DrSmile – the perfect way to straight teeth?

What is DrSmile and what alternatives are there?

When people think of the ‘perfect smile’, most immediately picture white, straight teeth. However, perfectly straight teeth are rare; it is much more common for minor to complex misalignments to develop, which are not only perceived as unsightly but can also lead to physical discomfort and pain. Many such misalignments are treated during childhood and adolescence using removable or fixed braces. However, quite a few people did not receive appropriate treatment when they were young and are now dissatisfied with the alignment of their teeth. For many of those affected, wearing fixed braces as an adult is not an option, whether for aesthetic, professional or financial reasons.

For several years now, providers such as DrSmile have been advertising virtually invisible aligners, which are designed to straighten misaligned teeth discreetly and quickly. Such offers appeal to many adults, which is why DrSmile has quickly gained popularity. In this article, you’ll find out who is behind DrSmile, exactly how treatment with clear aligners works, and what alternatives are currently available.

What is DrSmile and who is behind it?

DrSmile was launched in 2016 by Urban Technology GmbH, a German start-up based in Berlin. The brand’s founders are Jens Urbaniak and Christopher von Wedemeyer. DrSmile offers cosmetic dental treatments using invisible aligners. These aligners are designed to correct mild to moderate misalignments of the teeth.

How does treatment at DrSmile work?

If you choose DrSmile, your first step is to book an appointment at one of the partner practices. The provider has partner practices in over 100 German cities, including Aachen, Berlin, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Mannheim, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and many more. You can book the appointment online via the website. During the free information session, you’ll receive an initial consultation and a 3D scan of your jaw. Based on this appointment, a treatment plan is then drawn up, which you will receive 14 days later. This includes the costs, duration and a 3D simulation of the planned treatment, and is initially non-binding. Only once the treatment plan has been approved will the stated costs apply and treatment begin.

The number of aligners required for the entire duration of treatment are then manufactured and sent by post. The thin, transparent aligners should be worn for 22 hours a day and swapped for the next set every two weeks. Meanwhile, the DrSmile app guides you through the treatment and is available round the clock to answer any questions. After treatment, you will receive a retainer, which ensures that the results are maintained and your teeth do not shift again.

How long does treatment with invisible aligners take?

The duration of aligner treatment varies and depends primarily on the initial condition of your teeth. The more complex the misalignment, the more aligners will be required, which extends the duration of treatment. Minor misalignments can usually be corrected within 6 months, whilst more complex cases may require treatment for up to 12 months. To assess how complex your misalignment is and whether you are a suitable candidate for treatment with DrSmile, you can carry out a short suitability test online.

How much does DrSmile cost?

Treatment prices also vary and depend on the extent to which your teeth need to be corrected. Accordingly, the number of aligners required and the duration of treatment also increase. Three price packages are therefore offered depending on the complexity: “Light” for 1,790 euros, “Medium” for 2,490 euros and “Complex” for 2,990 euros. DrSmile advertises that the final price is clearly stated in the non-binding treatment plan and that there are no additional or hidden costs. The price can be paid either as a one-off payment or in instalments over a period of up to 72 months. Financing is interest-free for up to 24 months.

What alternatives are there?

DrSmile is now widely recognised, but it is not the only provider of teeth straightening using invisible aligners. To find the best value for money, it is also worth considering the alternatives.

Invisalign

Invisalign offers a similar process, but unlike with DrSmile, the care is not primarily provided by the provider itself, but by an Invisalign practitioner in your area. First, an initial consultation is arranged with one of these practitioners, during which a 3D scan of your teeth is taken and a treatment plan is drawn up. There are numerous Invisalign partners in Germany and Austria. Invisalign also offers a questionnaire to find out whether treatment is a suitable option.

Once the aligners have been made, an initial fitting takes place, during which the Invisalign practitioner checks that they fit properly and is available to answer any questions about the course of treatment. Whilst with DrSmile only a single in-person appointment is required and the rest of the care is managed via the app, with Invisalign the user has check-up appointments every 6–8 weeks to assess progress and collect the new aligners. The duration of treatment with Invisalign varies between 6 and 18 months, depending on the complexity of the case. As with DrSmile, you will also be given retainers following your treatment to maintain the results in the long term.

Another distinctive feature of Invisalign is that even children and teenagers can be treated using the aligner method, whilst providers such as DrSmile currently offer their services only to adults.

The cost of Invisalign treatment depends on the complexity and duration of the treatment. Financing options also depend on what the respective Invisalign provider offers and do not apply across the board.

PlusDental

With PlusDental, too, you first book an appointment at a partner practice to have a free 3D scan carried out. Similar to DrSmile, PlusDental also offers remote treatment, meaning that follow-up care will take place digitally after the first appointment, so that, under normal circumstances, no further practice appointments are required.

Following the initial consultation, you will receive your treatment plan and can decide whether or not to proceed with PlusDental treatment. Four weeks later, you will be sent the full set of aligners required for the duration of your treatment. The progress of the treatment is monitored via the PlusDental app using photos. PlusDental advertises that the treatment duration is usually only 3–10 months. Here too, retainers are made afterwards to stabilise the treatment results. The treatment is currently only intended for adults.

PlusDental offers three fixed, transparent price packages. Depending on the complexity, the treatment is categorised into a price package ranging from ‘Simple’ to ‘Complex’. You will find out which price package is suitable for your teeth immediately after the 3D scan. The “Simple” price package costs 1,690 euros, “Medium” costs 2,490 euros and “Complex” costs 2,990 euros. Here too, payment by instalments over a period of up to 72 months is available.

SmileDirectClub

With SmileDirectClub, too, you can use a short questionnaire to assess whether this form of treatment is suitable for you. If you’re interested, you’ll then be given an appointment to have a 3D scan of your teeth taken or to order a mould kit so you can take the mould yourself. However, an initial in-person appointment at a so-called SmileShop is still required for the treatment. Unlike DrSmile and Invisalign, SmileDirectClub’s SmileShops are not yet widely available in Germany. Once a treatment plan has been drawn up based on the scan or impression and approved by a dentist, the aligners are manufactured and dispatched.

One difference compared to other providers is that SmileDirectClub offers two different types of treatment: on the one hand, the faster treatment using clear aligners, which are worn for 22 hours a day and achieve the desired result in just 4–6 months; and on the other hand, a slightly more time-consuming treatment with aligners that only need to be worn at night. According to the website, these lead to the desired result within approximately 10 months.

SmileDirectClub offers the treatment for 1,650 euros, regardless of the individual treatment plan. As an alternative to a one-off payment, the price can be paid in 24 monthly instalments of 80 euros. The price applies to both traditional treatment and treatment using the clear night-time aligners.

Smileunion

Similar to SmileDirectClub, Smileunion also advertises particularly fast results within 3–7 months. Unlike the other providers, Smileunion operates entirely without in-person appointments. Consequently, no 3D scan is taken; instead, the treatment is based on self-taken impressions and photographs. To get an initial assessment of whether your teeth are suitable, Smileunion also offers a short questionnaire.

If you decide to go with Smileunion, you’ll first be sent an impression kit. You then send back the finished impressions and photos of your teeth. Two weeks later, you’ll receive your treatment plan by email. Based on the photos and the impression of your teeth, the treatment plan also includes a 3D view of the planned movement of your jaw and the final result.

Four weeks later, you will receive the custom-made aligners. As with most other providers, these must be worn for around 22 hours a day and changed every 14 days. Support from dentists is provided via Skype or telephone appointments, photos of your current dental condition, or by email. The choice of communication method is up to the customer. The final result should be achieved after 3–7 months. A retainer ensures that the results are maintained.

With Smileunion, there is an initial charge of 9 euros for ordering the impression kit. The analysis based on this and the creation of the treatment plan are free of charge and non-binding. If you decide to proceed with treatment via Smileunion, there are three pricing options: “Light” for 1,390 euros, “Medium” for 1,790 euros and “Complex” for 2,090 euros. The price can be paid in up to 60 monthly instalments.

Conclusion

The comparison shows that the various providers follow very similar procedures when it comes to treatment with clear aligners. Ultimately, the decision comes down mainly to personal preferences. Whilst Invisalign provides for regular check-ups with a trained Invisalign practitioner to assess progress as effectively and professionally as possible, at Smileunion all communication takes place virtually. There is no in-person appointment at all. Other distinctive features of these providers include the option to treat children and teenagers with Invisalign aligners, as well as the choice of transparent night-time aligners from SmileDirectClub. It is therefore worth researching the various providers and their respective pros and cons if you are interested in aligner-based orthodontic treatment.