A North Carolina orthodontist is offering free guns to Invisalign patients. But the company behind the teeth-straightening aligner wants nothing to do with it.

Joshua Zitser
·2 min read
20
A clear invisible retainer, left, and a Glock 19 gun, right, in a composite image.
A clear invisible retainer, left, and a Glock 19 gun, right, in a composite image.Getty Images, Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images

  • A North Carolina orthodontist is offering a free gun to those who sign up for Invisalign treatment.

  • It's part of a controversial "Grins and Glocks" promotion at the Raleigh practice.

  • But the company behind Invisalign, Align Technology, is trying to distance itself from the promotion.

A North Carolina orthodontist is offering patients who sign up for Invisalign treatment a free gun. But the company behind the teeth-straightening aligner, Align Technology, says it has nothing to do with the promotion.

Jason Gladwell of Gladwell Orthodontics in Raleigh is giving patients the option of receiving a free Glock 19 as part of the "Grins and Glocks" promotion, according to CNN Newsource.

Glock 19s retail for more than $500, with Invisalign costing upwards of $3,000.

"Instead of them paying for it, I'm paying for it," Gladwell told the outlet.

The promotion is already proving to be a controversial one, with the orthodontist telling CNN Newsource: "Anytime you talk about firearms, it can be a polarizing subject."

And Align Technology has tried to distance itself from the offer.

The company said in a statement provided to CNN Newsource that "Invisalign-trained doctors are independent practices and Align was not involved in the development or approval of this promotion by the dental practice, and only learned of it after the fact."

It continued: "For more than 25 years, Align has been helping doctors transform smiles and change lives through healthy beautiful smiles using Invisalign aligners, and this promotion does not reflect our brand purpose."

As part of the promotion, patients not interested in a free gun will instead be able to opt for a membership at Youngsville Gun Club & Range, CNN Newsource said.

According to the gun club's owner, Kurt Lieberman, those seeking to claim either incentive need to visit in person.

Those over the age of 21 will need to pass an on-site background check in order to get a free gun, Lieberman said, per CNN Newsource.

But although the club will recommend recipients take a training class, it won't be required, Lieberman added.

Initially promoted to only those on the gun club's email list, the "Grins and Glocks" promotion has since gained wider attention online, drawing reactions from individuals expressing shock and dismay on the orthodontist practice's Facebook posts.

Gladwell Orthodontics and Align Technology did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comments, which were sent out of business hours.

Read the original article on Insider