POSTED UNDER SmileDirectClub REVIEWS
30 Year Old SmileDirectClub Experience (Minor Crowding)
ORIGINAL POST
So I'm actually about 5-6 days into my treatment...
laughingstormApril 26, 2017
$1,600
So I'm actually about 5-6 days into my treatment but I want to give a description of my pre-treatment experience as well. So I'll start from the beginning.
I found SDC when I was looking up alternatives to Invisalign. My dentist had recommended Invisalign because she thought my bottom teeth really needed their crowding fixed whereas I was more concerned with a tooth on my uppers that needed correction. I had been avoiding Invisalign for two main reasons: one, I did not want to deal with the unsightly attachments that you have glued onto your teeth during Invisalign, and two, the price, my dentist quoted me $8,400 for Invisalign and accelident (more on that later).
So SDC made more sense to me. There are no attachments, so if I wanted to take the trays out for pictures or being social, nobody has to be the wiser. And price, only $1600 (with $100 coupon). The only downside was no accelident. My dentist told me for $900 more I could buy an accelident unit, which as I understand, is a vibrating mouthpiece you put in for 20 mins a day that allegedly cuts your treatment time in half. I really wish SDC offered this.
I was fortunate and did not have to do the impression kit. There is a location in DC and I went there, the staff was super helpful, performed a 3D scan of my teeth, and I was out the door in 30 mins. They did cancel my original appointment the day before, which was annoying, but I rescheduled the next day. That was on 4/6/17. I was told at my appointment that a dentist would review my scan, and I would get my plan emailed to me within 7-10 days.
On 4/8/17 I received my treatment plan. I hate to complain about things moving TOO quickly, but only 2 days? It worried me a little that nobody was really looking at my scan. I was also disappointed that my plan was 8 months long. 17 trays at two weeks each. Oh well, it's a long road, but according to my smile simulation, it will all be worth it.
I then paid (the full $1600, not payment plan) on 4/10/17. I was notified on 4/16/17 that my aligners were being "cooked." On 4/18/17 I was notified that my aligners were on the way, and I received them two days later on 4/20/17.
Overall the process so far has been VERY quick, and I've had no problems whatsoever with customer service, which seemed to be the main complaint on the online forums.
One thing I will note. I get half of orthodontics covered by my insurance. SDC sent me the ADA claim form, which I have sent on to my insurance company as of a week ago, with no response. I know it's in the ins co's hands now, but I really wish SDC handled this aspect for you like most health care providers. It sucks having to wait for that $800 check that will come who knows when.
In my initial package I received the chewiness, file, whitening, outie tool, case, and trays 1-3.
Tray 1: I was really expecting the worst here based on what I had read. I even bought a boatload of dental wax and ibuprofen to prepare. But my experience has really not been painful at all. I snapped the tray on, like they said, it clicked onto my molars and feels very sturdy. I feel some pressure on the teeth that I know are out of place (I hope that means it's working?) and that sometimes can be described as discomfort, but nothing that's even needed ibuprofen. Now each tray is different so maybe for me tray 1 isn't too bad. I haven't had to use the file either.
I've been using retainer brite or a water/hydrogen peroxide mix to clean them with mild brushing. As of day 5 they've developed no odor, plaque buildup, or film so maybe my religious cleaning is working. I've kept them in for the 22 hours per day every day so far, which is a challenge.
In terms of noticeability, it's tough because I feel like I see them when I look in the mirror but I'm always looking right at them. I've worn them around friends and at work and nobody has said a word, and I feel like some of my friends would ask/comment if they thought there was something on my teeth that had never been there before.
While I don't really feel any pain so far, the dry mouth is awful. And the dryer your mouth, the more saliva you produce, and for me, that's when my speech is impacted. It's not that I have a lisp, it's more like I'm trying to talk with something in my mouth (which I guess I am). Any tips on fixing that would be appreciated.
Anyway, that's my review for right now, I'll try to update as I move along this. I should be finished around Christmas time, which seems ages away.
I found SDC when I was looking up alternatives to Invisalign. My dentist had recommended Invisalign because she thought my bottom teeth really needed their crowding fixed whereas I was more concerned with a tooth on my uppers that needed correction. I had been avoiding Invisalign for two main reasons: one, I did not want to deal with the unsightly attachments that you have glued onto your teeth during Invisalign, and two, the price, my dentist quoted me $8,400 for Invisalign and accelident (more on that later).
So SDC made more sense to me. There are no attachments, so if I wanted to take the trays out for pictures or being social, nobody has to be the wiser. And price, only $1600 (with $100 coupon). The only downside was no accelident. My dentist told me for $900 more I could buy an accelident unit, which as I understand, is a vibrating mouthpiece you put in for 20 mins a day that allegedly cuts your treatment time in half. I really wish SDC offered this.
I was fortunate and did not have to do the impression kit. There is a location in DC and I went there, the staff was super helpful, performed a 3D scan of my teeth, and I was out the door in 30 mins. They did cancel my original appointment the day before, which was annoying, but I rescheduled the next day. That was on 4/6/17. I was told at my appointment that a dentist would review my scan, and I would get my plan emailed to me within 7-10 days.
On 4/8/17 I received my treatment plan. I hate to complain about things moving TOO quickly, but only 2 days? It worried me a little that nobody was really looking at my scan. I was also disappointed that my plan was 8 months long. 17 trays at two weeks each. Oh well, it's a long road, but according to my smile simulation, it will all be worth it.
I then paid (the full $1600, not payment plan) on 4/10/17. I was notified on 4/16/17 that my aligners were being "cooked." On 4/18/17 I was notified that my aligners were on the way, and I received them two days later on 4/20/17.
Overall the process so far has been VERY quick, and I've had no problems whatsoever with customer service, which seemed to be the main complaint on the online forums.
One thing I will note. I get half of orthodontics covered by my insurance. SDC sent me the ADA claim form, which I have sent on to my insurance company as of a week ago, with no response. I know it's in the ins co's hands now, but I really wish SDC handled this aspect for you like most health care providers. It sucks having to wait for that $800 check that will come who knows when.
In my initial package I received the chewiness, file, whitening, outie tool, case, and trays 1-3.
Tray 1: I was really expecting the worst here based on what I had read. I even bought a boatload of dental wax and ibuprofen to prepare. But my experience has really not been painful at all. I snapped the tray on, like they said, it clicked onto my molars and feels very sturdy. I feel some pressure on the teeth that I know are out of place (I hope that means it's working?) and that sometimes can be described as discomfort, but nothing that's even needed ibuprofen. Now each tray is different so maybe for me tray 1 isn't too bad. I haven't had to use the file either.
I've been using retainer brite or a water/hydrogen peroxide mix to clean them with mild brushing. As of day 5 they've developed no odor, plaque buildup, or film so maybe my religious cleaning is working. I've kept them in for the 22 hours per day every day so far, which is a challenge.
In terms of noticeability, it's tough because I feel like I see them when I look in the mirror but I'm always looking right at them. I've worn them around friends and at work and nobody has said a word, and I feel like some of my friends would ask/comment if they thought there was something on my teeth that had never been there before.
While I don't really feel any pain so far, the dry mouth is awful. And the dryer your mouth, the more saliva you produce, and for me, that's when my speech is impacted. It's not that I have a lisp, it's more like I'm trying to talk with something in my mouth (which I guess I am). Any tips on fixing that would be appreciated.
Anyway, that's my review for right now, I'll try to update as I move along this. I should be finished around Christmas time, which seems ages away.
UPDATED FROM laughingstorm
6 days post
How long do I wear these things??
laughingstormApril 26, 2017
So I've run into a bit of a snag...
My original treatment plan (the one with the online simulation) called for 17 trays, saying I'd be getting two trays a month and wearing them for two weeks each for a total of 8 months. But that online simulation also says that actual plan may vary, this is just a simulation, blah blah blah.
Then my first package came and it had 3 aligners in it (instead of 2 like my online plan called for). I called SDC customer service two different times and they told me explicitly each time that my treatment plan revolves around how many aligners I get per package. If I get 3 trays in a box, then it's 1, 1, 2. If i get 2 trays in a box, it's two weeks each. But I got nothing in writing saying that was the case. In fact, if I hadn't reviewed online forums, I never would've known the 1, 1, 2 system even existed.
I firmly believe in not looking a gift horse in the mouth, and my 17 tray plan at 2 weeks per tray clocks in at just under 8 months whereas 3 trays every 4 weeks comes out to just over 5 months. However, I also don't want to do the plan wrong, and I'm worried that I'm supposed to be using the trays for 2 weeks each and doing less will mess up my plan.
Has anybody had something like this similar happen?
My original treatment plan (the one with the online simulation) called for 17 trays, saying I'd be getting two trays a month and wearing them for two weeks each for a total of 8 months. But that online simulation also says that actual plan may vary, this is just a simulation, blah blah blah.
Then my first package came and it had 3 aligners in it (instead of 2 like my online plan called for). I called SDC customer service two different times and they told me explicitly each time that my treatment plan revolves around how many aligners I get per package. If I get 3 trays in a box, then it's 1, 1, 2. If i get 2 trays in a box, it's two weeks each. But I got nothing in writing saying that was the case. In fact, if I hadn't reviewed online forums, I never would've known the 1, 1, 2 system even existed.
I firmly believe in not looking a gift horse in the mouth, and my 17 tray plan at 2 weeks per tray clocks in at just under 8 months whereas 3 trays every 4 weeks comes out to just over 5 months. However, I also don't want to do the plan wrong, and I'm worried that I'm supposed to be using the trays for 2 weeks each and doing less will mess up my plan.
Has anybody had something like this similar happen?
Replies (4)
April 27, 2017
Thank you so much for your feedback! We can wait to see the end result. Our SmilePlan's are developed especially for you so that you can achieve optimal results. So the wear schedule will vary between customers. Keep us update throughout your treatment and don't hesitate to call if you have any questions.
April 28, 2017
Dr. Sulitzer, does that mean I should be going by the online smile simulation (which says 2 weeks each) or what SDC customer service told me (1 week, 1 week, 2 weeks)
May 24, 2017
How is it going? Are you in month 2?
UPDATED FROM laughingstorm
1 month post
Tray 3
laughingstormMay 24, 2017
So not much to really update. I started tray 3, things are pretty much the same. I've received trays 1-7 in the mail. Never had all the pain and discomfort others have had. Think maybe ppl have been exaggerating, I've never even needed ibuprofen for it.
It does not feel like or look like it's making a difference at all and i've been going at it for over a month. Even comparing the before and now pics I don't see a difference, but fingers crossed it's working.
There have been some issues with insurance not covering like SDC said they would, but I'm working that out. It's very frustrating having to deal with these ins co's yourself when every other medical provider does it for you.
It does not feel like or look like it's making a difference at all and i've been going at it for over a month. Even comparing the before and now pics I don't see a difference, but fingers crossed it's working.
There have been some issues with insurance not covering like SDC said they would, but I'm working that out. It's very frustrating having to deal with these ins co's yourself when every other medical provider does it for you.
Replies (0)