As many dental offices throughout the country have postponed all non-essential appointments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SmileDirectClub announced April 6 that it will open its teledentistry platform to all licensed dentists and orthodontists.
"As a company built on doctor-directed remote dental care, we feel a responsibility to support dental professionals so that they can continue to manage patient care during this time," said SmileDirectClub Chief Clinical Officer Jeffrey Sulitzer, DDS. "We are well positioned to offer our resources and telehealth expertise to support these doctors and give them the tools necessary to continue business operations while keeping everyone safe in the comfort of their own homes."
The platform supports video and live chat capabilities. Dentists and orthodontists who are not affiliated with SmileDirectClub can use the platform free of charge to communicate with patients. SmileDirectClub also created a referral network that gives dentists the opportunity to connect with new patients. The company has plans to distribute complementary 3D printed face shields to providers for emergency dental care.