CVS Pharmacy brings SmileDirectClub to stores

2/1/2019
CVS Pharmacy is making moves to bring dental care to its store. The retail arm of CVS Health is introducing products and services from teeth-straightening start-up Smile Direct Club to a limited number of stores.

CVS Pharmacy is selling SmileDirectClub products in roughly 100 CVS Pharmacy locations across the country. It also is testing SmileShopExpress, which allows customers to have a 3D scan completed in-store that can be used to create invisible braces, in a handful of stores,

According to a CNBC report, the teeth-straightening market has become extremely competitive since 40 of market leader Invisalign's patents expired in October 2017. SmileDirectClub and many other start-ups, are competing to overtake the teeth-straightening market, according to the report.

“CVS Pharmacy is committed to making health easier and more convenient for our customers," a CVS Pharmacy spokesperson said. "As part of this commitment, we continuously test new programs and partnerships to enhance the customer experience."

The entry into dental options from CVS Health comes as other chains are entering the fray.

In December, Walgreens announced a partnership to bring Aspen Dental-branded dental offices to two of its locations in Florida. The companies said the collaboration is aimed at helping transform Walgreens’ stores into health destinations that improve healthcare access in convenient settings.

The companies held a “floss-cutting” ceremony at a location in Palatka, Fla. on Dec. 13, with the second Aspen Dental at Walgreens location set to open in the second quarter of 2019. The Aspen Dental office will offer free new patient exams and X-rays for patients without insurance and will feature an onsite denture lab to quickly turnaround custom dentures, repairs, relines or adjustments.
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