A real user's review and comparison between
Dr. Bailey's Secure Smile Teeth by Billy Bob Products and Imako Cosmetic Teeth by Dr. Bukk.
Don't make a BIG mistake! READ THIS REVIEW!

Secure Smile  vs.  Imako
Compare Secure Smile to Imako Cosmetic Teeth  

BREAKING NEWS!! If you have a larger budget and want custom made veneers that you can actually afford, YOU MUST READ THIS!

One day I found myself in need of a solution to deal with my failing teeth while saving for a permanent denture. I was unsure of what products were available so I searched the internet. I was happy to find that there were a few cosmetic teeth products available, though searching the internet was little help in actually choosing a product as there are limited consumer reviews, and limited information on the products themselves. My final choice was to buy them all so I could compare them side-by-side and decide which was the best. It is my hope that this cosmetic teeth comparison will make it easier for others to make this important and personal decision.

Product Background
First I did a little research into the available products. There are basically just three players in the cosmetic teeth market - Billy Bob Products, Dr. Bukk, and Snap-On Smile. Billy Bob and Dr. Bukk began by producing Hollywood style gag teeth. Snap-On Smile was developed as a true dental appliance. I immediately eliminated Snap-On Smile when I discovered the starting price was around $1,500. That would only keep me another $1,500 away from my  permanent solution. Plus, it takes about two weeks and requires dental visits. I needed a quick, low cost, do-it-yourself solution.  Of the remaining two, only Billy Bob Products was founded by a real dentist (actually a dental student at the time), Dr. Rich Bailey, along with CEO Jonah White.  Dr. Bukk was founded by artist Nancy Albert, and the Dr. Bukk website tells you several times that Nancy is an artist, not a dentist. Although Dr. Bailey signed the business over to White years ago, the Secure Smile product is his creation, developed after years of dental practice. This is why it actually carries the Dr. Bailey's brand rather than Billy Bob.

Imako Cosmetic Teeth

Secure Smile Cosmetic Teeth

Based on their sizing information I ordered the small size Imako teeth directly from Dr. Bukk for $49.95. Though the Secure Smile teeth come in two sizes, the small to medium size is recommended for 95% of adults, so I ordered that size from www.securesmileteeth.com for $37.96 (lower priced sources are available). I could have saved about $10 ordering the Imako teeth through another source, but I had seen several comments on the internet about color issues, so I wanted to order direct from Dr. Bukk to assure I was getting fresh product, not something that had possibly faded from age or excessive light exposure in a store.

First Impressions
The Imako teeth arrive perfectly flat and they are the thinnest of the two. The Secure Smile Teeth are preformed into an arch, and though slightly thicker than the Imako, the additional thickness is just enough to allow for deeper detail that definitely appears more realistic. The gum color of the Imako teeth is a pale pink. I thought the photos were off, but it turns out they were accurate. I was a bit concerned about the Secure Smile as well because the gums looked much too red in photos, but the actual product is a very realistic color. The tooth shape of the Secure Smile teeth are a bit more angular compared to the rounder Imako tooth. Out of the box the Secure Smile has the edge on looks. The size of the Secure Smile is slightly larger than the Imako and in my opinion more accurate in scale. Looking at the photos above it is rather clear which one looks like real teeth and which one looks like a toy.

Construction
The Imako teeth are constructed of two layers. The front layer which resembles teeth and gums is made of an elastomer (mixture of rubber and plastic). The back layer is made of a low-melt thermoplastic. The elastomer is flexible and the soft surface I think would stain easily. The Secure Smile teeth are made from dental acrylic. The surface is hard and smooth and doesn't seem like it could stain easily. It is important to note that I bring up the subject of staining in regards to drinking, not eating. Neither product is a dental device and they are not intended for eating.

Fitting
The fitting process for both products is much the same. They are heated in very hot water and then shaped to your teeth. With the Imako teeth, a small bead of melted pink thermoplastic is applied to the top edge of the melted thermoplastic backing before fitting the device. The fitting is done in one step with the cosmetic teeth being firmly pressed against your own teeth and allowed to cool. The Secure Smile requires two fittings. The first forms the arch of the heated acrylic to the curve of your teeth. To complete the fitting, a melted thermoplastic bead is applied to the back before pressing the teeth in place against your own. In both cases the thermoplastic retains the shape of your own teeth providing a snug, secure fit once cooled. In both cases the fitting was simple and performed as promised. In either case, don't rush. Give yourself an hour to fit them well and don't worry about starting over if you don't like the fit.

Comfort
I spent a full day with each product. Having anything between your teeth and lip takes some getting used to. Just to be clear, no matter what kind of device you get for your mouth, be it full dentures or a partial, or a removable cosmetic veneer of any kind, you will know it is there and it will feel strange at first. However, after some time you adjust and forget they are there. The thickness of Secure Smile teeth was a little more noticeable than the Imako teeth initially, but before long I really couldn't tell the difference. Drinking and speaking were not impaired with either product. At the end of the day it was an even match on comfort.

Appearance
Just as the Secure Smile teeth were ahead out of the box, the increased detail and more accurate color were instantly noticed when wearing them. Both my wife and daughter quickly picked the Secure Smile teeth over the Imako for appearance. I think having a real dentist designing the teeth makes a big difference. The look of the Secure Smile teeth is so good that my whole family thought I had already received my denture. When I told them it was a $40 veneer they thought I was joking.

These are NOT bleach white teeth. In my opinion a bleach white smile looks artificial and attracts more attention to your teeth when what you really want is for them to blend in naturally. The Secure Smile is colored to one of the most common tooth shades, so it will be a very close match to your own teeth and very natural looking. When I was taking photos I noticed that the natural white Imako had excessive reflective properties. It was actually difficult taking the photos because so much light was reflecting back to the camera.

My Conclusion
I will be wearing the Secure Smile teeth from now on. I think Dr. Bukk's Imako teeth look like a toy and will always be a novelty, while Dr. Bailey has delivered a serious product for a serious problem with an eye for detail that only an experienced dentist can provide. The Secure Smile teeth have already been life changing for me and I don't think I could get the same result from the Imako teeth.

Updates
I was so impressed with the Secure Smile that I had to try eating some soft foods with them in place. (I would never consider doing it with the Imako teeth!) Success! It really wasn't bad. Just use common sense. NO frontal biting! These are not a dental appliance so you must carefully use your own teeth to do the chewing and select foods that require as little chewing as possible. So far I've had soups (let them cool a bit and avoid chunky), chili, mac and cheese, cheese sticks (break into smaller pieces and pop in your mouth), applesauce, Jell-O, puddings and cake. The great news is I've had absolutely no staining with any foods or drinks. (01-31-2010) I just consumed an entire breakfast - scrambled eggs, sausage, and pancakes - at ihop with the Secure Smile in place. (02-02-2010) Three cheese enchiladas and refried beans. NOTE: These food experiments are NOT to encourage you to eat with these teeth, but the reality is that at some point you are likely to be caught off guard and simply can't take the teeth out to eat. This just let's you know that with proper fitting and some common sense there is no need to panic if a friend or coworker invites you to lunch. Just use your head, think soft, and be careful.

Before	After - Imako	After - Secure Smile
My own ugly teeth (what's left of them) NEW LOWER PRICED SOURCE, but please see note below!!	Imako Teeth in place Better than my own, but just doesn't look right. The incisor teeth are a bit too long and the front four seem too flat. These are not the bleach white version, yet the material appears to be far too reflective.	Secure Smile Teeth in place The tooth line seems more natural with a slight curve. The angular lines make the incisor teeth more realistic than the fang-like shape of the Imako teeth.
	The Imako gums are pale (notice I even turned up the red in my camera to try to capture the gum color). Both the teeth and gums lack detail and definition. The perfect arch tooth shape is actually too perfect. Against the pale gums it just looks fake.	The Secure Smile teeth have accurate gum color. Teeth and gums are well defined with a more realistic angular tooth shape.  The results are truly amazing for a product that is $12 less than Imako.

NOTE: 1) DO NOT buy the medium to large unless you actually have a large mouth structure! Small to medium fits 95% of the population. 2) There is at least one known mold (SS-5) which produces poorly shaped teeth and excessive space between teeth. When purchasing from these sources it is very important that you inspect the teeth carefully BEFORE opening the package. If they do not look like a nice even set of teeth with no gaps, send the package back and ask for an exchange. Be fair. Ask for an exchange, not a refund. It is not the retailers fault. I will try to have photos soon.

If you want to be virtually guaranteed of a flawless product, then I recommend ordering from www.SecureSmileTeeth.com. Besides making an effort to screen for defective product before shipping, they offer 24 hour toll-free phone support, additional accessories, plus they have the NEW BOTTOM TEETH. Providing this level of customer support is not cheap, so you will pay more.

Comments? Email me at greg@securesmilevsimako.com

Imako cosmetic teeth review - read before you buy.   Secure Smile cosmetic teeth review.