Read our detailed review of SmileDirectClub aligners. We take a look at all the essential information and analyze how they compare to other aligner providers.

4.00/5 (196 ratings)
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SmileDirectClub

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SmileDirectClub FAQs
🤷🏽♂️ Can anyone use SmileDirectClub?
SmileDirectClub is open to most customers. If you’re too young, your teeth may not have fully come through and so it may be that you’re asked to wait until your mouth is fully formed before you start treatment. Conversely, if you’re too old you may not be suitable for treatment as your gums may not be strong enough to accept your teeth moving.
Not only that, but you need to be in generally good dental health. So, if you haven’t been to a dentist within the past 12 months for a check-up and a clean, you won’t be accepted as suitable for treatment. Finally, anyone with severe misalignment or large gaps may find that SmileDirectClub aligners aren’t sufficient. Your dentist will be able to give you advice on whether clear aligners are suited to you.
⏰ How long does it take to get SmileDirectClub aligners?
Once you’ve either had your scan at a SmileShop or sent off your home impression kit to be analyzed by the SmileDirectClub team, you can expect to receive your dental aligners within around 4-5 weeks. They’ll be shipped straight to your home, and you’ll receive all of your aligners at once for the full length of your treatment.
You’ll just need to make sure you use the correct aligners at the right time, in the right order, for the treatment to work. Keep your old aligners safe once you’ve finished using them too – you may need them if you accidentally break or lose the set you’re meant to be using currently.
🧼 How do you clean SmileDirectClub aligners?
The best way to clean SmileDirectClub aligners without any special equipment is to use liquid soap and warm water. Warm water works better than cold as it’s better for creating a cleaning solution. However hot water can soften your aligners which can cause them to mis-shape. Add liquid soap to a glass of warm water, create suds and let the aligners sit in the solution for 20 minutes before you rinse them and re-insert them.
Some aligner manufacturers recommend using toothpaste to brush and clean your aligners but SmileDirectClub actively recommend you do not do this, as toothpaste can be abrasive to their aligners and damage them.
📅 How long should I wear my retainer with SmileDirectClub?
Once you finish your aligner treatment with SmileDirectClub, you’ll need to wear a retainer for 24 hours a day for around two weeks, to ensure they stay in position. After the first two weeks, you can then shift to wearing your retainer only at night while you sleep.
You’ll need to do this long-term, ideally permanently, but SmileDirectClub recommends you get a new retainer every six months to ensure it keeps working properly. You can keep it in good condition simply by rinsing it with warm (never hot) water and storing it carefully in its container when not in use.
🤓 Who owns SmileDirectClub?
SmileDirectClub is a public company, but it was founded by Jordan Katzman and Alex Fenkell in 2014. It’s based in Nashville Tennessee but serves customers across the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Germany and the UK.
😴 Can I wear my SmileDirectClub aligners only at night?
If you don’t want to wear SmileDirectClub aligners for the full 22 hours a day that’s required, there is another option. Choose Nighttime Clear Aligner Therapy with SmileDirectClub and you’ll get aligners that you only need to wear for 10 hours per night.
The average treatment time is longer, but if your career or lifestyle prevents you from wearing aligners throughout the day (remember that you shouldn’t wear them while eating or drinking) then the night-only option may be much more suitable.
🤔 Is SmileDirectClub permanent?
As long as you follow the instructions as part of your treatment plan, which includes wearing a retainer long-term following the end of your normal course of aligners, then yes your SmileDirectClub treatment should be permanent and you can enjoy your new smile for the rest of your life.
Of course, with old age your gums may get weaker and you may seem movement of your teeth but you can minimize this with continued use of your retainer and good dental hygiene. For the most part your new smile will be with you always.
😁 Does SmileDirectClub take insurance?
SmileDirectClub cannot accept payments directly from insurance companies. However, many dental plans will include orthodontic allowances, so you may be able to claim back the cost of your aligners once you’ve paid for them yourself.
Check with your provider to see how much of a reimbursement you could expect from your insurance. HSA, FSA and CareCredit are also accepted and could bring your cost down further.
💤 Is SmileDirectClub the only company to offer night-time only aligners?
SmileDirectClub is not the only provider to offer night-time only dental aligners, but they claim to be the first. What’s key is that they do offer night-time only aligners for no additional cost. Other providers charge more due to the way they change the aligners to shorten the longer treatment time of night-time aligners.
If treatment time isn’t a problem for you and you don’t mind waiting longer for results, SmileDirectClub may be the best option for you since you won’t pay a premium for aligners you only need to use at night.
🦷 What’s the Club Warranty?
Club Warranty is the guarantee offered by SmileDirectClub that you’ll get the results you want. Put simply, if you aren’t happy with the results after you’ve completed your treatment, you could be eligible for more sets of aligners to continue your treatment until your smile is just right.
You’ll need to contact SmileDirectClub within 30 days of your smile plan ending so that they can re-evaluate your results. You’ll also need to make sure you’ve been wearing your aligners for the required 22 hours a day, except when eating, drinking or brushing your teeth. You have to make sure you registered your aligners online and you’ll need to have provided photos every 90 days to the SmileDirectClub doctors to document your progress, otherwise you won’t be eligible.
Summary
Read our detailed review of SmileDirectClub aligners. We take a look at all the essential information and analyze how they compare to other aligner providers.

4.00/5 (196 ratings)
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Pros
- Competitively priced
- Insight from both dentists and orthodontists
- Two treatment options (day and night time)
Cons
- Retainers aren't free
- Replacement impression kits are charged
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Comments
These guys are good although their customer service isn’t great!
Are all smile shop locations closed at the moment due to COVID?
Hey Sam. Yes, some are still closed but they are opening more all the time as lockdown eases. Check their website for more details.
Definitely trust SDC the most! Spoke to someone on chat who wasn’t great but the second time they went out of their way and were very helpful. And even got a discount so can’t wait for the results in 6 months!!
Nice! Thanks for letting us know. Good luck with your teeth straightening journey.
Waiting for my retainers at the moment after my treatment. How long do they normally take to arrive?
Hey there! Normally, with Smile Direct they won’t take very long – usually a few weeks. We have noticed that things are a bit slower with the pandemic, so you might want to check with them. For now, it’s normally recommended to continue wearing you last set of aligners.
Are the photos of the impression kit?
Hi there – yes, they are the Smile Direct Club impression kit photos. Let us know if you need any more info or there’s anything else you’d like to see! 🙂
Their customer service (on chat) isn’t the best but otherwise very pleased.
How long does it take once you’ve got your aligners through the mail?
Hey Rich – they would typically arrive within a few weeks, if not sooner!
Does smile direct have a store in NYC??
Hi Harry – it certainly does. For more details, use our find tool here: https://aligners.co/find/
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