en en en en en en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en en en
When readers purchase services discussed on our site, we often earn affiliate commissions that support our work. Learn More.
NewSmile Canada Review: Is It Better Than SmileDirectClub?
Last updated on July 22, 2022
If you’re looking for the most affordable and convenient way to straighten your teeth, at-home clear aligners are the way to go. There’s an ever-expanding list of providers who ship expert-designed custom clear aligners straight to your door, and NewSmile is one of the most intriguing new options.
NewSmile recently hit the Canadian market as a reasonably affordable, efficient clear aligner service. But are they the right option for you and your teeth? Read on to find out.
Pros & Cons of NewSmile
After seeing the success of online clear aligner services like SmileDirectClub and AlignerCo, NewSmile joined the party in early 2020. Like the companies that came before them, they offer clear aligner treatment designed remotely and administered from home, no office visits necessary.
As a remote treatment, NewSmile is a primarily cosmetic treatment. It’s limited, by design, to treating mild-to-moderate cases of teeth crowding and spacing, along with some minor bite issues. With NewSmile, you’ll simply wear your aligners for 22 hours per day to gently shift your teeth to their aligned positions. NewSmile’s dental team will supervise your treatment remotely, and you can expect your new smile within 4–6 months.
NewSmile was founded in Vancouver, B.C., and currently operates in the U.S. and Canada. A combination of low prices and high-quality treatment has laid a solid foundation for their future growth.
How Do I Get Started?
Your first step with NewSmile will be to decide if you want their “Fast Track” or “Preview First” option. The Fast Track plan works best for someone who knows NewSmile is the right service for them and wants to move forward as quickly as possible. With this option, you will pay for everything upfront ($1,899).
The Preview First option is for a more cautious buyer. For $89, you will receive an impression kit and a treatment preview to help you determine if this is the right path for you before committing to the full cost of treatment. Keep in mind that choosing the Preview First option will slightly increase your total treatment cost.
Regardless of which option you choose, the next step will be showing NewSmile your teeth. You can do this by ordering an at-home impression kit or visiting one of their five Canadian locations for a teeth scan. NewSmile will then prepare your treatment plan and send you a visual preview. If that preview looks good, simply approve your treatment plan and pay for your aligners (unless you already paid upfront with the Fast Track plan). NewSmile will then manufacture your aligners and ship them straight to your door.
Pros & Cons of NewSmile
NewSmile’s online reviews highlight attentive customer service and spot-on results. But that doesn’t mean they’re a perfect fit for everyone.
We base our aligner company evaluations on a comprehensive five-point comparison of each company’s effectiveness, affordability, convenience, appearance, and customer experience. This guide contains a lot more detail on how NewSmile has historically stacked up category by category, but here’s a quick summary of the biggest pros and cons:
NewSmile’s sticker price is $1,899. While this isn’t the absolute cheapest price point for teeth alignment in Canada, it’s still thousands cheaper than braces or Invisalign, and also undercuts SmileDirectClub’s pricing by nearly $800.
If you reach the end of your treatment and your smile doesn’t look like the one in your treatment preview, NewSmile says they will “work with you to determine what the issue may be, and will help you achieve the results of your original Treatment Preview.”
The NewSmile Aligner Monitoring App lets you upload photos and videos of your teeth so the company’s dental team can monitor your progress and keep your smile on track.
You can either complete an at-home impression kit or visit one of its five retail locations across Canada to get your teeth professionally scanned.
NewSmile’s Fast Track Bundle includes your impression kit or teeth scan, one set of aftercare retainers, and whitening treatment in your sticker price.
NewSmile doesn’t have many unsponsored online reviews yet (we assume these will come with time), so it’s tough to evaluate the average customer experience.
NewSmile’s nighttime-only aligners cost an additional $200, even though you’ll receive the exact same clear aligners as you would for all-day alignment.
So, Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons?
We think so. NewSmile makes aligner treatment more accessible through affordable prices and frequent discounts, and they maintain a high level of quality as well.
Compare Other Clear Aligners
Get Started With NewSmile
Low prices don’t always mean low quality. Based on customer reviews, it appears that NewSmile can deliver the results they promise. If you’re a suitable candidate for NewSmile, you can expect quality products and care. They might not have the power to correct severe misalignments and bite issues like Invisalign and other in-office options, but they’re a reliable option for making cosmetic smile alterations.
NewSmile uses a mixed team of orthodontists and general dentists to create and oversee their treatment plans.
Since you’ll never see a dentist in-person during treatment, you’ll probably want to know who’s actually behind your clear aligners. NewSmile has a team of dentists and orthodontists who determine your treatment candidacy, then review and approve your aligner plan. These aren’t just generated by a computer system — they’re backed by the expertise of licensed professionals.
Unfortunately, you don’t get to choose the specific doctor who designs and oversees your aligners (like you would with Invisalign), and you won’t speak with them directly. But you can be confident that you’ll have an expert behind your treatment.
NewSmile doesn’t disclose who manufactures their aligners.
Some at-home aligner companies have strategic partnerships with manufacturers and/or dental supply companies to produce their aligners. Having a trusted supplier in your corner means reliable products. NewSmile might have this kind of partnership, but if so, they don’t advertise it. Even though we can’t speak to the quality of their materials, NewSmile’s stellar customer feedback so far gives us confidence that they create high-quality products.
NewSmile’s aligners are “scalloped” to match your gum line, rather than cut straight across the top.
Scalloped aligners that match your gum line are less noticeable, but they also sacrifice some teeth-moving power. Straight-cut aligners overlap your gums and can use them as anchors to exert more force on your teeth. Without that overlap, NewSmile’s aligners aren’t quite as effective.
The NewSmile Aligner Monitoring App helps keep your treatment on track.
NewSmile’s app helps you keep track of your progress and alerts you when it’s time to switch to a new set of aligners. This mid-treatment monitoring helps to ensure that your smile is progressing as expected, since their dental team can catch minor issues before they get large enough to derail your treatment.
NewSmile provides quality treatment and products, and their customers have largely been happy with the results, although there are a couple of steps they could take to improve even more.
When you choose at-home aligner treatment, you’re already getting a better deal than braces or Invisalign. While NewSmile doesn’t have the absolute lowest prices in the industry, they still have lower rates than most competitors. Pair those prices with accessible financing options and you might get your brand new smile for a lot less than you anticipated.
NewSmile has the second-lowest prices available for at-home teeth alignment in Canada today.
NewSmile’s full treatment costs $1,899, which is a reasonable price point that makes them a highly competitive option. If you want nighttime aligners, you’ll pay $2,099 instead. Among their home teeth alignment competitors, only AlignerCo offers more affordable aligners.
NewSmile also includes your impression kit, one set of aftercare retainers, and whitening treatment with the purchase price, which will save some money at the beginning and end of your treatment. Other services like SmileDirectClub do not include retainers in the initial price; instead, they sell each retainer set at the end of treatment for around $125.
Even though NewSmile is affordable, they’re not the most affordable. AlignerCo offers home aligner treatment for just $1,635.
NewSmile offers payment plans to all customers.
While NewSmile is much cheaper than braces or Invisalign, not everyone has around $1,899 stashed away somewhere. So NewSmile offers a financing plan too, widening access to their aligners. There’s no down payment necessary, just monthly payments starting at $83 for 24 months. Plus, it doesn’t include any interest, so if you qualify, you’ll pay the same amount you would upfront.
NewSmile is a great option for anyone seeking affordable prices and easy financing. They don’t have the lowest price point for teeth alignment in Canada, but they come pretty close!
In-office orthodontic treatments aren’t just expensive, they’re time-consuming too. Throughout your 12–24 month braces or Invisalign treatment, you’ll need to make office visits every 4–6 weeks. Is it effective? Definitely. Convenient? Not so much. NewSmile’s at-home aligner treatment does away with office visits and only takes 4–6 months on average, so it’s already a convenient option.
Compared to their at-home competition, however, NewSmile’s startup procedures, treatment timeline, and wear schedules are just about average.
NewSmile offers customers the option of a home impression kit or a professional teeth scan.
Taking that first step can be the hardest part of the process for some at-home aligner customers. We mentioned the impression kit earlier, but how does it work? NewSmile will send you a special putty in the mail and it’s your job to mix it, bite down, and create a mold of your teeth. Sounds simple enough. But, as many customers find out, that’s easier said than done. Some people find it tricky to capture perfect impressions and need to try it multiple times to get it right.
NewSmile addressed this problem by partnering with third-party locations across Canada where you can get your teeth scanned to begin treatment. These third parties each have different policies. At some locations, the teeth scans are complimentary (after paying for your aligner package), while others require upfront payment ($100) that you can submit for $50 reimbursement by NewSmile.
These teeth scans are for customers who have already paid for their clear aligner package — this is not a complimentary teeth scan for prospective patients, it’s for folks who have already decided NewSmile is the treatment for them.
NewSmile’s treatment takes an average of 4–6 months.
The industry average is around six months, so your NewSmile treatment could be slightly faster than average. It depends primarily on the severity of your condition and how consistently you wear your aligners.
Compared to in-office options, which often take 12–24 months, NewSmile seems a lot faster. Keep in mind, however, that in-office treatments typically handle more severe cases, which take longer to correct, bumping up their average.
NewSmile offers nighttime treatment that allows you to wear your aligners for ten hours per day.
Standard home aligner treatment requires that you wear your aligners for 22+ hours per day, removing them only to eat and drink. If you’d prefer not to wear your aligners to work or school, NewSmile also offers a nighttime-only plan that only requires ten hours of daily wear, usually overnight. Since you’ll wear your aligners for less time each day, this nighttime alternative takes longer overall — usually 8–10 months.
NewSmile will throw in free whitening treatment when you purchase aligners.
Think about your perfect smile. It’s probably not just straight, but sparkling white too. That’s why NewSmile includes free whitening products with your aligner treatment. Typically, they charge $39 per one-month whitening treatment, but when you purchase a full aligner treatment, it’s complimentary. If you want more whitening products after the free one, you’ll need to purchase them separately.
NewSmile is a pretty low-hassle way to straighten your teeth from the comfort of your home — much easier than traditional orthodontic treatments.
If you’re looking into clear aligners because you don’t want a mouth full of metal, join the party. The visibility of braces treatment isn’t often conducive to adult life, and clear aligners are a more discreet option. You might think that all clear aligners look identical, but that’s not entirely true. Each company’s aligners have subtle differences in style and cut. Which is best, however, often depends on your style preferences.
NewSmile says their aligners are “crystal-clear and will naturally blend right into your teeth.”
The logic makes sense. The clearer, the better, right? Not always. It’s true that NewSmile’s aligners are clear and smooth, but this can sometimes make them slightly more noticeable. Your teeth are naturally textured, so clear, smooth aligners could make them seem artificially shiny. It might seem counterintuitive, but textured or “frosted” aligners can look more natural because they match your teeth surfaces better.
Of course, you might like the way that smooth aligners make your teeth gleam—many customers do. It’s all personal preference.
NewSmile trims its aligners to match your gum line, which can make them less visible.
Remember in the effectiveness section when we said that scalloped aligners are less powerful? That hasn’t changed. But if you want the least-visible type of aligner, scalloped is the way to go. Straight-cut aligners overlap your gums just slightly, and people might notice that overlap in close quarters.
NewSmile aligners don’t incorporate attachments, preserving their low profile.
When administering Invisalign, a dentist can incorporate elastics and special attachments that help their scalloped aligners make more intricate teeth movements. Attachments make the aligners more effective, but also increase their visibility. Since home aligners like NewSmile don’t involve in-person office visits, they can’t use attachments, so you won’t have any extra hardware on your teeth.
Similar to other clear aligner brands, take out your aligners before eating and drinking to avoid stains.
All clear aligners are susceptible to stains from food and beverages — that’s why it’s important to remove them before eating or drinking anything other than plain water. NewSmile aligners are reasonably resistant to staining, although we certainly wouldn’t recommend drinking coffee or red wine while wearing them.
Like most other clear aligner products, NewSmile’s aligners won’t be overly visible. They’re comparable to most of their competitors.
Dental treatment is expensive, and you only have one set of teeth. So it’s important to feel confident and secure in your treatment provider. You want to be sure that they will care for you and have your back if anything goes wrong — or if you just have a question.
NewSmile’s support isn’t as personalized as what you’d receive at a dentist’s office, and they don’t have the broad availability of other at-home companies, but they still provide high-quality, responsive customer care.
NewSmile offers the same communication channels as its competitors, albeit with less availability.
Like most competitors, NewSmile offers customer support via phone, email, webchat, and they also respond to messages on social media. Their representatives are available Monday–Saturday from 9:30am to 4:30pm PST, and on Sunday from 10:30am to 3:30pm PST. In our experience, they always respond promptly with accurate information.
You also might get feedback from their dental team when you upload photos and/or videos of your teeth to the NewSmile app for routine check-ins. However, this isn’t an open dialogue with your dentist. If you have questions, you’ll need to contact their support team.
Because they’re so new, NewSmile doesn’t have a ton of customer reviews, but many of their 100+ reviews are positive.
It seems like NewSmile customers are generally happy with the service and treatment they receive. A handful of customers have complained about slow turnaround times and disappointment with their final results, but NewSmile seems dedicated to reaching out and making these situations right. We’ll be interested to see how their service progresses as they gain a larger volume of customers.
NewSmile maintains fairly standard refund and refinement policies.
Let’s say you complete your impression kit, submit your teeth molds, and NewSmile determines that you’re not a good candidate for treatment. In this case, they will refund the price of the kit and any money that you prepaid on your aligners.
But what if you get to the end of your treatment and your teeth don’t look like the initial preview you received? At this point, NewSmile won’t provide a refund. However, they’re still committed to your smile, so according to their website, they will “work with you to determine what the issue may be, and will help you achieve the results of your original Treatment Preview.” If you’re not satisfied with your results, reach out and they might be able to finish that picture-perfect smile.
Even though NewSmile is a relatively new company, they offer responsive and reliable customer support. Their only weakness in this area is their short hours of availability.
What Are NewSmile Customers Saying?
When we review a company like NewSmile, our first move is to dig through customer reviews to understand common customer issues and desires.
As we mentioned earlier, NewSmile is a fairly new company. Still, they already have more than 100 reviews available online, so it’s pretty easy to evaluate how customers feel about the NewSmile experience. From the reviews that we could find, it seems like NewSmile has developed satisfying customer care policies with reliable results.
For a realistic look at the NewSmile customer experience, check out the unbiased video reviews we’ve gathered from our readers at various stages of the treatment process.
While NewSmile is a solid home aligner choice, there are other in-office and at-home options to consider. Invisalign is the primary in-office option. It’s more expensive than home aligners, but dentists can use clear aligner attachments to achieve more advanced and intricate teeth movements. The home aligner field, however, is slightly more crowded, and there are a few options worth considering.
For more severe cases of crowding, spacing, and bite issues, you can’t beat in-person care. If you’re worried about the severity of your condition, Invisalign could provide more desirable results. Given NewSmile’s limited capacity for drastic teeth and jaw movements and no options for special attachments, it can’t match the robustness and versatility of Invisalign treatment. Although that superior power comes at a price — Invisalign often costs thousands more than at-home aligners like NewSmile, and it requires office visits every few weeks.
SmileDirectClub stands out as the largest and most popular at-home clear aligner brand. Like NewSmile, they have retail locations across Canada, which makes it easier to get the ball rolling, depending on where you live. They’ve also transformed over 1.5 million smiles so far, making them the most experienced home aligner company on the market. NewSmile has them beat on affordability, but SmileDirectClub is the more experienced and more convenient provider.
Learn more about SmileDirectClub in our in-depth review.
When it comes to low prices, AlignerCo is king. While NewSmile’s $1,899 price is one of the most affordable rates available, it still can’t touch AlignerCo’s sticker price of $1,635. AlignerCo also often offers sales that drop their prices as low as $1,235. However, they don’t have any retail locations, so it might be less convenient to get started.
See our complete AlignerCo review for more.
Is NewSmile Right for You?
Anyone who wants quality teeth-straightening treatment on a budget and doesn’t mind working with a new company should check out NewSmile. They don’t have the lowest prices available, but they do offer efficient alignments with flexible treatment options. NewSmile also receives excellent customer feedback.
NewSmile has offered our readers a special promotion. Save $100 off your aligners by entering SMILEPREPME at checkout. You can also finance your treatment for just $79 per month ($4 per month less than normal).
Get $100 off NewSmile
Does NewSmile offer discounts?
Does NewSmile offer discounts?
They’ll occasionally run promotions on their website that can cut down their already-low price. Plus, they give military members an additional $100 off, and if you refer a friend, they’ll get $100 off their aligners, and you’ll get $100 if they sign on for treatment.
Can NewSmile correct my condition?
Can NewSmile correct my condition?
It depends. NewSmile is extremely effective in treating mild and moderate cases of crowding and spacing, but it can’t typically correct jaw misalignments like overbite, underbite, crossbite, etc. The only way to know for sure is to complete an impression kit or teeth scan. NewSmile’s dentists will analyze your condition and determine whether they can correct it.
The clear aligner innovator has its own set of unique benefits, most notably in-person care. During regular face-to-face checkups, your dentist or orthodontist can make adjustments to your treatment and add attachments that allow Invisalign to treat a wider scope of cases. NewSmile is faster and less expensive, but Invisalign is a great option if your condition is severe or you’d prefer to meet with your dentist in person.
How much will I end up paying?
How much will I end up paying?
When you choose NewSmile, you’re already getting a great value. Although most customers pay around $1,899, you might not pay that exact amount. It will be similar, but there are numerous factors that can influence the overall cost, like discounts, insurance, and more.
How do I get started?
How do I get started?
Before anything else, NewSmile’s dentists need to take a look at your teeth. This means purchasing, completing, and returning an impression kit — or you can visit one of their five retail locations across Canada to have them professionally scan your teeth. Once they’ve studied your smile, NewSmile will develop a digital treatment plan so you can preview every step of your progress.
How long will it take?
How long will it take?
From the time that you pop in your first aligner, it will be an average of 4–6 months before you see your transformed smile. Of course, this all depends on the severity of your condition. More complex cases often take longer, while milder ones can be quicker. Your aligner plan will contain an estimated treatment timeline so you can plan out your next several months.
Does insurance cover NewSmile’s treatment?
Does insurance cover NewSmile’s treatment?
It might, but it depends on your provider. The issue is that some insurance companies consider home aligners a cosmetic treatment, so they won’t cover it. You can, however, use HSA or FSA accounts to pay too. You’ll need to check with your specific provider to find out.
What is the most effective clear aligner company?
What is the most effective clear aligner company?
It’s tough to beat the power and versatility of in-office options like Invisalign and ClearCorrect. With hands-on care and orthodontic attachments, a dentist can use them to treat severe misalignments and even bite issues.
Do clear aligners hurt?
Do clear aligners hurt?
When you switch to a new aligner set every two weeks, you might experience some discomfort for the first day or two, but after that, you’ll hardly notice them.
Is home aligner treatment safe?
Is home aligner treatment safe?
Yes! While administering treatment from home might seem daunting, the process is very safe. Home aligner companies use state-licensed dentists and orthodontists to create your treatment plan and design your aligners. Even though you won’t meet with them in-person, each company offers robust customer support services if something doesn’t feel quite right.
What's the relationship between NewSmile and Smilelove?
What's the relationship between NewSmile and Smilelove?
NewSmile and Smilelove Canada used to operate as two separate brands, although they shared the same ownership and management team. Now they just operate as a single brand: NewSmile. Smilelove Canada is no longer in operation, although NewSmile is taking care of their existing customers.
Pursuing orthodontic treatment as an adult can feel stressful and overwhelming. At Smile Prep, we strive to make the process as easy as possible for our readers. Our guides and reviews cut the fluff and give you the information necessary to take a confident step toward your smile goals.