Recently, there has been a considerable amount of underground rumble in the orthodontic sector. Companies have started popping up that are offering clear aligner services to patients straight at their doorsteps. This means that they are eliminating the one step that seems to be the most intimidating to the patients and instead making the patient’s comfort their primary concern. What this does is allow patients to order clear aligners from the company website and get them delivered to them without having to go to the dentist’s office even once.
This online order-and-deliver business model has been referred to as the “Direct-to-consumer” model because as the name suggests, the product gets shipped off to the patient directly without the hassle of engaging with a middleman. These so-called “mail-order aligners” have become quite the trend, especially in a media-focused society like the U.S. All over social media, you’re able to see adverts for these tele-order aligners with flashy “Get them now!” messages that make them quite the enticing bait.
While this sounds like a delightful and rather tempting offer, it has been argued to be one of the least trustable methods of acquiring clear aligners. Case in point, the disaster that was SmileDirectClub’s exclusive Smile shops to persuade you against the idea of mail-order aligners.
Generally, mail-order alignment companies offer customers a way to straighten their teeth all from the comfort of their own homes. The customer is asked to make an impression of their teeth using an at-home kit and mail it to the company. They will then mail you back a set of clear alignment trays that they claim will straighten out teeth without professional insight in a short duration for half the price.
These aligners are appealing to individuals for whom an aesthetic smile is a crucial must but do not think they can afford to see an orthodontist. However, shifting your teeth on your own is a serious and at times complicated process and definitely requires supervision from a qualified and certified dentist. While mail-order aligners may have some medical professionals on staff, these individuals will not be able to meet with you in person to address your specific needs.
SmileDirectClub took the dental industry by storm when they pioneered the DTC aligners. They began delivering clear aligner treatment directly to the customers’ homes in 2014 and ever since they have only sought new ways to make clear aligners more accessible and affordable to the general public. From the very beginning, dentists have been locked in a fierce dispute with mail-order companies, but what SmileDirectClub churned out next would be the straw that finally broke the camel’s back.
The only thing SmileDirectClub needs from its customers is an impression of their teeth, whether it is a 3D image or a physical impression. As long as the impression is accurate, the company can deliver a clear aligner set to the patient in less than no time. However, they acknowledged the fact that it could take patients several tries to get a good mould, especially if they are working alone.
This was why they founded SmileShops, the first opening in 2016. SmileShops are essentially retail locations that let you bypass the impression kit process and instead provide free scans of your teeth to streamline the startup process. This means that there is no need for snail mail or tricky impression kits. SmileDirectClub staffs their SmileShops with dental professionals called Smile Guides, who are trained and certified to take 3D scans of your teeth.
All this sounds great – the scans are free, quick, and painless. What could possibly be wrong with getting them?
At the end of the day, these “Smile Guides” are dental assistants who have only been trained to operate 3D scanning technology and take photos of your teeth. There are no dentists or orthodontists on site, therefore, they are not able to examine your dental malalignment and verify the treatment needed for you to correct your malocclusion. This essentially means that you do not get a customized orthodontic treatment by visiting one of these SmileShops or by mail ordering your aligners from SmileDirectClub.
SmileShops have received a shoddy lot of mixed reviews from their customers based on their customer service quality. Many were not on board with the idea of SmileShops as they perpetuated a treatment process that was mass-produced rather than personalized. Who would deny a customized clear aligner treatment with their trusted orthodontist over lukewarm treatment from these mail-order companies? We hope not you!