The nationwide boom in teeth straightening is poised to accelerate with the introduction of SmileDirectClub’s braces alternative in certain CVS Pharmacy stores. CVS Health plans…
The nationwide boom in teeth straightening is poised to accelerate with the introduction of SmileDirectClub’s braces alternative in certain CVS Pharmacy stores.
CVS Health plans to announce Thursday that it will devote sections of «hundreds» of stores to the surging startup’s Smile Shops later this year after a pilot delivered promising results.
The move continues the drugstore chain’s strategy of shifting more floor space from retail to health care services while cutting back on poorly selling products like greeting cards.
Customers will be able to start their SmileDirectClub treatment plan in stores by getting their teeth scanned and signing up for plastic teeth aligners, which straighten teeth over a course of months and can be removed temporarily for eating and drinking.
SmileDirectClub patients then receive aligners in shipments to their homes after their cases are reviewed remotely by an orthodontist or dentist.
«We believe it’s just a testament to the consumer’s trust in teledentistry and our business model as a leading solution for affordable and convenient smile care,» Alex Fenkell, SmileDirectClub’s co-founder, told USA TODAY.
CVS stores will devote «a very private environment in the back of the store» to the SmileDirectClub space, much like its MinuteClinic service for basic medical care, CVS Pharmacy President Kevin Hourican said.
