Getting your braces off or removing your last aligner means the toughest part of your teeth-straightening treatment is over. However, that doesn’t mean the whole process is in the rearview mirror. The final phase of orthodontic treatment is retention. After all that time in braces or clear aligners, you’ll want to protect your results with a retainer.
Purchasing retainers used to involve in-person appointments and high prices, but the industry is changing. Thanks to companies like Sporting Smile, you can eliminate expensive office visits and get retainers delivered right to your door. In this review, we’ll cover all the important details about Sporting Smiles retainers, so you can determine whether they’re the right match for you.
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Sporting Smiles at a Glance
In 2009, entrepreneur Evan McCarthy started Sporting Smiles to combat high retainer prices and make them accessible for everyone. Since then, Sporting Smiles has served over one million customers. In such a new industry, a track record like that can go a long way. Sporting Smile’s website is full of customer resources, and their support team can give you a quick response to any questions you may have.
Online retainers are gaining popularity, and while new companies have cropped up to meet demand, Sporting Smile remains an industry mainstay. We rank them #2 among online retainer retailers.
How Does Sporting Smiles Work?
To design custom retainers, Sporting Smiles first needs to examine your smile, which means you’ll need to purchase and complete an at-home impression kit. This kit is stocked with everything you need to take an accurate impression: putty, adjustable trays, and step-by-step instructions.
Quality impressions are crucial to getting effective retainers. These molds are the only reference Sporting Smiles will have, so if they’re wrong, your retainer probably will be too. No one was born an impression-making genius, so be patient with yourself. Taking the time to do this step right can save you from repeating the process down the line. If you want a few more shots at it, you can add extra putty to your order.
Sporting Smiles works hard to make this process simple for their customers. They have robust online resources, including an instructional video and detailed instructions. They even include extra putty in the impression kit, in case your first attempt doesn’t pan out.
Once you finish taking your impressions, you will email clear photos of your molds to Sporting Smiles. Just from the photos, they’ll be able to tell if your impressions are usable. If not, they’ll mail you more putty for free.
Once Sporting Smiles accepts your impressions, they’ll create your personalized retainers, and mail them off within 10–15 business days.
Pros and Cons of Sporting Smiles
Sporting Smiles has earned a spot among our top-rated retainer providers, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be a perfect fit for everyone. Here, we’ll explore a few of the main advantages and disadvantages of Sporting Smiles.
Sporting Smiles Advantages
- Sporting Smiles has two different retainer models: Essix and Essix Plus. The main difference between these models is durability. Essix Plus can handle more wear and tear. In some cases, it can even work for people who grind their teeth or clench their jaws.
- Sporting Smiles has a 30-day “Perfect FIt” guarantee. If you have fit issues within this timeframe, Sporting Smiles will either remake your product or issue a refund.
- Their price tag is already affordable, but when you reorder your retainers, you’ll pay 35% less.
- Sporting Smiles keeps your impression data for up to a year. So you won’t need to complete another impression kit if you reorder within that time.
- Sporting Smiles does their best to make the impression kit process hassle-free. If you can’t get an accurate impression with the putty in your kit, they’ll send you more for free.
Sporting Smiles Drawbacks
- According to their reviews, they don’t always hit their advertised turnaround time.
- Some customers mention small fit issues with their initial product. The good news? Sporting Smiles will remake your retainers if you have any fit issues.
Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons?
Sporting Smiles is an excellent option for affordably priced aftercare retainers. If you’re seeking a reputable retainer provider with a long track record of success, then Sporting Smiles could be a good match.
Who Should Wear Retainers?
We sometimes see people confuse the terms “retainer” and “aligner,” which makes sense, since aligners and retainers can look so similar. However, these appliances have very different purposes. Clear aligners are an orthodontic treatment that gradually shifts your teeth into alignment. Retainers, on the other hand, keep your teeth in position.
People who recently completed orthodontic treatment aren’t the only candidates for retainers. Though orthodontists recommend wearing a retainer overnight indefinitely post-treatment, many people eventually stop. If you see your teeth shifting and you want to prevent further movement, a retainer can help.
Selection
Sporting Smiles offers two different retainer models: Essix and Essix Plus. The standard Essix model is a good fit for someone who doesn’t have issues with grinding or clenching their jaw. The Essix Plus model uses stronger fibers, and can handle a bit more wear and tear, so it’s more durable. Both models, however, have the same thickness (one millimeter).
If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw, you could be a good candidate for Essix Plus. If your bruxism is severe, Sporting Smiles also sells night guards. If you don’t suffer from those problems, then you’re probably a better match for the standard Essix model. With proper care, both retainer models can last 1–2 years.
Like many of their online retainer competitors, Sporting Smiles doesn’t offer Hawley retainers. Hawley retainers are made of wire and acrylic, and though they’re more visible than clear plastic retainers, they’re also more durable.
Sporting Smiles doesn’t just sell retainers. You can also purchase teeth whitening kits and various models of night guards.
Affordability
One of the online retainer retailers’ primary advantages is their affordability compared to traditional options. Sporting Smiles isn’t just more affordable than their in-office competitors — their prices even beat many other remote companies.
Sticker Price
For their standard Essix model, you’ll pay $90 for a single arch or $120 for two arches (one upper and one lower, or two of one arch). For their premium Essix Plus model, you’ll pay $95 for a single arch, or $135 for two arches. Their prices are among the best in the industry. Plus, if you reorder your retainers within a year of your purchase, you can receive up to 35% off.
Rush Option
If you’re in a hurry to get your new retainers, you can pay an additional $35 to get your product faster. Instead of the standard 3–5 day shipping times, your products will ship priority (2–3 days). Keep in mind, there are three legs of shipping: the impression package to and from your home, and the final retainer delivery.
Typically, Sporting Smiles takes 10–15 business days to produce a retainer. This added rush option cuts that down to 5–7 business days.
If you need your retainers even faster, Sporting Smiles offers an Emergency Retainer option that costs $325 and will deliver your products in 6–7 business days.
Financing
Even though online retainer price tags are much lower than in-office options, plenty of people would prefer to pay in installments. Unfortunately, Sporting Smiles doesn’t currently offer financing. However, they do accept payments from HSA accounts.
Convenience
Without in-office visits, online retainer companies are inherently more convenient than their traditional counterparts. Even amidst a convenience-focused industry, Sporting Smiles stands out for their streamlined processes.
Production Time
From the time that Sporting Smiles receives your completed, usable impression kit, their production time is 10–15 business days. Keep in mind that this is just the production time, so you still need to account for shipping. As we noted earlier, you can pay $35 to shorten the production time to 5–7 business days.
Reordering Process
Since retainers are an ongoing commitment, it’s nice when a company streamlines their reordering process. Thankfully, Sporting Smiles offers a simple way to reorder retainers.
When they receive your completed impressions for your initial order, Sporting Smiles turns your molds into a 3D model that they store for one year. If you want to reorder during that time, they use the 3D model of your smile to build the retainers, so you won’t need to complete another impression kit. Even better, reorders within the first year are 35% off.
Don’t worry about marking your calendars, Sporting Smiles will send you email reminders so you don’t miss out on a simplified reordering process.
Appearance
Clear retainer providers typically use plastic with two different transparencies: clear and shiny, or matte and slightly frosted.
The clearer the plastic, the more invisible the retainer, right? Not entirely. Matte, frosted plastic actually blends in better with your smile, since it better mimics the naturally porous surfaces of your teeth.
Sporting Smiles makes their retainers from clear, shiny plastic. However, most people wear their retainers at night in the comfort of their own homes, so a slightly more reflective plastic might not concern them. Plus, appearance is subjective, and some people like having a little gleam in their smile.
Customer Experience
Retainers are an ongoing part of your life, so it’s important to find a company that treats you right and guarantees your satisfaction. Remote options don’t offer the same personalization or hands-on care as in-office ones, but Sporting Smiles provides solid support and works to make sure you’re happy with your retainers.
30-Day Perfect Fit Guarantee
Sporting Smiles offers a generous guarantee on their retainer. If you notice any fit issues within 30 days of receiving it, Sporting Smiles will either remake it or provide a refund.
If your retainer doesn’t fit snugly, set up a call with Sporting Smiles. They have a 3D mold of your smile based on your completed impression kit. They’ll compare the issues you describe against the 3D model. This will help them determine if you need to complete another impression kit, or if they can remake the retainer with the model they already have.
If they can’t find a satisfying solution, Sporting Smiles will issue a refund, minus shipping.
Customer Education
The Sporting Smiles website is packed with informative content for their customers. Their FAQ section is extensive, and their blog covers an array of oral health topics. Plus, their YouTube channel features retainer cleaning tips, customer reviews, and helpful impression videos.
Customer Support
You can contact Sporting Smiles’ support team via online contact form, email, or phone. Their customer reviews consistently praise their knowledgeable, prompt representatives, and in our experience, Sporting Smiles offered detailed responses to our questions, particularly over the phone. Their staff has comprehensive knowledge of their products, so you won’t be passed around to different people.
What Are Sporting Smiles Customers Saying?
Reading through policies and examining warranties can give you a partial picture of the customer experience, but for a comprehensive view, go straight to the source. We read through hundreds of Sporting Smiles reviews to get a sense of how real customers feel about their experiences.
Top Praises
- Patient, responsive support team.
- More convenient process than visiting a dentist.
- High-quality products at an affordable price.
Main Complaints
- Some customers were frustrated they needed to repeat the impression process.
- They don’t always hit the advertised turnaround time.
All things considered, Sporting Smiles gets great feedback from their customers. People appreciate the convenience and comparatively low price tags.
We get it—repeating the impression process can be frustrating, but Sporting Smiles alleviates some of that burden by supplying additional putty for free. With their extensive online resources, it seems like they work to make the impression process as stress-free as possible.
Alternatives to Sporting Smiles
Sporting Smiles is an all-around great retainer provider, but they aren’t the only option out there. Let’s see how they stack up against the competition.
Retainers Direct
Retainers Direct isn’t as experienced as Sporting Smiles, but since their 2020 inception, they’ve established themselves as an affordable, customer-first retainer provider. The owner is an orthodontist himself, so he’s seen firsthand how expensive in-office retainers can be. Retainers Direct delivers high-quality products and receives rave customer reviews.
Dental Lab Direct
Dental Lab Direct has been producing dental appliances for over 25 years, but they recently shifted their business to sell directly to consumers. Unlike other remote providers, Dental Lab Direct sells both clear plastic retainers and Hawley retainers. Hawley retainers are made of wire and acrylic, so although they’re more visible than clear plastic retainers, they’re also more durable.
ClearRetain
ClearRetain is perhaps the most convenient online retainer provider out there. Instead of re-doing your impression kit when you want a replacement, you can pay a small fee to “File Your Smile.” They’ll indefinitely store a scan of your completed impressions, so whenever you need a replacement, they can manufacture it as soon as possible. Between their convenient reordering process and flexible financing options, ClearRetain makes aftercare simple.
Final Thoughts
Sporting Smiles is a highly experienced, affordable, convenient online retainer provider. Their long track record of success, flexible policies, and overall quality make us confident that they could be a good fit for many of our readers.
That said, choosing your ideal online retainer provider comes down to your personal priorities. Since you need to wear retainers forever, it’s important to determine which company best incorporates into your unique lifestyle and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Sporting Smiles retainer affect my speech?
Your mouth might need to adjust when you first start wearing your retainers. Your tongue needs to get used to its new roommate, but the more you speak while wearing them, the quicker your speech will return to normal.
Can I eat or drink while wearing my retainers?
You should remove your retainers whenever you consume anything besides water. Chewing can cause damage, and pigments from food and drinks can leave stains.
Do I have to purchase a full set of plastic retainers if I have a permanent retainer on one arch?
Sporting Smiles sells single-arch retainers, so you won’t need to purchase a full set if you don’t need them for both arches.
Will these retainers align my smile?
A well-fitting retainer should keep your teeth in place, not shift them. If you’re concerned your retainer is too snug, reach out to Sporting Smiles right away and they’ll help find a solution.
Are retainers from Sporting Smiles BPA-free?
Yes! Sporting Smiles’ retainers are BPA-free and latex free.
Will new fillings affect the fit of my retainers?
Since fillings can alter the shape of your tooth, it’s possible that a new filling could affect the fit of your retainers. Talk to your dentist and your retainer provider about this, and get any current cavities filled prior to completing the impression kit.
Can I wear a Sporting Smiles retainer if I have bruxism?
Sporting Smiles has a more durable retainer option called Essix Plus, which can withstand more wear and tear than their Essix model. If your bruxism is severe, consider augmenting your retainer wear with a night guard, which Sporting Smiles also sells.
Do I have to purchase retainers through the doctor I saw for treatment?
You can order retainers from any provider you’d like. When you order retainers through your orthodontist, they have to include price markups for their time, staff, and physical office space (in addition to the cost of the product itself). Online retailers don’t need to account for in-person appointments, so they’re able to offer lower prices.
Do I have to complete an impression kit every time I want to reorder?
If you reorder your retainer within one year, you won’t need to complete another impression kit. After one year, you will.
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