SmileDirectClub revolutionized the clear aligner industry, taking the aesthetics of Invisalign and pairing them with the convenience of fully remote care — then offering it for much less than in-office treatment. But not everyone is comfortable with strictly remote care. Sometimes, you need the reassurance and guidance that comes with seeing a dental expert in person.
That’s why SmileDirectClub has introduced CarePlus, a hybrid approach that blends remote and in-office elements. But does this approach really offer the best of both worlds?
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What Is SmileDirectClub?
SmileDirectClub is a company that produces custom-made clear aligners and delivers them directly to their customers. They say this treatment typically takes around 4–6 months, and unlike traditional orthodontic treatments, it doesn’t require a single trip to the dentist’s office — however, SmileDirectClub can only correct mild and moderate misalignments.
To date, SmileDirectClub has worked with over 1.8 million customers across multiple countries. Their remote treatment costs $2,250, and you can choose from all-day or nighttime-only plans. You can get started with an impression kit, a 3D scan at one of their SmileShops, or an appointment at one of their 1,000+ Partner Network clinics. And now, they are launching their CarePlus offering, starting in four key U.S. markets before opening up the service nationwide.
SmileDirectClub CarePlus: Key Takeaways
- CarePlus uses the same clear aligners, treatment plans, and design as SmileDirectClub’s standard offerings.
- It requires an initial in-person consultation with a partner dentist, then virtual check-ins — although you can schedule more in-person appointments if you’d like.
- CarePlus is available whether you choose all-day treatment or Nighttime Clear Aligners.
- It costs a set price of $3,900, or $115 per month with FlexPay.
- After finishing treatment, CarePlus customers receive two years’ worth of retainers.
- It’s unclear what the initial consultation entails, if it requires dental X-rays, or if those X-rays are included in the price.
- Currently, it’s only available in Denver, San Diego, Sacramento, and Orlando.
How Does SmileDirectClub CarePlus Work?
The lower prices and reduced time commitment of at-home aligners are great, but some people just prefer face-time with a dentist. If that’s you, SmileDirectClub’s CarePlus treatment might be a viable option. Offered through select partner clinics, it lets you book an appointment to get started or upgrade during your standard SmileDirectClub scan.
CarePlus Treatment: Step By Step
SmileDirectClub CarePlus is a hybrid aligner treatment — which means it blends remote treatment and in-person care. Here’s how it works:
- You schedule an appointment with one of the dentists in SmileDirectClub’s partner network.
- During the office visit, the dentist will examine your teeth and take intraoral scans. They may also order X-rays, but SmileDirectClub doesn’t say whether that’s standard procedure, or if you’ll need to pay extra for it.
- SmileDirectClub’s remote team of state-licensed dentists and orthodontists will assess your candidacy for treatment and create your treatment plan.
- You will regularly complete virtual check-ins during treatment, so their team can make sure your teeth are moving as planned.
The defining element is what SmileDirectClub calls “concierge-level care,” which comes from the Partner Network provider you select. It gives you guidance and responsive feedback whenever you need it, and it’s included in the flat rate of $3,900. This assistance can be office visits or phone calls, as well as the traditional modes of communication for SmileDirectClub’s virtual patient management.
Despite working with a Partner Network dentist, most of your CarePlus treatment is still managed by SmileDirectClub. Their state-licensed dentists and orthodontists assess treatment candidacy, create treatment plans, and review the photos you submit via the SmileDirectClub app. This ensures that most of your treatment is managed by individuals with significant clear aligner experience — which isn’t always true of their Partner Network dentists.
The SmileDirectClub Partner Network
While CarePlus is new, SmileDirectClub’s Partner Network isn’t. They launched back in 2020 to expand their in-person scan coverage beyond the cities with SmileShops, reaching suburban and some rural areas. Currently, this network includes over 1,000 dental practices.
Not all Partner Network practices are part of the CarePlus program. At the moment, only a handful of practices in four markets offer the service. However, once it launches nationwide, many other existing Partner Network dentists may join.
The SDC Partner Network and CarePlus initiative both target general dentists more than orthodontists. According to SmileDirectClub, the appeal for the dentist is that they can offer a higher-priced product that requires less chair time — without any special training. The company’s CEO said that well over 50% of their participating dentists normally don’t offer any teeth-straightening services.
The Cost of CarePlus
Because it includes the time and attention of a local dentist, CarePlus costs more than SmileDirectClub’s standard at-home aligner treatment. The price is the same whether you choose all-day or nighttime-only aligners.
CarePlus Hybrid Treatment | Standard At-Home Treatment |
---|---|
$3,900 OR $115 per month | $2,250 OR $89 per month |
For $3,900, you’ll get your start-up scan and examination, aligners, and a selection of SmileDirectClub oral care products, including its whitening system, toothbrush, and oral care kit. You also get access to a 24/7 dedicated concierge team, including a licensed dental assistant for basic treatment-related questions, and remote or in-person check-ins with your partner network dentist.
After treatment, CarePlus customers receive two years’ worth of aftercare retainers. SmileDirectClub also backs their results with their Lifetime Smile Guarantee. While you get more from CarePlus than standard SmileDirectClub treatment, the price tag is a lot higher. But if an in-person exam and remote monitoring are priorities for you, it might be worth the price.
Pros and Cons of SmileDirectClub CarePlus
SmileDirectClub developed their original model as a solution to multiple problems in orthodontics: inconvenience, high prices, and limited availability in rural areas. Likewise, CarePlus is meant to address common pain points that other treatment models can’t fully solve. However, like any other treatment, it has downsides too. Here are the biggest pros and cons.
CarePlus Pros
- One-Stop Shop for Oral Care: Traditional treatment sometimes requires two doctors — one for your orthodontics and one for your routine check-ups and cleanings. CarePlus lets you handle everything with the same doctor.
- Extra Support and Peace of Mind: Fully remote treatment can feel daunting, especially if you worry about problems going undetected. CarePlus ensures an extra level of support, which may give you greater peace of mind.
- Greater Guidance for Younger Patients: SmileDirectClub treatment is available to patients 12 and older. However, many parents hesitate to sign their children up for remote treatment, fearing it doesn’t offer enough guidance and structure for teens to manage. CarePlus offers in-person explanations and the ability to ask questions directly.
- More Affordable Than Some Traditional Treatments: Although CarePlus is significantly more expensive than SmileDirectClub’s fully remote option, it’s also less than many in-office systems. For example, Invisalign can cost upwards of $8,000.
CarePlus Cons
- Pricier than At-Home Treatment: SmileDirectClub’s standard treatment — and a couple other fully remote clear aligner systems — offer photo check-ins, yet cost $1,000–$2,000. You won’t have a local dentist involved, but you’ll still get regular virtual check-ins.
- Less Specialized Doctors: By SmileDirectClub’s estimate, over half of the dentists currently in their Partner Network don’t offer teeth-straightening services, which means they don’t have specialized training in clear aligners.
- Unable to Treat Severe Misalignments: Without attachments or specific training for their doctors, CarePlus still can’t treat a wide range of severe dental and jaw misalignments.
Is It Really a Premium Service?
This is the big claim backing CarePlus and the justification for its price increase over the standard SmileDirectClub system. But does this claim stand up to scrutiny? While it offers some clear benefits, we’re unsure if it’s worth choosing over SmileDirectClub’s standard treatment, or even other in-office options.
Here are our thoughts on the features that distinguish CarePlus from standard SmileDirectClub treatment.
In-Person Visits
If you choose CarePlus, you can schedule in-person check-ins with your dentist. That’s pretty reassuring, especially for younger patients who might struggle to manage treatment on their own. However, if you schedule these visits often, you could lose the convenience of hybrid care. But if you don’t, you’re not taking advantage of what you paid for. Additionally, the dentist you work with might not have any aligner training. And for teens, SmileDirectClub already offers extra support in their standard plan at no extra charge.
24/7 Concierge Service
SmileDirectClub heavily emphasizes this aspect of CarePlus, and while it sounds great, representatives are already available 24/7 to all customers. They say you get a “dedicated concierge team including a licensed dental assistant,” but don’t elaborate on how that team functions. Being able to schedule remote check-ins with your Partner Network dentist, however, is a nice option.
Bonus Items
You get quite a few bonus items with CarePlus, the most notable of which is two years (four sets) of aftercare retainers. These are otherwise $125 per set, so enrolling in CarePlus will save you $500 on retainers alone. However, even with the whitening kit, toothbrush, and oral care kit included, you aren’t going to save enough money to close the price gap between CarePlus and their standard treatment.
SDC CarePlus: Is It Worth It?
In the end, CarePlus and standard SmileDirectClub treatment can both deliver smile transformations for people with mild misalignments. If the idea of fully remote treatment makes you anxious, you might find that the peace of mind office visits and 24/7 custom support offer is worth the additional cost.
Even so, we think there are some more compelling options out there. Candid offers hybrid treatment at a similar price point, and SureSmile or Invisalign’s fully in-office Express options might be slightly cheaper. Or, if you’re open to fully remote care, consider Byte or SmileDirectClub’s standard at-home treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is CarePlus different from standard SmileDirectClub treatment?
There are three aspects of CarePlus that are different from standard SmileDirectClub aligner therapy:
- In-person visits
- 24/7 concierge service
- Bonus items (four sets of retainers, whitening kit, toothbrush, and oral care kit)
How much is SmileDirectClub CarePlus?
Standard SDC treatment is $2,250. CarePlus is $3,900. That’s a $1,650 difference. The price with either option is the same for both all-day and nighttime-only aligners.
How is hybrid treatment better than remote or in-office treatment?
It isn’t better for everyone. Some people like that it blends aspects of remote and in-office treatment, but others feel like it ends up eliminating the good points of both. For example, some might really appreciate the occasional office visits. However, those who like remote models won’t enjoy the lack of convenience, and those who like in-office care due to extensive supervision might feel like a few visits isn’t enough.
What are the benefits of having office visits?
It depends on your perspective and misalignment. For many people, there are no particular benefits besides perhaps peace of mind. However, if you have a complex misalignment, in-office care is essential for good results. Just keep in mind that SmileDirectClub doesn’t treat severe misalignments, so it wouldn’t be a consideration with CarePlus.
Will my CarePlus dentist be trained in clear aligner therapy?
It’s not a requirement for Partner Network dentists. In fact, CarePlus is meant to help general dentists without aligner therapy training appeal to patients looking for aligners without additional training. However, professionals with proper training will design and oversee your treatment.
Who designs my CarePlus treatment plan?
The SmileDirectClub team. This team consists of licensed dentists and orthodontists who have training in the SDC system and experience creating aligner plans.
Can CarePlus correct more severe cases?
It can handle mild and moderate misalignments, just like SmileDirectClub’s standard treatment. If you are eligible for one system, you are eligible for the other.
Are there other companies offering hybrid care?
Yes, Candid is designed specifically as a hybrid option. Additionally, some orthodontists offer hybrid care to patients using third-party monitoring scopes and apps. Usually, they only offer it with mild-to-moderate cases where attachments aren’t required.
Is there an in-office aligner brand with a similar price to SDC CarePlus?
Six Month Smiles and SureSmile are the two most affordable in-office treatments. Additionally, Invisalign Express can be affordable, depending on the complexity of your case and the doctor you choose. Just keep in mind that Invisalign Express treats mild misalignments, similar to what remote aligners can address.
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