INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Uniform Teeth, the teeth straightening startup that helped me figure out I needed a root canal, has just raised a $10 million round of
funding led by Canaan Partners
This brings Uniform Teeth’s total funding to $14 million.With the new funding, Uniform Teeth plans to open two more locations, one in
Seattle and one in Chicago, early next year
Uniform Teeth currently operates two locations in San Francisco
By the end of next year, Uniform Teeth plans to open more locations throughout the U.S.The startup takes a One Medical-like approach in that
it provides real, licensed orthodontists to see you and treat your bite
Ahead of the first visit, patients use the Uniform app to take photos of their teeth and their bite
During the initial visit, patients receive a panoramic scan and 3D imaging to confirm what type of work needs to be done.The reason Uniform
Teeth requires in-office visits is because 75% or more of the cases require additional procedures.“There really is a need that is not
being addressed in the market,” Uniform Teeth CEO Meghan Jewitt told TechCrunch
“We see so much of the activity in the space targeting simple vanity cases, but that’s just a small fraction of the market
We’re focused on the moderate to full-spectrum cases, which is like 75% of the market.”Uniform Teeth faces a number of competitors, most
notably SmileDirectClub and Candid
SmileDirectClub, which recently went public amid concerns from dental associations, provides an at-home teeth-straightening service
In its S-1, SmileDirectClub addressed those concerns as risk factors, saying, “national and state dental associations have issued
statements discouraging use of orthodontics using a teledentistry platform.”Uniform Teeth’s in-person approach doesn’t allow it to
reach as many customers as the likes of SmileDirectClub and Candid, but perhaps customers will opt to meet with an orthodontist in person
