The smile direct Club business model is attractive to many customers because it allows them to avoid a trip to the dentist for a pre-treatment checkup. Instead, the entire process takes place at home, with a visit to one of the company’s SmileShops or partner network dental offices for the 3-D scan and at-home impression kit if needed. Once the treatment plan is started, you are sent new aligners by mail and check-in via email with a licensed provider every 90 days for tracking and evaluation.
Smile Direct Club vs. Traditional Orthodontics: Which is Right for You
The company’s model relies on a computer system to predict the movement of your teeth and create the 24 aligner trays. The problem is that not all patients’ teeth move according to the predicted model, and the aligners often don’t fit properly or work as intended.
Many people who use smile directly end up with misaligned teeth and a crossbite, leading to jaw pain, headaches, strain on the neck and jaw muscles, and other problems. Some of them also find that their aligners don’t correct their crooked teeth and have to spend thousands on professional orthodontic care to fix the issues caused by Smile Direct.
NY Laser Dentist has investigated the Smile Direct Club and other similar companies that promise a self-treatment option for misaligned teeth with mail-order aligners. She reports that these companies are not only not regulated by the federal government, but they can be dangerous to health and can leave you with serious and expensive problems.