CONSUMER ALERT
Before you decide to proceed with a direct-to-consumer orthodontic company, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) believes there are a number of factors and questions you may want to consider.
Fresh off the wire:
75%
An estimated 50-75% of people could benefit from orthodontic treatment.
1/3
3.9M
An estimated 3.9 million children are orthodontic patients in the U.S.
AAO in the news:
- BBC: SmileDirect Club, the $8bn braces firm boosted by selfies
- Forbes: “What Investors Need to Know About SmileDirectClub’s (SDC) IPO”
- KOB Albuquerque: “4 Investigates: State leaders weigh legality of do-it-yourself teeth straightening”
- Bloomberg BusinessWeek: “A Tooth-Straightening Startup Runs Into Resistance”
- TechCrunch: “SmileDirectClub files to go public amid concerns from dental associations”
- Fortune: “Brace Yourself: SmileDirectClub Is the Latest Unicorn to File for an IPO”
What’s trending?
6 Facts About Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment Parents Should Know
Two-phase treatment means that treatment is done at two different times, often to take advantage of predictable stages of dental development.
Braces vs. Clear Aligners
One appliance is not inherently better than another. What is used for an individual’s correction will be based on the goals of treatment, and the patient’s lifestyle needs.
DIY Orthodontic Treatment: A Case Study
On the surface the DIY treatment seemed to be a quick, easy and inexpensive approach to close a gap. Unfortunately, the DIY treatment resulted a long-term, difficult and costly fix.