Many adults want orthodontic treatment, but the cost or inconvenience holds them back. At-home aligners address these concerns, but not everyone can use them, leaving adults needing affordable treatment for moderate-to-severe misalignments without an option.
SmartSmile takes a unique approach to their treatment; rather than all remote or all in-person, they tailor your treatment to your needs. If your case is mild or moderate, you get convenient remote treatment. If your case is complex, you get affordable in-person care. Here’s a quick review of this Australian clear aligner service, with the facts you need to decide if it is right for your smile.
Table of Contents
What Is SmartSmile?
SmartSmile is an Australian-based company that combines in-person treatment with digital monitoring. Most urban areas in Australia have at least one SmartSmile clinic available and anyone anywhere in the country can use their impression kits and remote check-ins. And unlike most remote and hybrid companies, they employ only certified orthodontists to plan their treatments.
SmartSmile’s most unique feature is their tiered treatment system. They divide their pricing structure based on the severity of your misalignment: simple, moderate, or complex. And they don’t just adjust the price; they also alter their approach to provide the treatment that best fits your smile. Simple cases get fewer aligners, moderate ones get more, and complex cases get the most, plus in-person appointments and attachments.
Pros and Cons of SmartSmile
There are plenty of reasons to consider SmartSmile treatment, but it won’t be right for everyone. Here are the major pros and cons.
SmartSmile Pros
- You Get the Treatment You Need: Most companies just offer one treatment model: remote, hybrid, or in-person. SmartSmile tailors the model to your specific alignment concerns.
- All Plans Include Remote Monitoring: Even if you have a complex case, if you want to skip some of your office visits in exchange for remote monitoring, or even just use remote monitoring to enhance your experience, you can.
- Orthodontists Plan Your Treatment: Many companies use general dentists and technicians to plan their aligner treatments. SmartSmile uses only certified orthodontists.
- You’re Backed by Three Guarantees: SmartSmile stands by their treatments, backing them with three separate guarantees, including one that covers your smile for life.
SmartSmile Cons
- You Must Be 18 or Older: Not everyone who needs affordable and convenient treatment has hit 18 yet. However, SmartSmile won’t take on a customer until they pass their 18th birthday.
- Extra Costs for Getting Started: Their flat-rate pricing isn’t all-inclusive. You have to pay extra for your impression kit or in-person assessment.
- Cannot Move Back Molars: SmartSmile can do more than most remote competitors but falls short of fully in-office treatments since it cannot move the back molars.
Who Is a Good Candidate for SmartSmile?
Most adults who need help with tooth alignment are candidates for SmartSmile. Since they treat even complex cases, they can address a fairly wide range of conditions. The main limitation is that they only address alignment concerns in the front ten teeth, leaving out the back molars.
To qualify for treatment, you need to have good overall oral health and be 18 or older. If you have gum disease or tooth decay, clear those issues up before you start. Certain types of restorative and cosmetic dentistry are also incompatible with treatment. Missing teeth don’t automatically disqualify you, but they could, depending on their number and location.
Getting Started With SmartSmile
It’s easy to kick things off with SmartSmile. The first step is taking a simple quiz on their website, which will help determine if you might be eligible for treatment. The questions it asks include:
- Are you over 18?
- Which images show orthodontic problems you have?
- Do you still have baby teeth?
- Do you have any crowns on the front ten teeth?
- Do you have active gum disease?
- Do you have wobbly or loose teeth?
- What dental work have you had?
Then they ask for a photo of your teeth, which you upload. To finish, you fill out your contact info and send it all off for review. If you are a candidate for treatment, SmartSmile will get in touch to either set up an in-person assessment or have you purchase your impression kit.
Based on what they see during the in-person assessment or your impressions, SmartSmile can tell if you truly are qualified for treatment, and if so, which of their tiers your misalignment falls into. They’ll then contact you to explain which option they feel is best and to encourage you to purchase the corresponding aligner package. You’ll get a free 3D preview of your smile and then decide if you want to move forward. After you make your purchase, they’ll create your aligners based on your digital scan or impressions.
If you require in-person treatment, you can attend appointments at the location nearest you. Currently, SmartSmile has clinics in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.
What Happens During SmartSmile Treatment?
SmartSmile treatment typically requires all-day wear — meaning you’ll keep your aligners in place for 22 hours per day, only taking them out to eat, drink, brush, and floss. However, they offer nighttime treatment on a case-by-case basis. If this interests you, be sure to ask before ordering your aligners.
You’ll wear each aligner set between 7 and 14 days (your plan will specify exactly how long) before moving to the next in the series. With the Simple and Moderate plans, you’ll regularly complete remote check-ins, uploading photos and chatting with the doctor in charge of your case. If you are on the Complex plan, you’ll see your doctor in person roughly once a month and check in remotely in-between. In some cases, you might even be able to extend the time between office visits if you use remote monitoring correctly.
Treatment timelines vary based on how your body responds, how closely you follow instructions, and which plan you’re on. Most people on the Simple plan take around four months to complete treatment. Moderate cases take anywhere from four to twelve months, while Complex plans usually take more than twelve months.
Once you’ve worn your last set of aligners, you’ll move into the retention phase, where you just need to purchase retainers from SmartSmile. Be sure to look into their Smile for Life subscription to save money on your retainers and keep up with the terms of their lifetime guarantee.
Paying for SmartSmile
A big part of SmartSmile’s appeal is its price — for the Simple and Moderate plans, their treatment is significantly less than fully in-office options, while the Complex plan still undercuts many providers, including Invisalign. Still, for the average Australian, all of these plans represent a significant investment.
Treatment Costs
SmartSmile uses a tiered pricing structure based on the treatment plan you require. Simple cases are a flat rate of $1,999. If your misalignment is moderate, you’ll pay $2,395. And if it is severe, your cost will be $4,950. While the price jump between Moderate and Complex is significant, it reflects the time and expertise your doctor invests in your office visits, as well as the use of attachments that enhance your results.
While treatment itself is a flat rate, it’s not all-inclusive. There are additional purchases you either need to make or might want to add on for a better experience. These include:
- The Impression Kit ($95): If you choose to take your own impressions, you’ll need to pay for the kit. It includes free return shipping, a 3D preview of your treatment plan, remote support, and a money-back guarantee.
- In-Clinic Assessment ($150): It will cost more than taking impressions yourself, but it’s more robust and convenient. For this cost, you’ll get a digital scan, OPG X-ray, a dental health check, and photographs in addition to the 3D preview of your treatment plan.
- Smile for Life Guarantee Subscription ($189): This plan provides two sets of retainers per year, helping keep your teeth in their ideal positions and keeping you eligible for the Smile for Life Guarantee.
- SmartRetainers ($99 per set): If you choose to skip the subscription, you can still maintain your smile and meet the terms of the guarantee by purchasing your retainers set by set.
Payment Plans
If you find that the cost of SmartSmile is a bit too much to afford outright, don’t worry; they offer payment plans for all of their treatment tiers. Each interest-free plan runs through Humm and requires no deposit. Here are their terms:
- Simple Cases: $31 per fortnight for 30 months.
- Moderate Cases: $37 per fortnight for 30 months.
- Complex Cases: $76 per fortnight for 30 months.
All plans require a $40 set-up fee and an $8 monthly account-keeping fee, so keep this in mind when planning your budget.
Guarantees
When you make a big purchase, you want to be protected by the right guarantees. SmartSmile offers three, giving you maximum confidence in your purchase.
Smile for Life Guarantee
This guarantee covers your smile for life as long as you comply with the rules for post-treatment care (seeing your dentist regularly and wearing your retainers as directed). If your teeth shift anyway, they will issue new aligners to move them back.
Treatment Guarantee
This guarantee has your back if your teeth aren’t moving despite following your treatment plan. This means you have worn aligners as directed, checked in at the required times, and uploaded photos according to directions.
Impression Kit Guarantee
When you take your impressions, you don’t know if you will qualify for treatment or not — so spending $95 on it might seem like a risk. However, if their orthodontists determine you aren’t eligible for treatment, SmartSmile gives you your money back.
Final Thoughts
SmartSmile aligners give you another option for affordable teeth straightening, even if your case is fairly complex. They blend remote and in-person treatment in a way that few other companies do, making them a unique and effective choice. While they won’t be perfect for everyone, we think they have a lot to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hybrid treatment?
Hybrid treatment refers to alignment plans that combine remote and in-office elements. Usually, you start and end treatment by seeing a doctor in person, but handle all check-ins remotely. However, it can also include trading off between remote check-ins and in-person ones.
How accurate are remote monitoring scans?
Accuracy depends on how the company handles remote monitoring. Some are just photographs with a cheek stretcher in place. Others use an actual intraoral camera that communicates with your smartphone. In general, the more technologically advanced the monitoring technology is, the more accurate the scans will be.
Why are some clear aligners faster than others?
Usually, it’s just because they treat more minor cases. The more complex the case, the longer it takes to resolve. If a company only treats mild-to-moderate cases, their average treatment timelines will automatically be shorter than a company that takes on severe misalignments.
Can you use clear aligners if you have traditional veneers or a bridge?
In most cases, no. Aligners need to grip the teeth and exert force on them. With veneers and bridges — and many other forms of cosmetic and restorative dentistry — the aligners either won’t be able to get a good grip or they will break the materials.
Is it dangerous to have aligners if I grind my teeth in my sleep?
No, you’ll typically only wear each aligner set for 7–14 days, and they should be strong enough that you cannot grind through them during that time.
Are aligners more comfortable than braces?
Most people think so. They are low profile and smooth, so they cause less irritation, and they also require fewer lifestyle changes.
How many hours a day do I need to wear my clear aligners?
If you get all-day aligners, 22 hours per day. If you opt for nighttime-only treatment, ten continuous hours.
When do I need to remove my aligners?
When you eat, drink anything besides plain water, brush, and floss.
What happens if treatment doesn’t go as planned?
This depends on the company or doctor you work with. Some will issue refinement aligners for free (assuming you followed your treatment plan) while others will charge you.
Will I need retainers after treatment?
Yes. The ligaments that hold the teeth in place naturally want to pull them back into their original positions, so retainers are always essential to maintaining your new smile.
Join The Discussion: