Smile Direct Club shuts down months after filing for bankruptcy leaving patients in limbo and wondering where to turn for treatment

Online dentistry treatment Smile Direct Club has shut down just three months after filing for bankruptcy and left patients unsure if their expensive treatments will be completed. 

The company that was once valued at $8.9billion announced the 'incredibly difficult decision to wind down its global operations, effective immediately' on Friday. 

In the midst of the shutdown, many customers have been left deserted during their teeth-aligner treatment, which takes an estimated four to six months to complete. 

'Bruh!! Smile Direct Club, the company I am using to straighten my teeth with and paid in full and am only months into my treatment just went bankrupt and shut the company down. Omggg,' a commenter said on Facebook. 

The company officially announced they were filing for bankruptcy in September but vowed they would 'continue to provide affordable and accessible oral care to its customers without disruption.' 

'We apologize for the inconvenience, but aligner treatment is no longer available through the SmileDirectClub platform,' the site said. 

'If you wish to continue treatment outside of our platform, please consult your treating doctor or your local dentist with any questions around future aligner treatment.' 

According to the company's website, customers who ordered aligners that have not been shipped will be canceled. 

On top of ending their aligner service, the company has gone on to do away with its Lifetime Smile Guarantee program, which 'protects your smile for life.' 

The aligner service helped people have more straight teeth. It used a retainer-like system that was clear and could be easily removed, instead of the metal many remember from their youths.  

The program allowed dissatisfied customers the chance to return their aligners in the first 30 days for a full refund, but that will no longer take place due to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy.   

Customers who are a part of the company's monthly payment program known as SmilePay are still 'expected to continue to make all monthly payments until payment has been made in full,' according to the website. 

Any customers looking for refunds from the company are set to receive more information on that process 'once the bankruptcy process determines next steps.' 

Many discouraged customers have taken to social media to share their concern for treatment as one said: 'Disgusting how we have all been treated... I only just signed up for my aligners, made my first payment and now I won't even be receiving my braces.' 

Another said that the bankruptcy announcement is 'heart-breaking' as they are in the middle of treatment. 

'Smile Direct Club is crazy for this,' another person said on X (formally known as Twitter). 

The end of the company became official after a scheduled hearing 'to consider conditional relief' on Friday at US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. 

The telehealth company was founded in 2014 by Jordan Katzman and Alex Fenkell, who were named the youngest billionaires in the US in 2019. 

Katzman and Fenkell launched the company in Michigan before they moved it to Nashville, Tennessee, as they set out to make invisible teeth liners more affordable than traditional braces from an orthodontist. 

Smile Direct Club aligners were priced at around $2,000- a fraction of the cost of braces that sell for around $5,000. 

Customers who bought the aligners online would then be sent supplies to take molds of their teeth in the comfort of their homes. They would then be appointed to registered dentists for regular check-ins.

Along with a huge online presence, Smile Direct Club was also a hit with major realtors, such as Walmart and CVS, who sold their products. Products were also made available on Amazon. 

DailyMail.com contacted Smile Direct Club but did not receive a response in time for this report. 

According to Business Insider, Katzman and Fenkell who became friends at a young age came up with the idea for their company after they both wore metal braces. 

They set off to look for a cheaper and less embarrassing way to straighten teeth and did so by securing funding from Camelot Venture Group- Katzman's father's investment firm.