At-home clear aligner companies like PlusDent have changed the game, making it possible to straighten your teeth without a single trip to the dentist.
PlusDent’s scanning practices and remote check-ins have helped thousands of customers on their mission to achieve straighter smiles. However, they’re just one of many companies in the UK offering at-home treatment. This guide has everything you need to decide whether or not PlusDent is the right choice for you.
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PlusDent Scores 4.3/5 Overall
PlusDent scores 4.3/5 overall based on our 5 review criteria (effectiveness, affordability, convenience, appearance, and customer experience). They aim to ensure their customers’ success by providing consistent oversight and a generous satisfaction guarantee. Plus, the PlusDent app allows you to upload photo updates every 8 weeks so their dental team can evaluate your progress every step of the way.
PlusDent vs. Straight Teeth Direct: Our #1-Ranked Service
We think PlusDent is a reliable service, but if you’re looking for the best value overall, it’s tough to beat Straight Teeth Direct.
Straight Teeth Direct’s satisfaction guarantee ensures you’ll get the results you’re after — they promise to work with you as long as it takes to get your perfect smile. Plus, at £1,350, they’re less expensive than PlusDent.
What is PlusDent?
PlusDent (or PlusDental) began as Sunshine Smile in Berlin with a goal to “democratize aesthetic dentistry.” Backed by initial consumer interest and a round of seed funding, their business took off and has since expanded to nine other countries, including the UK.
They’ve treated over 50,000 satisfied customers and now have multiple practices throughout the UK. They use a unique pricing model with financing plans that make treatment accessible. Like other home aligner companies, they deliver clear aligner treatment straight to your doorstep. But unlike most other companies, they monitor your progress through a unique mobile app. Still, they’re not the only home aligner option on the market.
PlusDent has taken steps to stand out, and their customers have taken notice. With a recently acquired second round of funding under their belt, they’re poised to continue their upward trajectory.
With innovative remote monitoring and plenty of experience, PlusDent offers safe and reliable aligner treatment.
Like other home aligner treatments, PlusDent is intended for mild and moderate cases of crowding and spacing. They can also treat certain cases of overjet, overbite, crossbite, and reverse bite, but this depends on your specific condition. If your condition is severe or involves complex tooth and jaw movements, an in-office treatment like Invisalign might be a better fit.
How Does PlusDent Work?
The first step in any home aligner treatment is sending the company images of your teeth. PlusDent requires that you schedule an appointment at one of their 22 UK-based practices for a free teeth scan. During the appointment, a GDC licensed dentist will take 3D intraoral scans of your teeth and jaw, which help them determine your candidacy for treatment and design your aligners. The appointment itself only takes 15-30 minutes, and they have offices in cities across the country, but if you don’t live near one, you might spend some time driving.
Other companies sell impression kits that allow you to create dental molds from home and send them in. This is difficult for some, but it also means you don’t need to travel to a physical office.
PlusDent doesn’t use impression kits because it can be difficult for anyone without training to make accurate molds of their teeth. Your impressions need to be perfect so that the company can create aligners that fit well and move teeth effectively. Other companies will review your impressions and request that you repeat the process if they’re not up to par, but PlusDent’s professional team will ensure that you get a perfect, detailed scan the first time.
This initial teeth scan is the only in-person part of the process. If PlusDent deems you a good candidate, they’ll send you a proposed treatment plan in one week. If it looks good, go approve it and they’ll get started on your aligners. Once you receive them, wear them for 22+ hours per day (only removing them to eat, drink, brush, and floss), and you’ll see your new smile within 3-10 months.
Throughout the process, you’ll use the PlusDental mobile app to upload photos of your teeth every 8 weeks so that PlusDent’s dentists can ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned and make adjustments (if necessary).
Pros & Cons of PlusDent
PlusDent is a great option, but that doesn’t mean it’s without fault. When considering home aligner treatment, you have to consider the cons right alongside the pros. Fortunately, we’ve gathered both for you right here, so you can weigh them and make an informed decision:
Pros
- You’ll send digital images of your teeth to PlusDent’s dental team throughout treatment so they can monitor your progress and adjust your treatment as necessary.
- PlusDent offers several different financing plans (as low as £28.94/month), so you can choose the one that works best for your budget.
- With more than 50,000 successful smile transformations per year, they’ve likely seen and treated a case just like yours.
Cons
- PlusDent doesn’t offer impression kits, so you’ll need to visit a clinic in one of 17 cities across the UK.
- PlusDent treatment has 3 different prices, depending on your condition’s severity. So, if you have a more serious case, you’ll have to pay more.
So, Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons?
In some cases, yes. PlusDent’s app-based oversight, financing plans, and extensive experience make them a reliable choice for a variety of customers.
Effectiveness
Time for the all-important question: how well does it work? Their remote oversight and satisfaction guarantee should give you confidence that PlusDent can achieve the results you’re after.
We should note again that PlusDent, like other at-home clear aligner services, is limited to treating minor and moderate cases of crowding and spacing. If you have a more severe tooth or jaw misalignment, their dental team might recommend you go for in-office treatment instead.
But if they determine that you’re a good candidate, you can expect a safe and effective treatment.
PlusDent partners with “UK-based, General Dental Council registered dentists” to develop your treatment.
It’s good to know that PlusDent works only with registered, trustworthy professionals, which should ensure consistently high-quality treatment. If you’re unfamiliar with the GDC (General Dental Council), it’s the organization that oversees dentistry in the UK. No dentist can practice there without first registering with the GDC.
PlusDent’s remote monitoring service ensures that your treatment stays on track.
Every 8 weeks, you will upload photos of your teeth through the PlusDental mobile app. A dentist and a specialist will both review your photos to evaluate your progress and make any necessary adjustments to your treatment schedule. So you’ll have clinical oversight every step of the way, and dental professionals ready to address any issues that may arise. You can connect with these professionals via email, video chat, or by visiting one of PlusDent’s clinics.
Rather than partnering with a dental manufacturer, PlusDent produces their aligners in their own lab in Germany.
This could be a positive or a negative aspect, depending on how you look at it. Companies that partner with established dental manufacturers have the assurance that their products are created from time-tested processes and materials. In-house manufacturing, on the other hand, can give a company like PlusDent more control over the intricate details of the process than outsourced manufacturing would.
It’s difficult to say which option is “better,” but based on the large volume of satisfied customers they have so far, we trust that PlusDent’s manufacturing process results in a high-quality product.
PlusDent guarantees your results and will produce as many aligners as you need to achieve them.
At the end of your treatment, PlusDent says, “if your treatment results deviate, we will treat you until they are achieved.” In other words, if your smile doesn’t match the one from your original preview, they will provide new aligners until it does. This means that you’ll definitely get the results you’re after, even if it takes some extra time.
This is assuming, of course, that you followed your treatment plan carefully the entire time, wearing your aligners for 22+ hours per day and submitting photos through the app for evaluation each month.
Affordability
They’re all already less expensive than Invisalign and braces, but how much will you pay for home aligners? That depends on the company. Prices and financing plans vary from company to company, and there are multiple factors you should consider when analyzing a price point.
PlusDent is unique in that they have tiered pricing and several financing options, but their prices can still be more expensive than their peers.
PlusDent bases your price on the severity of your condition.
After evaluating your teeth, PlusDent’s dentists will place you in one of three price tiers:
- Short: £1,390
- Normal: £1,890
- Complex: £2,190
If your condition is pretty minor, the £1,390 price tag isn’t bad. But the Normal and Complex prices are higher than most competitors. There’s a good chance you might end up paying more than you would with another company.
PlusDent offers long-term payment plans as low as £28.94 per month, but they require a soft credit check.
No matter which price level you’re in, you can potentially split that payment up over 1-4 years. However, their payment plans go through a third-party company and require a credit check, so not everyone qualifies. But if you do, here’s how it breaks down:
Short: 12 payments of £120.91, 24 payments of £63.30, 36 payments of £44.16, 48 payments of £34.63 or 60 payments of £28.94
Normal: 12 payments of £164.40, 24 payments of £86.07, 36 payments of £60.04, 48 payments of £47.08 or 60 payments of £39.36
Complex: 12 payments of £190.49, 24 payments of £99.73, 36 payments of £69.57, 48 payments of £54.56 or 60 payments of £45.60
Retainers and whitening products are not included in the sticker price.
After you complete any teeth straightening treatment, you’ll need to wear retainers to prevent your teeth from shifting back. Some at-home aligner companies will throw in a set of retainers for free, but PlusDent sells them separately for £99, making your overall cost slightly higher. And unlike some other companies, they don’t include free whitening products either.
They do, however, include lip balm, cheek spreaders, a toothbrush, and an aligner case.
Convenience
Any home aligner treatment is going to be more convenient than traditional, in-office orthodontic care. That’s because they don’t require any office visits and generally have a shorter overall timeline. PlusDent is no exception, but certain aspects of their treatment process – particularly their startup procedures – can make them slightly less convenient.
PlusDent offers free teeth scans, but doesn’t sell impression kits.
Getting your teeth scanned at a clinic is an easier and faster route, so PlusDent’s numerous clinics across the UK are convenient options. However, impression kits are helpful in certain circumstances. For instance, if you live far from a PlusDent location, you’ll have to travel to the nearest one. In these cases, having an impression kit delivered directly to your home might be easier, but that’s not an option with PlusDent.
But remember: It can be difficult to get your teeth impressions right the first time, and some customers take multiple tries to get it right. By letting PlusDent’s dentists handle your teeth scans, you can be sure that you’ll get perfect images the first time.
Start to finish, your treatment will take 3-10 months, depending on your condition.
This is pretty standard for home aligner treatment. Although your exact timeline depends largely on two things: your condition’s severity and how well you follow your prescribed treatment plan. Cases that fall into PlusDent’s “Complex” category will simply take longer to correct, while cases in the “Short” category will probably fall at the lower end of that range.
Additionally, if you don’t wear your aligners consistently for 22+ hours per day or move to the next set when PlusDent tells you, it will likely extend your timeline.
PlusDent’s app makes it easy to stay on top of your treatment.
Most home aligner companies provide some way to follow your treatment schedule, typically an online account. PlusDent’s app (available on Google Play and the App Store) makes it a lot easier. You’ll be able to share photo updates and receive notifications right on your phone.
The app notifies you of when to change aligner sets and keeps track of the one that you’re on. It also provides an interface for PlusDent’s dental team to monitor your progress, making sure that you stay on track.
Appearance
When you’re wearing clear aligners, other people will rarely notice. You can’t say the same for braces. It’s one of the biggest reasons why adults are flocking to services like PlusDent.
Still, you might think that all clear aligners look the same, but that’s not always the case. All clear aligners look similar, but small differences in materials and design can make them slightly more or less noticeable.
PlusDent will cut their aligners differently, depending on what your smile needs.
Clear aligner companies cut their aligners one of two ways: scalloped or straight across the top. Straight-cut aligners can leverage the gums to exert more power, but they’re slightly more visible.
PlusDent will evaluate your misalignment and determine which cut is best for you. This adds an extra layer of customization to your treatment.
You should take out your aligners before eating and drinking to avoid stains.
All clear aligners are susceptible to stains from food and beverages — that’s why it’s important to remove them before eating or drinking anything other than plain water. As clear aligners go, our current understanding is that PlusDent’s aligners are reasonably resistant to staining, although we certainly wouldn’t recommend drinking coffee or red wine with your aligners in.
Customer Experience
When you complete an entire treatment from home, questions can arise, and it’s comforting to know that you’ve got a solid customer service team in your corner. Since you’re not making office visits every month, helpful remote care is especially important.
Here’s what you need to know about PlusDent’s customer support:
They offer customer service by phone and email, and they appear to be responsive to both.
Customer reviews online often praise PlusDent’s customer service, citing friendly and helpful representatives. There are very few negative reviews that specifically target customer care and only a couple that issue complaints about the in-office service.
The PlusDental app gives the company a platform on which to review progress photos and send reminders about changing aligners. However, it’s not a customer service channel. It would be nice to have access to customer service representatives in the same place that you upload your teeth photos each month, but it doesn’t take away from PlusDent’s stellar customer service.
If you break or lose your aligners, PlusDent will replace them.
Find a crack in your aligner? No worries. PlusDent will replace it for free. They’ll also replace your aligners if you lose them, but you’ll need to pay an additional £99.
PlusDent will continue treating you until you get the results promised by the treatment preview.
One major reservation many people have about home aligner treatment is uncertainty about the results. Without constant oversight, how can you know that it will work as expected? It’s a valid concern and one that PlusDent puts to rest entirely.
If you reach the end of your aligner plan and the smile you see in the mirror doesn’t match the one they promised at the outset, PlusDent will provide additional aligners for you. They will only do so, however, if you diligently followed your treatment plan and uploaded all the necessary check-in photos. This guarantee essentially ensures your satisfaction with the results.
What are PlusDent Customers Saying?
When we review a company like PlusDent, our first move is to dig through customer reviews to understand common customer issues and desires.
PlusDent doesn’t have a ton of UK-based reviews, but the ones they do have are exceptional. Customers consistently praise the company’s professionalism and customer care. They often note how easy PlusDent’s teeth scanning appointments are and how much they appreciate the staff there.
It’s important to note, though, that almost all of the reviews we found refer only to customers’ teeth scan appointments, not the entire treatment. There are very few reviews written by customers at the end of their treatment. So it’s tough to get a feel for their start-to-finish customer experience, especially the end.
It would be great to see more reviews where customers discuss their experiences during and/or after treatment, but the reviews that PlusDent has so far are stellar, just concentrated at the beginning.
PlusDent vs. Invisalign
The main difference between at-home clear aligners like PlusDent and in-office ones like Invisalign is cost. Invisalign is, on average, about 2-4 times as expensive as PlusDent. That said, there’s another important difference to keep in mind: Invisalign is able to correct much more severe cases of misalignment than PlusDent.
With Invisalign, you’ll receive hands-on care. This means your dentist can incorporate elastics and other attachments into your treatment plan to achieve more advanced and intricate teeth movements. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible with PlusDent.
All in all, for severe cases of crowding, spacing, or bite issues, in-person care can’t be beat. But if you’re simply looking to correct a mild-to-moderate dental misalignment, an affordable at-home provider like PlusDent will be able to produce the results you’re after.
PlusDent vs. Other At-Home Clear Aligners
While PlusDent is a reputable and affordable brand, there are a few other home teeth straightening companies worth considering before settling on a provider. Let’s see how PlusDent stacks up compared to some other top-ranked home teeth aligners:
PlusDent vs. SmileDirectClub
Here we have a relative newcomer (PlusDent) versus the industry’s largest, most experienced brand. SmileDirectClub has treated over a million customers since 2014, and they show no signs of slowing down. Their numerous SmileShop locations, combined with their nighttime-only treatment option, makes their treatment incredibly convenient. And their £1,499 price tag isn’t bad either.
SmileDirectClub doesn’t have the same remote monitoring or satisfaction guarantee that PlusDent does, but their brand power, nighttime treatment, and extensive physical network are worth considering too.
For a closer look at SmileDirectClub, check out our in-depth review.
PlusDent vs. Straight Teeth Direct
Straight Teeth Direct also has a remote monitoring service, although their process is a bit more thorough. Much like PlusDent, they will provide as many aligners as you need to achieve your ideal smile. But Straight Teeth Direct’s prices beat PlusDent’s Normal and Complex plans. Additionally, their financing plan doesn’t require a credit check and they sell impression kits for anyone who can’t visit their scanning office.
Find out more about Straight Teeth Direct in our complete review.
PlusDent vs. Straight My Teeth
Straight My Teeth has the lowest prices among UK providers. Their sticker price is just £999 (or as low as £799 if you catch a sale). They don’t offer remote monitoring or a satisfaction guarantee like PlusDent, but they still administer quality treatment and their price is by far the industry’s best.
Get to know Straight My Teeth a little better in our comprehensive review.
PlusDent vs. WonderSmile
One of the best things about WonderSmile is that they promise orthodontist-directed care, while most other companies use general dentists. They also offer a nighttime-only treatment (called NightClear) that only requires 10+ hours of overnight wear. PlusDent’s “Short” treatments are cheaper, but WonderSmile’s £1,399 price tag beats their “Normal” and “Complex” prices. PlusDent doesn’t provide remote monitoring, but if that isn’t at the top of your priority list, WonderSmile might be a great option.
Check out our full WonderSmile review to learn more.
Summary - Is PlusDent Right for You?
Anyone who values consistent oversight and satisfaction guarantees could be a great fit.
PlusDent’s app-based monitoring helps ensure that you stay on track, and they’ll provide aligners until you achieve your ideal smile, so you can be confident in your treatment outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PlusDent offer discounts?
As far as we can tell, PlusDent doesn’t often have discounts. You might be able to find promo codes or referral codes online—and they might make special offers after sending your treatment plan—but it seems like they don’t usually post promos on their website.
Can PlusDent correct my condition?
It depends. PlusDent is extremely effective in treating mild and moderate cases of crowding and spacing, but it might not be able to correct jaw misalignments like overbite, underbite, crossbite, etc. The only way to know for sure is to get a dental scan. After evaluating your teeth, PlusDent’s dental team will let you know if their aligners can make the shifts you’re after.
How much will I end up paying?
It depends on the severity of your condition. PlusDent has three different price levels: Short (£1,390), Normal (£1,890), and Complex (£2,190). You’ll also need to purchase aftercare retainers for £99 no matter which plan you’re on. PlusDent’s financing plans are interest-free, so you’ll end up with the same price as if you paid all at once.
How do I get started?
To determine your treatment candidacy and develop your aligner plan, PlusDent’s dental team will need to analyze your teeth. Schedule an appointment with one of their UK practices to get a teeth scan. Unlike other home aligner companies, PlusDent doesn’t sell impression kits, so you can only start the process by visiting one of their locations.
How long will it take?
In most cases, PlusDent treatment takes 3-10 months to deliver the desired results. This depends primarily on the severity of your case and how diligently you follow the prescribed wear schedule.
Does insurance cover PlusDent’s treatment?
The UK’s public healthcare does not often cover orthodontic care for adults. It may provide coverage if the treatment is necessary for health reasons, but this is rarely the case for home aligners. If you have private insurance, you may receive partial coverage, but you’ll need to check with your provider to find out.
What is the fastest home aligner service?
All home aligner options available in the UK have similar time frames. No matter which company you choose, your treatment will likely take around 6 months. It can be longer or shorter, of course, depending on your condition severity and how consistently you wear your aligners.
What is the cheapest home aligner service?
Straight My Teeth is £999, the lowest price you’ll find for home aligner treatment. And to make their treatment even more affordable, they offer multiple payment plans, including one that doesn’t require a credit check.
What is the most effective clear aligner company?
For at-home treatment, we think it’s Straight Teeth Direct. Their remote monitoring and all-inclusive aligner plan make sure that you get the smile you were promised. Other companies don’t offer the same combination of oversight and satisfaction guarantees. Although if you prefer an in-office treatment, or have a more severe condition, you can’t go wrong with Invisalign.
What about Invisalign?
The clear aligner originator has its own set of unique benefits, most notably in-person care. During regular face-to-face checkups, your dentist or orthodontist can make adjustments to your treatment and add attachments that allow Invisalign to treat a wider scope of cases. Home aligners might be faster and less expensive, but Invisalign is a great option if your condition is severe or you’d prefer to meet with your dentist in person.
Do clear aligners hurt?
When you switch to a new aligner set every two weeks, you might experience some discomfort for the first day or two, but after that, you’ll hardly notice them.
Is home aligner treatment safe?
Yes! While administering treatment from home might seem daunting, the process is very safe. Home aligner companies use state-licensed dentists and orthodontists to create your treatment plan and design your aligners.
Even though you won’t meet with them in-person, each company offers robust customer support services if something doesn’t feel quite right. PlusDent’s regular virtual check-ins help to prevent any complications or issues throughout treatment.
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