HOUSTON, Texas: The self-proclaimed democratiser of orthodontic care, SmileDirectClub (SDC) has abruptly shuttered its global business after less than ten years of operations. The Tennessee clear aligner company announced in December that it had failed to secure a financial lifeline in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and that it would consequently liquidate and end all services with immediate effect. According to media reports, the closure came as a surprise to thousands of SDC customers who were in various stages of orthodontic care and who must now consult a local dentist to continue their treatment.