SmileDirectClub, a telehealth orthodontics company founded in 2014, has ceased all global operations and effectively shut down as of December 8, 2023, following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in late September. The Nashville-based direct-to-consumer dental aligner firm, which once partnered with major retailers like Walmart and CVS, is winding down immediately, leaving an unspecified number of employees laid off and stranding customers mid-treatment. The company, which had positioned itself as an affordable alternative to traditional orthodontics, cited unsustainable financial challenges despite its mission to democratize smile care. This closure impacts the entire workforce and disrupts care for over two million customers served, marking a significant failure in the competitive telehealth and dental industry.
