SmileDirectClub says only one per cent of its customers complain after treatment. Many of those complaints came from people who said they were too afraid to speak on the record because they had signed non-disclosure agreements or fear legal repercussions from SmileDirectClub, which has filed lawsuits against dental associations in Manitoba, California, Georgia and Alabama. On YouTube, many creators have uploaded videos of their experiences with SmileDirectClub. "What I don't like is the promotion of the use of direct-to-consumer orthodontic products as a way to maintain social distancing," he said. "Remote areas where people can't get to the dentist … it's about the sharing of information."Ĭommunication between general dentists and specialists, sharing radiographs and diagnostic tools are all among the benefits of teledentistry, he said. "There's certainly a place for in the future," said Posluns. James Posluns, an orthodontist and director of clinical affairs at the University of Toronto, expressed doubts about whether that should include direct-to-consumer aligners. Erik Connolly, wrote that in a pandemic, teledentistry should be embraced.īut Dr. In a statement to Marketplace, SmileDirectClub's lawyer, J. Hera Kim-Berman, an orthodontist who runs the Orthodontics Graduate Program at the University of Michigan, said she thinks such a practice is dangerous if it's not physically monitored by a professional. (CBC)īut experts say that's not enough for most people seeking orthodontic treatment.ĭr. Hera Kim-Berman doesn’t believe individuals should undertake treatments like the one offered by SmileDirectClub without being physically monitored by a professional, such as an orthodontist. SmileDirectClub customers send photos of their teeth to SmileDirectClub every 90 days for digital monitoring by a treating doctor.ĭr. The company says the low price is achievable, because the customer never pays for monthly visits to an orthodontist the way they would for metal braces or orthodontic treatment with plastic aligners, such as Invisalign. The company also says that the aligners come at a lower price tag, around $2,500 - about half the cost of braces. Users get multiple plastic aligners at once in the mail and change them every week or two, according to a schedule. SmileDirectClub's website promises straighter teeth in as little as four to six months. To review their sales practices and the potential patient experience, Marketplace sent four testers wearing hidden cameras earlier this year to four different SmileDirectClub locations, called SmileShops, in the Greater Toronto Area to learn more about how the program is sold to consumers. U.S.-based SmileDirectClub, which says it has one million "club members" worldwide, advertises a teeth straightening service.īut a Marketplace hidden camera investigation found that some SmileDirectClub customers could be receiving misleading and potentially harmful information from employees, and that customers are not getting the information they need to make informed decisions, according to experts.Ī sales representative with SmileDirectClub shows one of CBC’s testers a 3D scan of his teeth (CBC) Promises straighter teeth in 4-6 months Some SmileDirectClub customers and orthodontists, however, say the company is biting off more than it can chew. ![]() It's advertised as a quick, convenient and inexpensive way to improve your smile. "We're hearing from people every day who are excited to change their smiles and who see starting their smile journey as a bright spot in this scary time." ![]() "This pandemic isn't stopping us, or you," the company posted on Facebook and Instagram late last week. In a time when the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic is encouraging Canadians to stay inside, one company says that physical distancing shouldn't stop you from straightening your teeth.
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