WonderSmile Australia Clear Aligners: A 2022 Review

Not up for regular dental appointments just to straighten your teeth? Good news; there’s an alternative! At-home clear aligners.

Using a home clear alignment system, you can ditch the dentist and straighten your teeth on your own. Home clear aligners aren’t just convenient, either. For many people, they’re also much faster and cheaper than braces.

WonderSmile offers at-home orthodontic treatment to Australians. But is WonderSmile right for you? In this review, we’ll give you the rundown on WonderSmile: the good, the bad, and how to figure out if they are the right path to your dream smile.

Important Notice: As of June 3rd, WonderSmile’s website and social pages have gone offline, and it appears they may have gone out of business. We will update this page as we get more information.

How Does WonderSmile Work?

Using WonderSmile is relatively simple: you schedule an appointment at one of their dental clinics and a technician takes images of your teeth. If you don’t live near a WonderSmile clinic, you can order an impression kit, instead.

Using those molds or scans, WonderSmile’s team designs and ships aligners to you. For most people, treatment lasts about 6 months (9 months for nighttime treatments). Here’s a fly-by of what to expect when using WonderSmile:

• Step 1: Schedule an appointment at your local WonderSmile clinic to have scans taken of your teeth. If you don’t live near one of WonderSmile’s locations, you’ll have to order an impression kit, create molds of your teeth, and send them back to WonderSmile.
• Step 2: WonderSmile analyzes your molds or scans and develops a treatment plan that’s unique to you.
• Step 3: Pay for your treatment all in one go, or sign up for one of WonderSmile’s monthly payment plans.
• Step 4: WonderSmile ships your aligners directly to you. You wear each set as prescribed and gradually make your way to a straighter smile.

What Sets WonderSmile Apart?

WonderSmile offers teledentistry, which is a pretty new service. In fact, the oldest company in the industry launched less than a decade ago in 2014. While it’s a young company, WonderSmile has a great reputation and serious international reach. Currently, they serve customers in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

While WonderSmile isn’t our favorite service (that honor goes to Byte), there is a lot to love about them. Thanks to their substantial network and proven reputation, they can offer several perks that some competitors can’t. Nighttime treatment, single-arch treatment, and 3D scans instead of messy impressions are just a few examples.

All told, WonderSmile is a great method for anyone looking to straighten their teeth without visiting the dentist’s office.

Product Quality

All clear aligner providers use the technology that Invisalign created to gradually shift your smile. There are some other similarities across providers; for example, all clear aligners are made from BPA-free plastic. However, there are other ways in which the design of aligners varies from provider to provider.

Materials

Unfortunately, WonderSmile doesn’t disclose who manufactures their aligners, so we can’t speak to the overall quality of their product. One thing we appreciate is that WonderSmile makes their nighttime-only NightClear aligners out of a thicker, more durable resin than their all-day aligner option; so you can be sure they can withstand any overnight teeth grinding.

Appearance

Many adults are drawn to clear aligners because of their low profile. All clear aligners are more discreet looking than metal braces, but some clear aligners are more discreet than others.

Clear aligners are either cut straight across the top or scalloped to mimic the gumline. Straight cut aligners are able to exert more force, but they’re more noticeable since they overlap with your gumline; so it’s a bit of a tradeoff. WonderSmile opts to cut their aligners straight across; so you can be sure they’re as effective as possible.

This might sound a little backward, but highly transparent aligners aren’t always the most discreet. Some providers (like Invisalign and Smile Direct) use a slightly frosted, matte-looking plastic for their aligners, which blends in better against the naturally porous surface of teeth. WonderSmile’s aligners are made of clear, shiny plastic. These might be more noticeable than frosted aligners, but appearance is subjective; so choose the aligner that works best for you.

Treatment Oversight

You might be wondering how at-home clear aligner providers keep an eye on your treatment if you complete it all from home. To show the WonderSmile team your progress, you’ll upload photos to the WonderSmile app during months 1, 3, 6, and 12 of your treatment. This helps the WonderSmile team ensure your teeth are shifting as they should and your treatment is on track.

On average, you can expect your WonderSmile treatment to wrap up in just 6 months for all-day treatment, and 9 months for NightClear treatment. In stark contrast, traditional options like braces and Invisalign can take 18-24 months to complete. Beyond just the treatment lengths, these options also require in-person appointments every 4-8 weeks. Squeezing a dozen or so appointments into a busy schedule is no easy task. WonderSmile’s treatment is much easier to incorporate into a busy lifestyle.

If you ever need to initiate contact outside of the regular check-ins, you’ll find it’s relatively easy to get in touch. WonderSmile offers phone, email, and social media support. In general, we’ve found that their phone support is the quickest; social media and email support tends to take a bit longer. Regardless of how you contact WonderSmile, you’ll get excellent and personalized attention.

Bang For Your Buck

WonderSmile is more affordable than braces, but cheap is hardly the word to describe its price either. Here’s the impact WonderSmile will have on your wallet:

Startup Costs

If you live near one of WonderSmile’s studios, you can simply schedule a free scan appointment and leave your treatment startup in the hands of the experts. At your appointment, a technician will take digital scans of your teeth.

WonderSmile’s $99 impression kit is a great alternative for those who can’t visit a WonderSmile clinic (and those who’d rather handle the process completely from home). Instead of scans, you’ll use putty and trays to create molds of your teeth. Once you ship them back to WonderSmile, they’ll use those molds to design your treatment plan.

If you end up choosing to buy aligners, WonderSmile will deduct $99 from your total treatment cost.

Aligner Kit

WonderSmile charges $2,900 for their all-day treatment, and $2,970 for their nighttime-only NightClear treatment. Your treatment kit includes everything you’ll need to straighten your teeth without visiting the orthodontist’s office. You get all of your aligners and oversight for as long as treatment lasts.

Even though their NightClear aligners are made from more durable plastic, they’re only $70 more than the all-day option. Competitors often charge a couple hundred dollars more for nighttime-only treatment, so we appreciate that WonderSmile keeps this price differential small.

WonderSmile also offers a perk that none of their competitors do: you can get single-arch treatment. Not everyone is a good candidate for single arch treatment, but if you are, you’ll score $500 off your aligners.

Potential Add-Ons

WonderSmile doesn’t include whitening in your aligner bundle, but you can order the WonderBright teeth whitening kit for $149 extra. WonderSmile keeps things pretty simple, their whitening kit is the only add-on they offer.

Financing

No matter the price tag for your treatment, you can offset the cost a bit by enrolling in WonderSmile’s payment plan. Here’s how it works: you make a 20% down payment, and then pay the rest of the amount across 12 monthly installments. For example, with daytime treatment, you’d pay a down payment of $580, followed by monthly payments determined by a credit check.

Insurance

Medicare classifies clear aligner treatment as cosmetic, so you won’t receive any coverage for your WonderSmile treatment that way. However, if you have any additional orthodontic benefits, you might get some reimbursement. Be sure to check with your provider to understand what your options are.

Post-Treatment Costs

The best way to preserve your new smile is to wear aftercare retainers. After your treatment concludes you’ll wear aftercare retainers full time; then when you get the go-ahead from WonderSmile you’ll switch to just overnight wear—which you’ll continue indefinitely.

Unfortunately, WonderSmile doesn’t include a free set of post-treatment retainers with your aligner kit. You’ll need to purchase them separately for $99. Retainers are durable, but they’re not all-powerful; they’ll need to be replaced every 6 months or so.

Customer Experience

At-home clear aligner treatments take place from the comfort of your own home, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be left to fend for yourself. Let’s take a look at what you can expect from the WonderSmile experience.

Reviews

Online reviews are the new word of mouth when it comes to assessing services and products. WonderSmile is still pretty new, so there aren’t thousands upon thousands of reviews, but there are enough to get a good idea of what this system is all about. So, what are other customers saying about WonderSmile?

It’s important to account for both the good and the bad. So, here are a few of the things customers like about WonderSmile:

• Very knowledgeable, friendly customer service.
• Treatment discomfort was minimal.
• Getting adjustments to treatment is relatively simple.
• 3D scans make start-up easy.

But there are a few drawbacks, too:

• Retainers sometimes break, which can be a hassle to replace.
• Mix-ups can occur with initial impression kits & account setup.

For the most part, WonderSmile has a positive online reputation; negative reviews seem to be pretty few and far between. Unfortunately, shipping is never perfect; things get tricky if your aligners get lost in the mail. Broken retainers aren’t super common, but it happens. So by and large, we’ll say that WonderSmile’s positives outweigh its negatives.

Comfort

Let’s be clear: teeth alignment is never going to be totally painless. This is true of all orthodontia—even traditional options like braces and Invisalign involve some aches and pains.

That being said, it’s usually just a bit of soreness the first few days after switching to a new aligner set, since the new aligners should be tighter than the last. Switching out your aligners at night can help you sleep through most of the adjustment period.

WonderSmile’s reviews are full of customers describing their relatively pain-free experiences, and assuring other users that any discomfort they’re feeling will subside.

Guarantees

WonderSmile has an industry-standard guarantee on your impression kit: if it turns out you’re not a suitable candidate for treatment, you’ll be refunded the cost of your impression kit. However, if they do determine that you’re eligible for treatment, they’ll apply what you spent on the impression kit towards the total of your treatment.

With WonderSmile, you’re eligible for a refund on your aligner treatment within 30 days of receiving your aligners. Just make sure you reach out to the WonderSmile team first to discuss your options, before sending your unused aligners back in the mail.

WonderSmile also has a pretty generous guarantee on the results of your smile. If your teeth shift within the first year of your treatment ending, WonderSmile will provide the aligners you need to get your smile back to its former glory. All you need to do to be eligible for this guarantee is to stay up on wearing and replacing your post-treatment retainers.

What if I break an aligner?

WonderSmile can send you a replacement aligner for $50, but in general, they recommend you just wear your previous or next aligner until it’s time to make the next switch. That way, you won’t have to worry about waiting for the shipping and manufacturing for the lost aligner, which can delay your treatment.

Refinement Policy

If you reach the end of your original treatment plan and your teeth need a bit more movement, you’ll need refinements (extra aligners). Some companies charge extra for refinements, but not WonderSmile. As long as you’ve stayed on top of your aligner wear and are up to date with your photo check-ins, your refinements will be covered by WonderSmile.

Teeth can be a little stubborn sometimes, so a generous refinement policy like WonderSmile’s can give you peace of mind throughout your treatment that your results are guaranteed.

Best WonderSmile Alternatives

Is WonderSmile right for you? That’s an important question; after all, your smile is always with you. So, you’ll also want to consider all the alternatives that are available. WonderSmile is a great service in its own right, but we still wanted to mention some other options to consider:

Byte

If you’re looking for rapid results, check out Byte. They offer both daytime and nighttime systems. And thanks to their HyperByte device, they deliver results much sooner than their competitors. In some cases, their treatments can wrap up as quickly as 4 months.

SmilePath

WonderSmile is one of the more affordable aligner choices, but they aren’t the cheapest. That’s SmilePath. SmilePath has a $1,899 sticker price. The only time WonderSmile is cheaper than SmilePath is for single-arch treatments (and that’s only a $9 difference).

EZ Smile

EZ Smile has a dental network across Australia, which simplifies the startup process. Intraoral scans are super easy (no messy impressions here). Plus, they have a 90-day money-back guarantee and a competitive sticker price.

Smile Direct Club

If the most important feature for you is an extensive history, Smile Direct Club is the oldest home aligner company. They also offer the flexibility of nighttime treatments and SmileShops where you can have scans taken of your teeth instead of impressions.

Should You Use WonderSmile?

WonderSmile has a lot of positives, but that doesn’t mean that they’re right for everyone. Let’s talk about when you should use WonderSmile and when you should keep shopping around.

✔ When to use WonderSmile:

WonderSmile is a great option if you want to balance treatment flexibility with affordability. They aren’t the fastest or cheapest in the industry, but they strike a nice spot in the middle for mild to moderate cases of misalignment.

✖ When NOT to use WonderSmile:

If you have a bite issue like underbite or a severe case of crowding or spacing, then you’re probably not a good candidate for any home alignment system—WonderSmile or otherwise. Plus, if you’re looking for the most affordable or fastest treatment option, you’re probably better off going with SmilePath or Byte respectively.

Final Verdict

All told, WonderSmile is a good, reputable treatment option. But they’re not our favorite. We rank them at #4 among Australia’s at-home aligner choices. There are no glaring issues; we simply find others more impressive.

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