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With a savvy marketing team, Smile Direct Club promotes mail-order clear aligners for a fraction of the cost of traditional braces or Invisalign. Unfortunately, the “if it seems too good to be true” rule rings true when it comes to DIY orthodontics.
Beginning with the initial mold taken by the consumer or unlicensed staff at a kiosk, the business model lacks the close supervision of a dentist or orthodontist. When you come in for your free consultation at Otto Orthodontics, our doctors with advanced training in Dentofacial Orthopedics, examine 3D scans of your teeth and jaw while taking a detailed medical history. Reading reviews of Smile Direct Club with the BBB, consumer review sites, and pending lawsuits highlight some of the problems with mail-order aligners.
- Customer Service — Numerous complaints of concerns not being addressed in a timely fashion, while the customer continues to pay monthly.
- Improper Care — Whether it be from badly executed molds, poor fitting aligners, or inadequate supervision; improper movement and permanent alignment issues can result. Certainly, this is disappointing from an aesthetic point of view but could potentially cause new bite issues, loose teeth, or headaches.
- Misleading Claims — Overstatement of treatment time and expected results are some of the common complaints lodged against Smile Direct Club. Disputes also cite issues with getting promised refunds or payments being debited even after problems were identified.
Smile Direct Club vs. Invisalign
The biggest glaring difference between Smile Direct Club and Invisalign is the in-office doctor-guided treatment plan from beginning to end.
Beginning with the Proprietary iTero 3D scan, the optimal fit is not left to chance or mail-order mold. Fit is customized to your gum line and your progress is monitored with in-person exams. With over 12 million treatments Invisalign drives innovation in the clear aligners industry. With our free consultation, we can tell you if you are a candidate for Invisalign or traditional braces, along with the expected cost, treatment time, and payment options.
