According to recent reports, Your Smile Direct has entered liquidation. We have updated references of their former name in our review below to ‘Alignerly’.
Alignerly (formerly Your Smile Direct) is one of several companies delivering dental aligners by mail. They have an international presence, operating in the UK as well as Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France, Italy and Ireland. According to Alignerly, final results can be enjoyed in an ‘average of 20 weeks’.
Could their offering be the choice for you, in the search for a straighter smile?
Jump to:
First Glance
Alignerly provides clear aligners at a set price, slowly moving your front six teeth on the top and bottom.
After you’ve completed your initial assessment, you should have your first set of aligners ready in less than two months.
Pros
- At home service for convenience
- Remote monitoring by a qualified dentist
- Includes teeth whitening
Cons
- Higher prices for home impression kits than some other companies
- No guarantees – if you’re not happy, you must pay for refinements
Who is behind Alignerly?
Founder Graham Byrne launched Alignerly in 2015, having seen the success of clear aligners in America. The company started in the UK and Ireland, before expanding to other locations.
As well as providing clear dental aligners, Alignerly also includes a premium whitening kit to help you get a whiter smile.
Who can use aligners from Alignerly?
Aligners from Alignerly may be suitable for people with overcrowded teeth, protruding teeth or too much space between their teeth. They’re for people with mild to moderate dental issues, and may not work in the most severe cases.
You may not be eligible if you have inflamed or swollen gums, unfilled cavities or osteoporosis. Visiting your usual dentist, before applying for treatment, gives you the best chance of being approved.
You are likely to be eligible if all of your essential dental treatment is up to date, and your teeth do not show signs of severe overlapping, excessive spacing or a very large overbite. Dental aligners may not be suitable if you have dental implants, missing teeth, periodontal disease or permanent retainers.
Before you start your treatment, Alignerly’s team of specialists will check that you’re a suitable candidate. If you aren’t eligible for treatment, you will be offered a full refund on the cost of your Smile Evaluation. If you’re approved, you’ll receive a 3D treatment plan that will show your expected results.
How are the dental aligners made?
The dental aligners are made using BPA-free plastic.
What treatment options are available?
When you sign up to Alignerly, you’ll be sent your own Home Impression Kit. Use this kit to create your dental impressions, which you’ll need to send to Alignerly. The kit comes with trays and putty, with the trays being suitable for a majority of customers. If the trays don’t fit, you can contact the customer service team to request an alternative size.
Your impressions, created at home, will be used to make your dental aligners. If you’re not eligible, the cost of your kit will be refunded.
Mistakes can happen. If you don’t follow the instructions clearly then you risk aligners that don’t fit quite right. You’ll need to buy a second Home Smile Kit if you go wrong with your first.
How long does Alignerly treatment take?
You’ll receive dental aligners that are custom made for your mouth.
Aligners need to be worn most of the time and should only be removed for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing. Always brush and floss after a meal, before reinserting your aligners. Otherwise, they may trap food and drink against your teeth.
Aligners, like your teeth, should be cleaned with a toothbrush and toothpaste. They should be worn for at least 22 hours a day, replaced by a new set approximately every three weeks.
You’ll then need to wear a retainer, to make sure that your teeth don’t move back. The retainer should be worn for 22 hours a day, just like the clear aligners, for the six months following your treatment. Afterwards, you’ll need to wear your retainer only when sleeping.
According to Alignerly, treatment lasts an average of 20 weeks. Treatment may take longer if your teeth need more movement than average.
Are there any other steps to take?
You’ll receive your next aligners at regular intervals. When you receive a new set, simply swap them over to continue your treatment. Your treatment will also be monitored remotely by a qualified dentist, in case you need adjustments.
How much does Alignerly treatment cost?
Treatment costs are listed in euros at €1,799, which works out at around £1,630. This single payment includes a free retainer at the end of your treatment and the premium whitening kit.
Alternatively, pay a €299 deposit and you can then pay €138 a month for 12 months, with a 100% finance approval rate. This makes for a total cost of €1,955, which is roughly £1,770.
Replacements
A replacement tray costs £99. If you have lost both your top and bottom trays, you can purchase a replacement pair for £149.
Retainers
At the end of treatment, you’ll receive one free set of retainers. For the first six months, you’ll wear these just like a set of aligners. After six months, you can wear your retainers only when you’re sleeping at night.
Further retainers, if you need replacements, cost £139.
Are payment options available?
Payment plans are available.
Following a €299 deposit, you’ll then make 12 monthly payments of €138. The total cost is therefore €1,955 which is around £1,770 – approximately £150 more expensive than paying upfront.
What discounts are available?
Alignerly frequently offers reduced rates on kits and treatments. It’s worth checking what’s available before you commit to a price.
Students can benefit from permanent student discounts, offering 50% off a Home Smile Kit.
Is a warranty or guarantee available?
If you’re not eligible for treatment after submitting impressions from a Home Smile Kit, then you’ll receive a full refund for the kit.
Other guarantees and warranties are not available. If you’re unhappy with the results, you can choose to pay £299 for up to four more sets of aligners. Alignerly calls this process ‘refinement’.
How old do you have to be?
You must be at least 18 years old for clear aligners from Alignerly. You must have all teeth, including your wisdom teeth, in place.
Where is Alignerly treatment available?
You can receive treatment from Alignerly in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France and Italy.
What about customer service?
Alignerly is based in Dublin, with phone number 0330 808 0447.
Alignerly: The Verdict
Availability
Everything is carried out remotely from your home, making it really easy to sign up to Alignerly. However, you’ll need to make sure you’re careful when you take your impressions.
Price
Alignerly offers clear aligner treatment at a fairly low price. But, there are cheaper alternatives.
Replacement aligners and retainers are available at very fair prices, but again these are not market-leading.
The overall price of Alignerly should not be enough to put you off. But, watch out for those little extra charges that you won’t find with other providers.
Paying monthly won’t increase the price of your aligners too much, compared to some other providers’ finance plans.
Ease of use
When you start the process, your case will be reviewed by qualified dental professionals. They’ll decide if you are eligible, and will process a refund if you’re not.
Replacement Home Smile Kits cost £99, which is a significant cost. If you make a mistake with your original included kit, you may have to incur this high price to buy another kit.
Options
Everything is included with your Alignerly plan, so it’s just up to you whether you pay upfront or over 12 months.
Whichever optionyou choose, you’ll receive aligners with new sets at regular intervals.
Reassurance
Alignerly falls short on offering reassurance. Whilst there are many benefits to using this company, you’ll also need to take a few risks.
At the start of your treatment, you’ll receive a treatment plan to show your expected results. But, if you’re unhappy at the end, you’ll have to pay more to continue. Refining your smile will set you back almost £300 more.
If you’ve fallen at the first hurdle, the situation will be slightly better. Alignerly offers a full refund for your Home Smile Kit if you’re not eligible for treatment.
Got more questions about aligners? Check out our FAQ section
