Smile Direct Club Appoints Dr. Riddhi Gangolli Senior Director of Professional Education and Key Opinion Leader Strategy

Rhea-AI Summary

SmileDirectClub (Nasdaq: SDC) has appointed Riddhi Gangolli, BDS, MS, PhD, as Senior Director of Professional Education and Key Opinion Leader Strategy. Dr. Gangolli, previously with Straumann Group, will enhance the company’s partnerships with dental professionals to promote its telehealth platform and expand its SmileDirectClub Partner Network. This move comes as 30% of general practitioners currently offer clear aligner therapy, presenting significant growth opportunities for the company. SmileDirectClub aims to make dental care affordable, achieving rapid growth since its U.S. launch in 2014.

Positive

• Appointment of Riddhi Gangolli expected to strengthen relationships with dentists and orthodontists.
• Expansion of SmileDirectClub Partner Network opens new access points for patients.
• Company aims to make clear aligner therapy more accessible, potentially increasing market share.

Negative

• Concern over the relatively low percentage (30%) of general practitioners currently offering clear aligner therapy.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SmileDirectClub, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDC), the oral care company with the first medtech platform for teeth straightening, today announced the appointment of Riddhi Gangolli, BDS, MS, PhD, to the newly created role of Senior Director of Professional Education and Key Opinion Leader Strategy. Gangolli will work directly with industry professionals to help educate them about SmileDirectClub’s telehealth platform as the company grows its recently expanded direct-to-office offering and SmileDirectClub Partner Network.

“As a company, we are committed to working closely with the dental community as we continue in our mission to make affordable oral care accessible to everyone. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Gangolli to the SmileDirectClub team to continue to build strong relationships with licensed dentists and orthodontists so that they can provide safe, affordable care to more patients,” said Dr. Jeffrey Sulitzer, Chief Clinical Officer, SmileDirectClub. “Riddhi will be instrumental in helping us to further partner with the dental community and grow the understanding, acceptance and use of teledentistry.”

Gangolli, who was most recently Director of Clinical Marketing for Switzerland-based Straumann Group and has served as an innovation research and development scientist for Glidewell Dental in Irvine, Calif., will lead the Company’s industry outreach and act as a liaison to share the latest capabilities and innovations of the SmileDirectClub teledentistry platform. Gangolli earned her Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from Padmashree Dr D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth in Maharashtra, India and practiced dentistry in Mumbai. She holds a Master of Science in Biomaterials and Biomimetics from New York University and earned her Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Temple University.

With approximately 30% of general practitioners offering clear aligner therapy¹ and the other 70% not currently offering any orthodontia at all, SmileDirectClub provides dentists and orthodontists with a new option and opportunity to offer patients a safe, effective alternative to braces that costs patients up to 60% less. The appointment of Gangolli follows SmileDirectClub’s recently announced expansion of its direct-to-office SmileDirectClub Partner Network via a partnership with Smile Brands Inc. Through this partnership with Smile Brands and its 450 affiliated dental practices across 18 states, consumers will now be able to begin their SmileDirectClub journey from a dentist chair, at a SmileShop or with a doctor-prescribed impression kit.

Since launching in the U.S. in 2014, SmileDirectClub has become one of the fastest-growing health technology companies and the fastest-growing teledentistry provider, serving over one million customers around the world.

¹A Direct-to-Consumer Clear Aligner Provider; Time to Join the Club? William Blair. October 7, 2019.

About SmileDirectClub
SmileDirectClub, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDC) (“SmileDirectClub”) is an oral care company and creator of the first medtech platform for teeth straightening, now also offered directly via dentist and orthodontists’ offices. Through our cutting-edge teledentistry technology and vertically integrated model, we are revolutionizing the oral care industry, from clear aligner therapy to our affordable, premium oral care product line. SmileDirectClub’s mission is to democratize access to a smile each and every person loves by making it affordable and convenient for everyone. SmileDirectClub is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and operates in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Hong Kong and Singapore. For more information, please visit SmileDirectClub.com.

Contact:
SmileDirectClub Media Relations: press@smiledirectclub.com

FAQ

What is Riddhi Gangolli's role at SmileDirectClub?

Riddhi Gangolli has been appointed as the Senior Director of Professional Education and Key Opinion Leader Strategy.

How will Dr. Gangolli's appointment impact SmileDirectClub?

Her role focuses on enhancing partnerships with dental professionals and promoting SmileDirectClub's telehealth offerings.

What does the SmileDirectClub Partner Network do?

It connects patients to dental practices that provide SmileDirectClub's clear aligner therapy options.

What percentage of general practitioners currently offer clear aligner therapy?

Approximately 30% of general practitioners offer clear aligner therapy.

How has SmileDirectClub grown since its launch?

Since its U.S. launch in 2014, SmileDirectClub has become one of the fastest-growing health technology companies, serving over one million customers.