Have you always wanted a perfect gleaming smile?
You're ready to take that next step and straighten those teeth. But now you've run into two problems: cost and Covid-19.
Smile Direct Club in Ottawa has you covered. Offering affordable plans and options, they've got the cost down to a fine science.
How can someone help my teeth virtually? All those questions and more are answered down below!
Keep reading to learn what you need to know.
Your Orthodontic Needs More Accessible
Did you know that Smile Direct Club has come to Ottawa? Now that the company is in Canada, it was only a matter of time!
Smile Direct Club is a company originally based in the US that came to be in 2014. They completely changed the orthodontia market.
By providing reasonably priced clear aligners to take the place of traditional braces, cosmetic dentistry is forever changed. Since 2014, they've had over a million customers.
Lately, they have been expanding beyond US borders. Now, they've come to Canada!
These aligners come in sets to gently alter your teeth into the position desirable to you. Over the course of several months of 22 hours of wear, your teeth will slowly move to the position you want. The general expected time you should wear the aligners is 4 to 6 months.
They offer a huge advantage over traditional braces. The plastic trays are easy to remove for eating and drinking. They don't require as much maintenance as flossing and brushing teeth is made easy by simply taking the liners out.
So, no need to worry about emergency orthodontist visits for broken wires. They also aren't visible! As they are clear, they can be difficult to see in anyone's mouth - so no one has to know.
What It Can (and Can't) Do
The clear aligners are designed to help those with mild to moderate crowding and spacing issues. If you have gaps, or potentially snaggleteeth, they can work with you to design a plan based on your teeth needs.
However, if you have an underbite or overbite, Smile Direct Club can't help you with that. The process of correcting bite misalignment is a more intense process that can't be solved with heavy plastic aligners. The same is true for severe crowding issues - their kit offers a rebate so it's worth checking to see what they can do for you.
They can send you a digital scan "plan" to show how they expect your teeth to progress over the months.
Smile Direct Club Operating Virtually
In a way, Smile Direct Club has always been operating virtually. Since the beginning, they have offered special mail-in impression "kits."
Essentially, impressions are like a 3-D picture of your mouth. They use a type of clay that sits in plastic mouth-shaped trays. You insert these trays into your mouth and bite down for several seconds.
When you remove the trays you can send them back to Smile Direct Club and their dentists will analyze them. If you are a good fit for the program, they will begin making you a customized treatment plan.
With the same impressions, they can develop customized clear plastic aligners for you. They will make sure the design meets with your approval and then mail out your aligner sets!
Over the course of the 4-6 months, you will swap out the aligner trays as your teeth progress. When you finish the course, it is important to buy a retainer in order to preserve your properly aligned teeth.
If time isn't an issue for you, you may prefer Smile Direct Club's new Nighttime Aligners. With these, you need only wear them for 10 hours a night, although it will take 10 months to see the finished results.
Smile Direct Club does have several physical locations throughout Canada. At these SmileShops, you can take dental impressions through a 3D scan if you would prefer.
Smile Direct Club vs Invisalign
Many people looking into teeth re-alignment will come across other companies besides Smile Direct Club. Invisalign is an alternate program that often comes up.
Invisalign is a company that also provides clear aligners to help straighten your teeth. Like Smile Direct Club, they work with people who have crowding or gaps, but cannot help with a misaligned bite.
Unlike Smile Direct Club, they do not work virtually. They provide regular, face-to-face, doctor check-ins every six to eight weeks. Through these appointments, they can check your progress and then give you the next set of aligners.
They work with certified orthodontists for your appointments. Invisalign offers a Teen Invisalign brand to help with specific teenager needs. Learn what to ask your orthodontist about Invisalign.
Both Invisalign and Smile Direct Club can help you avoid the gruelling ordeal of braces. Here are some basic considerations when comparing the benefits.
Covid-19
Invisalign's entire selling point requires in-person consultations. If you are trying to accomplish everything virtually, they are not the option for you.
Meanwhile, Smile Direct Club can do some things in person, if you would like. Otherwise, everything can be completed entirely remotely.
Staff
Invisalign provides visits with certified orthodontists. It's worth noting that Smile Direct Club only uses dental professionals. Due to this, dental professionals may not be able to solve all of your concerns.
With Invisalign's orthodontists, they can keep track of things such as your gum health and other concerns. They are certified in the science of how teeth move, so they can provide a more professional opinion on how to proceed.
As always, you should consult with your dentist before choosing any option. But, Smile Direct Club is a good option when comparing the costs and the benefits.
Cost
Smile Direct Club advertises itself as being up to 60% less costly than braces. The at-home impression kit costs $40 (free shipping), but you can receive a rebate if you return the kit to them with the pre-paid label.
The total cost of Smile Direct Club is usually around $2,600. This is significantly cheaper than Invisalign, which can run you more than $5,000.
However, you will need to purchase a retainer for aftercare at $125. This is typically included in the Invisalign cost. To make up for it, Smile Direct Club provides free tooth whitening products to go in hand with your aligner treatment.
Smile Direct Club Customer Reviews
Smile Direct Club has served over a million customers. So, there are a lot of reviews to look through! According to Nashville Business Journal, Smile Direct Club generally receive around 86.9% positive reviews out of over 50,000 reviews.
Many people have great experiences with Smile Direct Club. But, many warn that if you have severe crowding issues it may not be your best bet. As Smile Direct Club does not have orthodontists, but rather dental professionals, they may not be able to solve all of your problems.
Orthodontists are trained in the science of how teeth move - rotating and shifting as they do with aligners. Due to this, Smile Direct Club can't help you if you suffer from gum health or teeth that can't move as they've fused to a bone.
Aside from this, almost everyone has positive things to say!
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Get QuotesWhere Else in Canada Can I Get Smile Direct Club Services?
Because Smile Direct Club can be entirely virtual, it is possible to have the kits delivered anywhere in Canada. If you are interested in receiving a free 30-minute visit with a 3D scan or consultation at one of their physical stores, then they have several locations available. You will also receive a free whitening pen after the visit.
In Alberta, you can book a visit in Calgary or Edmonton. Ontario has three locations: Brampton, Scarborough, and Toronto (North York). British Colombia has a location in downtown Vancouver, and Quebec has a location in Montreal.
Currently, due to Covid-19, not all locations will be open. However, they are in the process of re-opening so be sure to check on their website.
Smile Direct Club Answers Here
Now you know everything you need to know about Smile Direct Club! Of course, there is more to your teeth than simply changing their appearance. You should also consider the health side of your teeth.
Our blog at Insurdinary is a one-stop-shop for all your questions and concerns about health and Dental Insurance Plans in Canada. Be sure to learn more about your teeth and health.
