SmileDirectClub Review: What You Should Know

Visit Website

SmileDirectClub helped start an orthodontic revolution as one of the first companies to deliver clear aligners to customers’ homes. Historically, the only way to align your smile was to get braces or Invisalign from a dentist or orthodontist, but companies like SmileDirectClub have made the process of getting your ideal smile more affordable and more convenient.

SmileDirectClub was the pioneer of at-home clear aligner treatment, but they’re not the only option out there. So, how do you know if SmileDirectClub is right for you? In this review, we’ll dive into all the details you should know before making a final decision.

What is SmileDirectClub?

Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, SmileDirectClub is an online company that offers convenient and affordable teeth aligners. SmileDirectClub’s clear aligners look and feel similar to Invisalign — they fit the contours of your teeth perfectly and have a much lower profile than traditional braces. However, unlike Invisalign, treatment doesn’t require a single trip to the dentist’s office. Instead, SmileDirectClub’s licensed dentists will develop your treatment plan remotely and ship your aligners to administer at home.

When SmileDirectClub first hit the market in 2014, the concept was groundbreaking — they were the first company to offer home-based clear aligner treatment on a wide scale. Before that, a handful of dentists across the U.S. sold custom clear aligners via mail order, but few customers knew about it. Today, SmileDirectClub has treated over 1.5 million patients, making them one of the most popular clear aligner producers on the market.

SmileDirectClub is primarily a cosmetic treatment. Their aligners can only treat mild-to-moderate cases of spacing and crowding, along with minor bite issues. If your case is severe, or if you have a bite misalignment (like overbite or underbite) it certainly doesn’t preclude you from getting treatment; however, the results you want might require the intensive in-office care of braces or Invisalign.

Treatment with SmileDirectClub costs $2,050, much less than traditional in-office orthodontics. This price difference is because dentists typically charge considerable markups for their services administering and overseeing their treatments. By taking office visits out of the equation, SmileDirectClub can streamline the treatment and eliminate a large percentage of the cost.

SmileDirectClub’s success has created healthy competition in the home teeth alignment industry. In recent years, several other providers (such as Byte and AlignerCo) have sprouted up, each with its own unique advantages. However, SmileDirectClub still stands out as the largest and most experienced at-home clear aligner brand.

SmileDirectClub Aligners

SmileDirectClub Impression Kit

Before & After

Before & After

Is SmileDirectClub a Good Option? Our Perspective.

Even though SmileDirectClub and other at-home aligners offer more flexibility, convenience, and financial freedom than traditional orthodontic treatments, they aren’t a perfect solution for everyone. Our comprehensive guide to home teeth alignment provides a lot more information on the difference between at-home and in-office aligners, as well as what makes someone a good candidate for each.

Like all home teeth aligners, SmileDirectClub’s aligners can only treat mild-to-moderate cases of crowding and spacing, along with minor bite issues. For these conditions, the company can deliver impressive transformations for less time and money than both braces and Invisalign. Though if your condition is severe, or you simply prefer facetime with a dentist, you’d likely be better off with one of those traditional in-office treatments.

In our ranking of the top five home-based clear aligner products, SmileDirectClub came in at #3 overall. When assessing each company, we considered five separate criteria: effectiveness, affordability, convenience, appearance and customer support.

We’ve provided a lot more detail on how SmileDirectClub stacks up category by category, but here’s a quick summary of the biggest pros and cons:

Effectiveness

Though more affordable than traditional orthodontics, home teeth alignment is still an investment, so you’ll want to choose a provider that can deliver the exact results you’re after. It’s wise to evaluate each clear aligner option’s advantages and limitations, as they can affect your treatment’s overall quality.

SmileDirectClub can’t correct the same scope of severe conditions that in-office treatments like Invisalign and ClearCorrect can. However, scroll through reviews from patients with mild crowding or spacing issues, and you’ll notice a trend: satisfaction and impressive smile transformations. But just because SmileDirectClub has helped patients achieve their smile goals doesn’t mean it’s effective for everyone.

SmileDirectClub is best-suited for mild and moderate misalignments.

Like most other at-home aligner systems, SmileDirectClub can effectively correct mild crowding and spacing, and potentially slight bite issues. But when it comes to severe cases and jaw misalignments, their treatment can’t often deliver the same results.

In-office clear aligners like Invisalign provide hands-on care from a dentist over a longer period of time, and can incorporate attachments that encourage more complex shifts, allowing them to treat a wider scope of dental and jaw issues.

Your SmileDirectClub treatment will be designed by a licensed dentist, and they’ll monitor your progress every 90 days.

When you order SmileDirectClub, a dental technician trained in 3D teeth modeling software will develop your treatment plan. Then, a licensed dentist (though not necessarily an orthodontist) will review your case, approve you for treatment, and develop your aligner plan.

During your treatment, you’ll submit photos of your teeth every 90 days so that SmileDirectClub’s team can monitor your progress and make adjustments to your wear schedule if necessary. It’s reassuring to have these regular check-ins, but SmileDirectClub’s system isn’t as robust as other clear aligner brands.

AlignerCo, for example, requires photo check-ins every 14 days. So does Candid, whose treatment is administered in-person by a dentist, followed by routine remote check-ins. And if you go with a more comprehensive option like Invisalign or ClearCorrect, you’ll have office visits every 4–6 weeks, which is still more frequent than SmileDirectClub requires.

Align Technology (makers of Invisalign) once manufactured SmileDirectClub aligners, but now SmileDirectClub produces them in-house.

For a long time, SmileDirectClub worked with Align Technology (Align Tech) to produce its clear aligners. Align Tech created Invisalign and is one of the most trusted clear aligner manufacturers out there. Their patented technology minimizes the discomfort associated with tooth and jaw shifts. It is our understanding that Align Tech also provided SmileDirectClub with the software they use to model teeth movements.

We were always big fans of this partnership. It meant that SmileDirectClub customers would benefit from the same industry-leading aligners and supporting technology as Invisalign users. But Align Tech ended the partnership and SmileDirectClub now manufactures their aligners in-house.

So far, SmileDirectClub’s in-house production has been excellent. They’ve implemented “Comfort Sense,” which they describe as a “proprietary soft, medium, and firm aligner plastic progression to ease teeth more comfortably into place.” While still a new development, it seems like this design could mean more comfortable treatment for patients.

SmileDirectClub’s aligners overlap your gums, giving them extra power.

As part of their “Comfort Sense” design, SmileDirectClub trims the tops of their aligners, but they still overlap your gums. This might make them slightly more visible, but it also increases their power, since they can leverage the gums to apply up to four times the force of scalloped aligners.

Affordability

Historically, the high price tag for braces and Invisalign has caused adults to shy away from in-office treatment.

A major benefit of home aligner companies like SmileDirectClub is the affordable price point compared to traditional treatment options. The innovation of home alignment technology has made orthodontic treatment much more accessible. Home aligner products typically cost around $2,000, significantly less than Invisalign or braces, which can set you back more than $5,000 or more.

SmileDirectClub’s total cost is $2,050, which is fairly standard among home aligner companies and much less than in-office treatments.

When purchased with a single payment, SmileDirectClub costs $2,050. That’s quite a bit less than braces and Invisalign, which often costs $3,000–$8,000. But among at-home aligner services, it’s about average. You’ll also pay $59 for an impression kit, but you can avoid this cost by getting a free scan at a local SmileShop (if you live near one).

As a bonus, SmileDirectClub includes a “bright on” teeth whitening kit with your purchase. Just five minutes a day, they say, will get your teeth to their “brightest bright” in one week.

Although retainers are a required part of the treatment process, SmileDirectClub does not include them in the sticker price. So, you can expect to pay an extra $99 at the end of your aligner treatment for retainers, which must be replaced every six months. Other companies, like Byte, include one set of retainers in the initial price, so there are no surprise costs at the end.

SmileDirectClub makes financing available to all of its customers through SmilePay — no credit check required.

While SmileDirectClub is much cheaper than in-office treatments, $2,050 isn’t pocket change, so many patients opt to finance their treatment. To take advantage of SmilePay, you just need to put down $250, then you’ll pay $89 per month for 26 months. This means you’ll be paying an effective interest rate of just over 20%.

SmilePay does not require a credit check or any additional paperwork. All customers are eligible, so everyone can have access to a transformed smile. SmileDirectClub, Byte, and AlignerCo are currently the only at-home aligner companies that guarantee all customers will qualify for financing. Other companies require a credit check, and you may be declined if your credit is not strong enough.

If you go with an in-office treatment, you can often still jump on a financing plan — but you’ll get it from either your dentist’s office or a third-party company. Both routes can require credit checks and include interest, but you’ll need to ask your dentist for details.

Convenience

Aside from cost, one of the biggest barriers to pursuing a more comfortable smile is the time commitment of traditional orthodontics. We all have busy lives and repeated visits to the dentist’s office don’t exactly count as leisure. Never mind taking time off work every month for your appointments. In-office methods might be able to treat even the most severe conditions, but for adults with milder misalignments, at-home aligners can be a more convenient option.

SmileDirectClub and their at-home aligner brethren ship everything directly to your home, cutting out the office visits. And because they’re typically best for minor issues, most home aligners (SmileDirectClub included) can achieve your desired results in 4–6 months, compared to the typical 18 months for braces and 12 months for Invisalign.

At-home teeth straightening is, in general, more convenient than seeing a dentist month after month, but SmileDirectClub goes above and beyond to make teeth straightening as accessible and user-friendly as possible.

SmileDirectClub makes it easier than ever to get your treatment started.

The first step for most home aligner companies is to evaluate your smile by examining impressions of your teeth. You will order an impression kit — which typically costs $50–100 — and use it to make molds of your top and bottom dental arches. On the surface, it seems simple enough, but many customers report that making good impressions on their own can be surprisingly difficult. It’s not uncommon for customers to make multiple attempts, which can delay the start of treatment by a few weeks.

Getting X-rays and dental scans from a professional, like you would with Invisalign or Candid, is quick, easy, and guarantees perfect images on the first try.

SmileDirectClub mimics that startup process in retail locations called SmileShops. If you’d rather not deal with taking impressions on your own, pop into a local SmileShop where a dental assistant will scan your teeth for free. This ensures a perfect impression in one try, and helps to expedite your treatment start date. After your quick scan, you’ll leave the SmileShop with free whitening gel and the excitement of having jumpstarted your teeth straightening journey.

Over the past few years, SmileDirectClub has opened more than 300 SmileShops, and a partnership with CVS helped expand their physical presence. If you live in a major population center, chances are good there’s a SmileShop near you, or there will be soon. But if you’re unable to visit a SmileShop during working hours, you can always order an impression kit and do things the old-fashioned way.

SmileDirectClub also has a Partner Network of more than 1,500 dentists nationwide, who can get you started with an assessment and teeth scan in their offices. So, if you’d rather have a dentist handling your scan, that’s yet another option. Though this dentist will only be involved for your initial scan, not your entire treatment, like they would with Candid.

Once SmileDirectClub receives your impression or scan, within 72 hours they will send you a “Smile Plan” — a preview of how your teeth will look post-treatment. If you like what you see, you can approve the plan and get the ball rolling. But if the plan doesn’t match your expectations and goals, there’s no obligation to move forward.

Nighttime-only aligners take convenience to the next level.

Some people can’t (or don’t want to) wear their aligners for 22+ hours per day. To make treatment more flexible and accessible for these customers, SmileDirectClub launched a new, nighttime-only aligner series. Selecting this plan means that you’ll only need to wear your clear aligners for ten hours per day, presumably while you sleep. If you’re a regular snacker or have an on-the-go lifestyle, this could be a huge convenience.

Regular aligners require a bit more work — you need to take them out before eating and/or drinking, then brush and floss before putting them back in. Nighttime-only aligners let you skip the hassle, popping them in as part of your bedtime routine, and taking them out in the morning. In-office clear aligner treatments typically don’t have a comparable overnight wear schedule, but most other at-home aligner services do, including Byte, AlignerCo, and NewSmile.

If you’re considering nighttime-only treatment, check out our article covering the pros and cons of SmileDirectClub’s Nighttime Clear Aligners.

Aligners take 4–6 weeks to ship, on average.

After you confirm your treatment and order your aligners, SmileDirectClub will produce your aligner trays and ship them out. You will probably be excited to start transforming your smile, but you’ll need to exercise some patience, as the aligners take 4–6 weeks to manufacture and arrive at your door. This timeframe is fairly comparable to other home aligner companies. However, some SmileDirectClub customers report delays, which increases the wait time. Keep this in mind if you’re in a hurry to get started with your home aligners.

If you get started at a SmileShop, you may have the option to sign up for a “Fast Track” service. Essentially, this gets your aligners to your door as fast as possible. However, it also means you need to pay the full treatment cost upfront, so it’s not an option for everyone. And according to some customer reviews, after agreeing to fast-track their aligner production, they weren’t able to see their full treatment plan before receiving their aligners, so make sure you consider it carefully before signing up.

Start to finish, treatment takes 4–6 months on average, or ten months for the nighttime-only option.

That’s much faster than the 12–18+ months required by Invisalign and braces, but compared to other at-home aligner systems, it’s just average. Of course, your specific treatment timeline depends largely on the severity of your condition, since more complex misalignments take longer to correct.

Check your calendar before starting treatment to see if SmileDirectClub’s timelines align with yours. If you want to smile confidently for your graduation photos in six months, for example, nighttime aligners might not be your best bet.

SmileDirectClub includes whitening in your treatment plan, so you can whiten your smile while you transform your teeth!

One final thing to consider is teeth whitening. Most of the top home aligner systems (including SmileDirectClub) offer a whitening product as a free add-on. Simply apply the whitening gel inside your aligners and your teeth will get visibly brighter while they shift.

Appearance

Adults seeking straighter teeth might hesitate to choose a highly visible treatment, opting instead for more discreet options. They might be self-conscious about sporting metal brackets to an interview, date, or special occasion, making less-noticeable options like clear aligner products much more attractive. Consequently, all clear aligners score well in the aesthetics category, and SmileDirectClub is no exception.

That said, not all clear aligners look the same. They are all made from transparent, BPA-free plastic, but each brand looks slightly different due to variations in materials and manufacturing processes.

SmileDirectClub aligners are matte, reasonably resistant to staining, and slightly overlap the gums.

SmileDirectClub makes their aligners from plastic that appears frosted. Teeth are naturally porous — which is why that cup of coffee or red wine can stain them — and these pores make them look matte. So less-shiny aligners can present a more natural look, although some customers like the gleam of smooth, fully transparent ones.

In addition, SmileDirectClub aligners overlap your gums by a few millimeters, which can make them more noticeable. A scalloped cut that matches your gum line would be more discreet, but as we mentioned above, overlapping the gums allows the aligners to apply more force.

All clear aligners are susceptible to stains from food and beverages, so it’s important to remove them before eating or drinking anything other than plain water. Our current understanding is that SmileDirectClub aligners are reasonably resistant to staining, although we certainly wouldn’t recommend drinking coffee or red wine with your aligners in.

SmileDirectClub aligners don’t incorporate attachments, preserving their low profile.

When administering Invisalign, a dentist can affix elastics and special attachments to the teeth that help their scalloped aligners make more intricate teeth movements. Attachments make the aligners more effective, but also increase their visibility.

Since home aligners like SmileDirectClub don’t involve in-person office visits, these attachments are not possible. But that also means there are no extra bumps or hardware on your teeth.

If you feel uneasy about wearing aligners during the day, SmileDirectClub’s nighttime-only treatment plan could be a game-changer.

While invisible aligners are very discreet, they still aren’t 100% invisible. From up close, others may notice that you have your clear trays in. Moreover, it’s common for aligners to cause a slight lisp, especially for the first few days after changing to new trays. If you have a job where this may be an issue, SmileDirectClub’s Nighttime Aligners may be a better fit for you.

SmileDirectClub’s Nighttime Aligners require just ten hours of daily wear, so you only need to have them in after dinner and while you sleep. This could be a perfect option for anyone who feels uncomfortable wearing aligners during the day or who doesn’t like removing and replacing them to eat and drink.

Customer Experience

Dental treatment is expensive, and you only have one set of teeth. It’s important to feel completely confident that your treatment provider will treat you right and have your back if anything goes wrong. As a fully remote treatment, they’re not able to provide the personalization and reliability that comes with in-office care, but they do maintain strong return and refund policies.

Customer support is typically responsive, but has a history of mixed reviews.

No at-home aligner service can provide the same personalized and intensive support you’ll receive from hands-on treatment at a dentist’s office. But some have implemented highly responsive remote customer service teams and multiple communication channels.

SmileDirectClub is a large company with a longer track record than other providers in this space. They have put a lot of time into creating helpful online support resources for customers, which is great. On the other hand, some could argue that the company grew too quickly and that their customer support has trouble keeping up. Customers have reported communication delays and that they sometimes have to go back and forth with support multiple times.

By implementing remote oversight and 24/7 support availability, SmileDirectClub has taken strides toward more reliable, responsive customer support. Plus, their website contains extensive resources, so you might find answers to your questions without needing to contact the support team at all.

They provide regular check-ins with dental professionals and consistent access to their care team.

SmileDirectClub’s mobile app lets you track your treatment progress and contact their customer service team via text, video, chat, email, and phone (they say this team is available 24/7).

Additionally, they’ve implemented virtual Smile Check-ins every 90 days, where you’ll submit photos of your teeth so that their dental team can monitor your progress and address any concerns you have. It’s a nice touch, although it’s not quite as robust as clear aligner treatments that involve in-person care and/or more frequent remote check-ins.

Refunds and return policies make SmileDirectClub a safe bet.

Despite the complaints about customer service delays, most customers are satisfied with SmileDirectClub’s refund policy. If, after completing an impression kit or getting your teeth scanned, the company determines you aren’t a suitable candidate for home aligner treatment, they will refund you in full (including your kit).

Let’s say you are approved for treatment and get started on a treatment plan, but change your mind right away. Cancel your treatment in the first 30 days for any reason and you’ll receive a full refund (excluding your kit), and they’ll issue prorated refunds for unused and unopened aligners after that. Additionally, assuming you follow all the steps they prescribe (checking in online every 90 days, for example), but aren’t happy with the results, SmileDirectClub dentists will generally work with you to extend your treatment with more aligner trays for free.

Their Lifetime Smile Guarantee will maintain your new smile forever.

SmileDirectClub will provide touch-ups—a couple of new aligners—if your teeth happen to shift at all down the road, whether it’s six months or ten years after your treatment. To qualify, you must purchase two retainers per year ($99 each) and wear them as directed.

What are SmileDirectClub Customers Saying?

When we review a company like SmileDirectClub, we start by digging through customer reviews to understand common issues and concerns.

Given SmileDirectClub’s multi-year history, there are many genuine online reviews detailing customer experiences with the product.

SmileDirectClub customers often feel positive about their experiences, despite some hiccups along the way. Customer support might be hit-or-miss, but the company generally keeps its promises. Although, it may take some extra effort on the customer’s end.

Each set of aligners seems well-made (most people don’t need to file down any rough edges or irregularities, unlike some other brands), and the treatment process is reportedly only mildly uncomfortable. Most customers report increased discomfort for the first day or two of each aligner set, especially when removing them after a long period of time. This pain subsides quickly and, for most customers, is not a major concern. A majority complete their treatment and feel satisfied with the results.

For a realistic look at the SmileDirectClub customer experience, check out the unbiased SmileDirectClub reviews we’ve gathered from users at various stages of the treatment process.

Best Alternatives to SmileDirectClub

While SmileDirectClub is a great clear aligner company, there are other at-home and in-office options to consider. Invisalign is the primary in-office option, and while it is more expensive than home aligners, dentists can achieve more advanced teeth movements with additional attachments. If you’re set on completing treatment from home, there are also several other home aligner options that are worth looking into.

Invisalign vs. SmileDirectClub

For more intensive cases of teeth and jaw misalignment, you can’t beat in-person care, and Invisalign is one of the most versatile and comprehensive in-office clear aligners available. Regular office visits allow the dentist to apply supplemental attachments, elastics, and other appliances that induce more drastic and/or nuanced tooth and jaw movements. If you have a bite misalignment or a severe case of crowding or spacing, SmileDirectClub’s home aligners might simply be too limited for the results you’re after.

With average prices ranging from $3,000 to $8,000, Invisalign is a lot more expensive. But if effectiveness and customer support are your top priorities, Invisalign may be a better option for you. You’ll have plenty of one-on-one time with your dentist (at least once per month) to discuss any concerns.

Candid vs. SmileDirectClub

Candid offers a unique blend of in-office and at-home care. You’ll start your treatment in a local dentist’s office (there are 300+ in Candid’s network). After that, you’ll complete most of your aligner plan at home, submitting photo check-ins every 14 days, so your dentist can collaborate with Candid to keep you on track. This CandidMonitoring model is more robust than at-home aligners, yet more streamlined than Invisalign.

At $3,500+, Candid is pricier than SmileDirectClub, but you’re paying for hands-on care and a dentist who can bring you in for additional office visits if anything goes wrong. Their hybrid model could be a great fit for anyone who likes the convenience of teledentistry, but likes the idea of having some face-time with their dentist.

Byte vs SmileDirectClub

Byte is newer to the home aligner market than SmileDirectClub. Even so, Byte stands out in their innovation. They advertise an average treatment plan length of just 4–5 months, and in your aligner package, they’ll include a HyperByte device, which uses gentle micropulses that are intended to give you a more comfortable aligner fit.

Like SmileDirectClub, they offer nighttime-only treatment and 100% approval on financing. It seems like Byte has combined some of the best perks other companies offer, and that’s why they’re our top choice for home aligner treatment.

Is SmileDirectClub Right for You?

If you are looking for a super convenient treatment option, SmileDirectClub is definitely worth considering. That said, there are several other high-quality clear aligner brands on the market, and we encourage you to consider all your options before making a final decision!