What Smile Direct Club is and how it operates
Smile Direct Club is a teeth-straightening service that sends custom-made aligners to your home. You do not visit an orthodontist's office for fittings. Instead, you create a 3D model of your teeth using your phone camera or a kit mailed to you, and Smile Direct Club uses that model to manufacture a series of clear plastic aligners. You wear each set for a period of time, then move to the next set in the sequence.
The company was founded in 2014 and operates in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and several other countries. Aligners arrive by mail, and you communicate with the company's network of licensed dentists and orthodontists through the app or website if questions arise. You do not have scheduled in-person appointments the way you would with a traditional orthodontist.
Smile Direct Club is one option in the broader category of direct-to-consumer teeth straightening, alongside competitors like Byte, ClearCorrect, and others. It differs from in-office whitening because it addresses tooth position rather than tooth shade, though some people use both services.
Key Takeaways
- Smile Direct Club sends custom aligners to your home based on a 3D scan you create yourself, with no in-office orthodontist visits required.
- Treatment typically costs between $1,800 and $2,300 depending on the plan you choose, and you can pay upfront or in monthly installments.
- The entire treatment process usually takes 4 to 6 months, though some cases take longer.
- You will communicate with licensed dentists and orthodontists through the app if issues arise, but routine check-ins happen remotely rather than in person.
- Smile Direct Club offers a money-back may provide if you are not satisfied within a certain window, though the terms depend on how far into treatment you are.
How the scanning and fitting process works
Before you receive any aligners, Smile Direct Club needs a precise 3D model of your teeth. You have two options: use the Smile Direct Club app to photograph your teeth from multiple angles using your smartphone, or request a Impression Kit that arrives by mail. With the app method, you take photos according on-screen prompts, and the software builds a 3D model. With the kit, you use a putty-like material to create a mold of your upper and lower teeth, then mail the molds back to the company.
Once Smile Direct Club receives your scan or mold, a licensed dentist or orthodontist reviews it to determine whether your case is suitable for clear aligner treatment. Not all tooth-straightening cases can be handled this way — severe crowding, significant bite problems, or certain other conditions may require in-office orthodontic care. If your case is approved, the company's software generates a treatment plan showing the projected movement of your teeth over time.
You review this plan in the app before aligners are manufactured. If you want changes to the plan, you can request adjustments. Once you approve the plan, Smile Direct Club manufactures your custom aligners and ships them to you in batches.
Cost, payment plans, and what is included
Smile Direct Club pricing varies by the complexity of your case and the plan you select. Standard treatment typically ranges from $1,800 to $2,300 total. The company offers several payment options: you can pay the full amount upfront, or split payments into monthly installments (usually 24 months) with no interest if you use their financing partner.
Your cost includes the initial scan or impression kit, all custom-manufactured aligners for your full treatment, access to the app and remote check-ins with licensed dentists and orthodontists, and retainers at the end of treatment. Teeth whitening is not included in the standard plan, though Smile Direct Club does offer whitening products separately for an additional cost.
Some dental insurance plans cover a portion of orthodontic treatment, including clear aligner therapy. Coverage varies widely by plan. You would need to contact your insurance provider directly to ask whether Smile Direct Club treatment is covered and what percentage they reimburse. Smile Direct Club can provide documentation of treatment for insurance submission, but the company does not bill insurance directly.
How long treatment takes and what to expect during it
Most Smile Direct Club treatment plans run 4 to 6 months from start to finish. Some cases take longer depending on how much tooth movement is needed. You wear each set of aligners for a specified number of days — typically 21 to 23 days per set — before moving to the next one. The aligners should be worn 20 to 22 hours per day for best results, which means removing them only for eating, drinking, and cleaning.
Throughout treatment, you check in with Smile Direct Club's network of dentists and orthodontists remotely. You submit photos or videos of your teeth through the app, and a licensed provider reviews them to confirm your teeth are moving as planned. These check-ins happen at intervals set by your treatment plan, not at fixed office appointments. If a problem arises — such as an aligner not fitting properly or teeth not moving as expected — you contact the company through the app to discuss options.
You are responsible for keeping your aligners clean, storing them properly when not in use, and following the wear schedule. Aligners can be removed for eating and drinking, which is one reason some people prefer them to fixed braces. However, this also means you must remember to put them back in and wear them the required number of hours each day for treatment to stay on schedule.
Comparison to traditional orthodontist treatment
Traditional orthodontist treatment involves in-person visits every 4 to 8 weeks, during which an orthodontist adjusts your braces or aligners and monitors your progress directly. You have a single provider who knows your case throughout treatment. Smile Direct Club uses remote monitoring instead, which means you do not have scheduled office visits but also do not have a single dedicated provider.
Traditional treatment can address a wider range of tooth-straightening problems, including severe crowding, significant bite issues, and cases requiring tooth extraction. Smile Direct Club is designed for mild to moderate straightening cases. If your dentist or orthodontist determines your case is too complex for remote treatment, you would need to pursue traditional orthodontics instead.
Cost also differs. Traditional orthodontist treatment typically ranges from $3,000 to $7,000 or more depending on complexity and location, though insurance may cover a portion. Smile Direct Club's lower price point reflects the reduced overhead of not maintaining physical offices and not providing in-person appointments.
The money-back may provide and what happens if you are not satisfied
Smile Direct Club offers a money-back may provide, though the terms depend on how far into your treatment you are. If you are within the first few weeks of receiving your aligners and decide the service is not right for you, you can return your aligners and receive a refund. The exact window and refund amount vary, so you should review the current terms on the Smile Direct Club website or in your agreement before starting treatment.
If you are further along in treatment and want to stop, you may not receive a full refund, but Smile Direct Club will work with you on options. Some customers have reported difficulty getting refunds or have had disputes about the terms, so it is worth reading the full may provide policy and keeping documentation of your communications with the company.
If your teeth are not moving as expected or an aligner does not fit, contact Smile Direct Club through the app when ready. A licensed dentist or orthodontist will review your situation and may send replacement aligners, adjust your treatment plan, or recommend that you see an in-person orthodontist if your case has become too complex for remote treatment.
Risks and limitations to consider
Because Smile Direct Club treatment is remote, a licensed provider never physically examines your teeth in person. This means potential problems — such as tooth decay, gum disease, or a bite issue that was not visible in your scan — may not be caught as quickly as they would be during in-office orthodontic care. You are responsible for maintaining good oral hygiene and seeing a general dentist regularly during treatment.
Aligners can cause temporary discomfort, tooth sensitivity, or gum irritation in some people. Because you are not seeing a provider in person, managing these issues happens through app communication rather than an when ready office visit. If you experience severe pain or suspect a serious problem, you may need to see a dentist or orthodontist outside of Smile Direct Club's network.
Not all tooth-straightening cases are suitable for this type of treatment. If your case is rejected during the initial review, you will need to pursue traditional orthodontics. Even if your case is approved, if complications arise during treatment, you may need to switch to in-office care, which would add to your overall cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Smile Direct Club if I have crowns, bridges, or implants?
Aligners can sometimes be used with crowns or bridges, but implants complicate treatment because they do not move like natural teeth. During your initial scan review, a licensed dentist or orthodontist will assess whether your specific situation can be treated. If it cannot, you will be told before you pay for treatment.
What if my aligners do not fit or feel uncomfortable?
Contact Smile Direct Club through the app as soon as you notice a problem. A provider will review your situation and may send replacement aligners or adjust your treatment plan. If the issue cannot be resolved remotely, they may recommend you see an in-person orthodontist.
Do I need to see my regular dentist while using Smile Direct Club?
Yes. Smile Direct Club treatment does not replace regular dental care. You should continue seeing your general dentist for cleanings and checkups to monitor your overall oral health while your teeth are being straightened.
What happens after my aligners are done?
After your teeth reach their final position, you receive retainers to keep them from shifting back. Retainers are included in your Smile Direct Club cost. You will typically wear them full-time for a period, then nightly long-term. Your treatment plan will specify the retainer schedule.
Can I switch to a different orthodontist if I want in-person care during treatment?
Yes, though you would likely need to pay an additional fee to have another provider take over your case. If you decide mid-treatment that you want in-person orthodontic care, contact a local orthodontist and bring your Smile Direct Club records with you.