Once you place your order, we will ship you all the materials you will need to take your own impressions at home, along with your return box. You will receive three sizes of upper and/or lower impression trays (small, medium, large), depending on your order. You will also receive an impression putty set for each impression.

Before taking your impressions, wash your hands thoroughly and brush and floss your teeth. Next, try out the three different tray sizes in your mouth. Use the largest trays that can fit comfortably in your mouth.

TIP: Using a hooked finger, pull your cheek to the side to make it easier to fit larger trays. The right size will allow your teeth to fit inside without hitting the inner walls. 

NOTE: Only take one upper or lower impression at a time.

Remove one full white putty and one full red or blue putty from their containers.

Set a timer for 25 seconds and press start. Begin mixing the white and red or blue putty together vigorously until they form a solid color.

TIP: Don't mix for longer than 30 seconds because it will eventually harden and make the process more difficult. 

Immediately after mixing, roll the putty into a ball and form into a log shape. Then bend the putty into an arch shape.

Place the arch shaped putty into the impression tray with more putty towards the front of the tray and less putty tapering towards the back of the tray. 

UPPER IMPRESSION

• Put the tray with putty into your mouth and use a mirror to center the tray underneath your upper teeth.
• Make sure there are at least 2-3 mm of space between your front teeth and the inside wall of the impression tray to avoid scraping the plastic on the way in. Do not bite down into the putty. Place your thumbs underneath the tray, with your right thumb along the right underside of the tray and your left thumb along the left underside of the tray.
• Once the tray is in position, press it straight up with one single push, as deeply and evenly as possible. The putty should completely cover your teeth, passing the gum line.
• Pull your upper lip up and over the edge of the tray.
• As you are waiting for the putty to harden, you may rest your jaw and gently close your mouth, but don't clench your teeth or apply any pressure. If you clench your teeth, the putty will shift and become distorted.

LOWER IMPRESSION

• Put the tray with putty into your mouth and use a mirror to center the tray above your lower teeth.
• Make sure there are at least 2-3 mm of space between your front teeth and the inside wall of the impression tray to avoid scraping the plastic on the way in.
• Do not bite down on the tray with your upper teeth. Place your fingers on top of the tray (your right index and middle fingers along the top right side of the tray and your left index and middle fingers along the top left side of the tray).
• Once the tray is in position, press it straight down with one single push, as deeply and evenly as possible. The putty should completely cover your teeth, passing the gum line.
• Pull your bottom lip down and then up over the edge of the tray.
• As you wait for the putty to harden, you may rest your jaw and gently close your mouth, but don't clench your teeth or apply any pressure. If you clench your teeth, the putty will shift and become distorted.
• NOTE: You will likely produce extra saliva or drool while waiting for the putty to harden, so you may want to have a paper towel or tissue handy.

• Gently press against an area of putty with your fingertip to see if it has fully hardened. If the putty is still squishy to the touch, wait an additional 30-40 seconds.
• Grip the top and bottom of the tray between your thumbs and fingers (don't pull on the tray handle). Gradually pull downward on the upper tray or push upward on the lower tray (there will be some resistance) until it pops off of your teeth. 
• NOTE: Do not remove the impression too soon. If the putty is not fully hardened it will become distorted as you remove the tray and will be unusable.

• Rinse your impression out with water and then use a paper towel to remove any excess water and saliva. 
• Before sending in your impression, inspect it to evaluate the overall quality.
• Do not remove the putty fro the impression tray unless you have to redo the impression. If it has been taken out of the tray, it cannot be used. 
• Your impression should encompass all of your teeth and include the gum line.

• Take a picture of your dry impression at a 45-degree angle with a flash to capture all details of the impression (see example pictures).
• Send your picture(s) via email to info@sharesmiles.com. Please also include your name and order number in your email.
• Await our approval of your image(s) via email before shipping your package to us. This will allow us to save you time and ensure that we are able to make the very best retainer for you based on a great impression.
  

• Seal your impression in one of the ziplock bags that the putty or trays were in. 
• Place the impression(s), the information sheet, and any unused trays or impression putty into the return box.
• NOTE: Don't peel the information sheet sticker off of its backing. Simply place it inside the box with the other materials. We will use the sticker once your package arrives.
• Tape the box shut.
• Write your name and shipping address at the top of the prepaid return label located on the box. 
• If your completed retainers need to be shipped to any address other than the shipping address you provided in your order, please contact us immediately to ensure your receive your delivery in a timely manner. 
• Drop your package off at your local USPS post office.