Dentistry Aligners Company, Smile Direct Club, Closes Its Doors.

Smile Direct Club, a dentistry company known for selling clear aligners remotely, has announced its closure months after filing for bankruptcy in the US. The decision has left many customers confused and stranded as their ongoing treatment is now uncertain. The firm, which offered clear aligners for a lower price without the need for an in-person dentist visit, stated that the decision to wind down operations was incredibly difficult. Despite a last-minute effort to rescue the company, it was unable to overcome its heavy debt burden. Smile Direct Club, founded in 2014 as a disruptor to the traditional dental industry, allowed customers to take aligner molds at home and have online check-ins with registered dentists. However, now that the company is shutting down, customer support will no longer be available, and the previously offered "lifetime smile guarantee" is no longer valid. The statement on the company's website advises customers to contact a local dentist if they wish to continue their treatment. Customers have expressed frustration and asked questions on social media about ongoing payments and unfinished treatments. The bankruptcy process will determine the next steps and refunds. The company apologized for the inconvenience caused. Smile Direct Club's bankruptcy filing, under Chapter 11, aimed to reorganize its debts or sell parts of the business. Despite efforts to secure a rescue deal, the company's founders were unable to provide additional funds which resulted in the failure of the rescue attempt. Fortune magazine reported that Smile Direct Club had a valuation of $8.9 billion but struggled to turn a profit and had nearly $900 million in debt. In addition to financial challenges, the company faced patent disputes and dentists' concerns about poor aligner fit and potential damage. Throughout the controversy, Smile Direct Club maintained that licensed professionals reviewed customers' treatments while acknowledging associated risks.