Clear Aligners in Kent and Sammamish?
Good Candidates
Adults and teens with mild to moderate crowding, spacing, rotated teeth, tipped teeth, or bite problems (overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite) who can commit to wearing aligners 20–22 hours per day.
Aligners also work well for patients who have previously had orthodontic treatment and experienced relapse, for professionals and public-facing adults who need a discreet option, and for teens whose parents want a less-visible alternative to braces without dropping to a compromised finish.
Case Types Aligners Can Treat at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design
- Crowding, mild, moderate, and many severe cases with staged interproximal reduction.
- Spacing and gaps, including closing midline diastemas and residual spaces.
- Deep bite, incisor intrusion on aligners, often without the bite ramps some offices rely on.
- Open bite. Dr. Freelove treats open bite by its cause: mild dental open bites respond to anterior extrusion with aligners, while skeletal cases may need posterior intrusion with TADs or surgical coordination.
- Crossbite, anterior and posterior, including single-tooth crossbite.
- Relapse after previous orthodontics, frequently solvable with a short limited-treatment aligner course.
- Pre-restorative alignment, setting teeth in position for veneers, crowns, or implants, coordinated with the patient’s dentist.
- Airway-driven expansion finishing, aligners can be used in conjunction with MARPE or palatal expansion to detail the final arch form.
Choosing Between Aligners and Braces
How Freelove Approaches Braces vs Clear Aligners
In most cases, patients are free to choose the appliance they prefer. Dr. Freelove recommends braces for patients who may struggle with the full-time wear aligners demand, and aligners for patients who want a less visible option or fewer dietary restrictions. He may guide patients toward braces when a case involves extractions or a deep overbite, where fixed appliances give more predictable control.
When Dr. Freelove Recommends Braces Instead of Aligners
Dr. Freelove can treat the vast majority of cases with aligners, including many that other providers consider too complex. Some situations still call for braces as the more predictable option, such as severe skeletal discrepancies, certain extraction cases, or patients who cannot commit to full-time wear. Dr. Freelove discusses every option at the consultation so patients can make an informed choice.
Dr. Freelove evaluates the CBCT, intraoral scan, and photographs together before recommending a platform, and will send patients to braces when braces are the more reliable path.
A hybrid approach is common at Freelove Orthodontics when a single platform is not ideal for the full case. Some cases may call for a combined braces and aligner approach, where each appliance can work for the aspects that they are best suited for. Many braces cases may be finished in aligners for fine tuning some movements. Other cases may have braces in the back and aligners in the front when braces are needed for a certain movement while not being totally visible in the front.
Complex Aligner Cases at Freelove Orthodontics
Most aligner treatment is straightforward. Some cases are not. For open-bite correction with airway considerations, pre-surgical alignment coordinated with an oral surgeon, extraction-space closure on an adult arch, or esthetic aligner work planned around cosmetic dentistry, Freelove Orthodontics leans on the experience Dr. Freelove brings to complex planning.
The complex-case protocol at Freelove includes aligner setups using digital records and clinically indicated imaging on every case, AI-assisted airway screening, simulation against the patient’s specific case, and detailed finishing protocols designed to deliver a more esthetic final round of refinements.
Wear Time, Compliance, and Staying on Track
Aligners work by moving teeth in small, programmed increments every 7 days. That only works when the aligners are actually in the mouth. Freelove Orthodontics asks patients to wear aligners 20–22 hours per day, removing them only to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush.
Less than 20 hours per day causes teeth to shift partway between programmed positions, trays stop fitting the next week, tracking breaks down, and total treatment time stretches out.
Compliance at Freelove
Dr. Freelove stresses at the consultation and throughout treatment that full compliance is necessary for a good result.
When a Patient Falls Behind on Wear
Patients who struggle with full-time wear can switch to braces or InSmile lingual braces, or accept the results reached with aligners.
How Clear Aligner Treatment Works
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Free Consultation
Dr. Freelove reviews intraoral photos and evaluates the bite, crowding, skeletal relationship, airway, and facial balance. If aligners are appropriate, the doctor recommends the specific system and tier. If braces are the better clinical path, the doctor says so, even when a family arrives specifically asking for aligners.
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Digital Treatment Plan
A 3D plan maps every tooth movement start to finish. Dr. Freelove personally positions each tooth in the software. You review the plan and provide input before aligners are manufactured.
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Wear 20-22 Hours Per Day
Remove only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing. Each set worn approximately 7 days. If elastics are prescribed, angelButtons (Angel) or bonded buttons (Invisalign) provide the attachment point.
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Progress Checks Every 10-20 Weeks
Dr. Freelove monitors tracking at each visit.
When teeth are not moving as planned, the doctor adjusts on the spot: additional attachments, interproximal reduction, a revised setup, or switching to braces when mechanical control is needed.
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Refinement Rounds
When the planned aligner set finishes, teeth are almost always close to the target, but rarely a perfect match for the digital plan. Refinement trays correct the remaining small discrepancies. Both Angel and Invisalign include refinements in the treatment fee. Most Freelove patients need one or two refinement rounds to reach a finished result.
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Retention
Every Freelove aligner case includes one set of Essix retainers at completion. Retainers are worn every night, and nighttime wear continues for life to prevent relapse.
Refinements and Retention: What Is Included
The Freelove Refinement Protocol
All refinements are covered under the patient’s initial contract.
Aligner refinement is routine, not a failure. Even the best digital plan cannot perfectly predict how every tooth will respond to force through bone. Both Angel Aligners and Invisalign provide refinement aligners as part of the contracted fee, patients do not pay extra when a second or third round is needed to finish the case.
At Freelove Orthodontics, the approach to refinements leans on Angel’s included refinement rounds during active treatment and a finishing protocol developed in-house at Freelove.
In the final refinement round, detail movements are completed with Angel’s full high-trimline aligner, which provides enough tooth-surface coverage for predictable control of the front teeth.
The result is a more polished final presentation during the last few weeks of treatment.
Retainers Included With Every Case
Freelove includes one set of Essix retainers with every aligner case. If a retainer is lost or damaged, a replacement costs $200 per arch. The optional $680 Retainer Plan covers up to four single-arch replacements per year for lost or broken retainers for 10 years after treatment ends.
The Freelove retention philosophy favors removable retainers for most patients. Fixed (bonded) retainers are placed only when clinically indicated, or by patient request.
And when a fixed retainer is used, the wire is kept as small as possible, and a clear Essix retainer is recommended on top of it. Nighttime retainer wear continues indefinitely. Teeth move throughout life, and retention is permanent.
How Much Do Clear Aligners Cost in Kent and Sammamish?
Angel Aligners: from $5,000 (comprehensive)
Invisalign: from $5,000 (comprehensive)
All systems include every tray in the planned series, all refinement rounds, and one set of Essix retainers at completion.
What the Fee Covers at Freelove
- Full digital treatment planning with Dr. Freelove positioning each tooth personally
- All aligner trays in the programmed sequence
- All refinement rounds needed to reach a finished result
- CBCT imaging integrated into aligner planning
- Bonded attachments and interproximal reduction as needed
- Progress visits every 10-20 weeks
- One set of clear Essix retainers delivered at completion
Not part of the fee, and optional: the Retainer Plan ($680) covers replacement retainers after treatment.
Financing
In-House Financing: $300 down, monthly payments from $199, 0% financing options available, no credit check, automatic drafting from checking or credit cards. CareCredit: $0 down for qualified applicants. Pay in Full: 5% discount.
Creative payment arrangements are available for families who need a tailored path, if a family is a good clinical fit for the practice, Dr. Freelove tries to find a way.
Insurance
Most PPO plans cover clear aligners the same as braces, orthodontic benefit rules do not distinguish between platforms. Freelove Orthodontics verifies benefits and files claims on behalf of the patient. Insurance details. Community discounts may also apply.
In-Office Aligners vs. Mail-Order Aligners (SmileDirect, Byte, At-Home Kits)
Why Mail-Order Aligners Are Not the Same
Mail-order aligners are not a safe or effective substitute for orthodontic treatment under direct professional supervision. Without an in-person exam, X-rays, or CBCT imaging, problems like bone loss, root resorption, and bite issues can go undetected, and the American Association of Orthodontists has formally warned consumers about the risks of unsupervised treatment. Dr. Freelove evaluates every aligner patient in person at every visit.
Mail-order aligner companies market a lower-cost alternative to in-office orthodontics. The difference is not primarily price, it is diagnosis, monitoring, and accountability. Teeth move through bone, and bone has a tolerance window. Gum tissue can be stressed by movements a remote algorithm never sees.
Bites can be deepened or opened in ways that only a chairside exam catches. Airway, TMJ, and occlusal findings are routinely missed when no orthodontist is in the room.
The clinical trade-offs of mail-order aligner kits:
- No in-person examination. Cavities, periodontal disease, failing restorations, and root resorption are not diagnosed from a home scan.
- No 3D imaging. Roots are invisible to a surface scan. Moving teeth through thin bone without a CBCT is a known cause of gingival recession.
- No doctor monitoring between kits. Tracking failures progress for weeks before the patient notices.
- Limited complication handling. When something goes wrong, a telehealth subscription does not send a specialist to the chair.
- Designed for cosmetic alignment only. Real bite correction, overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, is beyond the protocol.
In-office aligner treatment at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design includes a comprehensive exam by a specialist orthodontist, iCat 3D CBCT scanner imaging integrated into the plan when clinically indicated, personal positioning of each tooth in the digital setup by Dr. Freelove, monitored visits, refinement rounds as needed, and direct access to the practice if anything goes wrong.
The result is not just straighter teeth. It is a clinically supervised outcome that holds up long-term.
The FDA Dental Device Safety Advisor and multiple state dental boards have issued guidance on the risks of unsupervised direct-to-consumer aligner treatment. Patients considering mail-order options are encouraged to read the official FDA advisory before proceeding.
Before & After: Clear Aligner Results in Kent and Sammamish
Individual results vary. Photos shown with patient consent.
Clear Aligner FAQ
What clear aligner brands does Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design offer?
Angel Aligners from $5,000 and Invisalign from $5,000. Dr. Freelove recommends the system that fits your case best, based on bite complexity, attachment requirements, budget, and your goals.
Why does Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design recommend Angel over Invisalign for many adults?
Three reasons: transparent angelButtons built into the aligner (nothing bonded to teeth for elastics), extended trimlines that provided greater control over tooth movement, and easy to use treatment planning software that allows Dr. Freelove to design the perfect aligner sequence.
What are angelButtons?
Transparent high-strength buttons manufactured directly into the aligner itself. They provide attachment points for rubber bands so nothing metal needs to be bonded to your teeth for elastic use. Can be positioned anywhere on the arch. Maintain shape under force without distorting the aligner.
Can aligners fix my bite or just straighten teeth?
Both. Clear aligners correct bite problems: overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite, in addition to straightening teeth.
What if aligners aren’t working for my teeth?
Dr. Freelove monitors progress at every visit.
The sooner a tracking issue is caught, the easier it is to correct with additional attachments, interproximal reduction, or a treatment plan update.
Patients may switch to braces or In-Smile (lingual braces).
Are mail-order aligners like SmileDirectClub or Byte the same?
No. Mail-order aligners have no in-person exam, no 3D CT imaging, no doctor monitoring, and limited ability to handle bite problems or complications. They are designed for mild cosmetic alignment only. In-office aligners at Freelove Orthodontics & Smile Design include a full exam, imaging, personalized treatment planning, monitored visits, refinements, and access to Dr. Freelove if anything goes wrong.
How many hours a day do I need to wear aligners?
20-22 hours per day. Remove only to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush. Less than 20 hours per day causes teeth to shift partway between aligner positions, trays stop fitting, tracking breaks down, and treatment gets slower and unpredictable.
Can I drink coffee with aligners in?
Cold drinks are fine occasionally, but hot coffee or tea can warp the plastic and stain the trays. Best practice: remove aligners, drink, rinse mouth, replace aligners. Water is always fine.
Areas We Serve
Freelove serves patients across King County from two offices.
Near the Kent office
Near the Sammamish office
More communities
- SeaTac
- Des Moines
- Federal Way
- Black Diamond
Ready to See If Aligners Are Right for You?
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