(773) 697-8038
Did you get abandoned by the club? In case you hadn’t heard, somebody abandoned ship just in time for the holidays. Smile Direct Club unexpectedly shut its doors with little explanation, which now has a huge impact on thousands of patients who were in the process of seeking clear aligner treatment through their program. What they did leave us with was a bit of a vague FAQ page—but that doesn’t begin to cover everyone’s bases.
At Windy City Orthodontics, we want you to know that we are here for you in the wake of this sudden closure—and may even be a better choice overall.
Nice to Meet You!
Our two offices are renowned in the Chicago area for their excellent service and results. We are passionate about orthodontics for patients of all ages.
In terms of our clear aligners, we are proud to use Spark Clear Aligners. Should you make the transition to our office from your Smile Direct Club process, this could be a likely choice for continued treatment. Under normal circumstances, we take our own 3D scans and photos of your mouth to create aligners. This process typically covers 9-15 months for most patients. Depending on where the Club left you, we can evaluate the best way to resume.
Choosing A New Route
The main advantage of the Smile Direct Club was an expedited way of checking in with orthodontists through their unique patient portal. That being said, you’ll need a new professional resource now that they are unavailable. Dr. Pakravan and our team are glad to step in! One feature that we are happy to offer is remote monitoring technology from Dental Monitoring. This is a service that allows for remote check-ins and allows us to reserve office visits for when they are truly needed.
Our first consultations are always free to ensure you have a solid financial picture from the get-go. Please note that we accept insurance from the following providers:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Delta Dental
- GEHA
- Guardian
- Metlife
- Principal
- United Concordia
- United Healthcare
Windy City Orthodontics is committed to helping our patients find the most ideal treatments and payment plans possible.
If you aren’t in our area:
- We recommend doing some thorough research before choosing a new orthodontist: Always check a doctor’s credentials (i.e., education, residencies, and certifications), as well as office reviews, before visiting. You can also contact any given office to discuss payment options, with or without insurance.
- Remember: A dentist is not an orthodontist. They are awesome, and we love them—but in terms of orthodontic treatment, you should stick with specialists for the most reliable results.
- We also want to stress that attempting to pursue treatment on your own is actually a massive health risk. Whatever stage of treatment you were left at, you should resume it under the care of a professional.
Stop and Drop
If you already have future aligners from Smile Direct Club on hand, it’s probably not the best idea to use them. Why? Because without the supervision of an orthodontist, you cannot use them effectively. Our job is to help you maintain and oversee your treatment process—so a blind approach makes no sense. We can identify issues that may not even be visible to you and make adjustments as needed.
If you need further motivation to make an appointment, our friends at the American Dental Association recently had some strong words for direct-to-consumer plans like this. There is a proven risk for “bone loss, lost teeth, receding gums, bite problems, jaw pain, and other damaging and permanent issues.”
Don’t Delay
Well, don’t delay any further. We know this feels like a setback, but offices like ours are here to get you back on track. Time is of the essence as far as this process is concerned to ensure that your teeth continue shifting as intended. If you’re in Chicago, you can visit our Lakeview or Lincoln Park offices at your earliest convenience; both can be reached at (773) 207-3305. We will do our best to respond within the next business day at the latest.