SmileDirectClub claims their aligners can address mild-to-moderate issues with crowding and spacing — but does the customer experience support this?
On the whole, yes! Customers who went with SDC to treat crowding love the way their aligners made solid corrections to their upper arch without breaking the bank. While the majority did state that results aren’t perfect — “This is for people with a “C” smile who want to go to a “B+” or maybe “A-” if you are lucky,” as one reviewer said — they did get a big self-esteem boost from their results.
But you don’t need to take our word for it. Check out the authentic customer reviews below.
Smile Prep offers readers a small financial incentive in exchange for their unbiased reviews. We require proof of purchase before accepting reviews, and all reviewers must have completed at least three months of aligner treatment. You can learn more (and find out how to submit a review of your own) by checking out our customer review page.
Customer Ratings
- Results: 1 through 30 out of 77 results← Previous PageNext page →Alyssa W.Pennsylvania2 years ago
Before-After
Before-After
After
So I decided to go with SmileDirectClub because I heard a lot of good things about it and really wanted to straighten my teeth for over half of my life. The aligners were cheaper than invisalign as well and Im pretty sure that SmileDirectClub used to be owned by the same company as Invisalign so I thought why not???
As I mentioned earlier, I had crowding, an overbite, and two teeth on the top that were jetted out. I have heard of a lot of people being denied because there was too much work to be done which is what I was pretty sure was going to happen to me. But I got approved in June 2019 and was super excited! I waited a little less than 2 weeks after I got my first initial scan to get my aligners. I paid upfront in full so I believe I paid about 2000. The good thing about this was I was reimbursed by my insurance for pretty much half of it! Cheap does not always mean good though which I knew but figured why not give it a try?
So I get my aligners and everything goes well until December when I am supposed to be done. My teeth were not as straight as they were projected to be so had to go through the process of getting refinements. So they had to scan my mouth again and approve the refinements.
So I get more aligners for I believe three or four months and only about half of them fit. I call again and I’m told to just continue trying to fit them on and call back if I need more. So I obviously had to call back and get more. Those fit thank goodness, so when I was done with this over the summer (so I’ve been doing this 6 months longer than normal) I was again not satisfied and got yet another refinement. These didn’t fit either so I had to wear the same aligners for two months and they were cracked everywhere. I wore my aligners about 22 hours a day and my bottom tooth was still moving and would not stay still.
So in the last picture I included, you can see my gum is receding and I now need surgery. Fast forward to September 2020, I call again because my aligners were done and I needed more. They sent me more and none of them fit. Sent me more and those fit well. Fast forward to early 2021, I’m still wearing these aligners and I called to get more and none of them fit after the first two weeks. So I told them if these do not fit, I’m going to call and say I am done and to see if they can send me retainers and be done with it.
Overall, you can see my teeth are definitely straighter than they were, but not exactly because my teeth need the shaping and filing as well to keep my bottom teeth straight as they still don’t have enough room. I feel as if I should have been rejected because my teeth were so crooked but they wanted me money so they said okay anyway 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️ so I would definitely recommend smiledirectclub if you have VERY MILD TO LITTLE work that has to be done. If not PLEASE spend the extra 2,000 to do Invisalign and save yourself time and money in the long run.
Trish M.Iowa2 years ago
After
Before
I wore braces for 4 years with ALL the bells and whistles – headgear, rubberbands etc. and then retainers nearly full time all through high school, and nightly for another 4 years. As soon as I stopped wearing my retainers my teeth shifted back. I saw an ad for Smile Direct Club on Facebook, and loved that they had a payment plan, so I decided to order. At the time they only did impression kits, so I did my kit and received my aligners in almost exactly 5 weeks to the day of ordering.
They also only sent 1-2 months at a time then. My aligners were always delivered on time each month. One time I got someone else’s aligners, but I’d received 3 months worth that shipment so I was easily able to get the correct ones in time.
I had a 10-month plan, and did not need refinements. I’m now three years post treatment and very happy with what SDC did for my smile. My bottom teeth aren’t perfect, but they don’t show in my natural smile and they’re WAY better than they were, so I’m not complaining. I do have to wear my retainer 8 hours a night or they start to shift, but I expected this considering my previous orthodontic experience.
I know some people have some customer service issues, and SDC isn’t always prompt, but I didn’t personally experience any of these issues. I definitely recommend anyone interested in cosmetic straightening without spending $5k+ and needing to inconvenience their routine with extra in-person visits get a scan and see if SDC can help them!
Hayley H.Minneapolis2 years ago
Before
Progress
It was not an easy journey. Some habits will need to be changed, like drinking coffee at times when you are not having a meal need to be avoided as you cannot be eating or drinking anything other than water with your aligners on. I have to also bring toothbrush to work, brushing and flossing after lunch at work, it was weird at first but just what you needed to do to make sure you are wearing aligners most of the time. No more snacking throughout the day as well, unless you want to be brushing your teeth 5 times a day.
Customer support was good. So my 2nd month aligners was messed up in their own package, one pack has 2 of the upper aligners and one of the pack in my 3rd month has 2 bottom aligners. However, issue was not solved as it will take more than 3 weeks to get them to ship me a new set, so they suggested me to move forward with the treatment ignoring the mismatched set. It was painful and definitely doesn’t fit well at first when you skipped a set but my teeth eventually just got used to it.
Most importantly, it works! My front teeth used to protrude so much that I don’t have the confidence to smile when posting for pictures. Now, my teeth have been the straightest they have ever been.
Tiana B.Green Bay, WI2 years ago
Before-After
I stayed in a Facebook group for a few years and watched people’s before and after photos. I honestly hated my teeth and I figured anything was better than the super crooked teeth I had. I also heard Invisalign invested in 30% of the company! I’m not completely finished with my plan but I will need refinement! I’m extremely satisfied already but I am just excited to see what more they can do.
Customer service has been amazing with communicating with me with getting my refinements done. I went to a smileshop and had a scan done and they were so friendly and explained everything. I am in the process a scheduling another scan to get My refinements because I believe it would be more accurate. My advice to someone is just be open minded. The process is worth it if you are willing to put in the time and truly want/need the results. Know that you maybe in aligners longer than your projected plan because heck braces take years so why wouldn’t clear aligners!
Ciara O.Coquitlam, Canada3 years ago
Before-After
I have always had insecurities about my bottom teeth, overcrowded, hard to brush, generally embarrassing. I have never been able to afford braces and was looking into Invisalign. It’s a lot of money so I took my time making a decision but found out about SDC in the process.
I did about a year of research on SDC before taking the leap. I knew every bad thing that could happen but all the good outweighed the bad. I knew SDC was only for a quick straight smile and not a proper smile. My treatment was 7 months along because I had severe crowding, had no issues with any of my aligners, I got to month 7 and my teeth weren’t straight yet so I get 3 more months to fix the problem tooth.
The process was generally quick. I didn’t have to wait long for anything. I had a 3 aligner a month plan, 1- one week, 2- 1 week, and 3/4 2 weeks. mild pain on my first set and some sets in months 5-6 when major shifting started. the pros: was very cheap. I paid $2200 CAD out of pocket. I paid in a lump sum instead of over time. I’m happy with how they turned out. the process was quick and easy. the cons: My bite is a little off, but it was when I started so I traded ugly teeth and an off-bite for nice teeth and an off-bite. The retainers suck and are too much money. $100CAD for 6 months wear on one retainer. You can get a Hawley or a sturdier one from another company for around 400CAD and those last 5-10 years.
My first retainer was free so I won’t need to purchase one yet but will be going with someone else for my retainers. All in all I recommend SDC IF you have already gone to a dentist to make sure you have a healthy mouth that can go thru aligners. and you actually do your research and are aware that you won’t get PERFECT results. Most of the negative reviews stem from people who did no research and expected something that is impossible with clear aligners.
Daniel R.Bosie, ID2 years ago
Before-After
I was very satisfied with how the product worked. It was something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time and did it. My biggest complaint is probably how long I had to work on the teeth sets each time I changed it. They had all kinds of extra plastic and sharp edges that would have to be cut down and filed down in order to not tear up your cheeks or tongue was uncomfortable. I had to spend extra money on some electric files to do this.
I’m happy with the results except they could have been better. They said, “You’ll have to send us this form and these pictures, and we’ll determine if we send you back into an actual SmileDirect brick-and-mortar building or not to look at that.” I did but I never got one reply. I have never heard another word from them in the last year, the day I got done with my treatment. But I’m overall satisfied with SmileDirectClub for the price I paid. I would still recommend them and have. I just did. My nephew asked me who I used and if I would recommend it, and I said yes.
Alexa K.Sioux Falls, SD3 years ago
After
Before
I chose smile direct because I was very insecure about my teeth, and insurance wouldn’t cover it. I went in for a scan and they gave me whitening gel, a light, and lip balm. Loved the lip balm! The wait took a while, even though I had an appointment. I wanted to fix my front gap. Customer support has been great. Easiest to reach out to on messenger. Love my results, but here’s some cons : they crack easy, you have to file down or use dental wax because it cut my tongue and cheeks up to the point where I couldn’t eat . They shift back very quickly, so make sure u always wear them.
Advice if u are looking to try SDC: always keep ur previous aligners. I’ve had to go weeks without them multiple times due to getting chewed up by my dog and cracks. The shipping is expected to take over a month for a new retainer, or aligner. Also, if you have Facebook I recommend joining a smile direct club members group, it helped me a lot with any problems or questions.
Louisa F.Christchurch2 years ago
After
Before
I chose smile direct club because the price attracted me – I also knew I didn’t want visible braces at my age so the invisible aligners seemed like a great idea. So far I am very happy with my results I have had one set of original aligners and have recently started on my realignments (sent in new moulds of my teeth for new aligners) as the crowding on my bottom teeth was quite bad and I needed some fine adjustments.
I wanted to correct the overcrowding on my lower teeth which is exactly what smile direct have fixed for me so far I’ve only got two months to go for a straight smile. I started my treatment in January. The customer support is great, you can message any queries or worries to the Facebook messenger chat and they will get back to you within a couple of hours. You will also receive emails to clarify your chat from the messenger app with further details.
I went into the clinic to get a scan first and have used an impression kit also for realignments and I have noticed to the difference in the quality of aligners. For anyone thinking about purchasing aligners from Smile Direct and you are feeling self-conscious about your teeth go for it! Just be strict on yourself about cleaning them and your teeth between meals and plan your meals/ eating and drinking non-clear liquids well ☺️
Ashley R.Springfield, OH1 year ago
After
Before
I chose SmileDirectClub because a girl I went to school with posted her results and said she had a good experience. I had mild teeth crowding and a slight overbite that I wanted to correct. I had braces as a kid but over the years by teeth had become crooked again. I finished the treatment and all seemed well. My teeth were straight. The whole process was mildly painful but nothing that wasn’t to be expected. I thought all was good…..until I went for my teeth cleaning with my dentist. He immediately knew I had used an aligner program without me even mentioning it. He said I have “Teeth Occlusion” and showed how my top teeth and bottom teeth no longer touch. I will need to monitor my bottom teeth now for the occlusion and may one day need surgery to repair it. I will also need to get braces again to fix my teeth not touching. I reached out to SmileDirect asking for a refund and they gave me the run around. Said “Since my teeth are straight within the time frame predicted I am not eligible for a refund”. They said they would reevaluate if I can provide all my dental records from before treatment and if my dentist will write a letter stating all of my concerns are solely based on the aligners. I am in the process of getting this information now. The way they treated me and the process that I was immediately put into once I made the compliant tells me this is a common thing they deal with and they have a policy/procedure in place. If I could go back I would spend the extra money to go to a true orthodontist.
Jason L.Dallas, TX3 years ago
Before-After
After
Before
If you are on the fence about this…hop down and head over to make it happen! Is it painful, yes. Is it hard to wear them all the time, yes. Is it risky, yes. But, if you are like me and you think that you could benefit from some minor corrections, then go for it! If you have a LOT of moving to do, you probably need to see a regular orthodontist and get braces. For the minor stuff, this is the way to go! Join a group and ask questions! I did have to have refinements, but seriously just relax and do this. Oh, also if you are one of those absolute perfectionists…go see an orthodontist. This is not for you. This is for people with a “C” smile who want to go to a “B+” or maybe “A-” if you are lucky.
Andrea K.USA3 years ago
After
Before
After Upper-Lower
Before Upper-Lower
Before-After
Go see your dentist 1st. When the offer came up for me, I really didn’t have time to see mine. A few teeth pulled beforehand would have changed my outcome drastically. I have an enlarged and protruding lower jaw that causes an underbite, with massive crowing in both upper and lower jaws. My outcome isn’t finished, only 2 weeks left, and will most likely need refinements, but I wish I would’ve seen my dentist beforehand since I got what was planned, though it’s caused my front teeth to no longer connect in any way, so I can’t bite through foods now. 3 stars because shipping, customer service, and communication along with cost were very positive, I only wish my outcome would be much better.
Frank B.Orlando, Fl3 years ago
After
Before
I choose SDC because I was so nervous and self conscious about talking to anyone about my smile that I found it more comfortable to do it remotely. The initial molds were difficult to use so I went to a smile shop and it was very smooth process. I definitely recommend going to the smile shop if there’s one in your area. The instructions were easy to follow, as long as you follow everything how the recommend you should be great. I had a check up with a dentist before just for general cleaning and making sure I didn’t have other issues before starting.
Angel G.Lacey, WA1 year ago
After
Before
I wanted to straighten my teeth whether it was braces or aligners, whatever got the job done and cost effective. Aligners seemed the route to go to and smile direct club was one of the potentially clients I was looking at. I couldn’t pass on smile directs club savings and cost with insurance, A little over $600 to get my teeth straighten out! I’ve been more than pleased, straightened out teeth, whiter teeths, and cleaner mouth hygiene . Smile direct club was easy and made working with them a pleasure.
Corrie M.Woodbridge, VA3 years ago
After
After
Before
Progress
I was honestly super skeptical when I started because the reviews I could find were all over the place.
I decided to go to their mobile smile shop and I was pretty impressed with the before/projections and I know I didn’t have a ton of teeth that needed to move – just 2 that were bugging me so I signed up.
Aligners came in literally the day before they were supposed to. I followed the 22 hours a day and never drank anything but water with my aligners.
My teeth needed a little extra push after I finished the plan so I got a set of refinements that really did the trick and got my teeth exactly where the plan said they would be.
I really enjoyed it and the fact you can get it all done at home. I would do it again if I had the choice.
Tiffany Z.Cleveland2 years agoSo first off let me start with saying I’ve had braces prior to doing SDC. I didn’t wear my retainers and my teeth shifted so when I saw the commercials for it I decided why not.
I went into a smile shop and got a scan because I figured there are lots of things that can go wrong if I just do the imprints at home (but I get that some people don’t have that luxury but if you can, go and get scanned). The scan was fine, the 3D image of what my teeth would look like at the end was great, so I decided to do it.
My ‘teeth’ (that’s what I call the aligners) came 5 weeks after my scan and I popped in the first set. It hurt soooo much but after a childhood of braces the pain was familiar and went away after going through a couple more sets.
The whole treatment experience was fine, I never had an issue with the teeth fitting wrong or things coming broken. But my only issue is that towards the end of my 5 month treatment I noticed that my teeth weren’t as straight as I wanted them to be. One tooth was slightly recessed(?), it wasn’t flush with the rest of my teeth. And my K9’s weren’t completely straight.
So by now I’ve finished my treatment and I go into the smile shop to get another scan to hopefully start a round of refinements. The employee at the shop said he saw what I was talking about and that I would be approved for refinements. 2 days later I get an email from the dental team saying that I was denied and that nothing further could be done. Needless to say I was livid. I paid a lot of money to straighten my teeth and now they weren’t even what I wanted them to be. I chatted with a representative and he said per policy if the dental team says nothing else can be done you can’t get a refund. So I said whatever let me just get my retainers and be done with it. I’ve made an appointment with the orthodontist to see if regular braces will fix my teeth. Which really it’s just some minor moving.
All in all I would recommend SDC for people who’ve had braces or don’t need significant changes to their teeth. And I would also recommend that you go in every 2 months ish and get a scan to see if any refinements need to be made.
TL;DR – It’s worth it in my opinion, but just make sure you don’t have any major things to do with your teeth or else it might not be for you.
Holly B.Westfield3 years ago
Before
After
Decided to try Smile Direct Club to fix my crowding issues, even though I thought my case might be too severe. I was surprised that I was accepted, and that my projected results showed completely straight teeth after 8 months. Halfway through my treatment, my aligners stopped fitting, meaning that my teeth weren’t tracking and straightening like they were supposed to, and had to be rescanned for mid-course corrections.
At the end of my treatment, my teeth still are not straight and don’t match the projected results, so I had to submit impressions for refinements that will last two more months. Overall, I think if you have severe crowding as I did, an actual orthodontist is a better fit, because I don’t think my teeth will ever be completely straight with SDC.
Ken C.Tennessee, TX3 years ago
Before-After
I enjoyed using SMILE DIRECT CLUB. I went into the smile studio to get my scan done as I had heard the kit they mail you doesn’t work well. I had a 4 month plan and I completed it with good results, however I felt like the improvement was 75%, not 100% like I had hoped so I went back to the studio for a new scan and got another 3 months of refinements. The first few weeks are tough, but stick it out and it will be all good. Make sure you see a dentist beforehand. My final recommendation is a cheap electric nail file to smooth out the rough edges on the aligners.
Victoria R.USA3 years ago
After
I had been researching clear aligners for years. In 2019 when I found out I had a Smile Shop in my city, I decided to make an appointment. It was no pressure, they took a scan of my mouth and I was a perfect candidate. My aligners arrived within the time frame they promised. My teeth were not tracking about 1/2 way through treatment so I got a rescan, they submitted it, and I was approved for a mid-course correction.
Again, aligners arrived within the time frame I was told. I got to the end of the mos course correction and my teeth are not quite at the projected outcome so I have requested refinements. Since smile shops are closed, I will have to submit impressions. I am confident I will get the smile I want at the end of my refinements.
Aaron S.California2 years agoI went in to a Smile Direct Club shop and got the 3d printing model (right before COVID hit). I was super skeptical that it would work, but after seeing all the examples they show you about their own customers, I figured they would probably be in major legal problems if those pictures were fake. So I decided to do it, and could not be happier! My teeth were fixed exactly within their 7 month timeframe, and my teeth were not “mild” or “light” or “easy” task.
My teeth looked like they came out of the part where Jafar is dressed up as that homeless guy in Aladin. My teeth look amazing and the whole experience has been spot on! All the aligners have fit, granted there were times when I really had to push a bit to get them to fit, but they did fit, and they sometimes hurt a little (to be expected) but much less than braces. I loved the Smile Direct experience and would 100% recommend it to folks (which I do all the time with my beautiful new smile. :D)
Angel G.Olympia, WA1 year ago
After
Before
My teeth were never bad , I would have ppl compliment my smile. Sadly my teeth were a little crowded on the bottom and I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten older that the crowding only seems to be getting worse. So I have always had the idea of getting my teeth straighten out but never pursued forward with that idea because of cost I would have to pay. With covid and facemask I thought it was the perfect time to take action so I did a little homework, and came to the conclusion that braces and invisalign was too expensive. And settled with smile direct club, which I ended up paying $680 with insurance and received a $50 gift card as well. I have now completed my 4 month journey and I have really enjoyed my results for the cost I paid, I can’t complain about that. I do feel like my teeth could be even more straightened out. I’ll see if I can have smile direct club work on my smile a little more. But i have enjoyed the transformation of my teeth, I’ll definitely get more compliments on smile.
Juan M.Baltimore3 years ago
Before-After
I have been using Smile Direct Club for about 8 months. While it has taken a lot longer than I expected due to COVID-19, it has been great. The aligners are comfortable, they are lightweight, and they are reasonably priced. If you are looking for a cost-effective option as opposed to other methods, give it a go. You just need to trust your gut and if something feels wrong, get it checked out. If you haven’t been to the dentist in years, this probably isn’t for you.
Kari J.Grand Rapids, MI3 years ago
Before-After
I wanted to try this company because getting Invisalign was too expensive. I did the teeth kit and did 9 months of treatment, to which I found I needed refinements so I went and did the teeth scan which was much better than the kit. It was a lot more precise and the aligners fit my teeth better. All my issues were corrected and I was extremely happy with the outcome. I had straight teeth and was doing great until it was around my last month’s set and my aligners started to not fit my teeth anymore. It took sdc two months to get new aligners to me which by that point my teeth shifted back and those aligners didn’t fit anymore. I had to redo the scan again and get a new full treatment plan which is 6 months. I have been doing this for over two years now and hoping for a better outcome with their customer service and getting the aligners shipped out much quicker.
Lindsay K.Dallas, TX2 years agoI am super happy with my results on SDC! If you are still thinking about spending the money, just do it. I wasnt expecting much and I had some disposable income from my tax return so I decided to give SDC a try. It was so worth it. My bottom teeth are 10x better and my confidence level is so much higher now.
To note:
1. This is not the perfection of traditional braces. This is a cheaper, faster, alternative.
2. The pain is tough with each new aligner. Use some OTC pain pills and start new aligners at night.I hope your results are as awesome as mine!
Kevin E.Maine3 years ago
Before-After
Smile Direct Club is a great company with friendly staff. Sometimes they can be hard to get a hold of but usually not too bad if you go through IG or FB. I completed my journey not long ago. It was tough to stay on track. Sometimes I would forget to wear my aligners but I realized that as long as you get back on track quickly you are okay. The plastic is not bad in your mouth but I also brushed my teeth a lot during the 6 months that I had to wear my aligners. They recommend 22 hours a day but I probably did 20 on average. Sometimes it was nice to have them out for a while. Also, their whitening kit works well but it doesn’t last as long as they claim but it does work well. Overall, for the price I was very happy and no real complaints.
Erin G.Abingdon3 years ago
Before
Progress
I started my smile direct club journey may 4th, 2020. I am over the moon with my progress so far! I had an overjet and crowding and have dealt with minimal pain. Customer service has been golden, I can’t brag in them enough! I highly recommend smile direct club.
Jayne-Marie V.Langhorne, PA3 years ago
After
Before
After having braces for about 10 years off and on and then not wearing my retainer I finally was ready to make a change. I chose smile direct club because it was all online without any annoying office visits. I did the impression kit, everything was approved. I received my aligners within 4-6 weeks. And started the process immediately. Each week I had to cut off one molar because during the shipping process I had a root canal and crown put on. The aligner didn’t fit it. But I was approved to cut it down off that last molar since it didn’t affect it at all. I recommend smile direct club to anyone who asks.
Megan M.Massachusetts3 years ago
After
Before
After
Before
I had braces as a teenager and did not wear my retainer as an adult. I’ve found myself increasingly smiling less and less with teeth in photos. My crowded teeth were impacting my confidence and I decided it was time to fix that. I was a little skeptical when I went in for my smile scan, but my friend had success with SDC so I decided to continue with the process.
My aligners arrived on time and each set fit well. I did have to file some of them, but I didn’t mind that. I was satisfied with SDC customer service, any question I had during the process, I FB messaged SDC and they answered right away. My retainers arrived a few weeks early so I had them right when my plan was done. Overall I am happy with my results and found the process to pretty much match what I had expected and I would recommend to others.
Monica R.Jacksonville, FL3 years ago
Progress
Before
I chose this company because it’s popular and cheaper than getting braces (which would have cost me $4000). I had them before but lost my bottom retainer. Customer service has been okay’ish but reflects the price. I didn’t care for phone service but chatting through Facebook chat service has been best. I felt like my initial imprint sucked, but I went to get scanned and my aligners feel much better, but ultimately extended my 4-month plan to a 6-month plan. So I would say be patient and don’t call if you need help.
Shelby M.Seattle, WA3 years ago
Before-After
Previously I had braces for bite issues and major crowding as a teen. Like many others, I stopped wearing my retainer and the teeth moved slightly back to where they were before. Because of this, I was self-conscious about my smile. I decided to do Smile Direct Club because of their telehealth convenience and also lower cost. I only had front teeth I was concerned about and my smile plan was 6 months.
As far as my experience, I followed instructions thoroughly and also made sure I had healthy teeth prior to starting treatment. My plan was 6 months and I was happy with the results after this time frame. I would recommend Smile Direct Club to adults whom may previously have had orthodontic work but still have mild flaws to work out.
Ester K.Raleigh, NC1 year agoI was always self conscious of my smile so I decided to invest in smiledirect. I thought it was affordable with a short treatment time. So far I can definitely see changes. I am excited to see the end results. I did feel like there wasn’t much communication during the process.
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