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Updated on November 1, 2023
7 min read

SmilePath Australia Review

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What is SmilePath?

SmilePath

SmilePath is an Australian clear aligner company known for its highly affordable treatment.

Some features of SmilePath include:

  • Totally remote treatment (no physical locations)
  • WorryFree Plan for 6 years of additional retainers
  • Financing options with 0% interest

A one-time payment for SmilePath treatment costs $1,899. This is 60% more affordable than Invisalign and the lowest cost of any at-home clear aligner brand in Australia. Treatment is also faster at 4 to 6 months compared to Invisalign’s 12 to 18 months. 

Here’s what SmilePath can treat:

In addition to normal daytime aligners, SmilePath also offers nighttime treatment.

However, these have a longer average treatment time of 6 to 8 months versus 4 to 6 months for the daytime option. There are also concerns regarding how safe nighttime teeth alignment is. 

For this reason, NewMouth recommends SmilePath’s daytime aligners only.

For Australians with minor teeth alignment problems, SmilePath may be a good option, given the speed and affordability of treatment.

SmilePath is a very affordable at-home aligner. But they don’t offer detailed remote monitoring. Your treatment may not be overseen by a licensed orthodontist. 

While more expensive, we recommend the other options mentioned in this article because they provide more comprehensive care. SmilePath may be a good option if you need very minor corrections

How Much Does SmilePath Cost?

A one-time payment for SmilePath aligners costs $1,899. This is less expensive than other Australian at-home aligners. It’s also significantly more affordable than braces or Invisalign.

SmilePath also offers two payment plans: 

  • SmileFlex —  $117 per month for 12 months with 0% APR. However, a credit check is required.
  • SmileFlex Easy — $150 per month for 12 months with a $295 down payment. No credit check is required.

Note: At the time of writing, SmilePath is offering substantial discounts on treatment.

Regardless of how you choose to pay, all purchases of SmilePath treatment include:

  • Impression kit
  • Smile Projection (3D image of what your smile will look like post-treatment)
  • Retainers
  • Free shipping anywhere in Australia

Note: If the dentist or orthodontist finds you to be unsuitable for treatment, you’ll receive a refund for the cost of the impression kit or scan. There is no obligation to purchase aligners after the scan.

Does Insurance Cover SmilePath?

This depends on the type of insurance you have.

Medicare will generally not cover adult orthodontic treatment, since people usually get it for cosmetic reasons. There are no government programs that cover the cost of clear aligner treatment in Australia, so the best bet is private insurance. 

Here is a list of Australian private health insurers that provide some orthodontic benefits:

  • Frank Health Insurance
  • Medibank
  • HBF
  • Qantas Insurance
  • Bupa
  • PeopleCare
  • AHM
  • Australian Unity
  • GMHBA
  • Teacher’s Health
  • NIB
  • CBHS
  • Defence Health

Orthodontic coverage for adults is classified under the category “extras,” which involves everything Medicare won’t cover. Coverage for extras varies depending on the Australian private insurer.

Keep in mind insurance does not usually cover extras up-front but instead reimburses them after purchase.

Besides insurance, you can also choose to pay for SmilePath treatment with HSA or FSA. 

How Does SmilePath Work?

SmilePath treatment is completely remote, meaning the only way to start treatment is to have an impression kit sent to your door.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Order an impression kit online.
  2. Once the kit arrives, take impressions of your teeth and send them back.
  3. A Canadian dentist or orthodontist will review your impressions and determine if you’re a suitable candidate for treatment. 
  4. If they approve you, they will create a series of aligners for each stage of your treatment plan. Next, you’ll submit payment for treatment. 
  5. The entire series of aligners will be sent to you within 4 to 5 weeks.

Once you receive your aligners, you’ll wear them for 22 hours per day, changing them out weekly. You can remove them to eat, drink, brush, and floss your teeth or play an instrument or sport. 

You’ll wear each aligner set for 10 days before changing to the next one in the series. Every 2 weeks, you’ll send pictures of your teeth into SmilePath for evaluation. 

Total treatment time varies but is usually between 4 to 6 months.

Pros of SmilePath

  • The most affordable at-home aligner option in Australia
  • Customer service available by phone, email, or chat
  • Financing options with 0% interest
  • Can help with some overjets and overbites
  • Faster treatment time and 60% more affordable than Invisalign
  • Free shipping within Australia
  • Complimentary post-treatment retainer
  • Refunds for impressions if not found suitable for treatment
  • WorryFree Plan for 6 years of additional retainers

Cons of SmilePath

  • No in-office consultation means higher chance for treatment errors
  • Can’t fix as many issues as Invisalign or braces
  • Not the fastest treatment option (Byte may be faster)
  • Not covered by insurance
  • Works with both orthodontists and dentists, who are somewhat less specialized in teeth straightening.

SmilePath vs. Invisalign: What Are the Differences?

There are several important differences between SmilePath and Invisalign:

At-Home vs. In-Office Treatment

Unlike Invisalign, SmilePath is an at-home aligner company. This means there are no mandatory visits to the dentist's office. 

It also means costs will likely be lower since treatment is entirely remote.

Invisalign treatment involves a mandatory consultation, as well as check-up appointments every 6 weeks. This makes treatment monitoring more in-depth but less convenient. 

The added convenience of remote orthodontic treatment is one reason people choose at-home aligners like ALIGNERCO.

Affordability

Treatment with SmilePath costs $1,899, making it the most affordable of any Australian at-home aligner. 

By contrast, the cost of Invisalign in Australia is between $6,000 and $9,000 on average, depending on your location and provider’s expertise.

SmilePath is also up 60% less expensive than traditional braces.

For minor teeth alignment issues, SmilePath is an affordable alternative to Invisalign.

Fast Treatment Times

SmilePath treatment can fix minor teeth misalignment in 4 to 6 months. 

Invisalign treatment can be as fast as 6 months but generally ranges between 12 to 18 months. Sometimes it can take up to 24 months.

Variety of Treatable Issues

SmilePath only treats mild cases of teeth misalignment. 

On the other hand, Invisalign corrects moderate to severe alignment issues.

SmilePath Costs vs. Other At-Home Aligner Brands

Treatment with SmilePath costs $1,899. 

Here’s how that compares to other clear aligner companies in Australia:

SmilePath vs. Byte

Byte is a popular at-home aligner company known for its fast treatment times and strong customer service. They’ve been in Australia since 2020 and have some unique features.

Some highlights of Byte treatment include: 

  • Fast treatment — Byte treatment takes between 3 to 6 months. This is among the fastest of all at-home aligners. 
  • HyperByte — this is a proprietary device that uses high-frequency vibrations to straighten teeth quickly. Read about our concerns here.
  • Completely remote — the only way to begin treatment is to order a Byte impression kit.

Byte’s fast treatment times and remote monitoring might make it a good option for mild cases. Treatment with Byte costs between $2,749 and $3,399, depending on your plan. You can also finance treatment.

SmilePath  vs. WonderSmile

WonderSmile is an Australian-based, at-home aligner company. You can start treatment with an in-person consultation or order an impression kit.

Notable features of WonderSmile include:

  • Interest-free financing
  • Single arch treatment (with discounts)
  • Orthodontists design your treatment (higher level of expertise involved)

WonderSmile treatment takes between 6 to 9 months, depending on your teeth alignment issues. WonderSmile daytime aligner treatment costs $2,690 as a one-time payment. 

Because treatment is mostly remote, WonderSmile is a good Invisalign alternative for mild teeth alignment issues.

SmilePath  vs. EZ Smile

EZ Smile distinguishes itself by its affordable price and by having the most financing options of any at-home aligner. Two of these four are interest-free.


EZ Smile has:

  • The second-most affordable treatment price of any Australian at-home aligner
  • Over a dozen locations across Australia
  • A 90-day, money-back guarantee

To begin treatment with EZ Smile, book a scan at a physical location or order an impression kit. Treatment takes 4 to 8 months and costs an average of $2,149.

SmilePath vs. Smile Direct Club

SmileDirectClub pioneered at-home aligner treatment and first introduced the idea in 2014. They started operating in Australia in 2019 and have since treated over one million people. 

Despite multiple companies since entering the industry, SmileDirectClub still has some unique features, such as:

  • More payment plans than competitors, two of which are interest-free
  • Physical locations in multiple Australian cities
  • Payment plans with no credit checks required

SmileDirectClub treatment costs $2,825 and takes 6 months on average. We recommend it for mild cases of teeth misalignment.

Last updated on November 1, 2023
10 Sources Cited
Last updated on November 1, 2023
All NewMouth content is medically reviewed and fact-checked by a licensed dentist or orthodontist to ensure the information is factual, current, and relevant.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only cite from current scientific research, such as scholarly articles, dentistry textbooks, government agencies, and medical journals. This also includes information provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
  1. Fraser, Megan. “Top 10 Health Insurance Companies in Australia 2022.www.comparingexpert.com.au.
  2. Ke, Y., Zhu, Y., & Zhu, M. (2019, January 23). "A comparison of treatment effectiveness between clear aligner and fixed appliance therapies."
  3. Modern Orthodontics. “How much does Invisalign cost and is it worth it?www.modernorthodontics.com.au.
  4. Orthodontics Australia. “Clear aligners: How much do they cost in Australia?orthodonticsaustralia.org.au, 2019.
  5. Orthodontics Australia. “Does Health Insurance Cover Orthodontics in Australia?orthodonticsaustralia.org.au, 2021.
  6. Randwick Smiles. “How Much Are Braces In Australia? Budget The Good Orthodontic Care.www.randwicksmiles.com.au.
  7. SmilePath. “Frequently Asked Questions.” smilepath.com.au, https://smilepath.com.au/faqs/.
  8. SmilePath. “Get Straighter Teeth at home with Clear Aligners.” smilepath.com.au, https://smilepath.com.au/.
  9. Weir, T. “Clear Aligners in Orthodontic Treatment.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 14 Mar. 2017.
  10. Whithers Dental. “How MuchDoes Invisalign Cost in Australia.www.withersdental.com.au.
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