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In partnership with SmileSet. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
When I was a kid, my parents paid thousands of dollars to straighten my teeth. After four years and many orthodontist appointments, my braces came off – and my smile was objectively perfect. Fast forward a few years, and a few too many retainer-less nights in my college dorm, and my smile began to shift. Quickly.
Now, as an adult, my smile is fine, but my bottom teeth are crowded, and a bit angled, in a way that drives me nuts. Curious what a little tweak (my teeth aren’t a mess by any means) would cost, I asked my dentist. $6,000.
Needless to say, I gave up on the idea – until I found SmileSet. A doctor-prescribed treatment plan done entirely online for less than a quarter of the cost, SmileSet works with a team of licensed dental professionals so you can achieve straighter teeth from the comfort of your own home. I jumped at the chance to try it, and I’m thrilled so far.
A Different Type of Dentistry
SmileSet has grown quite a name for itself by making nearly invisible FDA-approved aligners, retainers, and night guards for a fraction of the price of traditional braces and less than half the treatment time.
Instead of having to visit the orthodontist every few weeks, SmileSet offers doctor-prescribed treatment plans from the comfort of your own home. Everything sounded great in theory but what really convinced me to try it were the cold hard numbers: treatments custom-designed and reviewed by licensed dental pros with 140+ years of combined experience; powered by trusted technology that’s transformed 2M+ smiles across 14 countries, backed by 100+ patents in dental innovation.
Giving SmileSet a Go
To start my process, I filled out a patient verification form, which required some general information and a dental history form to help inform my treatment plan. The next step was photos and the impression kit, which arrived by mail. Inside: four impression trays, putty to make the teeth molds, a smile stretcher (more on that in a second) and instructions, a QR code that directs you to step-by-step instructions, and a pre-paid return shipping box label.
I used the aforementioned smile stretcher to send in photos – it helped to ensure all of my teeth were visible and from the correct angles. It wasn’t exactly comfortable (I have a small mouth so the smile stretcher had to work overtime) but it was easy enough, and my husband snapped the three photos I needed in a matter of minutes.
Finally, it was time for me to take my dental impressions so that SmileSet could customize my treatment plan and ultimately make my aligners. The kit comes with enough materials to make four impressions: two of my top teeth and two of the bottom. I opened the step by step directions, grabbed the putty, and got to work.
To make each impression, I had to take one gray and one purple putty container and knead them together until they were fully blended. Next, I had to roll the putty into a four-inch tube, which I then placed into the tray. (quickly!) to take the impression.
The directions instructed me to make both bottom impressions first then both top impressions (each takes 2 mins and 30 seconds). The bottom two trays were easy enough; the top impressions were more difficult (the instructions assured me this was normal) but I got through it and put me one step closer to the smile of my dreams.
Up Next: My All-Day Aligners
Impressions made, I dropped them at the post office the following day. Now I’m waiting for a doctor to review my materials and make my treatment plan.
I’ll likely wear my All-Day Aligners (which I’ll need to wear 22 hours per day and change every two weeks) for four to six months. This is considered the ‘fast track’ – SmileSet also offers Nighttime Clear Aligners that only need to be worn at night, but take between six to nine months for the same results.
The process has been seamless so far – exactly as advertised, which makes me confident that my experience and results will match the millions of others who have tried it before me.
Confidence Starts With a Smile
If I’d had any idea how much my teeth would move, I never would have stopped wearing my retainers. For a period of time, I thought I’d have to deal with the little imperfections in my smile that bugged me, so finding SmileSet – which costs $1,295 as opposed to the $6,000 I was quoted – has been a huge relief.
While I consider myself a pretty confident person, I have no shame in admitting that a straighter smile will give me an added confidence boost and peace of mind when on calls, meeting new people, or in group settings. I couldn’t be more excited to join the millions of people already in love with their smiles thanks to SmileSet.
