By Joanna M. | Director of Telehealth Clinical Operations | Fact-Checked for Clinical Accuracy
If you finished orthodontic treatment in Canada and need a custom clear retainer, two names keep coming up: Remi and NewSmile Canada. Both promise dentist-quality Essix retainers delivered to your door without a clinic visit. But they are not the same product, and for Canadians, the pricing structure alone can change which one actually wins.
This is a direct, no-fluff comparison covering what each company actually delivers — not what the marketing copy says.
NewSmile operates as a Canadian company. You order an impression kit, take your own moulds at home using the provided putty, and mail them back to the lab. A licensed Canadian dentist reviews your case before your retainers are fabricated. The finished custom Essix retainers ship as soon as production is complete — no appointment, no dentist markup.
Remi is a US-based direct-to-consumer retainer brand that ships internationally, including to Canada. You receive an impression kit, make your impressions at home, and mail them to their US laboratory. Remi markets an FDA-cleared process and emphasizes a subscription model for ongoing replacement retainers at a reduced rate.
The core mechanics are nearly identical — both use at-home impressions and mail-order fabrication. The meaningful differences show up in pricing, materials, and what happens when something goes wrong.
This is where the comparison shifts decisively for Canadian buyers.
| Factor | NewSmile Canada | Remi |
|---|---|---|
| Retainer pair price | $99 CAD | [INSERT REAL PRICE] USD (~$135+ CAD) |
| Currency | CAD — no conversion surprises | USD — exchange rate + possible import fees |
| Shipping to Canada | Domestic Canada shipping | International shipping from US |
| Import duties/customs | None — ships within Canada | Possible CBSA fees depending on declared value |
| Subscription model | Optional — order as needed | Yes — annual membership for replacement discounts |
The listed USD price on Remi's site is not what Canadians pay. Add 30–40% for the exchange rate, and potential CBSA customs fees, and the price gap becomes significant.
Both brands produce Essix-style clear retainers — the same type used by most orthodontists post-treatment. The difference comes down to lab quality and how thoroughly your impressions are reviewed before fabrication.
NewSmile Canada retainers are reviewed by licensed Canadian dental professionals before being fabricated, giving you an extra quality checkpoint on fit. The Essix material is BPA-free and matched to the thickness appropriate for your teeth alignment stage.
Remi also uses Essix material and has built a reputation for reasonable fit quality. Their FDA-cleared designation is a US regulatory classification — it does not represent Canadian Health Canada certification. NewSmile operates within the Health Canada framework.
NewSmile ships as soon as production is complete after your impressions are approved. Remi's turnaround involves international shipping in both directions (your impressions to the US, finished retainers back to Canada), which adds transit time compared to a domestic Canadian provider.
If you need a replacement quickly — after losing a retainer or returning from travel — a company with Canadian labs and domestic shipping is practically faster even if quoted lead times look similar on paper.
When there's a fit problem or a damaged retainer, reaching a support team in your time zone and jurisdiction matters.
NewSmile Canada has Canadian customer support, and any dentist review stays within Canadian regulatory frameworks. Remi's support is US-based, which means time zone friction and the possibility that Canadian-specific questions (Health Canada compliance, CDCP insurance) land with a team unfamiliar with the Canadian system.
Canada's federal CDCP has brought dental cost coverage to millions of Canadians. While custom retainers from online providers are not directly billed through CDCP, some provincial benefits programs and extended health plans cover partial costs for orthodontic retention appliances. Providers operating in Canada — where paperwork, receipts, and dental oversight occur within Canadian jurisdiction — are practically easier to submit to your insurer than cross-border purchases.
For most Canadians replacing an orthodontic retainer or getting their first set after treatment, NewSmile Canada wins on every practical measure: lower real-world cost (no USD conversion, no customs), domestic shipping, Canadian dental oversight, and customer support that understands the Canadian system.
Remi is a legitimate product — but it was designed for the US market and shipped internationally as a secondary service. That shows in the pricing structure and the support experience.
If you are comparing the full ownership experience as a Canadian customer — cost, shipping time, support, and compliance — NewSmile Canada is the clearer choice.
Get Your Custom Canadian Retainer — No Dentist Visit Needed
NewSmile ships a custom Essix retainer pair from a home impression kit, reviewed by a Canadian-licensed dental professional. Priced in CAD, shipped domestically, starting at $99 CAD.
Yes, Remi ships to Canada from their US laboratory. However, Canadian buyers pay in USD, which means exchange rate costs and possible CBSA import fees apply. NewSmile Canada prices in CAD and ships domestically, making the total cost lower for most Canadians.
Both use Essix-style clear thermoplastic retainers, the same type used by orthodontists post-treatment. The meaningful differences are in lab quality controls, pricing for Canadian customers, and the dental oversight model rather than the base material itself.
Yes. NewSmile Canada is a Canadian company operating under Health Canada regulations. Every impression is reviewed by a licensed Canadian dental professional before retainers are fabricated. You receive custom Essix retainers at $99 CAD per pair.
NewSmile Canada ships domestically once your impressions are approved and production is complete. Remi requires impressions to cross the US border twice — once for your moulds to go to their US lab, and once for the finished retainers to return to Canada — which adds shipping time each way.
CDCP coverage for custom retainers depends on your specific plan. Providers operating within Canada and issuing CAD invoices with Canadian dental oversight are practically easier to submit for extended health plan reimbursement than cross-border purchases. Always confirm with your plan administrator before ordering.
NewSmile Canada has Canadian customer support and a remake policy for fit issues. Because the entire process — impressions, review, fabrication, support — occurs within Canada, resolving problems is faster and stays within Canadian consumer protection frameworks.
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