This post is from the time when SmileDirectClub first began its marketing campaign, from the standpoint of a general dentist’s practice, and the feelings of whether or not online-ordered cosmetic aligners would be taking away market share for dentists. The reviews are posted below the article, from those who have used the product or who have questions about it. The company declared bankruptcy in 2023. Way to take the money and run!
If you’re not an orthodontist, but you straighten teeth in your dental practice, I’ve got a fistfight just waiting for you. Where? Thankfully someone else went through the trouble of making this cute little scroll-ey infographic, so I’ll just post it here and save myself the trouble, and the punches.
SmileCareClub Wants to Disrupt Dentists- Crowdfunding Insider (no longer available)
(sorry, looks like the infographic wasn’t sanctioned by Smile Care Club… anyways, here’s another link on IndieGogo)
A full set of dental aligners, just like the Invisalign® ones, for a third of the cost or less, can you simply order them online? With no visit to a dental office? Heck, why not? I mean, all you have to do is worm two pieces of putty together and then squish them onto your teeth for an impression, mail them to the lab, upload a few photos from your smartphone, and wait for your trays to magically appear at your doorstep.
What is it with blue boxes? Is blue, like, a confident color or something? See how the SmileCareClub box compares to an aligner box from our office:
And then there’s the involvement of the aligner-providing dentist. The ClinCheck inclusion is a facade, a joke? You mean to tell me that the lab could do all of this via 3D imaging and just cut the middleman dentists out of the deal?
Not completely. You’ve got interproximal reductions that still need to be managed in some cases, and the SmileDirectClub is looking for suckers Endorsed Local Providers to saw those big fat teeth into submission. And who the heck knows whatever happened to attachments? I personally had Invisalign attachments placed a decade ago, and cannot imagine what my results would have been without them.
Orthodontists are probably chuckling to themselves. They saw this coming with all of the cosmetic tooth straightening programs being marketed to general dentists over the last decade.
It makes the whole teeth whitening mall kiosk issue seem petty, now, doesn’t it?
SmileCareClub doesn’t appear to have a single dentist on its management team, but they employ a few, I guess, to keep it legal, I guess. It’s really hard to tell. This aligner system is also sold on the Sharper Image website, in case you want to forward a link to any patients who look at you sideways and curse under their breath when you tell them what their in-office aligner treatment is going to cost. Sharper Image– that’s legit, right? Maybe you didn’t realize that the original Sharper Image went bankrupt. Interestingly, the brand name was bought by the same VCs that, guess what?- own SmileDirectClub.
Orthodontists, are you feeling disrupted yet?
I didn’t think so.
A blogger since 1997, Trish Walraven, RDH, BSDH is a practicing dental hygienist and marketing manager for an indie dental software development company. Her mission with DentalBuzz is to offer a fresh podium of discourse for those involved in dentistry and to expose fun in our professional lives.
Update: SmileCare Club is now called SmileDirectClub, which you can see at SmileDirectClub.com. The cost is $1500, and if you Buy Today!, they’ll include GloScience gel (interestingly enough, here’s what DentalBuzz had to say about GloScience in 2011).
Aug 2016 Update:
Invisalign has announced that they are building aligners for Smile Direct Club. See the notice in the comments below. The similarity of the boxes now makes sense!
2017 Update:
Invisalign now owns a 19% interest in SmileDirectClub. But that kind of backing will cost you $350 more, which now brings the cost of aligner therapy to $1850.
September 2019 Update:
Smile Direct Club just had their IPO, and now the founders are billionaires. It’s all about disruption of the status quo, apparently, because if you can afford $80/month instead of $150/month (the cost to see a real orthodontist) you should Do Orthodontics Yourself. Smile Direct Club have no more than 250 dentists that “check” the cases. That’s one dentist per 3000 patients (750,000 people served so far)! Bottom Line? If you think of teeth as ornaments, not functional body parts, then that’s on you if they rot out or you can’t chew with them afterwards. Story here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-13/smiledirectclub-s-ipo-creates-a-pair-of-30-year-old-billionaires
October 2023 Update:
Melissa Busch, Dr. Bicuspid.com
Clear aligner company SmileDirectClub filed for voluntary protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on September 29 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, according to a company press release.
The bankruptcy comes on the heels of recent legal pitfalls involving SmileDirectClub. In August, a California court confirmed an order requiring the orthodontics company to pay $63 million to Align Technology, a former partner and the maker of Invisalign, over a supply agreement dispute. SmileDirectClub had planned to appeal the decision.
In June, SmileDirectClub settled a suit with the Washington, DC, attorney general’s office, which claimed the company made injured and dissatisfied customers sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to receive refunds for their clear aligner therapy. Under the terms of the settlement, SmileDirectClub was required to release 17,000 U.S. consumers from provisions in its NDAs. Also, the company had to change its refund policy, notify consumers who previously signed NDAs that they could now freely speak about their experiences, and stop forcing people to sign NDAs that prevented information sharing before refunds were provided.
December 2023 Update:
The SmileDirectClub website is gone. You’ll find this message there instead:
Customer FAQ
SmileDirectClub has made the incredibly difficult decision to wind down its global operations, effective immediately. For new customers interested in SmileDirectClub services, thank you for your interest, but aligner treatment is no longer available through our telehealth platform. For existing customers, we apologize for the inconvenience, but customer care support is no longer available. Thank you for your support and letting us improve over 2 million smiles and lives.
I placed an order for SmileDirectClub aligners, but have not yet received my aligners. What should I do?
Unfortunately aligner treatment is no longer available through the SmileDirectClub platform. All orders that have not yet shipped have been cancelled at this time, and you will not receive your aligners.
Should I continue to conduct my 60-day check-ins? Is my treating doctor still available to complete my treatment?
We apologize for the inconvenience, but aligner treatment is no longer available through the SmileDirectClub platform. If you wish to continue treatment outside of our platform, please consult your treating doctor or your local dentist with any questions around future aligner treatment.
I’m on the SmilePay Plan. Do I need to keep paying for my aligners?
HFD is the service provider for your SmilePay payment plan. For questions regarding your financial obligations please contact HFD at 1-877-874-3877, [email protected] or visit their website at www.gohfd.com/.
Is the Lifetime Guarantee still in place?
No. Effective immediately the Lifetime Smile Guarantee no longer exists.
How do I ask for a refund?
There will be more information to come once the bankruptcy process determines next steps and additional measures customers can take.
Great post!
Love the tone..the product (& mktg) seems pretty cheesy. Snake oil is still for sale to solve the world’s problems…and suckers are born every minute.
Look on YouTube. People are getting real results. It works perfectly if you have minor/moderate problems.
Yep, I agree.. I just finished my 10th round (1 everything 3 weeks) – and it has worked great! Has fixed an issue where I had top and bottom teeth coming together thus wearing them down. Highly recommend it.
I’m currently on my tenth set of a 20 set plan and they haven’t shipped me the second half of my prepaid plan. I think they’re having a bunch of problems with delivery and service – one complaint on the BBB had someone waiting 3 months for the second half of their plan! I just want my second half sent to me so I can be done with them…. cant really get a refund now with my teeth halfway to where they need to be.
I had a great experience with smile direct. I was quoted over $6000 grand for Invisalign and over 18mos of treatment. 7 months and only $1500 for SDC. Read my full review, view my plan and pictures here http://smiledirectclubreview.blogspot.com
The problem isn’t the straightness…. the problem is that the bite will not be stable without proper occlusion….so go spend the money… you will have to do it again… good luck
I am waiting for my first set of aligners – just sent my impressions in. And I am excited. I had braces in my childhood and my teeth were great – until I had my wisdom teeth out in my late 20s. Over the last 20 years, my front teeth have slowly shifted (I have a permanent retainer in my bottom teeth – they are still perfect). This a really common problem after removal of wisdom teeth. It was going to cost $6000 for the orthodontist route – which is ridiculous. I will be thrilled if it closes the gap in my front teeth as it makes me self-conscious. Would I use this option for major dental rehaul? No. Do I think orthodontists are over-priced for my issue? Yes!!
It has nothing to do with having your wisdom teeth out. You obviously didn`t wear your upper retainer!
I am in similar situation. I had braces in my teen years, wore my retainers. Grew wisdom teeth at age 30, had dentists insist they be extracted even though they were problem free. Now at age 54, long after retainer wearing is expected to continue, the right side upper teeth have gaps bc of the wisdom tooth extraction. Without the tooth or any dentist even suggesting I go see an orthodontist for a retainer to stop this process, I am left with self conscious gaps.
Same thing happened to me. My teeth were perfect and I loved them and loved to smile and talk after my braces when I was younger. Not I have a huge gap in my front teeth and I hate it so much that I don’t even want to leave the house sometimes. My friend took a video at a party on New Years and I was talking in it and all I could see is my giant gap teeth.Its so depressing. I can’t afford to have braces all over again and I will try anything at this point. I just ordered my mold kit off Groupon and can’t wait to start this so I can be normal again.
Here’s a 50% off coupon if anyone is interested http://mbsy.co/smiledirectclub/26066745
Thanks so much for the coupon Jenn! You saved me $47.50 Yay!!
So…Invisalign is teaming up with SmileDirectClub, it seems. Here’s an example of some recent correspondence:
Dear Invisalign Dentist,
The fields of orthodontics and dentistry have changed tremendously in the two decades since Align Technology was founded. Many of the greatest changes have been and continue to be technology-driven: mass-customized clear aligners; 3-D treatment planning and restorations; digital x-rays and intraoral scanning; laser therapy; practice management software; mobile devices…the list goes on.
Technology has changed the demands of potential patients as well. The Internet, ecommerce, and social media give consumers access to more information and more options for every type of treatment and procedure, including where and when they want it, and at costs much lower than traditional options.
We have been watching the intersection of these technology advances and changes in consumer behavior. In particular, we’ve tracked the different approaches to at-home teeth straightening with clear aligners. I’m talking specifically about doctor-directed treatment shipped directly to consumers, not consumers trying to treat themselves in a “DIY” fashion. The at-home model follows an established trend of direct-to-consumer, ship-to-home options for contact lenses, hearing aids, diabetes care, and more. Logically, this type of doctor-directed, at-home treatment in orthodontics is only possible with clear aligners. And as the pioneer and current leader in clear aligner technology, we believe Align has to get involved and help shape this evolving market to maintain the hard-won credibility of clear aligner therapy that you’ve helped us build.
Today, we are announcing a supply agreement with SmileDirectClub, the emerging leader in this new at-home market. The SmileDirectClub product is a doctor-directed treatment for clear aligner treatment of minor tooth movement. Align will provide a case setup using our Treat software programmed to exclude attachments and IPR and limited to anterior movements. Upon review and approval by a licensed orthodontist or general dentist, Align will manufacture the aligners for SmileDirectClub’s aligner program for minor tooth movement and ship them directly to SmileDirectClub. These aligners will use single-layer EX30 material (pre-SmartTrack®) and will not exceed a maximum of 20 stages based on protocols for predictable tooth movements.
You may wonder how this differs from our low-stage Invisalign products. This is not Invisalign. We will not use Invisalign clear aligners or Invisalign technology for this type of at-home treatment model. What can be accomplished with SmileDirectClub aligners and protocols is not the same or equal to what doctors can accomplish with Invisalign aligners, features, and protocols. The Invisalign brand and system of clear aligners will always require direct doctor involvement throughout the course of treatment and will only be available for in-office treatment with an Invisalign provider. We invest nearly $100 million per year in research and development to advance the science and technology behind Invisalign clear aligners – the most advanced clear aligners in the world. Our Invisalign customers and their patients will continue to be the primary beneficiaries of this investment.
I know some of you have concerns about the direct to home model. We did, too. In fact, Align filed a patent infringement lawsuit against SmileDirectClub last year. However, as we learned more about this evolving model and its success, it became clear that doctor-directed, at-home treatment is growing rapidly and represents a new, incremental market for clear aligner treatment. We also discovered that less than 2% of Invisalign cases match SmileDirectClub’s protocols. With this understanding, we saw an opportunity to get involved and do three important things:
Ensure doctor involvement in case review, setup and monitoring;
Support SmileDirectClub’s efforts to bring simple teeth straightening to consumers who prioritize convenience and affordability;
Expand the market and create new opportunities for Invisalign doctors.
An important part of this agreement is the creation of a new Invisalign doctor referral program. Starting in October, consumers who request a case assessment from SmileDirectClub but fall outside of their treatment scope will be systematically referred to an Invisalign provider in their area – much like our Doc Locator works today. 30% of SmileDirectClub’s interested customers do not qualify using the SmileDirectClub protocols. This patient interest will provide new opportunities to connect Invisalign providers with potential patients who would not have sought treatment otherwise.
On August 5th, I will lead an Ask the Expert call to tell you more about this trend in treatment and how I view Align’s role in shaping this market, and to answer your questions. I hope you’ll join us on the live call or take time to listen to the archived version.
Register for the Ask the Expert Call with Joe Hogan
August 5 at 10 a.m. PT
REGISTER
Sincerely,
Joe Hogan
President and CEO
Sounds like a pretty good partnership. What do you think about it?
The smiledirectclub.com concept has one serious flaw, and is confirmed by an online chat I had with a smiledirectclub.com customer service rep this morning. Doctor Directed does not mean doctor diagnosed nor is there any dental screening for underlying, unseen issues like periodontal disease, bone pathology, extra teeth in the bone and the list goes on. Here is the response that I received when I asked specifically if ” I had to go to a dental office first to have an exam”
“An examination is not required. In order to begin our process, you will need to complete your free online smile assessment and purchase your $95 evaluation.
To evaluate your dental case our lab will require current impressions made with our impression taking material or a digital image of your smile taken in one of our SmileShops (NYC, DC and Nashville).
Your $95 evaluation purchase is refundable if it is determined that you are not a candidate for our aligner treatment. Your evaluation includes either a photo assessment and at-home evaluation and impression taking package OR in one of our SmileShops.
In both cases, you’ll receive your personal 3D treatment plan that shows exactly how your teeth will move with our treatment process.
To begin please visit http://www.smiledirectclub.com/smile_assessment ”
At no time is any sort of baseline radiographic protocol required or even recommended. I have been an orthodontist for 25 years and have uncovered hundreds of unseen, un-diagnosed issues that would have resulted in potential loss of teeth, gum recession, bone and in several cases bone tumors that if not discovered would have resulted in serious mortality.
I am not trying to toot my own horn, this is just what my specialty does millions of times a year. We even fully screen our Invisalign patients. I am legally required to not move teeth if certain dental conditions exist. These issues can only be diagnosed by a thorough dental exam. In fact most of the malpractice suits against orthodontists and general dentist doing orthodontics ( yes there is a difference) have to do with moving teeth in the presence of existing disease. And we always lose those suits…slam dunk for the attorneys.
A patient can’t even sign away their rights to sue if something goes wrong. Even if you sign a form, which smiledirectclub.com does not use, that says I am aware that by going through tooth movement without an appropriate exam I risk the loss of my teeth, gingiva or supporting tissues but want to risk it….the dentist or provider is liable for problems. The basic notion of informed consent is that you as the consumer and patient have been given all necessary and relevant info to make an informed consent. Without an exam, you can’t have that info.
If you want to risk it…that’s your choice. But if something bad happens please contact your local malpractice attorney. With Align Technologies now involved there are 2 sets of very deep pockets connected to the mal-practice of smiledirectclub.com. This is just my humble professional and personal opinion.
Amen Brother… I’m also an orthodontist, and aligner therapy is very complex, often more difficult than mild traditional fixed appliance therapy. In my 10 years of practice, my experience with invisalign treatment is that it’s not always predictable. Sometimes it works out as planned and sometimes it becomes a huge headache. Various problems pop up during full invisalign treatment, like posterior open bites, lack of rotational control, poor deep bite managment, you name it. Not to mention compliance issues. This is NOT a problem of diagnosis or treatment planning, it is a problem with patient and tissue response, it varies folks!
I think the advantage for those involved in this cash grab is the lack of accountability and that the patient doesn’t always know when their occlusion has been made worse (which is often with invsalign). They only care about the “social 6” front teeth. Don’t forget people, the teeth are part of a masticatory system and when out of balance, bad things tend to happen to the system, like tooth wear, Temporomandibular Disorder, and of course periodontal problems. We didn’t go to school for a decade or more for laughs.
My point is, even with a fully planned and managed case with a trained orthodontist, problems occur consistently and need to be managed in real-time. How will the mail order thing work? I have my doubts…
I’m using SDC and visit my dentist every six months. He says my teeth/gums are healthy. If you visit your dentist regularly, they should be able to find any issues, yes?
I recently went to my dentist. Had my teeth cleaned and a full set of x-rays. I was told I was a good candidate for the Invisalign process. I previously wore braces and my bite was straight. My process would take 6 months. My only concern is I was told the cost was $5000! I have coverage for adult braces but was told it would not cover these. Meanwhile I was told I needed to purchase a sonic tooth brush for $125! That is why I decided to look elsewhere.
Why don’t you guys offer a more reasonable price if you care so much?
Using SDC to straighten teeth doesn’t mean people are not regularly going to their dentist for cleanings and check-ups to spot other issues. This is simply a less expensive alternative to Invisalign. There is nothing wrong with it when your dentist is keeping an eye on the process.
If you’ve seen several orthodontists (over the years) and they want to do all kinds of things to correct everything, and all you want is for your front two teeth to not overlap, this seems like a good answer. We couldn’t afford braces when I was young, and the crowding issues and anxiety (lots of pain and crappy dentists on state care) over the years has led to several teeth being lost in the back. I’m 50 and would just like to have a few years where I am not embarrassed by the two overlapping teeth in the front. I don’t want to pull out the good teeth I have left to get straight teeth (dentures) and I don’t want to spend 20,000 dollars to fix the ones in left (bridges etc.) so I can have a full mouth of teeth I don’t need (I eat just fine). I just want a nice smile for a few years. For once to be able to see a picture of a happy time, and not hate it.
I’ve gone through the sixteen trays with SmileDirect. Now my bite is seriously off and the front teeth are still overlapping. It’s hard to get information at this point from SmileDirect. They’ve had me jump through all these hoops which I have done to figure out if they can really help me. They’ve offered refinement trays but I sent them photos of my mis-aligned molars and my front teeth that are still overlapping. I’ve asked them if the refiner trays will correct the problems. So far they have not answered me and it’s been months of calling and emailing. First they had me go to an orthodontist to get an evaluation and I couldn’t find any orthodontist in the area that would work with them. At the beginning they give you the idea that there are local dentists that work with them. But there aren’t any in Colorado. So I called them and told them I saw an orthodontist but he wouldn’t work with them, could they give me the name of a local dentist that works for them? They couldn’t give me a name. Then they ask me to sign an authorization to release my dental records; they wanted my dental history and xrays. So I signed that on-line. I called several times to see if they got my records. At one point they told me they received them. So I’m still waiting to get an answer to question – Can they correct my bite and straighten my front teeth? So I call again and find out they didn’t receive my dental records they just received the authorization form. I asked them if they requested my records and got the answer that it would be done. Next, I waited a few days and called my dentist to check that records were requested and sent. They told me that no request had been made. Then I called SmileDirect and asked why the records were not requested. Then they directed me to print out an authorization form to take to my dentist and request my dental records. I printed the form out, filled out and hand delivered to my dentist office. Still I wait several days and hear nothing from SmileDirect. So I call my dentist office to make sure records were sent. Records were sent sure enough. This has been months now and still no word from SmileDirect. I just keep calling once a week or so.
Bottom line is that you got your sixteen aligners, and they now have your money. They will not get any more money by taking care of you past your first treatment, and they now have enough experience to realize that no matter how much they send you refinements, that the overlapping you still have cannot be corrected with aligners alone. What to do? Ignore you as much as they can, which is what it sounds like they’re doing.
Sorry to hear that your bite is messed up, too. Think of your teeth more as cosmetic accessories now ;). That’s a joke, of course, but it sounds like your teeth simply don’t work as good as they used to, because they were moved for appearance, at the expense of function.
What about the lack of attachment to the teeth? Doesn’t that matter? In which cases does it, and does it not effect treatment.
My 14 year old daughter is a professional dancer, and a real beauty, but she inheirited my husband’s crowding of the lower front teeth, and though her bite is fine and her smile lovely (I credit extended nursing for her spot on jaw positioning), her upper fronts are a smidge off from being perfect. Braces were always in the plan for her because, having had them myself, I know the joys of a perfect smile. Then came the hard part. She has intense anxiety, particularly with health professionals. Her last dental visit 2 months ago was a cleaning in preparation for orthodontics. Even with gas, she had a panic attack being in the chair for that long. When we went back a week later for the orthodontics, I could not get her out of the car. We started making plans for heavier sedation, and then it hit me that we would be sedating her every month rather than just at her 6 month exams/cleanings. The poor darling, her dad and I were just at a loss. High school is just a few months away, and she desperately wants to have that straight smile, but I can’t get behind so much drugging of a child, and no amount of coaxing from our wonderful dental professionals will get her into the chair without it. They actually suggested SDC. She had her scan and was just fine, and is now eagerly awaiting her trays. I paid for it with my FSA, but if it doesn’t work out, then my insurance will cover traditional braces later. We did our research, and we feel like we have made a good choice. The corrections needed are minor, and she will still have her oral health monitored by our ever-patient “family” at our dental practice. If her results are good, I am seriously considering tweaking my own smile this way, as my retainers never fit, and I couldn’t keep them in when my braces came off. There has been some shifting in those 25+ years, but I don’t think I could handle braces again. I am grateful that something like SDC exists and is available to meet the needs of my family. I look forward to seeing our girl smile more and with less anxiety and greater confidence, and so does her dentist!
As a consumer I get tired of being taken advantage of by the medical profession. SmileCareClub should never be, and is not for, individuals who need extensive correction. I used SmileCareClub to pull my two front teeth back, in which, it was a complete success! Before I found them I had mentioned to my dentist that I was considering having invisalign to pull them back. He quoted me almost $6,000 to do this and then began emailing me at least three times a week to get me to “hurry and schedule the appointment for invisalign”. Yeh, “hurry”! Hurry and line his pockets with about $5,000 in profit! Some things are not simple but some things really are. Yes, they did send me to an actual orthodontist to make sure they were fitting properly and that everything was okay. This was included in my fee that I paid to them.
It’s funny how someone on a profession feels threatened when someone exposes the fact that they are grossly over charging consumers for service rendered in that profession. Those that feel threatened the most yell the loudest and feel that they have to defame and dog their competition. As a professional in my field I notice alot of companies that offer services that other professionals in my field render to their clients. Some are good and some are not. Do I feel threatened? Nope! If they are bad companies, they will eventually fade out. No skin off of my back. If they are good, then we just have another alternative then don’t we?
good luck keeping them straight
I used Invisalign and I couldn’t keep them straight, which is why I’m considering Smile Care Club. If you keep up with wearing the retainer, I don’t see why it would matter if I order it online or not.
Exactly! I had braces and since I was young and irresponsible I lost my retainers and guess what??… my teeth moved right back! you just have to wear your retainer at the end.
What a funny statement. I had braces and my teeth didn’t stay straight. My daughter’s braces quote is 7500 plus life long night retainer use to keep her teeth in place. I’m considering this service.
Hi Since you posted almost a year ago, I’m wondering if you took your daughter for the service? I’m considering taking mine and would like feedback.
I appreciate the research you did, Trish, but you’re not exactly an unbiased critic. So i wish you’d use your good knowledge to examine other companies besides the SmileDirectClub.
I, too, had braces which came off in a year and a half (whereas my older brother wore his for 5 years. This same orthodontist worked on all my cousins, all of whom had their braces on a shorter time and all of us except for my brother were told to stop wearing our retainers and all have had our teeth return to their crooked and buck positions. Being made fun of throughout my childhood was pretty traumatic and now that i’m very much older, the teeth are moving more. I can’t afford $6000 on social security. I’d would’ve been glad to wear my retainer the rest of my life if i’d known what was going to happen. Please help us find a more reliable and affordable source for invisalign. I listened to some YouTube videos and SmileDirect seems to have a problem keeping in contact with patients and answering their concerns. Help us, Trish. We need affordable help.
Yeah, same thing happened to me…and I already had traditional braces twice and no one ever said wear the retainer for the rest of your life! I think it was intentional so I would have to get braces multiple times….and more than one Ortho wanted to remove my problem tooth…but I really can’t let go of a healthy tooth…It’s my 1st day of Smile Direct Club aligners….forgotten how much this stuff hurts!! I pray it will come out alright and I’m lucky to know a few people where I live who can help keep an eye on things for me…make friends and maybe you could do this too…they have a payment plan…thats what I’m doing.
Bro, just wear a retainer and they will remain straight. They are exactly like invisalign but a 1/3 of the costs. Orthodontists need to stop being so greedy and feed to the needy. – DMX
Good Morning Beth;
Was wondering how you just needed front teeth pulled back…same here..but now I got an email from smileclub that they can correct overbit…but not all the way. Did you get the same consent to sign?
Thank You, Kathee
I agree wearing them now and ilove them. Got a 200 dollar off coupon so when all said and done, top teeth gaps fixed for $559 that includes the free retainer I got for getting someone else to buy them. ACTUALLY 3 PEOPLE.
Hello Sam! I noticed you had top teeth gaps closed with smile care club, could you tell me more about your experience? I have a gap between my front top teeth and I would really like to close t and I am planning to start smile care club around summertime. I am a little concerned because in a lot of before/after pictures with gaps, it doesn’t completely close. Did your gap completely close? And what was the experience like before you had braces, did your end results match up with what they said would happen? Thanks for any input!
Sam, who did you get your aligners from? I was quoted $1,500 from Smile Direct Club…Top and bottoms are a requirement. .
Hey Kathi,
I am currently looking into Smile Direct Club again. I looked into them about a year ago and couldn’t afford it at the time and am now going back since I’ve saved up the money. Since Smile Direct Club has grown and changed they now have a flat fee of $1500 and require both top and bottom to properly move teeth and make sure the process works. Before when they were Smile Care Club they had different plans. I’m assuming Sam had the smallest plan which was about $700-900, I can’t remember exactly as it’s been a while since Sam only needed top aligners. I hope this helps!
YES MY DAUGHTER HAS SOME SPACES PERFECTLY STRAIGHT NO OVER BITE JUST SPACED SO THIS SHOULD BE PERFECT FOR HER YES/NO
Just to be clear, SmileCareClub’s aligners and treatment plans are reviewed by licensed on-staff orthos in areas all over the country. Patients have that ortho available for any needs and the trays come from both impressions (yes, mailed to the patient with very strict instructions and that are rejected if they are not good) but they also do in-home scanning using 3-D technology. Their aligners are manufactured just like everyone else’s but they can do it at a lower cost BECAUSE the patients doesn’t have to deal with or pay for ortho visits. Looking at their site, they’re also FDA approved so I don’t see what the issue is. Sounds like you’re just upset someone is doing it better!
I completely don’t agree with this article and have worked for dentists and have hygienists for friends. They do have licensed, educated Ortho’s watching over and answering any questions patients would have. I have asked many dentists about smile care club- and they say it’s a great new way to get something close to invisilign. So, if you need some slight adjustments- why not go with a less expensive way to solve that!
I worked for a dentist who hated Invisalign. It’s great in the sense that it can fix a bit of crookedness, but then you have problem patients who are non compliant and don’t wear their trays then lie and demand a refund because “it’s not working”. Now the office manager has to get involved. It takes up chair time with a ton of appointments that aren’t always necessary.
Thee impressions are sent to Invisalign and worked through a machine to develop trays. The attachments are placed by the assistant and trays are delivered by the assistant. The only thing the dentist does in this process is say yes you need Invisalign, you have (insert crowding/ spacing/ overbite here), and maybe interproximal reduction (shaving down the teeth) if necessary. Otherwise a monkey could do the process. In fact it doesn’t take a genius to determine existing conditions either, just someone with a mouth mirror. Technically I could remove the attachments as well as long as I don’t alter the tooth. Invisalign is overrated and overpriced. If there is a cheaper effective way to do it, why not. If your teeth are already jacked and it doesn’t work, you’ll be seeing an orthodontist for traditional ortho anyway, which would be what you would have needed originally.
Thank you for this comment, I started mine about one week and I’m freaking out.. Thinking maybe this is a hoax. But, we will see. Hopefully I end up with the smile I’ve always wanted!
Hi Jessica-
I just ordered and I’m waiting for my impression kit to come in the mail. How has your experience been with smile care club so far? I am in the same boat over here, wondering if this is just a scam. I’d like to hear from someone who’s tried it before u put any more than $95 into it. Thanks!
Hey Ladies,
I just wanted to check in on your experience, so far? Do you feel like it’s working?
Thanks for your help!
Jessica how was your outcome.
Nicole how’s your progress
Problem is that they don’t have any attachments to the teeth as invisalign do.
I love smile direct club.
Love customer service, love my results and WAY cheaper than invisilign.
It seems many are quick to praise Smile Care Club and accuse the provider of gouging them for orthodontic services. I’d like to remind everyone that the corporate machine of Invisalign/Align Technologies is like all other corporations- driven to profit for it’s shareholders at all costs. Their recent partnering with Smile Care Club is a great way for them to boost manufacturing by outputting more aligners. With respect to Invisalign Fees- the Smile Care Club fee to the patient is less than what Invisalign charges the dental provider in lab fees (Invisalign lab fee= $1900). Providing dental care without oversite or a license, all I can say is buyer beware.
Don’t trust the orthodontist, my sister in law was told by one that they wanted to put braces on her when she was younger as soon as possible. She still had her baby teeth. My father in law flipped out in the office when they told him that. My ortho just took my braces off and gave me a retainer to wear at night for a few months after. Never once told me or my parents that I need to continue to wear a retainer for the rest of my life so my teeth wouldn’t go back to the horrible state they were in before braces. Now I am stuck being miserable and grasping at anything I can think would help me. Which is why I am trying this out.
Well, orthodontists watch out! This is for real. It works just as good as all of the expensive orthodontists and you’ll see. They quoted me $6,000 for treatment.
This is the way to go it works. Why not try it.
I have Smile Care Club aligners on now and they are fantastic. I also didn’t have to pay $5000! I only paid 1200 and that includes top and bottom treatments. It looks and feels just like Invisalign but I’m not having to pay an arm and a leg to straighten my teeth!
Rosiev,
Do your aligners look like invisalign? I got my Smile Direct aligners and they do not mold to the teeth on the tops. They are actually very tall and go way up the gum line. I saw a picture of what Smile Direct aligners are supposed to look like and mine do not look like that and they fall out….they do not fit tight. Have spoken with them and have halted treatment for now. I’m a little spooked.
I was going to get invisalign, but am considering SmileCareClub or CrystalBraces now because I crapped in my pants how much it was. Its bad enough when dentists makes so much money already from having to do something as simple as oral checks. I understand there are times when a dentist is necessary, but not for a $6,000 job when it should be under $1,000. Not everyone makes the amount of money like you do and depending on where you are looking for work, employers believe it or not can judge you based on your teeth condition. If you are concerned about people running to Invisalign alternatives, then don’t charge so much. Its called being a consumer. Sorry!
Just so you know, treatments like Invisalign, Six Month Smiles, Powerprox Six Month Braces, Clear Correct, and Smile Care Club are generally not used by orthodontists because they do little to change the bite. If you need something more than cosmetic care then yes, you need an orthodontist.
Most people are really only concerned about what their teeth look like anyway, which is why this sort of mail-order straightening is no threat to orthodontists or general dentists. You’re not “sticking it” to anyone by using Smile Care Club versus getting cosmetic straighteners from your dentist. If anything, you’re doing dentists a favor by handling your straightening yourself. If you had high hopes that your teeth would get as straight as traditional orthodontics and they didn’t, well, no one to blame. Instead, you can comfort yourself with the money you saved by not involving a dentist. Yes, I’m snarky, but man, you should have SEEN the awful videos that Crystal Braces posted before they took them down. They were embarrassingly unprofessional, to say the least.
“Comfort yourself with the money saved”
Or just be happy you’re $5000 less in debt than you would be with any other method. Also, don’t understand why you assume that someone who used smile care club would automatically not see their regular dentist or ortho for maintenance etc. When you’ve already started the process, seeing someone locally woukd be cheaper. I’m probably just gonna live with my effed up bite, personally, though. Tmjd and aesthetics are the only reason for any orthodontics for me and I’m learning to live with both. A friend of mine paid like 9k for braces and she has the same insurances I do. I just can’t see the value in that. I made only 15k last year… For the whole year.
Your attitude sucks, btw. There are nicer ways to state a difference in opinion and you just come off like you’re annoyed that you’re not getting your 6k.
I apologize; it was certainly not my intent to offend anyone. This piece was originally written for dental professionals, to let them know that online products like Smile Care Club were available, and to reassure them that it should not affect their bottom line. So no, I’m not annoyed at this product at all, just their marketing. Since it was posted, Smile Care Club has improved its efforts and they are probably getting a lot of customers. Crystal Braces, not so much. Poof, they’re gone
Orthodontics is expensive, but so are nose jobs and other cosmetic surgery. If you desire better-looking teeth on a budget at least you have a choice, but remember, you get what you pay for.
Impressions are taken by a dentist/orthodontist and sent to the lab…the same lab that Smile Direct Club uses. It’s the same process, for the same product. I have friends with Invisalign and they go in and get their new trays and are sent on their way. Minimal to no dr interaction after the initial visits. This product WILL affect their bottom line. And I understand there are many business expenses. But to charge $3,000-$8,000 for a product that SDC is charging $1500 for (and still profiting)…I think I’d be concerned..and a little ashamed. On a side note, I’ve watched videos on Youtube by orthos criticizing SDC…saying they have no “monetary interest” in any aligner company…with Invisalign signs in plain sight all over their walls and desks. Seems there is some concern.
yes you are sticking it to dentists and orthodontists. Not ALL cases are people with sever crowding/spacing. A large majority of people have minor/moderate cosmetic issues but are still being charged the same flat rate as people will more sever cases. This is called EASY MONEY for the doctors. So yes you are sticking it to the doctors since a large majority of people only need minor corrections. Technology baby!
My experience with Crystal Braces was horrible. I will start from the beginning. I am unable to afford braces. Earning very little per hour and having an employer who is not gonna give me a raise, I decided to look for braces online. I only found Crystal Braces, and not any other competitors, so I went with them even though everyone I knew said DO NOT get braces online. I did not have a choice. I hate my smile and feel that my smile prevents me from being a high end Receptionist at a nice firm or a company that pays well. I did my impressions, messed up and asked for more putty and Crystal Braces asked me to pay for the putty. If you are a company and you want my business, there is no reason for me to pay every step of the way because they already charge about $99 a month for 8 months-2 years depending on the severity. They send you enough putty to make a few impressions but not enough if you mess up. How much can some putty cost them? They probably know that most ppl won’t get past that step so they make good money. I was determined to get past that step because I love my teeth and want them straight. Eventually they made what they called an exact replica of my mouth but it was so tight and enough to cover not my whole mouth but some of my teeth and I asked for more putty and of course they charged me. Since I would do anything for braces, I kept paying $15 for putty. Eventually, they sent my impressions to Florida. I do not live in Florida. I live in New York. Why they had me under a Florida address does not make sense. And since at work I sometimes fill out orders, I realize that the shipping person messed up, but not my problem. I was shocked because tracking my package, my heart fell seeing that all the work that I had done went to Florida. I live in New York. They actually had the nerve to say that they could not refund me all the money because since I had already used the putty, even though it is their fault that they mailed the impression to Florida that I would only be getting the original $99+ that I spent on the started kit and nothing for the putty. Yes, I used the putty but I also paid for services where I expect people to be competent and attentive to their work and their mistake should not be my burden. Now not only am I out of a lot of money, I also have to find a new company. It is as though they make the braces small so they can keep charging ppl for putty. I could not trust them with my teeth. If a company cannot get my address right then they certainly cannot fix my teeth. I would not recommend them at all. They could have changed my mind even after this mess because I would have done almost anything for braces, but their customer service suck. Below is my email after I told them what happened. Keep in mind that I did not move. They did not check their own tracking # and the info they had about me in their system before they wrote their nasty reply.
Below is their email and capital letters is me:
“I have gone through all correspondences we have had with you, and you never updated us with a new address.( I DID NOT MOVE.) We have continued to use the only address we have ever had on the account (NOT TRUE, NEW YORK NOT FLORIDA)- which is the original address you used at time of purchase (NOPE. I DO NOT KNOW ANYONE IN FLORIDA, SO HOW IS THAT THE ORIGINAL ADDRESS? If you did not update us with a different address, we could not know to send it to a different place. (THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE MESSED UP AND THEY TRY TO BLAME ME WITHOUT DOING RESEARCH. SEE THE NASTY TONE OF THE EMAIL? AGAIN, I DID NOT MOVE.)
Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to resolve any of this without a correct form of shipping. Now that you feel we are completely incapable of corresponding correctly in shipping(YOU’RE NOT, GENIUS), I am more the happy to discontinue your account if you continue to believe that our company is no longer a good fit for your situation due to the reviews you have read. (THEY’RE BEING CONDESCENDING AND TRYING TO KEEP MY BUSINESS.)
Please forward the correct address so that this situation may be assessed during our open hours on Monday, or let us know you wish to discontinue so I can mark the account accordingly. ( I QUICKLY GOT A CALL ONCE THEY REALIZED THEY MESSED UP. THE WOMAN SAID A BUNCH OF THINGS INCLUDING TRYING TO KEEP ME AS A CUSTOMER AND THAT THEY’RE SORRY BUT I WON’T BE GETTING ANY MONEY I SPENT ON PUTTY AND THAT I WILL ONLY GET THE MONEY BACK FOR THE STARTER KIT.)
Do not use this company please. I wish I had listened to the massive negative reviews online but I did not. I’m still waiting for a refund to come to my account and though it’s only been a week, it shows the level of caring these people have. They are in the business of making money and they know that at least in putty and people not knowing their rights and giving up on asking for the starter kit money that they have made more than enough.
Sounds like more of a customer service issue than a product issue. If that’s as bad as it gets, I’m even more convinced that ordering braces online is the best bet for minor fixes. I had Invisalign 6 years ago, paid $5K for them as a college student, and they’ve completely shifted back to square one. I refuse to put that kind of money back into another “name brand” set of clear aligners. I liked the orthodontist, but honestly–the only thing he did was give me 2 new sets of aligners during each of my monthly visits, which were a pain to get to. I’m sorry to hear your experience was bad with Crystal Braces. I ordered my starter kit with Smile Care Club and it should be here shortly. I don’t have any experience to speak of with them as of yet, but after reading this whole article, I feel more confident about my decision.
How did your e pertinence with smilecareclub go? I was thinking of trying it out
Have you noticed a difference with smile care club since you started in January? I’m considering on trying them as well
I am on trays #7 with SDC aligners. 7 out of 20. I can already see a difference and I am hoping that will continue! So far so good! The thing with online aligners are you get what you put in. If you don’t keep them in for the 22 hours per day then you won’t see the same results as someone that does. It’s easy to forget to put them back in after eating, but you’ll get into the routine after a while. They did take a while in the beginning to send me my stuff so they ended up giving me a pretty big discount. I have had a few hiccups along the way but I think it’s smooth sailing from here on. You can usually find codes online for discounts on the starter kit and groupon has them on there for half price a lot too. Good luck!
Thanks for the tip on looking for coupon codes and Groupon!
im sorry sweetie but this doesn’t make sense to me. i read it 3 times and i just can’t understand.
the fee is 99 bucks right??? and you paid for some extra putty? $15 dollars??? more? how many times did you mess up?
you say you are out of a lot of money? that sounded like $105 to me. i mean…dont get me wrong, i live on a budget too but $105 is’t that bad.
if the address was wrong, why didn’t you update it? even if it wasn’t your mistake… it still needs to be fixed right? just go there and update the thing.
it makes no sense to me.
also you didn’t explain it very well… so they send it to florida… does it mean that even being an online thing you still have to GO TO THE ACTUAL orthodontist? that’s why it was a big problem that it was sent to florida?
im sorry i never used or contacted any of these online companies but i am considering it, but i still don’t know how it works.
i thought you make you make the mold and send it to them, the molds are then checked by REAL orthodontists… the molds not you. that’s why its cheaper. then after this they are able to send you and estimate of how muh your treatment will cost and how long it will take???
now… so why was it such a big deal that it was sent to Florida? wouldn’t you still receive your things on the mail?
why sending it to a different state would prevent them from looking at your molds and even telling you how much it would cost?
can anyone please explain to me the actual process of the thing? do you still have to visit a real orthodontist? does it cost extra?
i can’t understand how they can keep the prices so low if you still have to do in office consultations. =/
and again… how many times did you mess this up???????????
What’s $99 + $15?
That’s what i was thinking!!! LOL
I agree with you on the job thing. I went to interview after interview for a Veterinary office receptionist and I had all the schooling and qualifications and always felt the interviews went well but people don’t want to be greeted first thing by someone with jack o lantern teeth so I never was able to get the job I really wanted and I feel it was totally my teeth. If I don’t talk or smile I am pretty normal and average looking. Not a super model but also not Hunchback of Notre dame looking either.
Most people watch advertisements without realizing that advertising is backwards. The more money a company spends on marketing, the less money they have left to put into the product. Marketing should generally be ignored.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/01/a-trip-to-the-mail-box-not-the-orthodontist/?_r=0
This is not marketing, its the new york times.
Your tone makes you lose credibility. I was more upset about your opinions than about the topic.
I know right? The whole thing was just a giant sarcastic mess.
I went via SmileCareClub for my son’s braces. I paid $1200 (in advance to get all the retainers at once) and bought upper and lowers to close a gap and shift a overbite issue. His bottom teeth were really good to begin with but I realized (and they advised) that with the top teeth moving the lowers would need to move as well. He is 2 months in and is having very good results already. I am having him switch trays every 2 weeks similar to invisiline switch-outs even though smilecareclub wants him to switch every 3 weeks. If the tray is really loose and ready to be switched then he switches. The question of teeth remaining in position after treatment has nothing to do with the cost of braces. It has everything to do with follow up and retainers. These can easily be purchased after treatment through other sites if Smilecareclub were to fold. The movement is occurring (yes there is some discomfort) but having had clear retainers myself things seem to be progressing correctly.
I have actually looked at Crystalbraces for myself as smilecareclub did not want to work with a mild correction on my front teeth because I have a bridge in the back portion of my mouth. They actually turned me down! Crystalbraces said they could do it but I am now 6 weeks in (pd $99) and still do not have a starter tray. They also will not tell me what kind of a price range I may fall in until I send another $199. The person I am corresponding with via e-mail seems to be very rude and I am not impressed with them. However, Smilecareclub was free to get both impressions and 3D images. (I found a coupon code on-line via youtube) plus they sent a couple trays and extra putty in case you messed up. I had all of my son’s braces within 2 weeks and they have followed up with me/him every couple of weeks. I am very happy with them especially after being quoted close to $6,000. Even if they do not turn out “perfect” they look much better and I am very happy with the results. I’d stay away from crystalbraces though.
Dear Heather,
I know your son hasn’t had his braces for very long, but I am interested in buying a set of these braces for myself. I just wanted to know if you’re still happy with you son’s results and with the SmileCare Club. Thanks.
Patty
I just took another set of photos today as he is beginning with his 7th set of trays. We have moved through the trays a little faster than the recommended 3 weeks because of my previous experience with Invisiline (they change out trays every two weeks). If the trays are really loose he changes but if they felt tight in any way he would keep them in another week.
I am absolutely thrilled with the way his teeth are moving. His gap is closing and his jutting is greatly improved. His sister just made the comment of how much better his teeth are looking. Based on the cost I would do this again in a second. If if they don’t end up “perfect” they are probably going to be really close. $1200 vs $5800= complete satisfaction.
I finally just got my set(s) of braces from crystal braces. (The other company) The material is not as good and the braces do not have any kind of stamping of ID numbers on them. The ones from Smile Care club have a sort of serial number embedded in the palstic. I like those because my son can not mix anything up plus that’s the same numbering system that Invisiline uses.
It was a bit of a hassle to get Crystal braces going and they definitely took longer. (almost 3 months compared to 2 weeks to get product in hand) I paid for all braces to be delivered up front on both companies and I did receive everything I paid for.
Cost for my son was $1200 total for 10 sets of trays and a free retainer. (because I paid in full)
Crystal braces was $957 for 8 sets of trays. I skipped the first tray after 1 day because it was not giving much in the way of pressure. They recommend wearing for 4 weeks. I paid in full to get all my trays at once just in case they go out of business. The pdf file they sent me for “analysis” was a joke it was basically just a before shot and what the teeth should look like afterward shot. My son received a full 3D analysis for each and every tray. Plus I can rotate it to see various angles of top teeth, bottoms sides etc. It was cool and Crystal Braces was horrible in comparison. I’m going to post a few things on youtube or create a blog (or something) so people can see pictures of the products I received.
Hi, just wanted to warn you about switching trays early. Loose trays just mean the crown of the tooth moved. You need the full three weeks for your jaw bone to catch up and fill in. Smilecareclub moves teeth .3 mm and invisalign moves teeth .2 mm. It takes 1 week per .1 mm for jaw bone to fill in. Be careful. 🙂
This is exactly what I was thinking! How terribly irresponsible she is being towards her child! This could end up needing serious orthodontic correction if it isn’t already too late!
Where did you get this information about moving .3mm and taking 1 week per .1mm to heal?
Hello, any updates on his teeth?1 thinking of getting smile care as a college student can not afford $6000 braces
Hello Heather!
I have been doing SmileCareClub as well for a week now. I’m on their 8 month program. I was curious how your son’s teeth are doing being switched every 2 weeks instead of 3. I would love to be able to switch them out every 2 weeks. I figured that the reason Invisalign does every 2 weeks is because you get more aligners so there is probably less movement between each Aligner. I don’t know this for fact, so I would love to hear if his teeth are okay and not moving too quickly!
Thanks!
He is on his last set of trays and going to a retainer in about a week. For the most part he switched out every 2 weeks except for his week 8 trays which he kept in for 3 weeks mostly because he was kind of lazy about taking them (switching) out. He is ending treatment and moving into retainer phase so he does not have as much movement and his teeth are settling. He also knows he’ll probably need to wear retainers for a few years anyways to maintain so he is not in as big of hurry to change out. He really only changed if the braces became super lose, which was about every 2 weeks. He is actually proud of his teeth and his braces and actually seems to enjoy wearing them at school. Plus his teeth have turned out REALLY good! He has been a very good patient and wears his braces all the time. I compared his braces to mine just the other day and I’m still really impressed with Smile Care Club as their materials and services are simply superior to Crystal Braces. I have yet to have one follow up from Crystal Braces nor do I seem to have much movement. I think it is partly due to their softer materials., but my issue is crowding so that may be a slower process as well. Anyway, I’m just a regular person trying to give feedback on our results. I know others will have different opinions on the “at home braces” program. Many of them are valid points regarding schooling/education/training etc. But, if orthodontist could use a little common sense on the amount of movement required and base their fees accordingly they would not lose patients to company’s such as this. By the way, I did try two orthodontist’s before going this route. I am also still very happy with my son’s teeth and saving $5,000. Plus, he’s basically finished and it’s only been 6-7 months. It should also be noted that we live very rural so this program saved us several 2 hour round trips (just driving let alone appt. time) into town for appts. etc. This has probably been the best investment in my kids self esteem that I have ever made. Usually, I push for good grades which my kids both have over a 4.0 so they feel pretty good about themselves academically as well. As a health teacher I will recommend that my students check into this program if they are interested and have gaps in their teeth. Still not sure I’d recommend for crowding as I think those are much more difficult issues to deal with. Good luck with your braces!
Don’t rush the switching of trays! They require thus much time for the jaw bone to fill in and catch up with the movement. Smilecareclub trays move teeth a bit more than invisalign, therefore, require longer wear time. Be careful with your kids teeth.
There have been a lot of reviews concerning orthodontic work with or without a professional orthodontist involved. It needs to be understood that with computers, teeth can be mapped and moved and real results can be projected. This does not replace the expertise of a qualified orthodontist but for some cases it works. Lets remember that many professional are losing the battle with technology. When is the last time someone called a travel agent!
I personally used Crystal Braces and yes I messed up the putty and had to pay for some more. I’m sure if I had gone to a orthodontist that would have been included. I’m almost done with my 7 month course and my teeth are nice, not perfect, but really nice. They told me that they could not predict a perfect smile and that I might need to go to an orthodontist. I asked them to send me a before and projected after pictures. They did and my teeth coming out just like they predicted. I will pay $20 a month for new retainers every month so my teeth don’t move out of alignment. I have a lot of friends that had to pay thousands of dollars for braces and they teeth are moving as they age. My total cost is less than $1000 plus the monthly retainers after its done.
I’m sorry if everyone think that one size fits all but it doesn’t. I happy with the service and the product. I definitely got what I paid for plus some. I feel proud to show a big smile now.
When you buy your 20 dollar retainers where do you get them from?
Once you have finished your course of treatment it is a part of the orthodontic treatment from Crystal Braces. You wear them at night to maintain your alignment.. They charge $20.00 per month and you can cancel at anytime.
Why do you have to pay 20.00 a month… Is it a payment plan or are you renting them? Smile care club is 150. 20.00 each month you wear them is steep and ridiculous.
I live in Canada and I’ve really wanted to try SimeCareClub but they don’t operate here. My alternative was CrystalBraces and so far my experience with them has been HORRIFIC and I don’t even have my impression kit yet!
Let me start from the beginning:
I had purchased a starter kit from them March 27th. Got the confirmation right away that my account had been charged for the money and that the package SHOULD BE on its way. So I emailed them about whether I get a tracking number or not. They responded DAYS after that once it gets processed (not sure what process since my card had already been charged) they will send all the information out. I thought, fair enough, and this was right before easter so I let it go that they were slow to respond.
I got an email couple days after that with the billing address, shipping address, and the tracking number. Great! All excited and I put the tracking number into the USPS website. Came up as NOT FOUND. I emailed CB saying that it wasn’t working and to check what was up. Got back to me within the day to say that it takes a while for the shipping company to actually process their mail request. Now, I’m not stupid. I’ve bought a fair from online merchants and when they give you a tracking number, even if the product is not physically at the post office, it will show up as “electronic label created” or something similar to that. This was not the case. It was truly a NOT FOUND.
But stupid me decided to ignore this red flag and waited a week to email them back. Told them the tracking number was still not working and to check again. They told me to wait AGAIN. At this point I was just getting fed up with their shitty customer service but decided to stay put for just a little longer while in case they really have put it into the mail. Comes today and I’ve just had enough so I email them saying that I want a refund since I couldn’t trust the company anymore. Tracking number was still not working and the email I sent enquiring about it all got ignored. As soon as I say I want a refund they change their tone and give me a working tracking number, saying that there must have been a mixup with USPS and that they didn’t give them the right tracking number. Yeah right. USPS is a well known shipping company. They make a living off tracking numbers.
I said no worries about the tracking number since I’m done with your service and their response was that once I return the unused package I would get a refund. Then I remembered the nasty reviews I’ve read online about how the company would use any excuse to NOT dish out the full 100 dollars of the impression kits and I emailed them to confirm that I would get the FULL AMOUNT back once I returned it. The agent emailed me within minutes of this email just to say they “WILL refund (with the capital)” the amount. I emailed back saying they were avoiding saying the FULL AMOUNT and they just emailed me saying they weren’t avoiding anything and that if their answer wasn’t satisfactory, I shoukd go look at their website’s guarantee page. I would like to add that all their emails didn’t have a Hello or Hi or Dear or a signature at the bottom, which I found to be incredibly rude and that whoever was writing back to me was working out of their regular business hours to be rude. LOL
I’ll have to see what shit they throw at me next but I will keep it posted here.
Thanks to everyone that read my rant about their carcinogenic customer service!!!!
As a licensed, practicing dentist who does not make any money from orthodontics (because I don’t do any ortho), just have to say that there are other issues/potential issues that an impression and a few pictures cannot even begin to address. What about radiographs? Supernumerary teeth? Ankylosed teeth?Deciduous teeth? Crossbite?
Those are just a few that come to mind off the top of the old noggin. I’m not saying this can’t work, I’m just saying with dentistry, there’s more than meets the eye. The straight forward cases are few and far between. What you pay for with a dentist is COMPREHENSIVE care and treatment from a professional who is at your disposal and years of training and sacrifice under their belt.
Do what you want, but from what I know about how complex the human body and the oral cavity is, if I truly valued my smile, I wouldn’t leave it in the hands of a mail order service. As the old adage goes – you get what you pay for. Tried and true.
it is not for sever cases. Just for the minor/moderate cases.
If orthos charged less for less severe cases then they would be helping a lot of people out. Since they charge the same flat rate for minor and severe cases people have to look elsewhere. They are going to loose around 10k dollars a year because of smile club direct
I wish I could like this 20 times so they would get the hint!
i am very curious if this works. i have fangs.. one protrudes more on one side than the other.. and words of experience?
Hello Saw!
I also have fangs (one protruding outwards more than the other and both turned sideways) and SmileCareClub is taking on my case. My impressions were excepted first try and I received my starter kit quickly. I have just finished my 3rd week with the starter trays and ordered my aligners today. I included the link to my youtube video showing my experience so far and you can see my teeth as well. My experience with them has been pretty good (better than expected for sure!) I don’t have anything negative to say yet. . I have an identical twin sister who went with Invisalign. We have been comparing the two and so far SmileCareClub is a great competitor. I mean, of course her treatment is monitored better and Invisalign is better in basically everything but SmileCareClub is definitely a runner up. You get what you pay for, to sum it all up. Our teeth are also very different and her case would be considered severe and mine would be moderate which is why i opted for SmileCareClub. I do not regret my decision and we both are extremely impressed with SmileCareClub.
Well said Dr C!
I am a dental technician that has spent the last 20 years mastering the skills of setting and moving teeth for orthodontic aligners. I have seen 1000’s of cases. Treatment can be simple….. but also often very complicated.
I would definitely recommend any of my family or friends to seek advice of an expert. Dental Practitioners specialising in orthodontics have studied many different senarios with dental malocclusions (some of which Dr C has mentioned). Aligning teeth (and keeping them healthy) is not as simple as what has been portrayed with this product.
Quality advice from an expert is always well worth your time (and money)………
True. But sometimes it’s just not within reach.
If orthodontics doesn’t become more accessible to people of low income, these services are our best bet.
I’m saving for my SCC kit.
I think the scare tactics by dentists are just as problematic as online orthodontia, if not more. They aren’t always right about complex problems and clients can know this for themselves, but still have to pay for professional dentists to clear them for treatment. I was once lectured about declining x-rays just trying to get a retainer. They couldn’t be sure I didn’t have extra teeth, they said. Yes, they can, because I’m assuring them that I don’t.
The power trip doesn’t sit right, as well as insistence on services that are unneeded. For some clients, getting out of this kind of situation where they are taken advantage of is a stepping stone to the online companies looking for *better* care, and many clients aren’t concerned about stacking up to a dental industry they are already concerned about. This should be considered in blogs like this when making an argument to lure folks back to dentists and orthodontists.
For those that travel often, or can’t get to medical tourism destinations often enough for braces, competitors to office professionals are a great option. And heck, we’ve all had some bad “professionals” in our day — using a licensed orthodontist alone is no guarantee of a great outcome. Hopefully the onlines are conducting themselves with the highest customer care standards or new ones with great product will come and supplant them. Hey, maybe some customers here should start one…
You are so right. My last dentist fraud me for 800 $. She took me to the hospital for major treatments while I was sleeping and didn’t do half of it but charge the entire bill. YEAH. I had to deal with these problems (devitalisation) again with an other dentist and PAY AGAIN ! How wonderful !
I always get what I pay for and 5000 $ for a 6 mo treatment is STEALING. I’m not paying this and I’m gonna try SCC this fall.
Dr C., you mentioned some concerns that one should have checked prior to initiating treatment. Smile Care Club makes it a priority to make sure each patient has seen a dentist and have gotten cleared from a very long list of dental issues that are contraindicated for clear aligned. Each patient must have received X-rays within the last year and highly recommends a clearing from dentist to start treatment. Each patient must sign paperwork stating agreement and compliance with expectations.
For the mom that is changing out every 2 wks bc invasalign does, keep in mind smile care club aligners move teeth more than invasalign with each tray. The time specified to wear daily and weekly are to ensure full movement and proper settling into place. (It takes some time for the ligaments and jaw line to become accustomed to new placement).
I have been using smile care club and am on my 6th tray out of 10. (30wk treatment plan for moderate crowding). I’m extremely happy with my results already. Some trays have been more uncomfortable than others. I will say, getting used to the trays themselves took some time, that is why they send a starter tray for you to wear prior to deciding to go foward with the plan. You have to be dedicated and committed to wearing the trays as specified or you will quit or not get desired results. The pricing is phenomenal for a perfect smile!
Can you post your journey to YouTube? Or before & after pics to the Internet? Are you happy with your results?
I’m using smilecareclub and LOVE them. I’ve had nothing but positive experiences. They check in with me every three weeks to remind me to switch trays and adhere to wearing schedule. I am having a 20 tray treatment. Appx 15 months. I’m three trays in and so far, so good. 🙂 if you aren’t a candidate, they will tell you. Seems to me the company is realistic and honest about what can be accomplished with this sort of treatment. Can’t hurt to be evaluated…they refund you if you aren’t a candidate. I trust them and feel they are being totally ethical. I could never have justified the time and expense of invisalign, but this made it affordable as well as time wise. Totally happy I went with them. Great customer service as well. 🙂
how is your treatment now? can u pelase send me soem before and after pictures? if ossible! im so curious to do this or not
I’m in canada… are SSC available here?? if not.. a side from crystal braces, any other companies offer their services in Canada??? When will Smile Care Club be available in Canada?? Seriously!! Thx!
This snarky article has helped me make up my mind. Instead of paying my dentist $5000+ I’m going to try SmileCareClub. The author should realize how sick and tired people are of being overcharged by health care “professionals” (professional thieves).
I have been approved for Invisalign buy my dentist for $6500 and another kind of clear braces from another dentist for $4,500. I am going to try smile Club but the consent form says if you have crowns you may lose them. Has anybody lost any teeth as a result of this?
Would love to hear an answer to this question as well..
My husband just finished his Invisalign treatment and I was about to start mine in December. However, I will go with SCC.
Here is his experience:
1. What dentists are saying about making sure your teeth are healthy is something that everybody should be doing, with or without orthodontic treatment. That is why we are supposed to go to the dentist for a clean up-check up every six months, therefore those arguments are not valid.
2. If just checking the pictures and the impressions are not enough, then most dentists should not be doing invisalign. My husband started adn finished his invisalign treatment without one single X-Ray being requested by his diamond level invisalign provider.
3. My husband never missed an appointment, however those were very few! He would spend months without seeing his dentist.
4. Despite having very few appointmens during his invisalign treatment, most of the time it was the dentist´s assistance who saw him.
Conclusion:
Very little difference between what SCC is offering and Invisalign – despite the price, of course!
Technically, it is better to go to a dentist/orthodontist. However, times are hard. I understand that professionals have student loans to pay off. But so do the customers. Not everyone can do a $1000 Invisalign down payment…I’m not saying do it yourself braces are a good idea;but, I could see why people would try it.
My husband had full blown braces. He had a gap and when we started dating he randomly loss his retainer. Well his teeth shifted. His gap, however, has a permanent metal prong holding the front two teeth together. I will say that no matter what you get, if you don’t commit to wearing that retainer at night, those teeth will shift back.
These look like they would work, but if you don’t want to commit to wearing that retainer then you might has well leave your teeth crooked.
It pains me to see how many people are putting their health at risk to save a few thousand dollars – especially those susceptible to TMJ disorders, which these services don’t care to screen for (let alone manage once they do develop)… and I was told I was a ‘simple’ case! Evidently not.
It isn’t worth the money when you’re going to get saddled with further orthodontic treatment and bimax jaw surgery, in addition to chronic pain, from something like this – trust me, I know, because I’m living it. Thankfully a real orthodontist has taken me on as a patient free of charge after this horrible experience.
Where is this free orthodontist!?
I am currently doing Smile Care club, 10 trays, and have been totally satisfied. Impressions were sent in and trial tray came back fitting snugly but perfectly.
In my case, I had wisdom teeth out, mild front crowding, and the rear teeth are not being moved at all, so my bite is going to be completely the same for my molars, and only the front teeth are shifting.
My wife did invisilign, if that were my only option I would have not pursued this, since I was quoted twice as much to do an invisign program, and it would have required too many additional visits to their office which I was not willing to commit to.
Sorry dental providers, you can work with complicated cases, but computer aided designed trays are the same whether you submit the mold or I submit the mold to Smilecareclub.
And I encourage others to do what is best for them.
Update, now on tray 6 out of 10. Teeth continue to move matching the expected movement provided in the animated PDF treatment plan that was sent to me.
No issues so far, still happy with Smile Direct Club.
Can I just say that I was looking into SmileCareClub and I was extremely undecided if I wanted to proceed. After reading this disgustingly rude article I was really on the fence about it, but then once I read the comments it actually pushed me towards buying the product. I don’t know much about dentistry, and i won’t pretend to be an expert, I’m just happy I read this article before spending thousands on invisilign.
I agree with you, to the consumer this article is a mess. When it was written the companies were very new and the infographics and videos were cool and amusing, and my target audience was the dental professional. I should probably just rewrite it because it sure gets a lot of traffic! However, my original point still stands: Dentists should not be all that concerned about SmileCareClub as a revenue stream that is not headed in their direction.
Most orthodontists offer a free (or relatively cheap) consultation service if you are considering Invisilign or braces. I suggest taking advantage of this, and THEN proceeding with SCC based on their feedback. If you have areas of concern they will tell you then. I think this IS worth visiting the ortho for.
My case is relatively straightforward and I feel comfortable going forward with SCC.
I recently went to an orthodontist and had an xray and photos of my teeth done for free. The consultation was based all on my Xray and photos, and she spent about 30 seconds feeling around my mouth. I was quoted $6800 for a 12-15 month Invisilign treatment for mild crowding.
I have had 2 orthodontists tell me in plain terms, “With Invisilign, a computer does all the work!”
Based on the appointment I am proceeding with SCC. Plus I got great “before” photos of my teeth as well as an xray.
If the impression kit goes well and I end up investing in SCC I will try to blog about it. Even if it only works half as well it’s a quarter of the cost! I’m not looking for perfection, just “much better!”
I agree that SSC is a good alternative to Invisilign providing your a candidate for such treatment. Many complex cases are not. I’vehad braces in the past but am now experiencing a reIapse after 19 of perfectly straight teeth, no retainer.(go figure)I actually went the same route having a consultation with my daughter’s ortho who suggesting braces for a year(they don’t offer Invisilign(. Then I saw another othro that did Invisilign to discuss the 5 to 10 tray program. The ortho said I was a good candidate but I would have to make sure I was happy the digital progress they showed because she had no control offer the final outcome. They trays were made at the lab and if I ordered 5 or 10 tray system they would be pre-made by their lab and she had no control over the process. I decided to FYI straight to the lab and save myself several hundred dollars.
I’ve just signed up for smile care club, and after a lot research I’m confident that the process will work well for me. I have a small gap and slight turning of my front teeth due to orthodontic relapse. I wore brace for many years during my teens, and wore my retainer as initially prescribed by that was almost 20 years ago and I now I’m experiencing some shifting. I’ve been reading reviews, watching Youtube videos on smile care club for over a year and decided to give it a try on a Groupon discount. I did seek the advice of my dentist and he agreed that this was a reputable company, and because my case was extremely simple and straightforward, this was a good alternative for me to correct a mild relapse. I have to say I’ve been impressed with the professional way they’ve handled my case. I chose to do the 3D scan rather than relying on photos from my smartphone and impressions made on my own. The dental assistant came to my home and took about an hour to digitally scan each tooth and took photos of my teeth. When I received my starter trays they were an exact replica of my teeth and fit quite snug. I experienced mild tenderness from the pressure they applied, but this was not unexpected. They are so thin and exact that no one can tell I’m wearing them unless I tell them. Three weeks later I received an email stating that their dentist believed that I may have some active decay based on the photos(I actually don’t) but they could not proceed without copies of my dental records and radiographs. While this delayed my order, it made me feel more secure that I was dealing with dental professionals concerned with my health and outcome, and not just sales people trying to sale a product whether I was a good candidate for it or not. Upon review of my x-rays my treatment plan was finally approved. I paid in full using FSA debit card. I don’t usually write reviews but because this is such a big decision I decided to share my process in case it may be helpful for others.
I am on month 10 of 15 correcting an overbite and crooked front teeth. I could not be happier!!! Currently all of my front teeth are straight and now it is a matter of pushing them back. The trays are designed to move the teeth one half of one millimeter per month. The only tray that was very uncomfortable was the first one simply because my mouth wasn’t used to it. There were a few sharp edges around the rim which can easily be filed down with a nail file. I’ve seen comments where people balk at the idea of creating a tray and sending it in to have a software program determine the required movement for each tray and basically printing them. What is the difference between this process and that of Invisalign? I have had no difficulties to speak of and felt no need for medical intervention. I had one molar that protested a little bit and the gum became sightly swollen. They adjusted my trays and it is fine. I would do this again in a heartbeat!!
So I went in to smile care club to get the 3D scan done. Once my scans were completed the technician told me that my total would be $1,500 even though my only issue is mild crowding. I spoke with a representative on the phone soon after and was informed that the reason for this change is that they’ve “acquired some new technology that allows for better results in less time”. The website states that pricing is based on the severity of your problem, however they claim that this will no longer be an option and everyone will be charged the same price from now on. I was disappointed, however I did choose to go With SCC because it’s still less than any other option, also I was able to plead my case as a student and got a discount. I’m excited to start my process!
I would bet your $1400 would be $3600 or so if you visited an Invisilign provider for an assessment and asked what they would charge.
Mainly because, that’s that I did, and that was the difference for me…
I’m on set 10 of 20 with Smile Care Club (now Smile Direct Club). My results so far have been really good, and I can’t wait to see the final results. From the tone of this article, you can tell many orthodontists ARE concerned about losing income because of companies like SCC. I’ve seen quotes for Invisalign anywhere from $5,000 up to $8,000. This is ridiculous and taking advantage of patients. The same lab makes Invisalign’s and SCC’s aligners. And Smile Care is profiting at $1500 per case, so the profits that an ortho is making is astronomical. If I was taking advantage of people this way, I’d be scared and snarky too. Don’t let it turn you away from a great product. I can personally verify that the results are real. And my teeth are healthy.
Saving a few thousand dollars may sound great in the short run but in the long run, you are not getting your teeth done by a professional who have been in training for years. As the other dentist mentioned, you need inter proximal reduction during some of your first visits for Invisalign and don’t forget attachments.
Smile Care Club patients cases are over seen by on orthodontist. And they do perform IPR when needed, but not attachments. I’m guessing cases where that is needed the person would be turned away. This isn’t for very complicated cases.
I’m a dentist and I am all for Smile Care Club. Here are my reasons:
1- When I was in dental school in California, I explored different specialities and participated (and published) in research. In the end, I wanted to be a general dentist and decided to not specialise in any speciality. I did learn several things… 1st, most specialists did not want to teach their trade to any dental student unless you were in their residency program. Why? Money! And that was the bottom line in every speciality. Orthodontists will not tell you this, but Invisalign works just as well as metal braces for the VERY LARGE MAJORITY of cases. Also, my friends, who are now practicing orthodontists, used to brag about how easy their profession is because even the wires in “traditional braces” were bent by machines with computer programs. If the general public doesn’t know by now, most orthodontic cases can be solved with computer planned teeth movement. Don’t fall prey to the negative comments about Smile Direct Club and its product. They are no different than Invisalign and metal braces. On facebook, I see a lot of my specialty friends bashing these companies and these are the same friends who like to play politics with their profession more than caring about their field’s contribution to patients. I had several close orthodontist friends even recommend a similar product to Smile Direct Club that helped with minor teeth movement but did not market it in their offices because there were really small profit margins. That product is called Red White Blue by some lab in the midwest.
Matter of fact, metal braces can cause gum recession from plaque build up and in return, a small amount of bone recession because it is harder to brush and floss your teeth with those metal wires in place. I’d like to see one orthodontist mention this on this board. In my aesthetic composite course, our “world famous” (more like self-proclaimed world famous) lecturer told us that almost all orthodontics cases create gum recession. So instead, use invisible retainers/aligners to move your teeth, where you can remove them several times a day and brush AND FLOSS your teeth. Come on people! YOU NEED TO FLOSS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT! UGH!!! You wanna know what it’s like to not floss your teeth? It’s like taking a shower and wearing dirty underwear! So, go floss your teeth!
Anyways, here is another thing that I noticed with braces and Invisalign over the last 2 decades. I got braces in my early teens. When my dad took my brother and I to three orthodontists in Glendale/Pasadena CA (he was price shopping), they both quoted about $1000-$1200 for our work per child. There was one orthodontist that gave my dad a $2000 price quote for metal braces back in 1993. He saw my dad concerned over the cost and offered Invisalign as a new cheaper alternative (back then it was a new thing). He told my dad that Invisalign was a cheap product that could be done through his office for $1000 but he would not recommend it (my dad saw right through his marketing and years later, I understood as well). Invisalign’s price has steadily gone up because of its patent hold, but now that that’s out of the question, companies like Smile Direct Club offer the same results at wayyy less expense to the consumer. Infact, the same price that Invisalign used to quote back in 1998-2002 years is what Smile Direct Club is quoting for their full set.
Oh, to the bull-shit dentist somewhere on this board trying to cry chicken-little about ankylosed teeth, supernumerary teeth, deciduous teeth, and so forth! C’mon man? You’re so full of it! Ankylosed teeth rarely happen, and in my extremely busy profession of being a dentist (I see about 20-40 patients a day working 5-6 days a week), I have yet to see more than two (2) ankylosed teeth! They are caused by severe trauma to the teeth (in which case, the patient would automatically know that they need more involved dental and orthodontia work). Supernumerary teeth can easily be identified in radiographs (fancy word for x-rays, panoramic graphs and cephalometric scans) or to any dumb-dumb in the dental office, exposed supernumerary teeth can be identified in a split second with an impression. You’ve got an extra tooth (supernumerary)? Then why don’t you go get it extracted for a 100 dollars or so at your local dentist?! Deciduous teeth are baby teeth, which can also be extracted by a general dentist. Lots of scare tactics by dentist being thrown out there about SDC.
The end result of my brother and I having metal braces? I wore my retainers for about 3-4 years and my teeth are straight as ever and I always get compliments on my smile. My brother lost his retainers in college about two months after his braces came off and he has crooked teeth. Guess what I’m going to recommend my children and his children when they may need braces? Smile Direct Club!!! Oh, TMJ scares are so BS! It’s either genetic deterioration or slipping articular disc, extreme-extreme jaw deformity, people who are bruxers (people who grind due to stress, or what not), or due to chewing bubble gum and other repetitive jaw movements on a daily basis. I get few complaints about TMJ problems and some can be addressed with nightguard appliances. Guess what night guards do? They deprogram your head muscles that cause you to clench and cause tension in your TMJ. Well, just wear retainers or these clear aligners and that will do the same thing.
I’ve been blessed with a very busy dental career and don’t live a superficial life. Most of these scares about Smile Direct Club are by orthodontic specialists or by a group of general dentists that make an additional 100k-250k a year off of Invisalign braces. For the general consumer who just wants good occlusion (proper bite) and a pretty/straight smile, Smile Direct Club or any company that offers these cost effective methods is an excellent choice. Save yourself that 5000 dollar difference and go pay off your loans.
P.S. sorry for the poor grammar and terrible writing skills. English is my fourth language.
P.P.S The author of this article has a real stick up her $%&%$
Oh, sorry, two things:
The Red White and Blue product can only be dispensed by a dentist and is mainly for small teeth movement with three trays for upper and lower arches. Last time I called to order this product was in 2009 for my friend and they quoted me $650 for three upper and lower trays.
There were some comments about getting what you pay for, or something along the lines that by not seeing a professional, one might risk their teeth, health, jaw by going the cheaper route of Smile Direct Club. Yea, right! Those same professionals do fake fillings, unnecessary root canals, for poor reasons recommend phase 1 braces, recommend removing wisdom teeth (I’ve fought with some egotistical oral surgeons about removing wisdom teeth that didn’t need to be) and many other things that make my head spin all so they can buy their Cartier watches, wife’s Chanel jackets, Louis shoes, and big homes in tony zip codes. Again, I’m not jealous of anyone. I’ve parlayed into a very good solid real estate side business but still practice dentistry. I just can’t stand lies and fraud and I see a lot of fake cries by some professionals about Smile Direct Club just so they can protect their financial turf. .
Thank you for being so honest. I’m using Smile Direct Club now, and I love it. I’m not a dentist, but I did extensive research before spending my money and am satisfied with the quality. You know what I think is funny? There are orthodontists on Youtube talking about the “dangers” of SDC, and they all have their comment sections turned off. lol Can’t stand a healthy debate I suppose. And they say they have “no monetary interest in any aligner company” with Invisalign advertisements CLEARLY displayed on their desks and walls. You should watch them. It’s a hoot. I also found a video that shows the full process of making the aligners in the factory. It’s really cool. And pretty obvious that it would be the same for both companies. Anyway, thanks again. It’s nice to have this perspective from a professional.
I have molar implants and molar crowns on all sides and obviously after much expense, don’t want to ruin them. Just need front top bite correction and some overcrowding corrected. Dentist already”approved” invisalign or clear brace for $4,500. I presume I can go SDC?
How crooked do your teeth have to be to not be accepted? I have mild overcrowding but the tooth next to my canine up top is shoved out and upwards. I can’t get a straight answer from SDC except “we think they would work for you”. I am really on the fence about this. Ive been made fun of my whole life for that one tooth, and I NEVER smile in photos. I’m super self concious about my mouth and I really don’t want to get my hopes up about this if I’m not going to be accepted. I really don’t even want to waste my time. You think that one tooth would ruin my chances?
If it bothered me that bad I think I’d give it a go. Why not give it a try and see? The tooth next to my front one was pushed backwards pretty far and I’ve always been self conscious too.
I started the program last year and am super pleased. I’m a little over half way through. It’s some of the best money I’ve ever spent and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
(If the cost of the evaluation kit is an issue, you can sometimes find discount codes on Youtube and Groupon for half off.)
So is SmileDirect appropriate for people with bite issues? I have a not insignificant 5mm overjet and deep-ish bite. It has bothered me endlessly because I think it messes up my facial aesthetics (weak lower jaw, protruding mouth). Is this something for traditional braces or can I look into SmileDirect. I’m generally a researcher type, but am totally uninformed when it comes to the science of orthodontics.
I’ve seen where they have corrected overjets somewhat. If you have Facebook, there is a group that has been made for SDC members. There are people on there with all sorts of different issues. You should check it out. (It’s not the official page for Smile Direct Club, but a different one.) I think too you can do a evaluation and impression kit and they refund the money you spend on the kit if you’re not a candidate.
I paid 4k for my invsialaign. I went in 1 time for the initial visit and molds, and another time for my first set of trays.
After that i went in once every few months to pick up my new set of aligners. Each time i went there was nothing wrong, they didn’t make any adjustments all they did was put my new trays in for me and then off on my own for the remainder of the year. They can’t do anything until you run the full treatment. There is nothing to ‘tweak’ midway through. You do the full schedule, then after that, adjustment trays if needed.
Sadly i had to move to the other side of the country towards the end of my treatment, lost my aligners had to wait for new ones, and my top set never recovered properly.
So after 4k and minimal doctor visits i still have crooked teeth.
I think ill take the leap and try SDC. Seeing as how there was barley any intervention from my dentist anyways when i paid 4k for IL aligners.
I had no need for an ortho either.
Do we run the risk of losing crowns with this product?
I was excited to read this article as I assumed it would be a well-informed, objective look on alternative teeth-straightening. My mistake! If A company such as SmileCareClub were ripping people off, I’d want to know with well-researched facts; not just a blog rant full of personal opinions. You haven’t helped me make a decision either way. It just sounds like you’re whining.
I’m currently using Smile Direct Club, on my first set on aligners. I had consulted with an orthodontist and he quoted my Invisilign at $5K. All of my teeth except my two upper front teeth are straight and this seemed like a hefty price for two teeth.
The process took a few weeks to begin…to submit pictures, get the molds in…scanned..and mailed to me.
But I am happy so far. I’ll keep you posted!
Ha ha, I’ve enjoyed everyone’s comments. Especially the guy who makes 15k a year and is concerned about his smile, he probably wrote on this blog with his new iphone while sitting in his pad which is his mom’s basement while his new BMW m5 is parked in the driveway and he is wondering why his dating life is so dull all the while he anxiously is awaiting his mom to call him up for dinner . Those awful rich doctors who work hard in life shouldn’t make more money than us, after all, we work just as hard playing video games and drinking beer during our 20’s while they were studying. Or my personal favorite, its not my fault I’m on welfare/medicaid, my boss fired me because….. (It’s always someone else’s fault for your poor quality of life). If you want to drive a Kia, by all means please do so, but don’t gripe and complain that the Lexus dealer is ripping you off and is just money hungry.
Woooow. Assuming A LOT from one comment aren’t we? I get the feeling that you are one of the butt hurt dentists/orthos mentioned above. lol You sound just like the ‘author’ of this article by the way. Bitter and scared. It’s ok. Smile Care isn’t big enough to hurt your bottom line…yet…
My teeth are pretty much perfect, except for a 1.5 mm gap in my two front teeth (confirmed by xrays). Had a frenectomy last week. My dentist quoted about $10,000 to fix my gap (invisalign, veneers, permanent retainer, nightly retainer, etc). When a dentist is ballsy enough to throw such a high figure at a single, home owning, FT college student – the SDC will absolutely be affecting their bottom line.
Dear every one,
I started SmileDirectClub in February or March. I’m on my 8th set of 10 aligners. I had braces as a teenager, and now I’m 30. Somehow my teeth got really crooked again, even though I think I wore my retainer as long as I was supposed to.
My aligners are for CROWDING. I know people are concerned about this, and I have had only good experiences aside from one or two very minor customer service hiccups. My teeth are almost perfectly straight now. My mom in particular was really skeptical about the aligners working, but they definitely are.
Anyway, I am happy to answer questions, if people have any.
Kristen
f I could give this company zero stars I would. My journey with them began about 2 years ago. I loved the idea behind the business along with the affordability it provided to straighten your teeth. From the beginning it has been a complete hassle. First the impressions kit is incredibly difficult to get right, especially if you have a small mouth like me. After multiple attempts with impression kits, paid by me by the way, I asked them to please set me up with one of their dental professionals to take my impressions. After multiple calls and getting nowhere I finally get my appointment only to find out by the dentist that they were no longer working for this company. When I called, then Smile Care Club, now Smile Direct Club, I was told to not worry that I would be set up with a tech to scan my teeth, but I had to wait a few months because they were none available in my area. Here I go again believing this company and decided to wait. A few months passed and no phone calls or updates on my case, therefore I go out of my way again and give them a call. Again no one has a clue of what’s going on so I decide to have them set me up with a tech in Orlando, hours away from where I live. By some miracle of god the tech decides to send me an email a few days before to ask me when was our appointment scheduled for because she doesn’t have me in the system and wasn’t informed of my arrival. I know, I know by this point you all must be thinking I asked for it after so many disappointments but wait it gets better. I get to Orlando, wasted my gas, toll money, along with hotel and stay expenses and get my scan done. By the way the tech was lovely, it is about the only nice thing I can say about the company. She informs me that in a couple of weeks I would receive my treatment plan and shortly after the aligners. Hahahaha that was hilarious because it never happened. Apparently they misplaced my file and couldn’t find my scan, I go and call the tech because I kept her phone number in case anything went wrong and she assured me that it was sent. Again the talking to multiple people began including supervisors etc., etc. Three months later This finally gets resolved and I was very happy because they gave me what I thought was a fair price for all the hassle I went through and expenses I incurred in those two years of dealing with this company. The crazy part is that not once did I write a negative review because I truly believed in them. Well to finish my story I go into my account today to pay for my treatment plan only to find out the regular price for the treatment plan was applied. I called the company thinking that they would resolve my issue and again to get disappointed. I went as far as imploring for them to please check the recordings of the multiple phone calls I had with the company stating the price that was given to me. They ended up offering me 20% off and told me that it was a great deal and the lowest they’ve ever offered anyone and of course this is a lie. Search the net and you will see that they offer 20% off discounts throughout the year to regular customers. That’s not the craziest part though, the manager tried to be slick and didn’t even want to give me the 20% off of the price when you pay in full which is 1500, oh no she said 20% off 1735 which is when you get their payment plan. I even told her that I was going to pay in full and she gave me some lame excuse. So I told her that the discount I was getting doesn’t even cover the expenses I had taking the trip to Orlando. I’m just letting you know that my experience with them has been awful and you should take your business elsewhere. A complete disappointment, waste of my time and hard earned money. This has to be the most unprofessional and careless company I have dealt with. What they did to me you do not do to any decent human being.
You could have just done the in-home molding kit, worked fine for me and I live in Florida 2 hr from Orlando (Bradenton).
today is my first day SDC and its very tight, my gums are even white from the tension in the overcrowded area…is this healthy and normal?? I don’t know that it is…i don’t want to cut blood flow like this so once in a while i take them off and let it flow….this concerns me and I can’t seem to find decent answers anywhere online.
The tension should go away in 1-2 days, with just light pressure after that.
I am using SDC, I am on my second month of four months, I am using the monthly payment plan at $99/month. I used to grind my teeth, and read online that you could train yourself to hold your tongue between your teeth to stop the grinding at night while you slept, well I did and it worked BUT after two years my front bite was messed up with an under bite and teeth slanting. Dentist explained why it happened and wanted $4k for invisaligne. I did nothing and my teeth kept moving in the same direction. I could not bite/cut spaghetti noodles with my front teeth because of the under bite. It was getting hard to floss because the thin floss I like was breaking because my molars were getting so tight. In one month SDC aligners solved that problem, and my teeth are slowly being corrected. I am meticulous about keeping my teeth clean (flossing, tooth pick/brush, brushing) and I also brush the alingers when I take them out before meals since plaque will build up on the aligners, sometimes I need to brush them with baking soda to get the light film of plaque off (not easy to see and only in spots). They check in with me every couple of weeks by e-mail and I wear them 22 hrs a day. I am very happy with SDC and the results so far.
My ortho just quoted me 7745 for 18 months treatment of Invisalign. Unfortunately I have a deep overbite which until recently was considered next to impossible to correct with Invisalign. My orthodontist is a top 1% provider. I guess I’m hooped on this one and have to eat the cost. I WISH I could try SDC. I can’t even get a lot of orthodontist to want to do Invisalign on me. Problem is my teeth are otherwise rather straight and the bite is causing me medical issues yet insurance won’t cover me because I’m over 19.
As we know that there are many clear aligners are available in our market, which most of them are very expensive in which the best affordable clear aligners are from OrthoFX. Their aligners are the industry best and they have various plans and offers. For more, please visit: https://www.orthofx.com/