SmileDirectClub has been awarded a patent for its SmileShop intellectual property.
The patent covers SmileShop's concept and process, including the ability to schedule an appointment at a SmileShop, send the scheduling confirmation to the customer, conduct the intraoral scan, generate a treatment plan, and receive approval of the treatment plan by a licensed dentist or orthodontist. The process also includes the production of aligners according to the treatment plan and shipment of the final product to the customer.
SmileDirectClub also announced that it plans to reopen its SmileShops beginning in May in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., and Ireland, as local governments begin to lift business restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company temporarily closed shops in March, as it transitioned to producing 3D-printed personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare personnel and other staff involved in the fight against the novel coronavirus.
