Toothsi faces backlash over alleged customer mismanagement

Mumbai

Dental tech startup Toothsi, which offers affordable and easy-to-use clear aligners for teeth straightening, is facing growing criticism from customers over poor management, misleading promises, and weak after-sales support. Many users have taken to social media and consumer complaint sites to share their bad experiences, raising concerns about the company’s reliability.

One customer, Geet Dhir, an advocate, publicly complained about delays in receiving his next set of aligners even after finishing the previous batch. Toothsi assured him that their team would reach out soon. Another user, Shivendra Soni, openly called Toothsi a scam, accusing the company’s staff and doctors of wasting customers’ money without fulfilling their promises.

These complaints reflect a wider issue. A report by The Ken shows many users facing similar problems. For instance, Priya, a marketing executive from Mumbai, was excited to use Toothsi’s service costing Rs 50,000 but was told her dental impressions were rejected before she even sent them. She was then asked to pay an extra Rs 11,000 for a 3D scan, which seemed like a way to get more money.

Another user, Fahima N, shared a troubling story where she was promised a fully remote treatment after a video call but later asked to travel hours for a procedure. She was told she needed a tooth extraction, but local dentists found the recommendation unsafe. Surprisingly, she received her aligners before the extraction was done, causing doubts about the treatment’s safety. When she tried to cancel, she was told she would still be charged since her loan was processed.

Toothsi’s parent company, MakeO, raised major funding in January 2025, valuing it at Rs 2,231 crore ($270 million). However, ongoing complaints and operational issues now appear to be pushing the company to seek new funding at nearly half that valuation, indicating tough times ahead.