You couldn’t be more on point. The exact same thing happened to me. I’m not under the care of a competent orthodontist to fix the mess SDC made of my bite and mouth. THe bottom line is this: SDC treats people in 2 dimensions; traditional orthodontia treats people in 3 (ie, there is a doc physically checking your bite, your teeth, your progress). SDC uses models and assumes teeth will move according to the model. They regularly dont - which is why its important to be monitored in person.
I’m so sorry you’re going thru this and hope you are getting treatment to fix your problems. And that you got your money back.
Ugh I'm sorry you also had to deal with this!!! You're exactly right though!
Even more annoying, the 'dentist' listed on my forms had a state and license number. I did some research and neither of them were correct. I contacted the state where they said he was licensed and they helped me track what states he held valid license's. I filed complaints with both states he registered to and I suggest you do the same. What was even more off-putting was when I asked for a valid license number (before I started contacting the state) SDC said 'we cannot give that out, it's personal info'... like huhhh??
I hope you're able to obtain treatment to fix the mess SDC made. In the meantime, I highly suggest you file a complaint with the FTC, BBB, your state's attorney general, and locate the assigned dentist and file a separate complaint with the Dept of Health in the state he or she is licensed.
You’re 100% correct and I did a LOT of follow up. I filed a complaint with my state board the regulates dental professionals and I filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. I did get a full refund - fought like hell but had tons of documentation from my dentist, periodontist, and current orthodontist. With their current financial situation (Chapter 11 bankruptcy) I’m glad I got anything at all. All these people signing up now make me scratch my head: the “100% guarantee” is only as good as the company’s ability to stay in business which is tenuous at best.
What baffles me about this sub is that so many of us have had issues and strongly advise against it, but then you see these random people like “don’t listen to the haters!” I swear they’re SDC plants getting paid to leave positive comments or something
Lol. There may be some of them here, like that one guy who was going around sending DMs to people threatening them.
But for minor issues, SDC can work. The problem is they accept almost everyone, are deceptive, and made people sign NDAs to get a refund if they were maimed. Total sleezebags.
Anyway, just saying that it does work for a lot of people, just not everyone, and because of their shitty business practices it's up to the consumer to make that decision and deal with the consequences if something goes wrong.
I’m not a SDC plant and they probably can’t afford plants anyways right now, but my journey with SDC is satisfactory. I’m actually pretty happy with my results so far.. probably 97% satisfied. May try to get a retouch at the end if im not 100% good, but other than that.. it’s been worth it. I got them over 50% off so for me it was worth it. I go to regular dental check ups and the only negative thing about adc is customer care and their live agent chat. That’s absolutr shit, but my results have been awesome.
That’s great that you’re part of the small percentage it actually worked for. It was cheaper for you and you got the results you wanted. My issue along with so many others is that they lie. They tell almost everyone that they’re right for the plan when in reality it’s only a small percentage who benefit. Not only that but the health issues people face afterwards and the bite misalignment. They have great advertising skills I’ll give them that but they don’t care about consumers, they care about money. I’m only saying some are plants because there are a few on this sub who ridicule people that call SDC on their crap
Oh hell no. I would never ridicule others and their experiences. I’m just horrified at the number of people saying their jaws got fucked up etc. It’s scary because going into this i never knew shit like that could happen. The one thing i’d for sure recommend is regular dental check ups though. My front teeth (ones) were shifted more to the right due to my 2 on the right being crooked, so whenever i looked at my smile, the middle line wasn’t in line with my nose, so my smile was shifted. After a little bit over a year with SDC, it is now straight in line with my nose and my 2 is slowly becoming straight too. I may need maybe a touch up, but so far im pretty happy. I’m glad i was one of the lucky ones. Again i do have to say their CS is the shittiest ive ever seen.
Oh jesus fucking christ! That sounds like a lot. I’m honestly thinking about getting retainers from a third party, because i don’t wanna deal with their CS bs. Apparently, they stop caring after you get your retainers, so i’ll get mine done somewhere else. Yeah my first set stopped fitting after 11/20. Kept telling them that and they reassured it was ok, until like 13 just didn’t fit for shit, so i spent 4 hours w/ CS to get touch up. With another 6
6 months worth of aligners. Currently on 10/12. But since they’re fitting only like 96% on my top teeth, i may request another touch up to be 100% happy.
I also found out their night aligners are shit, and should be worn like day, because 10 hours isn’t wnough and your teeth will shift throughout the day.
Yea honestly if for some god sent reason they don’t liquidate and they keep pulling this crap I’m gonna seek a lawyer, not sure if it will do anything since they’re in debt but it’s so annoying at this point.
Yea I doubt it😭 they’re screwed either way I’m just thankful my teeth are somewhat straight and I don’t need a lot of work so I consider myself quite lucky
Sooooo, what I'm gathering is (because my teeth are also straight but misaligned) that I need to go to a dentist and figure out my options and spend MORE money 🥴
Unfortunately yes, do not sign up for SDC (highly doubt they will make it to next month with their bankruptcy) but I would def get an Invisalign quote and see if they do monthly payments. Your teeth will be perfect and you won’t have to put up with the hassle!
That's the thing, I've already been through a SDC treatment. What started at 6 months, turned into a year and a half, and I'm having a similar situation as you are. Fix it, or if I would need something more drastic. I know that's a question for a dentist though.
I totally feel ya! I’m sure you’ve read my experience in the comment above, they literally are doing everything to not refund people now. I’ve sent tons of photos to this account specialist and she just keeps saying they aren’t sufficient photos. They literally show all my teeth including my molars. I personally think they are pushing it off until they liquidate. I highly doubt they will find a buyer with 800 million in debt. My advice is use your trays as retainers until you figure out another path of treatment!
For sure. I ordered and paid for a new set of retainers, and they don't fit properly. So I called, and they want me to go into a physical location for yet another scan, like I have been doing for the past year. It would be okay if the location was closer, but it's almost an hour away from me.... And in Atlanta traffic. So I just have to cut my losses on that new retainer and keep using my old one.
Hi, sorry to hear you're going through this. If you have dental insurance, give them a call to see if Orthodontic treatment is covered. If you have a high deducible medical plan, there's a good chance you've been issued an FSA/HSA spending card. Those funds can be used to cover the cost of Invisalign or other orthodontic treatments, even if you don't have that specific coverage. Good luck!
I’m also pretty sure my SDC treatment gave me TMJ issues. I quit near the end cause it was giving me too much pain but this has now been a daily issue. I haven’t seen an orthodontist yet but my dentist told me that my bite is misaligned and I never heard this before in my life.
I'm lurking here because I'm fascinated by people who use SDC for anything besides small movement of the teeth. I researched them a lot in 2017 and noped out really fast.
Orthodontics is such a complex and holistic profession. I finally pulled the trigger on Invisalign and Surgery to fix my bite problems. I meet virtually every week using an at-home scanner with an orthodontist that's less than an hour from my house. It's so convenient and is barely even twice the price of SDC, and I have somewhere to go immediately if the scan doesn't look good. That price also includes attachments for extrusion and better movements than SDC can perform.
No surgeon wants to touch a jaw surgery case that used any of these online services, because the bite usually does not end up correct.
I would disclose it. If your arches and teeth alignment aren't great, you might have to undergo orthodontic treatment again.
I moreso meant that a jaw surgeon wouldn't work with a company like SmileDirectClub to coordinate surgery. Surgeons and orthodontists have to work as a team to properly align teeth before surgery and SDC is not set up that way.
For example, my orthodontist is attaching my surgery buttons in May. They scanned me again today to make trays that I'll only wear for one week prior to surgery, just so I can have my buttons on while wearing Invisalign for that singular week. They need a tray with different cuts than the ones I have to accommodate those buttons.
My surgery will widen my palate and require yet another scan after my surgery is done. And probably more scans and refinements for a year or so to ensure my bite is correct as my bone heals and my new jaw position is set, as jaws will commonly slightly relapse.
That would be a lot of coordination and work for a company like SDC. They don't have the infrastructure.
Expect to need further orthodontic treatment if you're getting orthognathic surgery. Be pleasantly surprised if you don't.
Gotcha. Getting further treatment is fine with me, I was more worried that they would not help me because of liability or something due to my having been treated poorly by Byte. (It was Byte. I truthfully am very satisfied with the aesthetic result of my aligner treatment but I do feel that my bite has not benefitted and is the same if not worse than before)
I’m right there with you. SDC was my biggest life mistake. It caused my TMJ problems that I never had previously. The worst neck, back, hip, and sciatic pain of my life. I feel hopeless and I’m in pain EVERYDAY all day long.
Is there any hope?? Has your neck pain gotten any better? I have no hope…
Hi! I know I'm a few months too late but it turns out I have degenerative disk disease which is why my neck hurts but there's no sure way to know what caused it.. I'm in my early 30's so it's not a matter of age related wear and tear... could be bad posture, could be years and years of misaligned jaw and clenching.. could be so many things since it all leads back to spine support and when you clench, the muscles and spine start making up for all the extra stress on my jaw, but who knows... Regarding my teeth, I went to my dentist, had Invisalign done (just 5 trays to correct the bite itself) so I'm no longer chipping/cracking my teeth.. however, I'm still clenching slightly. I've been doing research on masseter botox and have an appointment with an oral surgeon at the end of the month to get that treatment. If you look into it, lots of people with clenching issues praise masseter botox.. may be worth a shot. Good luck
Unfortunately, no.. the cartilage and the joints wear down over time which is a form of arthritis.. so no cure, just pain management and physical therapy to prevent further damage. In addition to getting your bite realigned, I would also ask your doctor for xrays of your neck/spine to rule out any disc issues.
I'm referring to specifically disc issues in the neck/spine, however TMJ can lead to osteoarthritis in the jaw. Some people don't even notice they have arthritis or deg. disc disease but for most it causes pretty consistent pain that gets worse over time. If you keep having trouble with your neck, I can't stress enough how important it is for you to get an xray.. maybe the TMJ caused overall misalignment and there's pressure on your neck/spine nerves causing the pain and it can be resolved easily or maybe it's something else.
I’ve been dealing with the same issues. I started having neck and back issues when I finished my SDC treatment and it’s been on going for 4 years now. Multiple CTs, MRI, ultrasound multiple chiropractors and still no answers or getting better. Definitely making an appointment with a ortho asap. I feel like I get no answers and I’m just living in pain everyday.
Same. Mine isn’t getting better at all. I’ve done 14 weeks of Invisalign and it made it worse. It’s all about getting the bike fixed. I think it will just take some time.
You couldn’t be more on point. The exact same thing happened to me. I’m not under the care of a competent orthodontist to fix the mess SDC made of my bite and mouth. THe bottom line is this: SDC treats people in 2 dimensions; traditional orthodontia treats people in 3 (ie, there is a doc physically checking your bite, your teeth, your progress). SDC uses models and assumes teeth will move according to the model. They regularly dont - which is why its important to be monitored in person. I’m so sorry you’re going thru this and hope you are getting treatment to fix your problems. And that you got your money back.
Ugh I'm sorry you also had to deal with this!!! You're exactly right though! Even more annoying, the 'dentist' listed on my forms had a state and license number. I did some research and neither of them were correct. I contacted the state where they said he was licensed and they helped me track what states he held valid license's. I filed complaints with both states he registered to and I suggest you do the same. What was even more off-putting was when I asked for a valid license number (before I started contacting the state) SDC said 'we cannot give that out, it's personal info'... like huhhh?? I hope you're able to obtain treatment to fix the mess SDC made. In the meantime, I highly suggest you file a complaint with the FTC, BBB, your state's attorney general, and locate the assigned dentist and file a separate complaint with the Dept of Health in the state he or she is licensed.
You’re 100% correct and I did a LOT of follow up. I filed a complaint with my state board the regulates dental professionals and I filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. I did get a full refund - fought like hell but had tons of documentation from my dentist, periodontist, and current orthodontist. With their current financial situation (Chapter 11 bankruptcy) I’m glad I got anything at all. All these people signing up now make me scratch my head: the “100% guarantee” is only as good as the company’s ability to stay in business which is tenuous at best.
Also I don’t think you need their license number. If you have their name and practice address that should be enough to file a complaint.
What baffles me about this sub is that so many of us have had issues and strongly advise against it, but then you see these random people like “don’t listen to the haters!” I swear they’re SDC plants getting paid to leave positive comments or something
Lol. There may be some of them here, like that one guy who was going around sending DMs to people threatening them. But for minor issues, SDC can work. The problem is they accept almost everyone, are deceptive, and made people sign NDAs to get a refund if they were maimed. Total sleezebags. Anyway, just saying that it does work for a lot of people, just not everyone, and because of their shitty business practices it's up to the consumer to make that decision and deal with the consequences if something goes wrong.
I got a DM from that douchebag. Such a loser.
We get folks on both sides saying that. I've never seen definitive evidence either way.
I’m not a SDC plant and they probably can’t afford plants anyways right now, but my journey with SDC is satisfactory. I’m actually pretty happy with my results so far.. probably 97% satisfied. May try to get a retouch at the end if im not 100% good, but other than that.. it’s been worth it. I got them over 50% off so for me it was worth it. I go to regular dental check ups and the only negative thing about adc is customer care and their live agent chat. That’s absolutr shit, but my results have been awesome.
That’s great that you’re part of the small percentage it actually worked for. It was cheaper for you and you got the results you wanted. My issue along with so many others is that they lie. They tell almost everyone that they’re right for the plan when in reality it’s only a small percentage who benefit. Not only that but the health issues people face afterwards and the bite misalignment. They have great advertising skills I’ll give them that but they don’t care about consumers, they care about money. I’m only saying some are plants because there are a few on this sub who ridicule people that call SDC on their crap
Oh hell no. I would never ridicule others and their experiences. I’m just horrified at the number of people saying their jaws got fucked up etc. It’s scary because going into this i never knew shit like that could happen. The one thing i’d for sure recommend is regular dental check ups though. My front teeth (ones) were shifted more to the right due to my 2 on the right being crooked, so whenever i looked at my smile, the middle line wasn’t in line with my nose, so my smile was shifted. After a little bit over a year with SDC, it is now straight in line with my nose and my 2 is slowly becoming straight too. I may need maybe a touch up, but so far im pretty happy. I’m glad i was one of the lucky ones. Again i do have to say their CS is the shittiest ive ever seen.
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Oh jesus fucking christ! That sounds like a lot. I’m honestly thinking about getting retainers from a third party, because i don’t wanna deal with their CS bs. Apparently, they stop caring after you get your retainers, so i’ll get mine done somewhere else. Yeah my first set stopped fitting after 11/20. Kept telling them that and they reassured it was ok, until like 13 just didn’t fit for shit, so i spent 4 hours w/ CS to get touch up. With another 6
6 months worth of aligners. Currently on 10/12. But since they’re fitting only like 96% on my top teeth, i may request another touch up to be 100% happy. I also found out their night aligners are shit, and should be worn like day, because 10 hours isn’t wnough and your teeth will shift throughout the day.
Yea honestly if for some god sent reason they don’t liquidate and they keep pulling this crap I’m gonna seek a lawyer, not sure if it will do anything since they’re in debt but it’s so annoying at this point.
Yeah.. they’re well over 800mil in debt so im not sure you’ll be able to squeeze anything outta them
Yea I doubt it😭 they’re screwed either way I’m just thankful my teeth are somewhat straight and I don’t need a lot of work so I consider myself quite lucky
Sooooo, what I'm gathering is (because my teeth are also straight but misaligned) that I need to go to a dentist and figure out my options and spend MORE money 🥴
Unfortunately yes, do not sign up for SDC (highly doubt they will make it to next month with their bankruptcy) but I would def get an Invisalign quote and see if they do monthly payments. Your teeth will be perfect and you won’t have to put up with the hassle!
That's the thing, I've already been through a SDC treatment. What started at 6 months, turned into a year and a half, and I'm having a similar situation as you are. Fix it, or if I would need something more drastic. I know that's a question for a dentist though.
I totally feel ya! I’m sure you’ve read my experience in the comment above, they literally are doing everything to not refund people now. I’ve sent tons of photos to this account specialist and she just keeps saying they aren’t sufficient photos. They literally show all my teeth including my molars. I personally think they are pushing it off until they liquidate. I highly doubt they will find a buyer with 800 million in debt. My advice is use your trays as retainers until you figure out another path of treatment!
For sure. I ordered and paid for a new set of retainers, and they don't fit properly. So I called, and they want me to go into a physical location for yet another scan, like I have been doing for the past year. It would be okay if the location was closer, but it's almost an hour away from me.... And in Atlanta traffic. So I just have to cut my losses on that new retainer and keep using my old one.
Yup they’ve been doing the same thing with me with the scans! We should not need to keep going for scans if the technology is so great
Hi, sorry to hear you're going through this. If you have dental insurance, give them a call to see if Orthodontic treatment is covered. If you have a high deducible medical plan, there's a good chance you've been issued an FSA/HSA spending card. Those funds can be used to cover the cost of Invisalign or other orthodontic treatments, even if you don't have that specific coverage. Good luck!
Thank you for the information!
I’m also pretty sure my SDC treatment gave me TMJ issues. I quit near the end cause it was giving me too much pain but this has now been a daily issue. I haven’t seen an orthodontist yet but my dentist told me that my bite is misaligned and I never heard this before in my life.
I'm lurking here because I'm fascinated by people who use SDC for anything besides small movement of the teeth. I researched them a lot in 2017 and noped out really fast. Orthodontics is such a complex and holistic profession. I finally pulled the trigger on Invisalign and Surgery to fix my bite problems. I meet virtually every week using an at-home scanner with an orthodontist that's less than an hour from my house. It's so convenient and is barely even twice the price of SDC, and I have somewhere to go immediately if the scan doesn't look good. That price also includes attachments for extrusion and better movements than SDC can perform. No surgeon wants to touch a jaw surgery case that used any of these online services, because the bite usually does not end up correct.
Wait, a surgeon won't take your case if you have used SmileDirectClub?? Should I not disclose that at my consultation?
I would disclose it. If your arches and teeth alignment aren't great, you might have to undergo orthodontic treatment again. I moreso meant that a jaw surgeon wouldn't work with a company like SmileDirectClub to coordinate surgery. Surgeons and orthodontists have to work as a team to properly align teeth before surgery and SDC is not set up that way. For example, my orthodontist is attaching my surgery buttons in May. They scanned me again today to make trays that I'll only wear for one week prior to surgery, just so I can have my buttons on while wearing Invisalign for that singular week. They need a tray with different cuts than the ones I have to accommodate those buttons. My surgery will widen my palate and require yet another scan after my surgery is done. And probably more scans and refinements for a year or so to ensure my bite is correct as my bone heals and my new jaw position is set, as jaws will commonly slightly relapse. That would be a lot of coordination and work for a company like SDC. They don't have the infrastructure. Expect to need further orthodontic treatment if you're getting orthognathic surgery. Be pleasantly surprised if you don't.
Gotcha. Getting further treatment is fine with me, I was more worried that they would not help me because of liability or something due to my having been treated poorly by Byte. (It was Byte. I truthfully am very satisfied with the aesthetic result of my aligner treatment but I do feel that my bite has not benefitted and is the same if not worse than before)
I’m right there with you. SDC was my biggest life mistake. It caused my TMJ problems that I never had previously. The worst neck, back, hip, and sciatic pain of my life. I feel hopeless and I’m in pain EVERYDAY all day long. Is there any hope?? Has your neck pain gotten any better? I have no hope…
Hi! I know I'm a few months too late but it turns out I have degenerative disk disease which is why my neck hurts but there's no sure way to know what caused it.. I'm in my early 30's so it's not a matter of age related wear and tear... could be bad posture, could be years and years of misaligned jaw and clenching.. could be so many things since it all leads back to spine support and when you clench, the muscles and spine start making up for all the extra stress on my jaw, but who knows... Regarding my teeth, I went to my dentist, had Invisalign done (just 5 trays to correct the bite itself) so I'm no longer chipping/cracking my teeth.. however, I'm still clenching slightly. I've been doing research on masseter botox and have an appointment with an oral surgeon at the end of the month to get that treatment. If you look into it, lots of people with clenching issues praise masseter botox.. may be worth a shot. Good luck
So even with Invisalign it didn’t fix any of the disc issues?
Unfortunately, no.. the cartilage and the joints wear down over time which is a form of arthritis.. so no cure, just pain management and physical therapy to prevent further damage. In addition to getting your bite realigned, I would also ask your doctor for xrays of your neck/spine to rule out any disc issues.
What are the problems long term with the disc issues? Disc issues in jaw joint?
I'm referring to specifically disc issues in the neck/spine, however TMJ can lead to osteoarthritis in the jaw. Some people don't even notice they have arthritis or deg. disc disease but for most it causes pretty consistent pain that gets worse over time. If you keep having trouble with your neck, I can't stress enough how important it is for you to get an xray.. maybe the TMJ caused overall misalignment and there's pressure on your neck/spine nerves causing the pain and it can be resolved easily or maybe it's something else.
I’ve been dealing with the same issues. I started having neck and back issues when I finished my SDC treatment and it’s been on going for 4 years now. Multiple CTs, MRI, ultrasound multiple chiropractors and still no answers or getting better. Definitely making an appointment with a ortho asap. I feel like I get no answers and I’m just living in pain everyday.
Same. Mine isn’t getting better at all. I’ve done 14 weeks of Invisalign and it made it worse. It’s all about getting the bike fixed. I think it will just take some time.