Pharmacy giants CVS and Walgreens are increasingly adding dental services to their drugstores, CNBC reports.
Three things to know:
1. Under a new pilot program, CVS will help fit people for invisible braces with SmileDirectClub, a startup that offers direct-to-consumer teeth straightening kits. Six of its drugstores will add a so-called SmileShopExpress for customers to receive a 3D scan of their teeth to create invisible braces.
2. Walgreens opened an Aspen Dental clinic in one of its stores in December, and it plans to open another one later this year. The clinic offers dental services such as cleanings and crowns, and aims to make dental care more accessible and transparent, Walgreens CMO Pat Carroll, MD, told CNBC.
3. The moves are an attempt by CVS and Walgreens to diversify their offerings, Jefferies healthcare services analyst Brian Tanquilut told CNBC. For Walgreens, it's also an attempt to attract seniors to its stores, as traditional Medicare does not cover most dental procedures, according to Dr. Carroll.
"The demographic is really looking for dental services [and] as their dentist may retire, they're looking for more access," Dr. Carroll said. "We're also looking at a demographic that's really using Walgreens and the services they need at our stores."