First consultation on Teens Aligners – now online and flexible.

General Terms and Conditions (GTC)

Last updated: Winterthur, 19 October 2021

1. What are our services?

We provide dentistry and dental hygiene services and offer products in these areas.

Our core business is to make transparent braces (‘aligners’) that are specifically tailored to you from the digital impression of your teeth, according to a written prescription and under a dentist’s responsibility. We also offer additional products such as mouth guards for teeth grinding, (“Night Guard”) the wire retainer ("Memotain®") and the correction of minor dental defects using plastic fillings ("bonding" and "shaping"; in other words a "Finishing" package). Furthermore, we provide ceramic veneers based on your digital dental impression.

All products are custom-made, as they are not mass-produced, but only specifically tailored to you.

2. Who are we?

The services are provided by Best Smile AG (hereinafter referred to as ‘bestsmile’, ‘we’ and ‘us’), situated at Neuwiesenstrasse 15, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland. If you have any questions or other concerns, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected].

3. What do these contractual conditions regulate?

These contractual conditions regulate the legal relationship between you and bestsmile if you book yourself in for an appointment, use our services or order our products, for example. They are an integral part of your contractual relationship with bestsmile.

However, these terms and conditions and the dental information cannot replace a professional consultation and treatment by a bestsmile dentist.

4. Who do we treat?

The range of products and services we offer is aimed at private individuals residing in Switzerland.

Our services and products are available to individuals who are at least 18 years old and are capable of making sound judgements. Individuals under the age of 18 can only be treated with aligners and with the additional products with the consent of a parent or guardian. We recommend that a parent or guardian attend all appointments. The treatment with veneers is not possible for minors.

By agreeing to the contractual conditions, you confirm that these prerequisites are met.

5. How do you get your aligners and how much does the treatment cost?

In the following section, we will inform you about the course of treatment with our transparent braces (‘aligners’) and the costs you can expect.

5.1 Suitability assessment and treatment plan

First of all, you book an appointment with us, preferably via our website. At your appointment, your suitability will be clarified in advance and you will be informed of how the aligners can help to correct misaligned teeth. Our dentists will make a 3D scan of your teeth. These services are free of charge.

After the first appointment, you can order your personal treatment plan that outlines the results you can expect, how long the aligners should be worn and how often they should be changed. If slicing/stripping (reduction of the enamel) or attachments (composite structures) is/are necessary, this will also be indicated in the treatment plan.

The treatment plan is generated and provided using third-party software. The amount we charge you for the treatment plan will be deducted from the total price if you order your aligners from us.

Once you have ordered the treatment plan, we will invite you to a second free appointment in one of our practices to discuss your suitability, the treatment plan and what happens next.

5.2 Ordering the aligners

If we can treat you, you will receive a quotation at the second appointment that is valid for one month (hereinafter referred to as the ‘acceptance period’). If your order is placed after the acceptance period has ended, it shall constitute a new offer made by you that is deemed accepted if we send you a written confirmation.

5.3 Payment

The costs are to be paid in advance by means of a one-off payment. You agree to pay in full any fees or other transaction costs that may be incurred when transferring funds to our bank account. Payments must be made in Swiss francs (CHF).

Alternatively, we offer payment on account with an instalment option through the third-party provider MF Group Billing AG (hereinafter referred to as ‘MFGB’), situated at Am Bohl 6, 9004 St. Gallen, Switzerland. When paying on account, you agree that we will forward the information and data required for invoicing and collection to MFGB. Please read MFGB’s General Terms and Conditions before deciding to pay on account. MFGB is solely responsible for answering any questions regarding the account and all other questions associated with the payment. If you would like to complain about MFGB’s payment handling practices, please contact them by email at [email protected]. If you choose the instalment option and do not pay your invoices on time, we are entitled to suspend our services.

5.4 Manufacturing the aligners

As soon as we have received the signed quotation documents and payment from you in full, you have successfully completed the order and we will start making your aligners. If you are using the instalment option to pay on account, the prerequisites must be met and the agreement provided for this purpose must be signed.

5.5 Collecting aligners and starting treatment

We will inform you when your aligners are ready to be collected from our practice. Please bring an identity card along with you so that we can verify your identity.

If an aligner is being used for the first time, i.e. your first aligner, we will arrange an appointment so that a dentist can check the accuracy of fit and discuss handling and care with you.

Additional treatments such as slicing/stripping or fixing attachments may require additional appointments.

5.6 Bleaching

If you decide to treat both jaws, a free home bleaching is included in the price. The bleaching allows you to whiten your teeth by a few shades. To whiten your teeth, fill the bleaching gel in your individual aligners and place them on your teeth. For best results wear the aligners overnight (approx. 8 hours). If you do not have any attachments, you may bleach your teeth at any time during the aligner treatment. However, if in your case attachments have been applied, bleaching can only be started after the final check-up with the retainer aligner and after removing the attachments.

5.7 Stabilising the achieved tooth position

In addition to the aligners for your treatment, you will receive a retainer aligner. The retainer is worn once the treatment is complete to secure and stabilise the achieved tooth position in the long term. The retainer aligner is included in the price when you order the aligners.

5.8 Prices

Our prices will be disclosed to you in our quotation when you request a treatment plan or order aligners. The prices stated on our website or in brochures are not binding and do not constitute a quotation.

6. How do you get your veneers and how much does the treatment cost?

In the following section, we will inform you about the course of treatment with our ceramic veneers and the costs you can expect.

6.1 Suitability assessment and treatment plan

First of all, you book an appointment with us, preferably via our website. At your appointment, your suitability will be clarified in advance and you will be informed about how the veneers can help to correct minor defects and discolourations of the anterior teeth. Our dentists will make a 3D-scan of your teeth, take other necessary digital photos and make a first tooth colour determination. These services are free of charge.

After the first appointment, you can order your personal treatment plan that outlines, with a visualisation, the results you can expect.

The treatment plan is generated and provided using third-party software. The amount we charge you for the treatment plan will be deducted from the total price if you order your veneers from us.

Once you have ordered the treatment plan, we will invite you to a second free appointment in one of our practices to discuss your suitability, the treatment plan and what happens next.

6.2 Ordering the veneers

If we can treat you and you agree with the visualised final result, you will receive a quotation at the second appointment that is valid for one month (hereinafter referred to as the ‘acceptance period’). If your order is placed after the acceptance period has ended, it shall constitute a new offer made by you that is deemed accepted if we send you a written confirmation.

6.3 Payment

The costs for the veneers are to be paid in advance by means of a one-off payment. You agree to pay in full any fees or other transaction costs that may be incurred when transferring funds to our bank account. Payments must be made in Swiss francs (CHF).

Alternatively, we offer payment on account with an instalment option through the third-party provider MF Group Billing AG (hereinafter referred to as ‘MFGB’), situated at Am Bohl 6, 9004 St. Gallen, Switzerland. When paying on account, you agree that we will forward the information and data required for invoicing and collection to MFGB. Please read MFGB’s General Terms and Conditions before deciding to pay on account. Fees and interest may apply. MFGB is solely responsible for answering any questions regarding the account and all other questions associated with the payment. If you would like to complain about MFGB’s payment handling practices, please contact them by email at [email protected]. If you choose the instalment option and do not pay your invoices on time, we are entitled to suspend our services.

6.4 Manufacturing the veneers

As soon as we have received the signed quotation documents and payment from you in full, you have successfully completed the order and we will start making a splint for your temporary veneers. If you are using the instalment option to pay on account, the prerequisites must be met and the agreement provided for this purpose must be signed.

6.5 Preparation

We will inform you when the splint for your temporary veneers arrives at our practice.

We will make an appointment for the preparation of your teeth. Your dentist will have to remove an approx. 0.3–1.0 millimetre thin layer of enamel on your front teeth that need to be treated. The thickness of the enamel that needs to be removed varies from patient to patient and depends on your tooth position and tooth colour. Please note that the removal of enamel is an irreversible procedure. This means that the enamel is removed permanently and cannot regenerate. The shape and function of the tooth will thus be permanently changed. Your bestsmile dentist will discuss the necessary steps with you personally.

6.6 Temporary veneers

Your prepared teeth will be digitally recorded again with the 3D scan and your tooth colour will be determined again. With the help of the splint, the temporary veneers will be shaped onto your teeth and at the same time we will produce your ceramic veneers in our lab. Your custom-made veneers are made of high-quality ceramic.

We will inform you when your final ceramic veneers are ready in our shop.

6.7 Main treatment

At the final appointment we will remove your temporary veneers, clean your teeth and apply the final ceramic veneers with a water-soluble try-in paste. If you are satisfied with the final result, we will permanently attach the veneers to your teeth.

6.8 Prices

Our prices will be disclosed to you in our quotation when you request a treatment plan or order veneers. The prices stated on our website or in brochures are not binding and do not constitute a quotation.

7. How do you get our additional services and what do they cost?

bestsmile offers a range of additional products and services that optimally complement the aligner treatment. In the following, we will introduce these and explain how they work and what advantages and risks they might bring.

7.1 Finishing

After completing your aligner treatment, we can also correct minor tooth imperfections as well as improve the shape of your teeth with our finishing package. This will make your smile even more beautiful. During your final check-up appointment, the dentist may use tooth-coloured plastic ("bonding") to correct cracked or discoloured teeth or reduce the shape of your teeth by removing a thin layer of enamel ("shaping").

7.2 Wire retainer (“Memotain®”)

Our transparent aligner treatment also includes a retainer aligner, which you should continue to wear at night after completing your treatment in order to maintain the achieved tooth position. Alternatively, you may opt for a permanent Memotain® wire retainer in the upper and/or lower jaw, which is available for an extra charge. In this case, you do not need to wear the retainer aligner at night. Your Memotain® wire retainer is made in two steps: first of all, your dentist scans your teeth at the final check-up appointment. If it is suitable for you, the wire retainer will be custom-made for you based on your digital impression. We will inform you when your retainer arrives at our practice and is ready to be applied. At the final appointment, the wire retainer will be attached to the back of your front teeth.

7.3 Night Guard

Teeth grinding, especially at night, can damage your teeth. It is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth together with great pressure. In this case, the masticatory muscles work with greater bite force than in normal chewing. In such cases, a mouth guard for teeth grinding (“Night Guard”) may be a valid solution. Your Night Guard is made in two steps: first of all, your dentist scans your teeth. If it is suitable for you, a Night Guard will be custom-made for you based on your digital impression and will be printed out in 3D directly in our lab. We will inform you when your Night Guard is ready to be collected from our practice. At the final appointment, the Night Guard will be fitted to your mouth. If you are satisfied with the wearing comfort, you may take your Night Guard home with you.

7.4 Prices of additional services

The prices for our additional services will be disclosed to you in our quotation when you order them. The prices stated on our website or in brochures are not binding and do not constitute a quotation.

8. What are you committing to?

You are undertaking to act in good faith and, in particular, to: (a) provide truthful information about yourself, your health and your physical condition; (b) provide us with accurate contact details; (c) be solvent when you order our products; (d) follow our instructions when using our services; and (e) provide us only with information and documentation that you are authorised to share with us.

We shall be entitled to refuse you our services if you breach these obligations. You also agree to bear the costs that we incur as a result of this.

9. What rights are you entitled to in the event of defects in our products?

You agree that we shall exclude the legal warranty (in particular cancellation and reduction) to the extent legally possible.

Instead, the following right of remedy applies: we will replace defective aligners, wire retainers or Night Guards free of charge for one (1) year after delivery of the first aligner. Alternatively, we can also decide to refund the price. If we replace the aligners, the one-year period does not start anew.

Liability for material defects in aligners, Night Guards and Memotain wire retainers is covered by the legal warranty. The right to replacement or refund is excluded if aligner damage is due to your own negligence or improper handling of the aligners. This is the case, for example, if: (a) the aligners were manufactured based on you providing us with incorrect information; (b) the aligners were damaged by you (e.g. by grinding or stepping on them) or by third parties; or (c) you have not followed our care and usage or other instructions.

Liability for material defects in veneers is covered by the legal warranty. The right to remedy defects is excluded if the damage is due to your own negligence or improper handling of the veneers. This is the case, for example, if: (a) the veneers were manufactured based on you providing us with incorrect information; (b) the veneers were damaged by you (e.g. by grinding or knocking them out) or by third parties; or (c) you have not followed our care and usage or other instructions.

10. Patient information

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that we cannot guarantee the treatment will be a success as each person responds very individually to the treatments. At your appointments, we will inform you of how you should use and care for the aligners and of possible risks. You will find a detailed description regarding this matter in our patient information. Please read it carefully and ask us any questions you may have.

11. Cancellation terms / «No show»

Cancellations and changes to dental treatment and consultation appointments must be notified to the respective bestsmile practice by phone or email at least 24 hours before the reserved appointment. You can find the contact details of the various bestsmile practices here. In the event of an unexcused no-show or if you cancel your appointment at short notice (i.e. less than 24 hours before the agreed appointment), bestsmile is entitled to charge you a «no show fee» of CHF 100.

12. Disclaimer

All dental treatments at bestsmile are carried out according to the state of knowledge of medical science and research. Despite careful execution of all actions, no guarantees for success can be given, especially not for tolerance and a particular treatment result. Before every treatment we will give you an individual assessment of your suitability. You also understand and agree that we are not responsible for restoring your teeth’s original position, offering a different treatment or bearing the costs if you are not satisfied with how treatment progresses.

The treatment with aligners will change the position of your teeth, which may cause pain, irritate your gums and other parts of your mouth or cause your teeth to become sensitive.

During the treatment with veneers, slicing/stripping and finishing, a layer of enamel will be permanently removed, which may cause temporary pain or lead to increased sensitivity of your teeth.

You will be given all necessary information about the aforementioned and other therapy-specific risks and side effects in the respective patient information and in a pre-treatment discussion with your dentist. All treatment instructions must be strictly followed. This also includes the correct behaviour during the treatment. If this is not the case, any claim to corrections or follow-up treatment shall be voided.

The liability of bestsmile and its assistants is limited to gross negligence and intentional action. This applies to the contractual and non-contractual liability. A liability beyond the above-mentioned cases, except for dental responsibility or bodily injury, is fully excluded, subject to mandatory legal regulations.

In case of violation of essential contractual obligations, any claim for compensation is limited to typical and foreseeable damages.

13. Data protection

In the privacy policy, we inform you of how we process and protect your personal data. You agree to this by using our services.

14. Completeness of this contract

Together with the documents you sign when you place your order, the patient information and the privacy policy, these contractual Terms and Conditions regulate all of the parties’ rights and obligations in connection with the services we provide. Other agreements or understandings between the parties are ineffective and are not legally valid.

15. Waiver of rights

If one party fails to comply with any part of the Contract and the other party does not insist on proper compliance, said party does not waive its right to comply with other parts of the Contract.

16. Severability clause

If one or more provisions of this Agreement are invalid or ineffective, the remaining provisions permitted by law shall remain unaffected. The Parties shall replace the invalid or ineffective provisions with those that are valid and effective and best reflect the original intention of the Parties and, if possible, lead to the same economic result.

17. Changes to these Terms and Conditions

We may change these Terms and Conditions at any time. We will inform you about any changes in an appropriate way. Without your written objection within one month after we have informed you, the changes are deemed to be approved.

The currently valid version of these terms and conditions can be consulted on our website.

18. Applicable law and place of jurisdiction

provide under these contractual conditions. The parties select the state courts in Zurich as the exclusive place of jurisdiction for any and all disputes that arise.