Many patrons of SmileDirectClub are finding themselves in quite a pickle. In December, they sent out notices to all their customers that they are closing their business. Unfortunately, they will not be completing any of the customer’s treatments, even if they already paid for it. Good luck getting your money back because they filed bankruptcy and you’d have to get in line with all their other customers. But guess what? If you owe them money, they fully expect you to pay THEM. How nice.
You may be wondering how this happened? After all, they were offering a service similar to Invisalign at a fraction of the cost. The problem has its roots in the fact that they did not have any of their customers under the care of a dentist during their treatment. For some people, the treatment went smoothly and they dodged a bullet. However, most people’s treatments require some adjustments throughout. Without a dentist to look out for those type of things and make the adjustments, problems can result. This happened to many patients.
However, when they complained, SmileDirect made them sign non-disclosure agreements in order to get any type of refund. This led to many people thinking the service was incredible because there were never any negative reviews. Then, in June of 2023, a court ordered that they cease the non-disclosure requirement demand. This released over 17,000 people from their agreements and all the horror stories came out.
Their business tanked as a result. They tried to sell the company but did not get any buyers– Hence the bankruptcy.
If you are a former client of SmileDirect, the best thing you can do is finish your treatment with a qualified dentist. They can make sure your teeth are straightened in a way that doesn’t put them at risk. As a bonus, the aligners used for treatment, can also double as teeth whitening trays. This will enable you to straighten and whiten your teeth all at the same time. It will be like getting a mini smile makeover.
This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.
Even with metal wings, I do believe she will end up having the same struggles. Bonding on a Maryland Bridge is not simply a matter of cementing the wings onto the tooth. It requires some tooth preparation as well, such as the notch you see in the image directly above, to help secure it. This notch removes tooth structure and will have to be filled in with dental bonding after the Bridge is removed.