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Invisalign Self Assessment
Think DIY braces will fix your smile? Startup says yes; orthodontists say think again
Replacing the middlemenThe dental industry has been transformed in the past 20 years by computers that can design a sequence of clear aligners — plastic appliances that fit over the teeth and nudge them into place — to replace metal wires and brackets.
Moreover, 3D printer technology, which has helped create the molds for the aligners, has become more sophisticated and affordable, giving rise to companies such as SmileDirectClub — started in Detroit by two entrepreneurs who grew up in Michigan — that sell the aligners directly to patients.
SmileDirectClub emphasizes convenience and cost, calling its service "the secret to affordable braces for your teen" and touting that it " eliminates the middle men who mark up the cost and cuts out all those unnecessary monthly office visits."
SmileDirectClub says that braces can run $5,000 and more, but with the company's aligners, children 12 and older can have their smiles transformed for less, $80 a month or a single payment of $1,850.