Home clear aligners are incredibly convenient, so it’s no surprise they’ve garnered a lot of popularity in recent years. After all, who doesn’t want to straighten their smile with easy-to-use aligners that don’t require regular doctor’s visits?
If you’ve done any research into the UK’s clear aligner scene, you’ve probably seen PlusDent. And maybe you’ve wondered if these aligners are the right choice for you. With all the aligners on the market, it can be hard to sift through all the options.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything there is to know about PlusDent. Well get you up to speed on how their treatment works, how long treatment takes, how customers review them, and more. By the end, you’ll know for sure whether or not PlusDent is the provider for you.
How Does PlusDent Work?
PlusDent’s treatment is a pretty straightforward process from start to finish. Here’s a flyby of what you can expect:
- Step 1: Schedule your complimentary scan appointment with a partnered PlusDent clinic. Uniquely, this is the only way you can start treatment with PlusDent; unlike most of their competitors, they don’t offer an at-home impression kit. So if you’re near one of the clinics, great! You can stop by and get a free intraoral scan. But if PlusDent’s partnered locations aren’t convenient for you, then you’ll likely need to seek treatment with another provider.
- Step 2: Based on your scans, PlusDent’s team will craft a treatment plan to give you a smile that makes you feel your best. During this stage, PlusDent’s team will determine what tier of treatment you’ll be on (more on that in a minute).
- Step 3: Once you approve the treatment plan, PlusDent will get started manufacturing your aligners. PlusDent manufactures their own aligners in their factory in Berlin.
- Step 4: You can pay for your treatment all in one go, or spread the payments out over time with PlusDent’s flexible financing options.
- Step 5: PlusDent ships the aligners right to your doorstep. You can pop in the first set and begin gradually moving your teeth into a new smile! Just be sure you follow your treatment guidelines, and it should be a breeze.
What Sets PlusDent Apart?
PlusDent got their start in Berlin in 2017, but they’ve quickly made a name for themselves since joining the UK aligner scene. PlusDent approaches clear aligner treatment a little differently than many of their competitors. For starters; there’s the in-person scans. Like we mentioned, that’s the only way to begin treatment with PlusDent. So while these scans are a convenient (and usually very popular) way to begin treatment, the in-person appointment does narrow who could choose this provider. You can peruse their locations here.
Another thing setting PlusDent apart are their tiers of treatment. All at-home clear aligner providers are limited to treating mild to moderate cases of misalignment. Since severe conditions are ruled out (better suited for in-office treatments like Invisalign), most providers charge a flat rate for their treatment, regardless of whether your condition is mild; or a little more complicated.
Uniquely, PlusDent separates their treatment into three tiers: light, medium, and complex. Each of these tiers have a separate price point; so if your condition is mild, you’ll end up paying less for treatment.
PlusDent oversees every detail of your treatment; they even make the aligners themselves in their lab in Germany. All things considered, PlusDent is a high quality provider that offers personalized treatment for way less than traditional options like braces or Invisalign.
Product Quality
At-home clear aligners use the technology Invisalign created, but they’ve adapted it for remote treatments. These clear aligners apply pressure to your teeth to gradually move them into a straighter smile. But what are these aligners made of? Let’s take a closer look.
Materials
PlusDent manufactures their own aligners in their lab in Germany (where the company got its start). Like all other clear aligner providers, PlusDent makes their aligners from BPA free plastic.
Some at-home clear aligner providers partner with reputable dental supply companies for their manufacturing to inspire confidence in their product. However, there’s something to be said to the fact that PlusDent has their eyes on every step of your treatment. Judging by their reviews, you can count on their aligners to be top quality.
Appearance
There’s two main ways to cut clear aligners: straight across the top, or scalloped to mimic the natural gumline. The straight cut is more powerful (since it can use your gums as an anchor), but the scalloped cut is more discreet since it doesn’t overlap with the gums—so it’s a bit of a tradeoff.
Most providers choose one cut or the other, but PlusDent offers both. Once they evaluate your scans, they can determine which aligner cut will work best for you. This is a high level of personalization that most of their competitors can’t match.
Treatment Oversight
You might be wondering how remote providers are able to keep an eye on your treatment if you complete it all from the comfort of your own home. The answer? Remote check-ins. With PlusDent, you’ll just send photo updates through their app every 8 weeks, so their team can ensure everything is progressing as it should.
Busy adults have a lot on their minds; that’s why PlusDent sends reminders through their app when it’s time to change to a new set of aligners. One less thing on your todo list!
Your PlusDent treatment should wrap up in an average of 4-10 months. That’s a pretty wide range; but generally the simpler your condition, the less time it will take to correct. For comparison, traditional options like braces and Invisalign can take between 18-24 months to complete.
Traditional options also require in-person appointments every 4-8 weeks of your treatment. If your schedule is already packed to the gills, accomodating a dozen or so orthodontist’s appointments is no easy task. PlusDent’s 4-10 month treatment lengths and simple remote check-ins are a much easier time commitment.
If you need to get in touch with PlusDent outside of your photo check-ins, you’ll need to contact their customer support. WhatsApp and email are the primary ways you can get in touch with them. We’ve found that they respond in a timely manner, providing prompt, attentive care in most instances. You can’t talk to customer support through the app yet (we hope they add that feature later), but their current method gets the job done.
Bang For Your Buck
Many people are drawn to at-home clear aligner treatments because of their approachable price tag. These treatments typically cost thousands less than in-office options like braces and Invisalign, but what will your final bill be, exactly? Let’s take a look at what you can expect to pay when you choose PlusDent for your at-home clear aligner treatment.
Startup Costs
With PlusDent, the scan that kicks off your treatment is completely free! At this appointment, the PlusDent team will get all the intake they need from you and take scans of your teeth.
As we’ve said, PlusDent doesn’t offer a DIY impression kit as an alternative to their in-person scans, so if you’re not located near one of their clinics, then you’ll probably need to go with another provider.
Aligner Kit
PlusDent’s team will assign you a tier of treatment depending on the severity of your condition. Light treatments cost £1,390, medium treatments cost £1,890, and complex treatments cost £2,190.
So in theory, the milder your condition, the less you’ll pay for treatment. For context, most of PlusDent’s competitors charge the same price regardless of the severity of your condition, so if you land in the ‘complex’ category, then you may save some money by going with a competitor.
Since all at-home clear aligners are limited to treating cases of mild to moderate crowding and spacing, the ‘complex’ treatment tier isn’t able to tackle severe cases that an in-office option like braces or Invisalign would be able to treat.
Financing
PlusDent really shines when it comes to their flexible financing. For each of their treatment tiers, you can choose to spread the payments out over 12, 24, 36, or 48 months. For example, if you are on the medium tier of treatment, you could pay £164.40 for 12 months, £86.07 for 24 months, £86.07 for 36 months, or £47.09 for 48 months.
With so many options, it’s likely you’ll find a payment plan that works well for your budget. However, PlusDent’s financing requires a credit check, so unfortunately not everyone will qualify for these payment plans.
Post-Treatment Costs
The best way to keep the post-treatment smile you’ve worked so hard for is by wearing aftercare retainers. When treatment first ends, you’ll need to wear your retainers for 12 hours a day. After about 6 months, PlusDent will give you the go-ahead to switch to just overnight wear; which you’ll continue indefinitely.
Some providers offer up the first set of post-treatment retainers for free, but with PlusDent you’ll need to buy them outright for £99/set. These retainers are strong, but they aren’t ever-lasting; you’ll need to replace them every 6 months or so.
Customer Experience
There’s a lot to process when you’re choosing between clear aligner providers. One crucial element? How they treat their customers—both during treatment, and beyond. Let’s dig into the customer experience with PlusDent.
Reviews
Online shopping is really convenient, but the savvy online shopper checks reviews before hitting that “Order Now” button. But PlusDent has thousands of reviews (over 700 on Trustpilot alone). Odds are, you don’t want to read through each and every one of them.
We’ve done the work for you, sifting through reviews so you can get a better picture of what real people like and dislike about PlusDent. We prefer to look at third party review sites to get an unedited picture. And even on those external review sites, PlusDent gets an excellent score across the board.
Here are some of the things customers like about PlusDent:
Top Loves
- Noticeable results after just a few steps
- Scans are convenient and painless
- Aligners arrive pretty quickly
- Easy to adjust to the new aligner routine
And now, for the top dislikes:
Top Complaints
- Refinement process can take awhile
- Retainers are sometimes flimsy
- Some participating scan locations are better than others
Refinements (extra aligners) are a slower process for any company, not just PlusDent. Part of it is due to the fact that a refinement requires a detailed dental review and the manufacture of new aligners. That takes time. And weak retainers are frustrating. But since the vast majority of customers don’t have those complaints, we do have to wonder if those are flukes (or user error, since some people don’t care for their retainers appropriately).
On the whole, PlusDent gets an “Excellent” rating from their customers. And if you’re worried about the customer service at a particular clinic, double-check the reviews for the individual practice. That’ll help you know which one to visit (not all of them are created equal!).
Comfort
One great thing about clear aligner treatment, is that you won’t have to deal with uncomfortable brackets and wires like you would with braces treatment. But just to be clear about something: teeth alignment is always going to have some level of discomfort—it comes with the territory, even traditional options like braces and Invisalign have their fair share of aches and pains.
With PlusDent, the soreness you’ll feel is typically most pronounced for the first few days after switching to a new set of aligners; since by design, the new trays will be snugger than the last. One good way to mitigate this is to change your aligners before bed, so that you sleep through most of the soreness. If you need some extra help, an over the counter pain reliever usually does the trick just fine.
Refinement Policy
Ideally, you’ll finish treatment with the smile of your dreams. But sometimes teeth can be a little more stubborn than anticipated, and you may need a few extra aligners once you’ve wrapped up your original treatment plan. These extra aligners are called “refinements,” and some providers charge extra for them; but not PlusDent.
As long as you request your refinements within four weeks of switching to your last set of aligners, they’ll be completely free! It’s nice knowing PlusDent will stick with you and correct your smile fully; even if it takes a little longer than expected.
What if I break an aligner?
Accidents happen! If you lose an aligner during your treatment, contact PlusDent right away and they’ll make a replacement for you for £99. While you wait for your replacement aligner to arrive in the mail, wear the most recent aligner in your treatment plan so that your teeth don’t wander too far from their current position.
Best PlusDent Alternatives
PlusDent is a great option for your teeth alignment, but they’re not the only name in the game. Here, we’ll introduce you to some alternatives to PlusDent, so that you can get a better sense of the landscape of UK aligner providers.
Straight Teeth Direct
Straight Teeth Direct is our #1 ranked clear aligner service in the UK. They got their start as a more traditional orthodontic practice in 2009, and even though they pivoted to remote treatment in 2016; their boutique beginnings are clear in their highly personalized treatment. They have an affordable price point, comprehensive guarantees on your smile, and top-notch customer service. They’re our favorite provider for a reason!
Straight My Teeth
If affordability is a top priority for you in your treatment, then Straight My Teeth may be worth a look. Sure, they boast the lowest prices in the industry—but they don’t sacrifice quality to do it. With frequent treatment oversight, excellent customer service, and the industry’s lowest prices, Straight My Teeth has more than earned their #2 ranking.
Should You Use PlusDent?
PlusDent has a lot going for them, but are they the right option for you?
✔ When to use PlusDent:
If you have a mild or moderate case of misalignment, then you’re likely a perfect candidate for PlusDent. Thanks to their app-powered photo check-ins to ensure your treatment stays on track and their flexible financing, we think PlusDent is an all-around good choice.
✖ When NOT to use PlusDent:
If your condition is on the severe side you’re likely not a good candidate for at-home clear aligner treatment—PlusDent, or otherwise. Additionally, if you don’t live near their retail locations, you’ll probably need to go with another provider.
That said, if you’re not sold on PlusDent, we recommend you check out Straight Teeth Direct—they’re our #1 pick in the UK. They have an app that gives you direct communication with the customer care team, and they have a great price point. Straight Teeth Direct also has one of the best satisfaction guarantees and smile maintenance plans ever!
Final Verdict
In our opinion, PlusDent is one of the best options in the UK; they have definitely earned their #3 ranking! Between their convenient scanning locations, flexible financing options, and easy to use app, we think you’d be in great hands with PlusDent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clear aligner treatment even work?
Clear aligner treatment works, no question. But it only works when you wear your aligners as prescribed. If you fail to wear them like you should, your teeth won’t shift into straighter positions; they might even become more crooked than they were in the beginning. Likewise, your treatment results will only last provided you wear your retainers as prescribed.
Is clear aligner treatment safe?
You bet! Clear aligners are a perfectly safe way to straighten your teeth as long as you adhere to your prescribed treatment. It’s when people don’t wear their aligners like they should that they run into trouble; if you wear them for too short a time each day, your teeth don’t get the chance to heal enough between aligner switches, which hurts your teeth in the long-term. Similarly, if you don’t clean the aligners faithfully, remove them when you eat, and brush your teeth before reinserting them, you run the risk of tooth decay (or at the very least, some alarming bad breath).
How is PlusDent different from Invisalign?
On the surface, PlusDent and Invisalign seem identical to each other. After all, their aligners look very similar: clear tooth-shaped trays. And both treatment regimens will get you the smile of your dreams.
Invisalign, however, is different from PlusDent because of one key distinction: Invisalign is an in-office treatment, and PlusDent is administered remotely. Invisalign requires direct, in-person oversight to be successful, and in return, that lets Invisalign treat the full array of cases, from mild to extremely severe. PlusDent can only treat mild to moderate cases because severe cases require in-person oversight.
Does PlusDent offer any discounts?
As far as we can tell, PlusDent doesn’t offer a ton of discounts, especially for their full aligner kit. The biggest one is their referral discount; if you refer a friend, they’ll get £300 off their aligners, and you’ll get £100 in cash back. If PlusDent does offer other discounts, they don’t publish them on their website (at least not frequently; you’re more likely to find them if you subscribe to their email list).
Is PlusDent the fastest home aligner?
There are faster treatment options out there, but they aren’t currently available on the UK market. Most UK aligner companies—PlusDent included—take close to 6 months to correct a smile. There will be some discrepancy from one company to the next, but all of our top picks have an average treatment speed of 6 months. PlusDent does have some faster cases, but the majority of them are at the 6-month mark.
Is PlusDent the cheapest home aligner?
PlusDent falls on the higher end of the price range for most online clear aligners. That’s especially true for people who are classified as “Medium” and “Complex” cases. If you’re looking for the cheapest aligner (that doesn’t sacrifice quality), then you should look into Straight My Teeth. Their sticker price is just £999.
How do I know when to switch aligners?
Some companies leave you to remember when to switch aligners on your own. And if you integrate it into part of your routine, like always switching aligners on Monday, it’s pretty easy to remember. But hey, we’re all human, and you might forget.
Thankfully, PlusDent actually gives you the go-ahead to move on to your next aligner through the app. The prompts will keep you on track, no problem.
Can I drink coffee while using PlusDent?
Technically you can, but you shouldn’t. For starters, hot drinks can warp your aligners, making them ineffective. Plus, dark foods and beverages can permanently stain your aligners. You should remove your aligners every time you eat or drink anything besides cool water.
Can I smoke while using PlusDent?
It’s physically possible, but you shouldn’t. Any dentist will tell you that smoking will stain your teeth and can deteriorate your overall oral health. But when it comes to wearing your aligners, smoking with aligners on can stain them.
Is there an age requirement for PlusDent?
At this time, PlusDent only treats adults ages 18 and older. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Does PlusDent offer whitening?
Unfortunately, no. PlusDent doesn’t include whitening treatment in their treatment kit. If you want to use whitening in conjunction with your aligners, you can get it, but you’ll need to buy it elsewhere. Be sure to choose a formula that’s safe to use with aligners.
What’s up with retainers?
When you finish your treatment, PlusDent will send you trays that look a lot like your aligners. But there’s one key difference: they’re thicker than treatment aligners. And their purpose is to hold your teeth in their newly-perfected positions.
After treatment, your teeth have a natural tendency to relapse, or shift back to their original positions. Even years afterwards, teeth still shift; it’s a natural part of aging. Wearing retainers—usually full-time for a few weeks and then only at night indefinitely—prevents that from happening, preserving your investment.
How often should I replace my retainers?
Retainers are designed to be more durable than aligners, but they still don’t last forever. PlusDent recommends that you replace your retainers every six months. Thankfully, those only cost £99, so it’s not a massive investment.