SmileDirectClub Review

Affordability, convenience, and a short treatment time all help SmileDirectClub stand out as one of the top choices for invisible braces.

Benefits & Features

• Treatment Time: After your scans have been evaluated by their network of state-licensed orthodontists and dentists, you’ll be presented with aligners that are intended to show results within 4 to 6 months.
  
  
• SmileShops or Impression Kit: SmileDirectClub offers two options for customers who want to get started with invisible braces: a visit to a SmileShop or an at-home impression kit. The impression kit is delivered straight to your door, where you’ll complete the easy-to-do steps and mail the kit back to SmileDirectClub.
  
  
• Risk-Free: If your impression kit or 3D scan determines that you’re not a good fit for a SmileDirectClub treatment plan, you’ll be refunded the cost of your impression kit or scan.
  
  
• bright on™: With your aligner kit, you’ll also receive SmileDirectClub’s proprietary premium whitening gel that works to brighten your smile up to 9 shades brighter within 1 week of use.
  
  
• Financing Available: SmileDirectClub offers two ways in which you can pay for your aligner kit, both designed to make your treatment affordable and accessible to all budget types.

So how will you decide if SmileDirectClub is right for you? These are the questions consumers are asking when shopping for invisible braces.

How does SmileDirectClub work?

Unlike some invisible braces, SmileDirectClub gives you two options on how to get started. First, you have the choice to order an Impression Kit directly to your house, which you’ll then mail back to SmileDirectClub. Or, if you prefer to have an in-person visit at a physical location, you can get a free scan in one of their SmileShops, which are located all over the country.

From there, a state-licensed dentist or orthodontist will then analyze your smile, determine whether you’re a good fit for SmileDirectClub, and create a proposed treatment plan.

If you want more personal guidance and/or a 3D visualization of your new smile, SmileDirectClub has SmileShops all over the country where a SmileGuide will walk you through a 3D scan of your smile and what your smile will look like after treatment. Appointments are only needed once and take, on average, about 30 minutes.

Once the SmileDirectClub team of doctors and orthodontists analyzes your at-home kit or 3D scan, they decide if you’re a good fit for invisible braces. If approved, you’ll get a personalized, easy-to-follow treatment plan that includes an entire set of aligners that are all mailed to you at one time. For anyone who was not approved for treatment, you’ll receive a refund for your impression kit, leaving you at no risk to see if SmileDirectClub is right for you.

You can decide between Nighttime Aligners™, which you wear for 10 continuous hours at night, and daytime SmileDirectClub aligners, which require 22 hours of wear. The overall treatment timeline for Nighttime Aligners will be a few weeks longer than that of daytime wearers.

Does SmileDirectClub hurt?

Soreness is expected for the first few days of treatment, and it’s attributed to the initial shift of your teeth into the new aligners. No attachments or buttons are needed for treatment with SmileDirectClub, which helps reduce discomfort that is traditionally associated with teeth straightening.

Does SmileDirectClub really work?

Hundreds of users have documented their results after using SmileDirectClub, and the overwhelming consensus is that the aligners do, in fact, work. Reviewers write that it’s easy to use, yet also effective, adding that SmileDirectClub is an affordable option they can turn to. One of the biggest upsides of SmileDirectClub is that the company brings safe, accessible dental care to all families, regardless of income. Convenience and affordability make it easier than ever to get a new smile and renewed confidence.

Does SmileDirectClub work at night?

SmileDirectClub offers a nighttime option for anyone who doesn’t want to wear their aligners all day. The Nighttime Clear Aligners™ are just as effective as the daily-wear aligners, but they’ll require a longer overall treatment plan. With these, you’ll need to wear your aligners for a minimum of 10 hours a night, but you can remove them during the day. This is a great option for anyone who wants as little interference in their daily lives as possible, yet still want to make a life-changing improvement to their smile.

Is SmileDirectClub cheaper than competitors?

Since SmileDirectClub relies on their network of orthodontists and dentists, they can cut out the middleman and create their own aligners. So, when compared to traditional braces, SmileDirectClub can save you up to 60%, which in the end, can equate to thousands of dollars in savings. The overall price of the SmileDirectClub treatment is more affordable than most, and fortunately, the Nighttime Clear Aligners are no more expensive than their daily-wear counterpart.

Does SmileDirectClub take insurance?

SmileDirectClub accepts most insurance coverage and can be covered with HSA or FSA. Using a convenient dropdown feature on their website, you can search for your insurance provider to see if they typically cover treatment.

SmileDirectClub also offers SmilePay, an in-house financing option that gives you the option to make monthly payments in lieu of a one-time payment. Monthly payments will cost more over time than a single payment, but it does make it easier to make a budget around your tele-dentistry.

Does SmileDirectClub whiten teeth?

Every aligner kit comes with SmileDirectClub’s Bright on™ whitening gel, which can whiten your teeth up to 9 shades brighter in just 1 week. Applying the whitening gel is a no-mess process with a brush applicator and a patented 20-LED accelerator light. With this combination, you’ll see a whiter smile in a matter of days.

How long does SmileDirectClub take to work?

SmileDirectClub treatment averages around 4 to 6 months, making it one of the quickest options when it comes to straightening your teeth. Over the course of those 4-6 months, you’ll wear your retainer for 22 hours a day, and then you’ll receive post-treatment retainers that will help maintain the alignment you worked hard for.

The average treatment plan for Nighttime Aligners is a little longer, sitting at 10 months for wearers.

Does SmileDirectClub fix overbites? Crowding? Crooked teeth? Gaps?

With any dental case, a state-licensed orthodontist or doctor will analyze your 3D scans or impression kit to determine if you’re a candidate for SmileDirectClub treatment. Each case varies, but aligners can help treat a localized crossbite or overbite, meaning that this usually applies to more mild cases.

Gaps, crowding, and crooked teeth are the usual suspects when it comes to SmileDirectClub cases, and the specialized aligners are designed to help shift your teeth into better positioning. You’ll find hundreds of reviewers boast their results on the SmileDirectClub website, including “Before & After” photos of their newly aligned smiles.

If your case is deemed too severe for invisible braces, or you’re just not a good fit for the treatment plan, you’ll receive a refund for money spent on preliminary scans or the impression kit.

Final Thoughts

Straightening your teeth should not be a far-off concept, especially if you struggle with confidence in your smile. SmileDirectClub combines their professional expertise with affordable and effective dental care to become one of the top choices in the invisible braces industry.

See if your smile is a good match for SmileDirectClub today with a risk-free assessment.