Invisalign vs. Smile Direct Club: 2022 Comparison Review

Every now and then, a game-changer product hits the market. Two decades ago, that was Invisalign.

It offered the first effective alternative to braces, giving orthodontic patients choice and agency in correcting their smiles.

For a while, Invisalign was the only clear aligner option, but competitors hit the scene soon after. Now, online clear aligners like Smile Direct Club offer a faster and more affordable treatment alternative for busy adults on a budget.

But how do Smile Direct Club’s clear aligners stack up against the most well-known provider, Invisalign? By the time you finish this review, you’ll have your answer.

In this comparison review, we’ll put Smile Direct Club and Invisalign to the test in terms of cost, treatment oversight, the customer experience, and more. In the end, you’ll be armed with the information you need to make the right decision.

 

4 Things They Have in Common

Invisalign and Smile Direct Club are unique companies, but their products are at their core quite similar. It comes as no surprise, then, that they have a few things in common:

1) Discreet: Both Invisalign and Smile Direct Club are far less visible than braces. This is a major benefit of clear aligners over metal braces. The most noticeable part of having aligners is the slight lisp that some people have when they first wear them, but this usually goes away.

2) Safe: When it comes to your smile, you just can’t take risks. But rest assured, both Invisalign and Smile Direct Club are safe ways to straighten your teeth. The technology for these systems is similar, and both use medical-grade BPA-free plastic.

3) Convenient: Ask anyone who has ever had braces and they’ll tell you they aren’t exactly convenient. Clear aligners eliminate most issues, such as dietary restrictions and relearning to brush and floss.

4) Insurance coverage: Both Smile Direct Club and Invisalign may be covered by your insurance. So long as your plan includes orthodontic benefits, you could have part or all of the cost paid for. Just keep in mind that not all policies are open to teledentistry companies like Smile Direct Club.

 

5 Ways They Differ

You can’t have a comparison review without a few differences, right? Here are five key ways Smile Direct Club and Invisalign differ from each other.

1) Who can get treatment: One of the biggest differences between Invisalign and Smile Direct Club is who can receive treatment. Smile Direct Club can only treat mild to moderate cases of crowding and spacing. Invisalign, on the other hand, can address even severe conditions, like overbite and problems with jaw shape.

2) Cost: Invisalign does not set the price of treatment as a company; the final price tag is determined by the individual dentist or orthodontist and reflects everything from their overhead costs to the complexity of your treatment. On average, most people will spend between $3,000 and $8,000. With Smile Direct Club, though, there are very few overhead costs, so your treatment will be much more affordable: $2,050, which is fairly standard among home aligner companies.

3) Treatment length: Most people who choose Invisalign are in treatment for 12-18 months, though if you have a complex case, you might need 24 months or more. Smile Direct Club has much shorter treatment lengths, with their average treatment clocking in at roughly 6 months. They might not be the fastest at-home treatment, but they hold their own.

4) One-on-one care: The biggest disadvantage of at-home aligner companies like Smile Direct Club is that you don’t actually meet in person with an orthodontist, which puts a cap on how individualized it can be. But with Invisalign, you’ll see your doctor in person every few weeks.

5) Financing: Both Smile Direct Club and Invisalign offer financing. Smile Direct Club approves every customer (regardless of credit score) for a down payment of $250 and then $89 per month. Invisalign’s financing is a bit different, as your orthodontist’s office will arrange the details of your payment plan.

 

The Rundown: How Invisalign and Smile Direct Stack Up

Invisalign has been the biggest name in clear aligners since they hit the market in 1998. While alternatives have emerged, they remain a household name. The system is available all around the world and has helped more than 12 million patients.

Invisalign is known for their ability to treat complex cases as well as cosmetic ones. This is thanks to their SmartForce attachments and the doctor oversight in-person treatment delivers. As such, it is an option even when other systems can’t get the job done.

Smile Direct Club is the original at-home clear aligner company, allowing people to choose Invisalign-like treatment that skips the dental office. In fact, for a while, Smile Direct Club’s aligners were provided by Invisalign. That’s not true anymore, but thanks to this previous partnership, Smile Direct Club was able to establish themselves as the top at-home aligner company in the industry.

Since their inception in 2014, Smile DirectClub has served more than 1.5 million customers. If you’re looking for the at-home option with the most brand power, look no further. Thanks to that brand power, Smile Direct Club can offer some options that many of their competitors can’t, including nighttime treatment and physical retail locations.

 

Product Quality

At first it may seem like all clear aligners are identical. And there’s plenty of similarities from company to company. For instance, all clear aligners are made from safe, BPA free plastic. Aside from core similarities, there are some differences worth noting, too.

Typically there are two ways to trim the top of an aligner: straight across, or scalloped to match the gumline. Each of these cuts come with their pros and cons. A straight cut aligner overlaps with the gums, which allows it to exert more force. Scalloped aligners don’t have this same force, but since they don’t overlap with the gums they are more low profile.

Some clear aligner providers make their aligners from clear, shiny plastic. Others opt for aligners made from plastic with a slightly frosted appearance. This may seem a bit counter intuitive, but frosted aligners are usually less noticeable than ultra clear looking aligners. Since our teeth have a matte, porous surface, the frosted aligners better mimic our natural grins.

That being said, some people like the added shine that ultra transparent looking clear aligners offer. Appearance is subjective; it’s all about choosing the aligner that’s right for you.

Let’s take a look at the aligners you’ll get from Invisalign and Smile Direct Club:

Invisalign’s aligners are top-notch. They invented this technology, and their aligners have withstood the test of time and industry innovation. Invisalign is also able to implement supplemental attachments to aid in complex movements. Because of these attachments, it really isn’t a detriment that Invisalign’s aligners are a scalloped cut; since the effectiveness is already handled.

Smile Direct was once the top of their class in terms of aligner quality, since their aligners were manufactured by Align Technology (the people who make Invisalign’s aligners). However, they’ve recently shifted to making their own clear aligners instead. We are hopeful that the end of this partnership won’t affect their quality, but it’s still too early to say for sure.

 

Treatment Oversight

Both of these providers keep an eye on your treatment progress, but they approach this in very different ways. Here we’ll look into how Invisalign and Smile Direct oversee your clear aligner treatment from start to finish.

There’s really no getting around it; in-office treatments like Invisalign deliver more hands-on treatment oversight. However, these treatments also put a certain demand on your schedule. If your schedule is already stuffed to the gills, it’s not easy to pack in a dozen or so in-person appointments.

This is where remote treatments really stand out. With simple photo check-ins through the Smile Direct app, you can keep the dental team informed about your treatment progress without bending over backwards to attend regular appointments.

It really comes down to personal preferences. If you prefer treatment to be a little more hands-on, then you can’t beat the oversight and you get with an in-office treatment option. That being said, if you’re a busy person with a lot on your plate, eliminating frequent appointments may be exactly the sort of treatment that you’re looking for.

Why the discrepancy in treatment lengths? It’s partly due to the fact that Invisalign handles tougher cases (which naturally take longer). Smile Direct Club only handles mild to moderate cases, which take less time. That said, Smile Direct Club has two treatment methods: nighttime and daytime.

Since the nighttime option requires you to wear aligners for 10 hours per night (as opposed to the standard 22+ hours), your treatment will take slightly longer. Either way, Smile Direct Club is faster than Invisalign.

If you need something outside of a normal appointment or photo check-ins, you’ll need to contact customer support.

You can contact Invisalign directly, but this isn’t the best option in most cases. Instead, just speak with your doctor. They know your case well and can offer a customized response. Smile Direct Club’s team is available by phone, email, and webchat. Their representatives are available via phone 24/7, but email replies usually take about a day.

If you’ve looked at Smile Direct Club’s reviews, you probably picked up on some negative ones complaining about poor customer support. Most of these are from 2017, when Smile Direct Club experienced significant growth and struggled to keep up with it. Since then, things have greatly improved.

In general, the one-on-one care you get from your Invisalign provider leads to better oversight. That said, we think Smile Direct Club has been making some good improvements to their customer support model.

 

Bang For Your Buck

A beautiful smile is worth a lot, but it shouldn’t have a million-dollar price tag. Even with more affordable options, you want to be certain you are getting a good value. Let’s break down the costs of Invisalign and Smile Direct Club.

With Invisalign, treatment starts with an initial consultation and diagnostic images. The price for these will depend on your doctor. In some cases, they might even be free.

Conveniently, Smile Direct Club established 300+ physical SmileShops nationwide where you can get your teeth scanned for free. Customers really love the experience they have at the Shops, so if you live near one, it’s well worth it.

Invisalign isn’t a flat-rate service, and each provider is free to charge their own prices. Your doctor should give you an accurate quote before starting treatment.

Once you agree to treatment, Smile Direct Club will send you your full aligner kit, from Step 1 to your last aligner. They also throw in free whitening. Compared to other home aligner companies, Smile Direct Club’s price is just average, but compared to Invisalign, it’s much less expensive.

Some companies provide one set of post-treatment retainers for free, but with Smile Direct Club, you’ll need to purchase them separately for $99. These retainers don’t last forever, so whenever you need a replacement (we recommend every six months), you’ll need to pick up another set. The price for Invisalign retainers varies from doctor to doctor.

Invisalign treatment isn’t an all-out price gouge, but it’s at the higher end of the clear aligner price spectrum (and in many cases, it’s the most expensive option, but that varies from one treatment provider to another). Smile Direct Club costs roughly $2,200 from start to finish, making it a great option for penny-pinchers and smart shoppers alike.

Office Visits—Are They Worth The Extra Cost?

Regular office visits are the biggest difference between in-office treatments like Invisalign and at-home ones like Smile Direct Club. This allows for more nuanced treatment. It also greatly adds to the cost. Your doctor must charge for their time, equipment, resources, and training. These visits also demand more of you: your time, patience, and scheduling.

So the question is: is it worth it? In truth, it depends. If you are looking to make complex shifts or appreciate the in-person supervision and feedback, then office visits are likely worth the cost for you. However, if you want an option that demands little of your time and makes cosmetic changes, they probably aren’t.

 

Customer Experience

Savvy shoppers keep their eyes open for a good deal on a quality product, but it’s also important to consider how these providers treat their customers. Here we’ll explore what you can expect from the customer experience when you choose Invisalign and Smile Direct Club for clear aligner treatment.

Reviews

As an online shopper, you know how important it is to read the reviews before you buy. While you can dig through all the online reviews for both these systems, we want to make it easy for you. Here are the things people love and dislike about both Invisalign and Smile Direct Club.

Invisalign is pretty well-loved by its customers, and Smile Direct Club has a fair reputation, too. If you look closely, a lot of Smile Direct Club’s negative reviews are from the year 2017. Like we mentioned earlier, Smile Direct Club rapidly expanded that year, but their customer service department has since caught up and now offers a better experience.

Guarantees

No one wants a purchase to go wrong, and when it comes to your teeth, your satisfaction is critical.

Most patients are thrilled with their Invisalign results since their doctor can make changes as they go, tweaking their results. However, this isn’t the same as a guarantee. Be sure to ask them about their terms before starting treatment.

With Smile Direct Club, you have 30 days to change your mind about your aligners. If you try it out and decide it’s not right for you within that first month, you can return them for a full refund.

Refinement Policy

Sometimes teeth can be a little more stubborn than expected. In some cases, you may need more aligners than your treatment plan originally anticipated. These extra aligners are called refinements; and some providers charge for these, while others include them for free.

Like all things Invisalign, this policy will change from provider to provider. That being said, the nature of Invisalign’s treatment includes constant tweaking and adjustments; so it’s unlikely you’d have any surprises at the end of your treatment.

Smile Direct handles their refinements policy through their Club Warranty. Smile Direct Club promises its club members (customers) that if they’re not totally satisfied with the results at the end of the treatment, they can request a re-evaluation and get new aligners to finish the job. To be eligible for this warranty, you must check in with your assigned doctor every 90 days, follow your aligner plan to a T, and submit any request for re-evaluation within 30 days of finishing treatment. Failing to meet any of those criteria voids the warranty.

It’s nice that Smile Direct includes refinements for free, but their reviews feature a fair amount of customers who describe their refinements process as being complicated and drawn out. To be fair, it seems like most providers could improve their refinements process. That said, Smile Direct gets this feedback frequently enough that it feels worth noting. It’s one thing to have a generous policy, it’s another to implement it.

 

Best Alternatives to Invisalign and Smile Direct Club

Invisalign and Smile Direct Club offer proven-effective treatment that delivers strong results, so if you go with either one, you’ll likely love your new smile. However, Invisalign and Smile Direct Club aren’t the only options for straightening your teeth.

If you are open to other possibilities, check out Byte. We rank them as our number-one at-home clear aligner company. They fall in the middle of the price range for online aligners, but they offer a lot of value, including the HyperByte and one set of free retainers. However, their standout feature is their short treatment lengths: their daytime system can reach final results in as little as 4 months, while their nighttime option takes about 5 months.

Visit Website

If you’re looking for the convenience of an at-home clear aligner experience, but want the treatment oversight you’d receive in an in-office setting, look no further than Candid. Candid is our #2 pick behind Byte. Candid offers incredible treatment oversight due to their CandidMonitoring program, which helps you to send in regular photo updates to the Candid team so they can closely monitor your progress.

Visit Website

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions