Let’s face it: we live in digital times, and this means that companies are always looking for ways to incorporate technology to bring consumers what they want. These days, you can use your phone to do things previously unimaginable, like take measurements for tailored clothes. While this may seem like an exciting new frontier, direct-to-consumer methods are not suitable for all industries. As we are finding out, dentistry might be an area where consistent visits with a professional can be a huge help.
Here at Dental Junkie, we love to see dentistry becoming more accessible, but it needs to be done in the right way. Recently, one of the most popular direct-to-consumer orthodontic solutions filed for bankruptcy, and this can have serious implications for not only the industry, but for the patients themselves. Since this happened quickly, many of these patients have been left scrambling, trying to figure out how to continue their orthodontic treatment. So how did we get here, and how do we move forward with accessible dentistry?
Technology Has A Place In The Future Of Oral Health
As a dental professional, you know the importance of access to oral healthcare. In the United States, nearly half of all patients with dental insurance report that they have missed an appointment or put off care because of the cost. When you look at those without insurance, the number is even greater, and this is a real problem for our public health.
So, we need to do something to reach more people and bring down costs, and technology provides some opportunities to do that. As telemedicine capabilities increase, the applications in the world of dentistry are bound to improve. In the meantime, however, there will be some growing pains. The recent bankruptcy of one of the most popular direct-to-consumer orthodontic solutions shows us some of the current limitations.
But It Needs To Be Done Right
In case you haven’t heard the news, SmileDirectClub is no longer. After nine years in business and over 2 million orthodontic treatments, the company folded after losing over $86 million dollars in 2022. With this bankruptcy, there are serious implications for the industry and the patients themselves.
Unfortunately, many of their members are now left without a suitable conclusion to their orthodontic treatment. Thankfully, some other orthodontic businesses are picking up these patients for the conclusion of their care, but there will inevitably be many people who are left hanging. So this begs the question: when is technology harmful to the patient?
Let Dental Junkie Know Your Thoughts!
If you have opinions about the future of the dental industry, we would love to hear your views. Let us know your feelings about SmileDirectClub’s bankruptcy and direct-to-consumer dentistry in the comments. And as always, follow along with Dental Junkie for the latest in oral health news!