We are familiar with traditional metal braces and the newer invisible braces such as Invisalign, but chances are, you’ve seen the name ‘Zenyum’ pop up a few times online but never quite understood what this new service really is, except for the fact that it is a ‘cheaper Invisalign’.
In this ultimate guide to Zenyum, we answer your most burning questions about Zenyum, clear up any misconceptions you may have, as well as share the various pros & cons of wearing Zenyum as shared by those who have gone through the experience.
What is Zenyum?
Zenyum clear aligners
Zenyum is a new brand of 3D-printed clear aligners that focuses on making aesthetic corrections to your front set of teeth, making this a popular option among those who only need minor corrections and for ex-braces wearers whose teeth have shifted out of place over time.
Similar to other invisible braces, you will have to wear Zenyum for 20 to 22 hours every day, only removing them while eating, drinking or cleaning.
Most patients using Zenyum need to wear its invisible braces for only three to nine months, although treatment time varies on a case-by-case basis.
What is the process to go through if you opt for Zenyum?
Your journey to wearing Zenyum will start with filling out a survey to express your interest and then sending pictures of your teeth for a complimentary assessment by their board-certified orthodontists and dental experts.
Once your application is approved, you will proceed to have an initial consultation session at a partner clinic, where you will undergo a physical assessment, 3D scan, and X-rays of your teeth – much like what is done before you opt for traditional braces.
If the medical experts deem that you are a suitable candidate for Zenyum, you will receive a treatment plan, which is a 3D simulation of how your teeth will turn out after wearing Zenyum. They will require you to review and approve the plan before they can proceed to produce your clear aligners.
Within three weeks, you will be called back to a partner clinic for fitting of their clear aligners, and if everything is good to go then you can immediately proceed with your treatment.
Fitting of Zenyum braces (source: Katelyn Tan)
Patients are then monitored via the Zenyum app, where they upload a photo of their teeth every five days. This helps to ensure compliance and proper tracking of the aligners. This use of technology ensures that your progress is monitored without needing you to make trips to the clinic – how smart!
How much does Zenyum cost?
Zenyum’s invisible aligners themselves cost an average of SGD2,400, although you will be required to pay for other fees along the way as well, so it can work up to a total of around SGD3,000.
- Initial consultation: SGD120 to SGD170
- Retainers: SGD300 a pair
- Optional re-scanning of teeth: SGD100
You can read more about the pricing options here.
How is Zenyum different from Invisalign?
One of the biggest differences between Zenyum and Invisalign is the type of cases they can treat.
Unfortunately, Zenyum can only fix mainly more straightforward cases that do not require extractions and have less severe crowding of teeth, which is also why the treatment time is a lot shorter. On the other hand, Invisalign is able to treat a wide range of cases, and more complex treatments would take a longer time and incur a higher cost.
In terms of follow-ups with Zenyum, your case is monitored remotely via the Zenyum app most of the time after you upload photos of your teeth every few days. You will be supervised by an orthodontist or dentist from one of Zenyum’s partner clinics, which you can choose based on which one is more convenient for you.
Invisalign’s clear aligners are proven to be able to treat most malocclusions, from simple to complex cases — and not just severe cases. The treatment is doctor-directed from start to end with regular check-ins. This is the same for all cases, from mild to complex ones.
Invisalign patients also have access to the My Invisalign app that tracks their treatment process. They can monitor wear-time progress, personalise their treatment calendar to keep track of appointments, and if invited by their doctor, they can use the Invisalign®Virtual Care to share photos of their smiles to receive feedback from their doctor.
The cost difference also depends on the complexity of the patient’s case. You pay less than SGD3,000 on average for Zenyum, whereas an Invisalign treatment could range from SGD$3000 to SGD$8000 on average. Invisalign Go, which is suitable for mild to moderate cases, offers treatment at an indicative price of SGD3,288.
That being said, experts have said that both systems would probably use different materials as well, but this should not make much of a difference to the eventual result of your teeth.
What are the advantages of wearing Zenyum?
Cheaper and faster than other options in the market
The cost of invisible braces in Singapore typically ranges from SGD6,000 to SGD10,000, and traditional metal braces from SGD3,500 to SGD6,000, whereas you pay less than SGD3,000 on average for Zenyum.
In addition, Zenyum can take just three to nine months in order for you to obtain visible results, whereas the course of an Invisalign treatment ranges from six to 18 months. Simpler cases can be treated through Invisalign Go in as little as six months.
Straighter teeth just after 2 months (source: Katelyn Tan)
Easy and convenient to follow through
According to online reviews of Zenyum, such as this one by blogger Katelyn Tan, the clear aligners are very easy to wear and the treatment plan is easy to follow. All you need to do is to change your braces every five days (or per planned), and they have even made it easy for you to remember by packing your braces into colour-tagged Ziploc bags so you know which to use next.
Things are also made easier by using an app to keep tabs on your progress, so the orthodontist or dentist in charge can check in on you regularly without needing to schedule appointments at the clinics.
Invisible and comfortable
According to Zenyum’s CEO, Julian Artope, Zenyum’s braces are also more comfortable than traditional orthodontic braces due to the fact that they are removable and nearly invisible. In fact, there have even been customers asking whether they can remove their traditional braces and switch to Zenyum instead because they want the comfort that the latter provides!
What are the limitations of Zenyum?
Most of Zenyum’s limitations are similar to that of wearing Invisalign, as both types of invisible braces work in a similar way, where they require you to wear a set of clear aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day. However, these are some potential shortcomings of Zenyum that you definitely need to take note of:
It can only do minor straightening
One of Zenyum’s biggest flaws is also the reason for its main advantages: it is not applicable to more serious cases that need major straightening work. This means that those who need to re-align molars or change their entire bite or jaw structure are not recommended to wear Zenyum.
Some unsuitable conditions include improper bites and severe overcrowding that require extractions.
However, it is because they do not cater to more serious cases that they can keep the costs low and the wear time shorter, so this may not necessarily be a bad thing if you just require minor adjustments to your front teeth.
You are recommended to wear retainers forever
Source: Millennium Park Orthodontics
It’s not stated explicitly as a must, but Zenyum highly recommends that you wear retainers (which cost an extra SGD300) to keep your teeth in place.
You can definitely opt to ignore this, but you also run the risk of having your teeth back into its original position over time, which would mean that your previous efforts have been wasted – and that’s not an ideal situation to be in.
This being said, many braces-wearers will also tell you that most dentists and orthodontists would advise them to wear retainers if they wish to keep the straightness of their teeth overtime. So this requirement isn’t exactly unique to Zenyum, it’s just that they’re more upfront about it.
Now that you are better-informed about Zenyum, you may be interested to check this out and see if you may be a suitable candidate. You can visit the Zenyum website to get more information on them, as well as register your interest and submit photos for the pre-assessment.
