SmileDirectClub
- Company typePublic
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SmileDirectClub does
SmileDirectClub was a Nashville-headquartered, direct-to-consumer clear aligner company founded in 2013 that operated a teledentistry model to bypass traditional orthodontic office visits. Customers obtained treatment through home impression kits or 3D scans at SmileStudio locations (including NYC and Nashville), after which state-licensed dental professionals remotely reviewed the scans and authored a digital treatment plan; aligners were then manufactured in-house and shipped directly to the customer. Core pricing was $995 for a complete aligner treatment (compared with $5,000+ for traditional braces) over an average 4–6 month duration, supplemented by subscription retainers, night guards, and an oral care accessory line. The platform combined 3D scanning, digital treatment planning, and proprietary manufacturing covered by more than 100 dental patents, with the company claiming over 2 million smiles transformed worldwide. SmileDirectClub was publicly listed on NASDAQ under ticker SDC, completed a $380M pre-IPO equity round in October 2018 (led by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice) and a $255M secured debt facility in April 2022 through its SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV subsidiary. The company ceased operations in 2023 following sustained net losses and EBITDA deficits, and its technology, patents, manufacturing systems, and customer-facing assets were acquired by SmileSet.
SmileDirectClub firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SmileDirectClub
- Legal name
- SmileDirectClub Inc.
- Website
- https://smiledirectclub.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SmileDirectClub industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Orthodontic Clear Aligners
- NAICS
- Dental Laboratories (339116), Dental Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (339114)
- SIC
- Dental Equipment & Supplies (3843), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Clear Aligner Orthodontics (HLABABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Orthodontic Appliances & Aligners Fabrication (HLABAJAD), Intraoral Optical Scanning & Digital Impression Centers (HLABAIAE), Medical & Dental 3D Printing Services (patient-specific devices, dental labs) (IMAAADAG)
Keywords
Where SmileDirectClub is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SmileDirectClub business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Clear Aligner Treatment: One-time purchase of complete clear aligner treatment program for teeth straightening
- Subscription Retainers: Recurring revenue from subscription-based retainer orders for customers who completed initial treatment
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Monthly | Clear Aligner Treatment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels1 record
SmileDirectClub product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SmileDirectClub manufactured and sold FDA-cleared custom clear aligners direct to consumers through a teledentistry model. Customers purchased home impression kits or visited SmileStudio locations for 3D scans, which were reviewed remotely by state-licensed dental professionals who created custom treatment plans. The company also offered subscription retainers, premium night guards, and oral care accessories.
Product overview
SmileDirectClub was a direct-to-consumer teledentistry platform offering a unified portfolio of clear aligner treatment, retainers, night guards, and oral care products. The core offering centered on FDA-cleared clear aligners manufactured using proprietary 3D printing technology with over 100 patents, complemented by subscription-based retainers, premium night guards, and oral care accessories. The company operated a teledentistry model where customers used home impression kits or 3D scans reviewed by state-licensed dental professionals to create custom treatment plans, eliminating the need for in-office visits. SmileDirectClub ceased operations in 2023; its technology and assets were subsequently acquired by SmileSet.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Clear Aligners
Quantifiable outcome
- 2 million+ smiles transformed
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SmileDirectClub
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
SmileDirectClub technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
SmileDirectClub partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SmileSetcoreSmileSet acquired SmileDirectClub's technology and assets including innovative patents and manufacturing systems following SDC's cessation of operations in 2023. The acquisition enables SmileSet to continue providing clear aligner treatments using the same proven technology platform that transformed over 2 million smiles.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SmileDirectClub competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Align Technology: Manufacturer of Invisalign clear aligners and iTero scanners; the dominant incumbent in the clear-aligner category and a former strategic investor in SmileDirectClub. Directly comparable on product category, manufacturing technology, and 3D treatment planning, but distributes via dental professionals rather than direct-to-consumer.
- SureSmile (Dentsply Sirona): Dentsply Sirona's digital orthodontic treatment system combining 3D imaging, custom aligners, and robotic wire bending; comparable product category and digital workflow but professional-channel distribution.
- ClearCorrect (Straumann Group): Clear aligner brand owned by Straumann Group; competes in the same orthodontic appliance category but distributes through dental and orthodontic offices rather than direct-to-consumer.
- 3M Clarity Aligners: Clear aligner system offered by 3M's oral care division; competes on the same appliance technology but primarily through orthodontist and dentist channels, with broader portfolio of dental supplies.
- Invisalign: Consumer-facing brand of Align Technology's clear aligner system; most-recognized alternative in the same product category and the gold standard against which SmileDirectClub positioned its $995 value proposition.
Direct peers
- Candid: Direct-to-consumer clear aligner company using a hybrid in-network orthodontist model; competes for the same price-sensitive adult orthodontic customer as SmileDirectClub and was an early-stage rival in the D2C orthodontics category.
- SmileSet: Acquired SmileDirectClub's technology, patents, and manufacturing systems in 2023 and now operates the inherited D2C clear aligner platform. Most directly comparable on business model, technology stack, and target customer, with overlap in brand and customer base.
- Byte (Dentsply Sirona): Direct-to-consumer clear aligner brand acquired by Dentsply Sirona in 2020; offers at-home impression kits and remote orthodontic monitoring with comparable value proposition, target demographic, and price point to SmileDirectClub.
Emerging players
- Uniform Teeth: Tech-enabled orthodontic service combining in-office visits with remote monitoring; comparable target demographic and digital treatment-planning workflow, but with a hybrid retail-clinical model rather than pure D2C.
Regional players
- SmileDirectClub Canada: Canadian operating entity of SmileDirectClub's parent business; historically operated the same D2C teledentistry model and serves as the regional extension of the same platform prior to cessation of U.S. operations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
SmileDirectClub social profiles
Digital presenceSmileDirectClub financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SmileDirectClub leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SmileDirectClub subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
SmileDirectClub funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SmileDirectClub M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SmileDirectClub
What does SmileDirectClub do?
SmileDirectClub manufactured and sold FDA-cleared custom clear aligners direct to consumers through a teledentistry model. Customers purchased home impression kits or visited SmileStudio locations for 3D scans, which were reviewed remotely by state-licensed dental professionals who created custom treatment plans. The company also offered subscription retainers, premium night guards, and oral care accessories.
Is SmileDirectClub a public or private company?
SmileDirectClub is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently closed.
When was SmileDirectClub founded?
SmileDirectClub was founded in 2013. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is SmileDirectClub based?
SmileDirectClub is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does SmileDirectClub make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Clear Aligner Treatment is the primary driver. The others are subscription Retainers.
Who are SmileDirectClub's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Align Technology, SureSmile (Dentsply Sirona), ClearCorrect (Straumann Group), 3M Clarity Aligners and Invisalign. Direct peers are Candid, SmileSet and Byte (Dentsply Sirona). Uniform Teeth is listed as an emerging player. SmileDirectClub Canada is listed as a regional player.
Does SmileDirectClub have an API?
No public API is recorded for SmileDirectClub.
What industry is SmileDirectClub in?
SmileDirectClub's product category is Orthodontic Clear Aligners. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLABABAD, Clear Aligner Orthodontics, with a secondary code of HLABAJAD, Orthodontic Appliances & Aligners Fabrication. Its NAICS code is 339116 and its SIC code is 3843.