NewSmile vs. SmileDirectClub Canada: What You Should Know

Are you looking for an affordable, convenient option for straightening your teeth? At-home clear aligners could be the solution for you. They straighten smiles while costing thousands less than in-office treatments — and they are much lighter on your schedule.

NewSmile and SmileDirectClub are two at-home aligner companies in Canada, and they both offer pretty stellar treatment. This comparison guide will cover all the key details of each company, positioning you to make the best decision for your smile.

Company Overviews

NewSmile entered the clear aligner market in 2020. Founded in Vancouver, it currently operates in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. As a remote treatment, you can handle the entire process at home from start to finish — no office visits required.

Like other remote aligners, NewSmile is a cosmetic treatment, addressing mild-to-moderate cases of crowding and spacing, mostly in the front six teeth. Their team monitors you through remote check-ins and treatment wraps up in a matter of months.

SmileDirectClub is pretty similar to NewSmile: it’s a remote treatment, addresses mild-to-moderate crowding and spacing in the front six teeth, and includes remote monitoring. However, they have more years of experience since they were founded in 2014. During that time, they expanded to multiple countries and straightened over one million smiles.

Effectiveness Comparison

Right now, you likely have a lot of questions, and at the top of the list is, “How well do these companies work?” Think: what can they treat, who plans treatment, and how are the aligners cut? Whether you choose NewSmile or SmileDirectClub, you’ll get effective treatment, but there are a few small differences between them.

What Can They Treat?

As at-home aligner companies, both NewSmile and SmileDirectClub are limited in their treatment scope. They cannot use attachments and you don’t get robust, in-person supervision. With either company, you can address cosmetic concerns regarding spacing and gaps in the front six teeth, and in limited cases, slightly more complex issues related to tooth placement.

If your alignment issues are complex or involve the molars, you’ll need to look into other options. Luckily, most adults only need cosmetic corrections.

Manufacturer Quality

It’s always good to know who makes the products you use — especially ones you put on your teeth! Unfortunately, NewSmile isn’t very transparent here. We don’t know if they make their aligners themselves or outsource the task, and it isn’t clear what plastic they use besides it being BPA and phthalate free. SmileDirectClub is a little more up front about their aligners. They produce them in-house using a durable thermoplastic PET-G that’s BPA-free.

Aligner Cut

There are two options for aligner cut: straight or scalloped. Straight cuts generate more force, which means the teeth move faster. Scalloped cuts match the gum line but they trade effectiveness for attractiveness (more on this in a bit). NewSmile goes with the scalloped cut, while SmileDirectClub cuts their aligners straight across.

Dental Network

Both dentists and orthodontists can design and administer aligner treatment. However, orthodontists have more extensive training in moving the teeth. NewSmile and SmileDirectClub take the same approach here, using a mixed team of general dentists and orthodontists to plan their treatments. This ensures you get that orthodontic expertise while also benefiting from diverse perspectives.

Affordability Comparison

Effectiveness is essential — but it won’t mean much if you can’t afford the aligners! NewSmile and SmileDirectClub will save you a thousand dollars or more over most in-office treatments but there is a pretty big difference in their price points.

Sticker Price

NewSmile is the more affordable of the two companies. Their all-day aligners are just $1,899 while their nighttime-only plan is $2,099. SmileDirectClub charges $2,700, which is an $800 difference between it and NewSmile’s all-day option. However, they don’t charge extra for nighttime-only aligners, which closes the gap a bit there.

Free Extras

While getting your aligners and your new smile is a great deal on its own, most at-home aligner companies also offer free extras that boost their value. NewSmile offers both a whitening kit and your first set of aftercare retainers in their treatment price — that’s a solid deal. SmileDirectClub offers a free whitening solution but you will need to pay for your retainers.

Financing Options

With NewSmile, you can choose to pay everything up front or enroll in their monthly plan. If you choose this, you’ll pay $83 a month for all-day treatment or $91 a month for nighttime-only aligners. You pay off the balance over 24 months and plans start at 0% interest. And you don’t have to make a down payment to get started. It’s a pretty solid financing plan.

SmileDirectClub also offers financing but the terms aren’t quite so favorable. You need to make a down payment of $300 and you’ll pay $115 a month for 26 months. Interest is charged, so you’ll spend more than if you paid up front.

Convenience Comparison

Price is the top reason adults choose remote treatment over in-office aligners. The second? Their convenience. You skip the office visits, keeping your schedule open for other responsibilities and (hopefully) a little free time. Here’s how NewSmile and SmileDirectClub compare in terms of convenience.

Getting Started

With all aligner companies, your first step is the same: get impressions of your teeth. These can be digital (which is the case with most in-office options) or physical molds (the norm for at-home aligners). These impressions let your provider determine if you are a good fit for their treatment and design your aligners if you are.

With NewSmile and SmileDirectClub, you have the choice of either taking your own impressions or going to a physical location for an in-person scan. NewSmile has partner clinics located in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Vancouver, Toronto, and Burlington. SmileDirectClub has eight Canadian SmileShops: two in Alberta, one in British Columbia, four in Ontario, and one in Quebec.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

With both companies, you get the same average treatment timeline: 4–6 months with all-day aligners and 8–10 months with nighttime-only. This is pretty standard for at-home aligners, if on the slightly faster end of the spectrum.

What About Nighttime-Only Treatment?

With NewSmile and SmileDirectClub, you have the option of nighttime-only treatment. This helps make treatment more convenient. Instead of wearing your aligners 22 hours a day and frequently removing them to eat and drink (and then cleaning them and your teeth before popping them back in), you wear them for 10 continuous hours, mostly while sleeping. Just keep in mind that you cannot take them out during those 10 hours and your treatment timeline will expand by 2–4 months.

Appearance Comparison

The most notable feature of clear aligners is their appearance: they’re practically invisible when worn. But while they all look the same at first glance, there are quite a few visual differences between aligner companies that can make one better for you than another. Here’s what you need to consider with NewSmile and SmileDirectClub.

Aligner Material

Every company has the option to use the aligner material of their choice — and each plastic has its own look. Textured, translucent, matte plastics tend to look the most natural because they align with the natural texture and appearance of the enamel.

NewSmile uses smooth, transparent, shiny plastic, which means their aligners can look a bit unnatural, depending on how the light hits them. SmileDirectClub goes textured, translucent, and matte, making them all-natural all the way.

Aligner Cut

When it comes to effectiveness, NewSmile lost out in the aligner cut category. However, it gives them an advantage in terms of appearance. Scalloped aligners hide the edge in the gum line, making it harder to spot. The straight cut that SmileDirectClub uses leaves a clear line along the gums, which might be visible with gummy smiles.

Stain Resistance

NewSmile and SmileDirectClub both use plastics that are reasonably stain resistant. However, they can still discolor if you do not treat them properly. Remove them whenever you eat or drink anything besides plain water and clean them according to their directions. You don’t want to be stuck with a stained aligner for a week or two until you can change to the next.

Customer Experience Comparison

With remote treatments, the support and interaction you receive from your aligner provider are central to how you feel about your experience. Both NewSmile and SmileDirectClub work hard to make sure you feel taken care of every step of the way, but we have found that one performs better than the other.

Communication Channels

Getting in touch with NewSmile and SmileDirectClub is pretty much the same. You can call them, reach out through social media, or send an email (contact form for SmileDirectClub). The main difference is in their hours of availability. SmileDirectClub can be reached by phone 24 hours a day. NewSmile is only available Monday-Saturday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm PST and Sunday from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm PST.

Responsiveness and Helpfulness

Full disclosure: we didn’t try either of these companies ourselves. However, we did dig deep into what customers are saying. And on the whole, customers are happy with both companies.

However, NewSmile has a more consistent performance. Their customers were happy with the support they received pretty much across the board. With SmileDirectClub, performance seems to vary by year. During their rapid expansion a few years back, they struggled. Currently, they are doing better, though not perfect.

Refund & Warranty Policies

With both companies, you get a refund if you complete their impression kit and they decide you aren’t suitable for treatment. Beyond this, NewSmile states that they will work with you to get the results you want if you reach the end of treatment and aren’t happy.

SmileDirectClub goes further. If you decide you don’t like treatment after you start, they offer a prorated refund based on how many aligners you have left. This is better than most companies offer.

Which Should You Choose?

In truth, these are two great companies that have quality, effective clear aligners. Neither is better than the other in every case. Instead, they each have their strengths and weaknesses. Base your decision on which best aligns with your condition, goals, and expectations.

Who Should Choose NewSmile?

NewSmile is good for those who:

• Want to work with a Canadian-owned company.
• Need a low price.
• Like a shiny smile.

Who Should Choose SmileDirectClub?

SmileDirectClub is great for people who:

• Want a more comprehensive refund policy.
• Prefer to work with a highly experienced provider.
• Would benefit from a 24/7 customer support team.