Straight Teeth Direct UK Review

What is Straight Teeth Direct?

Straight Teeth Direct is a UK-based clear aligner company that offers the convenience of at-home teeth straightening at an affordable price. 

In 2009, Straight Teeth Direct became one of the first companies in the UK to offer at-home clear aligners. Since then, a number of companies in the UK have started offering them, too. 

Straight Teeth Direct stands out for a few reasons. Advantages include: 

• Affordable price — treatment costs £1,350, which is 70% more affordable than Invisalign and braces. It’s also the second-lowest price for UK-based at-home aligners.
• Strong reviews —  Straight Teeth Direct has 690 reviews on TrustPilot, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. Reviews consistently praise treatment results, as well as the customer service and lack of hidden fees.
• More guarantees — Straight Teeth Direct offers more guarantees than other brands, such as free refinements for post-treatment issues and free replacements for lost or broken retainers.

Like other at-home aligner brands, Straight Teeth Direct can treat most cases of crowding, spacing, or gapped teeth. It can also treat overjets and overbites, as long as the jaw itself does not need to be corrected. Treatment with Straight Teeth Direct for these issues takes between 5 to 9 months. 

Read on to learn more on whether Straight Teeth Direct is right for you. 

Straight Teeth Direct offers completely remote treatment from start to finish. Every treatment case is assigned a dentist who reviews and monitors progress via an app. They also offer more guarantees than other at-home aligners.

Treatment costs £1,350 and takes between 5 and 9 months, on average. Since treatment is monitored remotely, we only recommend them for mild cases.

Pros of Straight Teeth Direct 

• Good option for mild to moderate cases of spacing, crowding, or gapped teeth
• Can help with some overjets and overbites
• Orthodontists supervise your treatment
• Much more affordable than Invisalign or braces
• Free shipping worldwide
• Straight Teeth Direct aligners are BPA-free
• Responsive customer service available 24/7
• Almost universally positive reviews
• More guarantees than other brands (free refinements and replacement retainers)
• Complimentary post-treatment retainer

Cons of Straight Teeth Direct

• Treats fewer issues than Invisalign
• Only one physical location
• Not the fastest treatment time
• Payment plans involve interest, making treatment more expensive in the long run 
• Treatment is not covered by the NHS 

How Does Straight Teeth Direct Work?

There are two ways to begin treatment with Straight Teeth Direct:

• Book a risk-free, 15-minute consultation at the Straight Teeth Direct office in central London 
• Order an impression kit to be sent to your door

You can book both the in-person consultation and the impression kit option online. 

If you choose the in-person consultation, a dental professional will digitally scan your teeth. NewMouth recommends this option when possible to minimize the chance for errors.

If you don’t feel like making the trip to London, here is the process to begin treatment remotely:

1. Visit the website and complete your free consultation to see if you’ qualify for treatment.
2. Order a SmileBox impression kit.
3. Once the kit arrives, take six impressions of your teeth and send them back.
4. A Straight Teeth Direct dental professional will review your impressions to see if you’re a suitable candidate for treatment. 
5. If you’re approved, a dental professional will create a series of aligners for each stage of your treatment plan. You’ll then be prompted to submit payment for treatment. 
6. A series of clear aligners will be sent to your door within a few weeks. You’ll receive each set of aligners every 2 months.

Note: Straight Teeth Direct ships to every country except:

• USA
• Spain
• Russia
• Ukraine
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• Philippines
• Latin America

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

You’ll use the telehealth app Instant Dentist to check your progress with your assigned orthodontist. Every month you’ll upload pictures of your teeth so your orthodontist can check them alongside your treatment plan.

Note: The SmileBox costs £42 but is refundable if you don’t qualify for treatment.

Straight Teeth Direct vs. Invisalign: What Are the Differences?

There are a few important differences between Straight Teeth Direct and Invisalign:

At-Home vs. In-Office Treatment

Unlike Invisalign, Straight Teeth Direct 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 most of its treatment occurs remotely.

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 Straight Teeth Direct.

Affordability

Straight Teeth Direct costs £1,350 for treatment. By contrast, the cost of Invisalign in the UK ranges from £1,500 to £5,500, depending on your location and provider. 

This makes Straight Teeth Direct an attractive option for those with minor teeth alignment issues.

Variety of Treatable Issues

Straight Teeth Direct considers itself a cosmetic treatment. That means it addresses a more limited set of issues than Invisalign. 

Invisalign is best for moderate to severe alignment issues, while at-home options are ideal for minor issues. 

How Much Does Straight Teeth Direct Cost?

Treatment with Straight Teeth Direct costs £1,350 with a one-time payment. 

You can also pay for treatment the following ways:

• Three installments of £500 — pay one payment upfront and the remaining payments bimonthly.
• Monthly — make an upfront payment of £399, then £150 per month for 8 months.
• Finance  — pay £40 per month via a credit provider.

Included in the cost of treatment are all the aligners and a free set of retainers. Many companies charge extra for retainers, so this is an added value.

Additional costs include:

• SmileBox (£42)
• Maintainer Plan (£139)
• Whitening Upgrade (£269)

Note: The cost of the SmileBox will be refunded to you if you are not found suitable for Straight Teeth Direct Treatment. 

Straight Teeth Direct vs. Other At-Home Aligner Brands

Here’s how the cost of Straight Teeth Direct (£1,350) compares to other aligner brands:

Straight Teeth Direct vs. SmileDirectClub (SDC)

SmileDirectClub, the company that introduced at-home aligners, is more expensive than Straight Teeth Direct. Their daytime aligners cost £1,539.

Straight Teeth Direct vs. PlusDent

At  £1,350, Straight Teeth Direct is slightly more affordable than PlusDent. 

Straight Teeth Direct vs. Straight My Teeth

Not to be confused with Straight Teeth Direct, Straight My Teeth is by far the most affordable option on this list. The cost to begin treatment with them is £999, which is significantly less expensive than Straight Teeth Direct.

What’s Included in the Maintainer Plan?

Straight Teeth Direct also offers a Maintainer Plan for an additional cost. 

For £269, the plan gets you:

• New retainers every 6 months
• Up to three sets of aligners if your teeth move out of alignment post-treatment
• An on-file treatment plan in case you need a new retainer

This is a good option for those who might forget to keep replacing their retainers.

Does the NHS Cover Straight Teeth Direct?

As with other invisible aligners, Straight Teeth Direct is not covered by the National Health Service (NHS).