NewSmile review: our verdict

This NewSmile review looks at an at-home clear aligner company that started in Vancouver, Canada, and now sells in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. NewSmile's model is fully remote: you take impressions of your teeth at home with a kit, its licensed dental team reviews them and produces a 3D preview of the planned result, and if you approve, custom aligners are posted to you. Progress is checked through photos you upload during treatment. It offers two schedules: day aligners worn about 22 hours a day, and night aligners worn for about 10 continuous hours, mostly while you sleep.

We include NewSmile in our clear aligner comparison under the label "Best Budget", because it is one of the lower-cost options in the category, it bundles a whitening kit with every aligner plan, and its night-only option is genuinely useful for people who do not want to wear trays during the day. The trade-offs are significant and apply to all remote aligner services: there is no in-person examination or X-ray before treatment, at-home impressions can be difficult to get right, and refunds are limited once you approve your treatment plan. Read the sections on safety and refunds before ordering.

This review describes the service. It is not dental or medical advice. NerdBible did not use NewSmile's treatment for this review; it is an editorial assessment based on NewSmile's own pages, guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration and the American Association of Orthodontists, and independent reviews. Speak to a dentist or orthodontist about whether aligners are suitable for you.

What is NewSmile and who is it for?

NewSmile sells custom clear aligners, retainers and night guards made from at-home impressions. Its FAQ sets out the process: answer a few questions to see whether you may be a candidate, choose a plan, make four impressions with the kit and post them back with a prepaid label, receive a preview of the expected result from a trained clinician, then receive your aligners and change to a new set roughly every two weeks.

NewSmile's night aligners page says its aligners are best for mild to moderate crowding or spacing in adults, and that if a case needs in-person orthodontics, the company will say so before purchase. It describes every treatment plan as designed and monitored by licensed dentists and orthodontists.

NewSmile may suit:

  • Adults with mild cosmetic crowding or gaps who have already had a recent check-up and want a lower-cost option.
  • People who cannot wear aligners during the day, through the night-only plan.
  • Former orthodontic patients whose teeth have shifted slightly and who want help from a dentist on whether aligners are appropriate.

It is not designed for complex bite problems, jaw issues, or people with untreated gum disease, cavities or other dental conditions, which need an in-person dental professional.

How NewSmile works

Impressions and treatment preview

The Fast Track plan page describes an impression kit with trays, putty and step-by-step instructions, returned by post. NewSmile's licensed dental team reviews the impressions and creates a 3D treatment preview. According to NewSmile's refund policy, the preview typically arrives about three weeks after your impressions are received. NewMouth reports that a free video call with a specialist is available to help with the impressions.

Day aligners

NewSmile says day aligners are worn about 22 hours a day and removed only to eat and drink, with an average treatment time of four to six months.

Night aligners

Night aligners are worn for about 10 continuous hours each day, usually overnight, and should not be removed during that period. NewSmile gives an average treatment time of eight to ten months, longer than the day plan because the trays are worn for fewer hours.

Remote monitoring

NewSmile's guarantee terms require you to upload progress photos every two weeks before moving to the next aligner, and its team can ask you to stay on a tray longer if your teeth are not tracking. This is the only supervision during treatment; there are no scheduled in-person visits.

What is included

The Fast Track page lists, for every aligner plan, an impression kit with a prepaid return label, the 3D preview, custom aligners, a whitening kit and aligner care tools. Retainers are not on that list. NewSmile's FAQ says custom retainers are available at the end of treatment at an additional cost, with a lower price for members. Plan for retainers as a separate, ongoing purchase, because NewSmile says retainers need to be worn nightly for life to keep the result.

How much does NewSmile cost?

NewSmile sells its day and night aligner plans either paid up front or through monthly financing, and says its aligners are eligible for health savings and flexible spending accounts. An "impression kit only" option lets you see your 3D preview before buying the full plan. Retainers, replacement retainers and night guards are sold separately. Our comparison page shows the prices we list. When comparing costs with other providers, include retainers, any replacement impression kits, and the deductions described in the refund policy below.

Is NewSmile safe?

This is the most important question for any at-home aligner service, and the answer depends on your teeth. The FDA's page on clear dental aligners says aligners are prescription devices that are only safe to use under the supervision of a licensed practitioner such as a dentist or orthodontist. It states that the agency has not authorised clear aligners sold directly to consumers without a prescription and professional supervision, and that a lack of appropriate supervision may increase the risk of complications, including new or worsening dental or jaw pain, bite problems, worsening misalignment and new gaps. The FDA recommends an evaluation by a dentist or orthodontist, preferably in person, attending recommended appointments during treatment, and reporting problems through its MedWatch programme.

NewSmile's model sits in the middle of this guidance: treatment plans are prescribed and monitored by licensed dentists and orthodontists, according to NewSmile, but remotely, from impressions and photos rather than an examination. The American Association of Orthodontists' consumer alert on direct-to-consumer treatment warns that moving teeth involves biological tissue and that mistakes can cause damage that is expensive or impossible to reverse, such as tooth and gum loss or a changed bite. It stresses X-rays, which show bone and root health that impressions cannot.

NewSmile's FAQ describes its aligners as BPA and latex free and FDA approved. That statement refers to the device, not to unsupervised use. The practical takeaway, shared by the regulator, the professional body and NewSmile's own independent reviewers, is to see your own dentist for an examination and X-rays before starting, and to contact a dental professional promptly if you develop pain, bite changes or other unexpected symptoms during treatment.

Refunds and the NewSmile Guarantee

NewSmile's refund policy is detailed and worth reading in full. If its dental team decides you are not a suitable candidate after reviewing your impressions, a refund case is opened. If you are not happy with your treatment preview, you can get a refund minus deductions, which the policy says include the cost of the first impression kit, any replacement kits and a charge for each treatment preview, plus penalties that rise with time since purchase. Impression kits themselves are non-refundable. Once you approve the preview, refunds are only allowed for manufacturing defects, and aligners in production or already made cannot be returned. Fit problems or defects must be reported within 30 days of delivery.

If you finish treatment as instructed, including the photo check-ins, and are not satisfied, NewSmile says its team will evaluate your case and may provide additional aligners. The night aligners page also mentions a fit guarantee under which a poor-fitting appliance is remade.

Customer support

NewSmile lists support hours of Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm, and is closed on public holidays. Find Aligners notes there is no live chat. Customer feedback on support is split, as the reviewer findings below show: many customers praise named staff, while a large minority report long waits for replies.

What could be better

  • No in-person exam or X-rays as part of the service, which the FDA and AAO both flag as a risk factor.
  • At-home impressions are hard to get right. SmilePrep and Trustpilot reviewers describe rejected impressions and repeat kits.
  • Retainers cost extra and are needed for life.
  • Limited refunds once you approve your preview, and deductions before that point.
  • Support response times. Trustpilot complaints describe waits of weeks for email replies.
  • Limited scope. Only mild to moderate cases are accepted.

Who should choose something else

If you have a bite problem, jaw pain, missing or crowned teeth, gum disease, or any history of dental problems, start with a dentist or orthodontist rather than a remote service; they can offer in-office aligners or braces with examinations, X-rays and attachments that remote aligners cannot use. If you want in-person check-ins but still prefer a lower cost, some aligner providers combine an initial clinic visit with remote monitoring. And if your main goal is a brighter smile rather than straighter teeth, whitening alone is far simpler. Teenagers should be treated under the care of a dentist or orthodontist.

Is NewSmile worth it? The bottom line

NewSmile is worth considering if you are an adult with mild crowding or spacing, you have had a recent dental examination that found no problems, and you want a lower-cost, discreet option, especially the night-only plan. Whitening is bundled with every plan and financing is available. Go in knowing the limits: no in-person supervision, impressions that may take more than one attempt, retainers as an extra cost, and a refund policy that narrows sharply once your aligners are made. Ask your own dentist first, and you will be far better placed to judge whether NewSmile is right for you.

What other reviewers found

  • NewMouth, whose writers report trying the treatment, liked the comfortable scalloped trays, the night option and helpful support, but warned that the lack of dental supervision raises the risk of complications and that some users needed refinements or more time.
  • SmilePrep rated NewSmile highly for affordability and its night-only plan, but found at-home impressions difficult for some customers and recommended a visit to your own dentist for an exam and X-rays first.
  • Find Aligners counted the choice of day or night aligners and video-call help as positives, and listed the lack of clinics and no guarantee of the expected result as drawbacks.
  • On Trustpilot, most customers give five stars and praise individual support staff, while about a fifth give one star, citing slow replies, rejected impressions, long timelines and refund difficulties.

Where reviewers agree and disagree

Reviewers agree that NewSmile is affordable, that the night-only plan is a real advantage and that whitening adds value. They also agree on the main risk, which is the absence of in-person dental supervision, and every review site recommends seeing a dentist first. They disagree on the customer experience. NewMouth and SmilePrep describe support as responsive, while a sizeable group of Trustpilot reviewers report slow replies and difficult refunds. For a buyer, that suggests budgeting time for the impression stage, keeping records of every contact, and reading the refund policy before approving your preview.

Frequently asked questions

Is NewSmile legit?

NewSmile is an established at-home aligner company operating in the US, UK and Australia, with a published refund policy and treatment plans reviewed by licensed dentists and orthodontists, according to the company. Customer feedback is mixed: most Trustpilot reviewers are positive, but a significant minority report slow support and refund problems. Read the refund terms before buying and see your own dentist before starting treatment.

How long does NewSmile treatment take?

NewSmile gives an average of four to six months for day aligners worn about 22 hours a day, and eight to ten months for night aligners worn for about 10 continuous hours. Actual times vary with the case and how consistently aligners are worn, and some reviewers report needing extra time or refinements. After treatment, retainers are needed to keep teeth from moving back.

Does NewSmile include retainers?

NewSmile's current plan page lists an impression kit, 3D preview, custom aligners, a whitening kit and care tools, but not retainers. Its FAQ says custom retainers are available at the end of treatment for an additional cost, with a lower price for members. Retainers are worn nightly for life, so include replacements in your long-term budget.

Can I get a refund from NewSmile?

If NewSmile's dental team finds you are not a candidate, a refund case is opened. If you dislike your treatment preview, a refund is available minus deductions for the impression kit, previews and time-based penalties, and impression kits are non-refundable. Once you approve your preview, refunds are limited to manufacturing defects. Defects or fit problems must be reported within 30 days of delivery.

Is it safe to straighten teeth without visiting a dentist?

The FDA says clear aligners are prescription devices that should be used under a dentist's or orthodontist's supervision, preferably with an in-person evaluation, and that a lack of supervision may increase the risk of complications. The American Association of Orthodontists stresses X-rays before treatment. Before choosing any at-home aligner, have a dental check-up and discuss whether aligners suit your teeth.

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