Smile direct

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SmileDirectClub is shutting down, just months after the struggling teeth-straightening company filed for bankruptcy, leaving existing customers in limbo. On Friday, Dec. That leaves existing SmileDirectClub customers with a lot of questions and few available answers. The company is offering no more customer care support and few details about possible refunds are available yet. SmileDirectClub — which served over 2 million people since its founding — once promised to revolutionize the oral-care industry by selling clear dental aligners that were marketed as a faster and more affordable alternative to braces.

Smile direct

The company offered a mail order approach to straighter teeth, but some customers have been left in the middle of treatment and with remaining balances. People who sought straighter teeth with invisible aligners from SmileDirectClub could be in a tough spot, now that the company has announced a complete shutdown just a couple months after filing for bankruptcy. On its website, the company explains that customers of SmileDirectClub won't be able to receive any more aligners or customer care, regardless of where they are in their treatment path. The company also expects customers to continue their payments, meaning all existing patients with a payment plan are currently still on the hook for whatever they owe. An average treatment length is four to six months but can run up to two years for some patients. Invisible aligners have become a popular teeth straightening treatment in recent years because clear aligners are a more subtle alternative to traditional orthodontic services. Remote companies like SmileDirectClub don't require any in-person appointments, in contrast to companies like Invisalign , which requires some in-person appointments and fittings with a doctor. But SmileDirectClub has been accused of some unfair practices, including in a lawsuit alleging the company made unsatisfied patients sign NDAs, according to different media reports. Shortly after its bankruptcy filing and before its shutdown, the company was still running discounts on upfront payments, Axios reported, encouraging more people to make full payments rather than monthly installments. SmileDirectClub says in its FAQ that more information will become available "once the bankruptcy process determines next steps," meaning expectations around payments and other instructions on how to tie up loose ends -- perhaps for the people left in the middle of their treatment -- may change in the weeks to come. The company says yes. Patients who've been making payments under the SmilePay plan are "expected to continue to make all monthly payments until payment has been made in full," SmileDirectClub says in its FAQ.

And earlier this month, it confirmed it was shutting down operations smile direct being unable to find a partner willing to bring in enough capital to keep the company afloat. Please enter email address to continue.

Mohammad Ahmad, a year-old from New Jersey, signed up for Smile Direct Club in October, just a few weeks after the teeth straightening firm declared bankruptcy. He was enticed, he said, by a big discount on the company's invisible braces and assured that the financial problems wouldn't affect operations. But Mohammad never received the clear plastic aligners he was promised after the company shut down in December, leaving him, and thousands of customers like him, in the lurch. The concept convinced more than two million customers. For Mohammad, who had already had braces, he just wanted to address some mild shifting that occurred after he failed to wear his retainer as instructed.

Our promise. We provide a buying advantage with verified reviews and unbiased editorial research. I had already been to my dentist and had asked about their options but it was really expensive. When I've seen the commercials for SmileDirectClub, they were talking about it The impression kits came with very clear and easy to use instructions. Simple kit to use and return, with a clear process online of what was happening. I used a promotion to get t Pay in full right away or make monthly payments for 26 months Custom-made clear aligners shipped to your door Premium teeth whitening included Nighttime-only option available. Helps remove tough stains Eight pens for a full year of whitening Two full one-week treatments Results from each treatment last up to six months LED light for maximum visibility.

Smile direct

When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. SmileDirectClub has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Due to the company's uncertain future, we recommend you try SmileDirectClub alternative aligner brands. Read more about the situation. Smile Direct Club is a teledentistry company that offers a cost-effective alternative to braces and clear aligners like Invisalign. But that doesn't mean your treatment isn't supervised. In fact, a licensed orthodontist or dentist will monitor the entire course of your orthodontics treatment with SDC and check in with you every 90 days.

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SmileDirectClub is shutting down, just months after the struggling teeth-straightening company filed for bankruptcy, leaving existing customers in limbo. In this case, Smile Direct Club has also issued a statement telling consumers to continue paying for their treatment plan. In a statement published on the Smile Direct Club website earlier this week, the company said it had 'made the incredibly difficult decision to wind down its global operations, effective immediately'. The company also expects customers to continue their payments, meaning all existing patients with a payment plan are currently still on the hook for whatever they owe. More from CBS News. We have led the calls for change. Founded in , AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. Jessica Rendall Wellness Writer. As per GDC standard 6. Patients who've been making payments under the SmilePay plan are "expected to continue to make all monthly payments until payment has been made in full," SmileDirectClub says in its FAQ. SmileDirectClub collapse: What you need to know The collapse of the remote orthodontic giant shows how companies working in a regulatory black hole can leave patients - and potentially clinicians stepping into the breach - and at risk. Invisalign is a major provider of invisible-style aligners; it offers realignment treatment via registered dentists across the UK. A popular dental site is shutting down after filing for bankruptcy. People who sought straighter teeth with invisible aligners from SmileDirectClub could be in a tough spot, now that the company has announced a complete shutdown just a couple months after filing for bankruptcy.

Healthline senior editor Candice Abellon tried SmileDirect… kind of?

Customers use a DIY impression kit to take moulds of their own teeth. That decision could take months or even years. Jessica Rendall Wellness Writer. These have grown in popularity because they are less visible than traditional braces. Dental Care. When compared to a professional in-office dentist visit. OrthoFX aligners are sent to the customer's doctor. More from CBS News. But Brandon Couillard, analyst at Jefferies, said that deeper issues were at play, noting that the cost of addressing reputational issues - not just about quality but also customer service - hurt its growth and forced the loss-making firm to spend too much on advertising. What's right for the patient will depend on their baseline diagnosis and examinations by a doctor, which direct-to-consumer companies can't provide. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. The company is offering no more customer care support and few details about possible refunds are available yet. Before CNET, she worked in local journalism covering public health issues, business and music.