Do you want straight teeth? Head to CVS

Prescriptions, makeup, sweets and … braces? Starting today, you will be able to begin the dental rehabilitation process at CVS through a partnership with SmileDirectClub.

SmileDirectClub, launched in 2014, manufactures clear plastic aligners that straighten your teeth without the need of very visible traditional metal appliances.

To start using SmileDirectClub, you can visit a SmileShop – available in 45 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and several Canadian provinces. In a SmileShop, you encounter a SmileGuide that analyzes your mouth in 3D, determines whether your teeth can be straightened using plastic aligners, provides a rendering of the appearance of your straight teeth and explain the process

Soon, you'll be able to experience the same experience at hundreds of CVS stores starting this year. These SmileShop clinics are currently available in 13 CVS locations, and many more are about to arrive.

You can also sign up to SmileClubDirect through their website and you will receive a kit with dental trays to create a 3D mold of your teeth (similar to what is used in the office of an orthodontist). With this impression, SmileDirectClub creates a plan to straighten your teeth and the plastic aligners needed to get there.

A team of dentists and orthodontists will evaluate your case (and that of each patient) and follow you every 90 days to monitor your progress. It is important to note that not everyone is a candidate for plastic aligners. People suffering from severe overcrowding, overbites, overbites and other problems often need traditional orthodontic interventions.

SmileDirectClub offers an alternative to Invisalign plastic aligners, available since 1997 and available only from an orthodontist or dentist. Patients should visit a clinic for examination, which includes multiple X-rays of teeth and a full assessment to determine if they are eligible for orthodontic treatment before they can receive Invisalign.

Read more: Quip toothbrush review: Is it better than brushes twice as expensive?

SmileDirectClub was created to make the dental recovery process more accessible by allowing anyone to order a kit without having to see a dentist. Their plastic aligners are also cheaper than traditional braces. The cost of the SmileDirectClub is up to $ 2,200 versus $ 3,000 to $ 7,000 for metal devices.

However, the company's approach to tooth remediation has been controversial with physicians and dentists individually filing civil complaints against SmileDirectClub.

These complaints allege that SmileDirectClub does not meet standards of care – which include looking for cavities and assessing a patient's bone density by radiography – by providing orthodontic treatments to his patients (bone density plays a role important in the diagnostic process). straightening of teeth and can only be examined by X-rays).

The company has not received approval from the American Dental Association and the group urges people not to use the dental services provided directly to the consumer or "DIY orthodontics".

SmileClubDirect is aware of these problems and believes that what it does brings more good than harm. A spokesman for the company told CNET:

In the United States, 60% of counties do not have access to an orthodontist and SmileDirectClub fills this void. We have served more than half a million people with a quality, customer-focused experience led by state-approved dentists and orthodontists. We work with state dental councils to clarify misconceptions about our business model and we will continue to work hard to defend ourselves against any entity seeking to impact access to care.

Despite complaints and controversy, SmileDirectClub's new CVS clinics could make it easier for people who want to have straight, but not hugging, teeth to begin this process or learn more about the implications of this process. process.