When we talk about invisible braces, Invisalign has for many years been the best-known and most widely used option among patients and orthodontists around the world.
In 2020, however, an alternative appeared that has shaken up the sector: Spark Aligners, a system developed by Ormco, a company with more than 50 years of experience in orthodontics.
Ormco is known for creating leading products such as Damon self-ligating brackets and has now burst into the aligner market with a product that competes directly with Invisalign.
At Arroyo & Hernández Dental Clinic, although we are specialists in both systems, we have leaned towards recommending Spark to our patients.
This is because of several advantages this system offers over Invisalign, for both the patient and the orthodontist.
Spark stands out for its more modern technology, its comfort and its ability to deliver predictable clinical results in less time.
To help you choose between Invisalign and Spark, here is a detailed comparison of the features of both systems, in which we look at why we believe Spark is the best option for many of our patients looking for effective, discreet and comfortable invisible orthodontic treatment.
Which aligners are better and which should I choose? Invisalign vs Spark
Both clear aligner systems, Spark and Invisalign, give excellent results in invisible orthodontic treatment.
Although they have a lot in common, there are key differences that may make one of the two more suitable for you, depending on your needs and expectations.
Below we look at where Spark beats Invisalign and where Invisalign still has certain advantages.
Spark: advantages over Invisalign
Invisalign: advantages over Spark
Spark Approver or Invisalign ClinCheck: which software is better?
Both Invisalign’s ClinCheck and Ormco’s Spark Approver are advanced tools designed to plan orthodontic treatment with invisible aligners, and both give orthodontists precise control over the process.
There are key differences, however, in the features and advantages each system offers, for both professionals and patients.
Invisalign’s ClinCheck
ClinCheck, Invisalign’s planning software, is a cloud-based tool that lets orthodontists modify and adjust treatments in real time.
One of its great advantages is that it has been refined over the years with data from millions of clinical cases.
ClinCheck offers a 3D view of the teeth, allowing precise adjustments to the alignment of each tooth, individually or as a group, using its 3D controls.
It also includes a smile simulator that lets the patient see the final result of their treatment in a realistic video of their face, which makes the treatment easier to understand and accept.
The software lets orthodontists make adjustments such as arch expansion, attachment placement and interproximal reduction (IPR) planning, all visually and with real-time updates.
ClinCheck also allows CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) data to be integrated, making treatment more precise by including the tooth roots in the 3D model.
Ormco’s Spark Approver
Spark Approver, for its part, is a more recent platform, but technologically very advanced.
One of its main advantages over ClinCheck is the ability to integrate the tooth roots directly into the treatment plan, which gives more complete control over tooth movement.
This is essential for avoiding problems such as gum recession or root collisions. Spark Approver also allows attachments to be placed on the lingual side of the teeth (the inside), which is not possible with Invisalign and improves the look of the treatment.
Spark’s software also has a real-time automatic recalculation tool, which lets orthodontists adjust the plan without constant manual intervention.
Being able to access it from both desktop and web adds flexibility, since the orthodontist can work from any device and any place.
Spark Approver also allows tooth movement to be edited, the placement of bite ramps to be controlled and fine adjustments to be made throughout treatment, which makes it more versatile and better suited to complex cases.
In short, Invisalign’s ClinCheck is a more mature piece of software, with years of refinement and a huge database of clinical cases, ideal for standard treatments and with a focus on visual simulation for the patient.
Spark Approver, however, offers more modern, flexible technology, with key advantages such as root integration and the possibility of more complex, refined adjustments during treatment.
At Arroyo & Hernández Dental Clinic we usually use Spark Approver, which stands out for its precision and control and lets us offer more personalised, efficient treatment.
Final results: are they the same with both systems?
In terms of final results, both Spark and Invisalign are very effective systems for correcting alignment problems, and both can deliver perfectly aligned smiles.
However, Spark can offer faster treatment in some cases, thanks to the greater force retention of the TruGEN™ material and its precision in moving the teeth.
Another key difference is that, with Spark, being able to integrate the tooth roots into the planning lets the orthodontist anticipate possible problems more accurately, improving results in complex cases.
While results with Invisalign are equally good, especially in more common cases, Spark offers extra control over the process, which can slightly improve results in more complicated situations.
In short, the cosmetic and functional results are comparable with both systems, but Spark may have an edge in specific cases that require more precision.
