I’ve been looking forward to this day for 10 years. That’s right, ten whole years. While time feels like a blink in most cases, it felt like it stood still in this case. I’ve been feeling the pull to do something different about my smile. For something that should have been addressed years ago when I was a child, had now caught up with me as an adult and left me feeling in pain and self-conscious.
I remember the various trips to the dentist and orthodontist so vividly from my childhood because they were so frequent. In fact my first surgery ever was in my mouth, as doctors tried to do all they could to create room and space for my teeth to grow. I had many surgeries removing teeth that could no longer fit and live in my mouth. To this day I have four adult teeth that never made it past my 10th birthday.
I had grown to love my smile over time. It’s gotten me through many years of joyful times and laughter and for the longest time while deep down I wished it was a little different, I didn’t mind it and embraced it for what it was. I appreciated the work that was done to avoid braces and thought my smile was the best it was going to get because it was what it was and I was okay with that fact.
It wasn’t until my late twenties when my dentist informed me that I was wearing my teeth down at a rapid pace due to my bite. Oblivious to the signs myself, I went home after that dentist appointment and headed straight to the bathroom to examine my teeth and noticed how very true his words were. My smile hasn’t looked the same to me since that day. I realized the shift my teeth were making and saw the little chips and cracks and dip in my lower teeth that had started to form from all the wear. My smile had now become something I didn’t like and I knew that one day I would have to do something about it.
When Invisalign first hit the market 20 some years ago, it was in it’s beginning stages of something truly amazing and innovative. I remember making an appointment to see if I was a candidate, only to be turned away. My case was too complicated. At the time Invisalign had strict parameters in which it could treat it’s patients. Fast forward to today, with it’s advanced technology, it now serves many and the strict parameters in which they could treat patients are a thing of the past. Which is really GOOD news for patients like me!
Park Dental is where I’m getting my treatment done. What I’ve loved about this process is that I’ve been able to receive my Invisalign treatment from my dentist who I adore. He has been so supportive throughout the years, listening to me cry and my strong desire of wanting something different for my smile. He knows my story so well, so it’s been such a pleasure to be working together to make this change happen.
So you may be curious, what is Invisalign? How does it work? Where do I go to get them? How long do you have to wear them? What is your treatment plan like? Why Invisalign and not other products on the market that seem similar? What has your experience been like so far?
All good questions I’ve been asked via Instagram when I’ve shared my story there with you. So let’s jump right in, shall we?!
What is Invisalign? Invisalign is invisible braces. Works just like braces but instead of brackets like traditional braces, Invisalign is an actual aligner you wear on your teeth that straightens the teeth and aligns them to their proper placement.
How does it work? Invisalign works just like traditional braces does, only Invisalign is an aligner that you switch out typically weekly or depending on your personalized treatment plan. With it’s advance technology and software programing, the aligners are custom made for your mouth and teeth. In some cases, like mine, the teeth may require attachments on them. The attachment and the aligner work together to move the tooth to it’s proper placement.
Where do I go to get them? Check with your dentist first! Park Dental is a local clinic that is all about high quality affordable care and their staff are experts in building amazing relationships with their patients. We love our clinic and the doctors we’ve been blessed to work with. Park Dental is also about advance technology and have hand picked doctors to train in this very high tech treatment, Invisalign. So for local folks, check out Park Dental to see how they can best serve you. And for those not local, simply check with your dentist.
How long do you have to wear them? It all depends on your treatment plan. Everyone’s story and situation is different, so this type of care is personalized to what your needs are. My treatment plan is approximately 26 weeks. Which is the longest my dentist has treated thus far. So that can tell you a little bit about my situation ;). As far as actual hours wearing them, they say best practice is 22 hours a day! Doesn’t that sound daunting? I remember feeling it as so, but it’s actually easy to do if you remain committed and diligent about it. You can’t eat with them in and only should drink clear liquids while you’re wearing them. This took some getting used to at first, but once you find your flow it’s pretty easy to work around.
What is your treatment plan like? As mentioned above, my treatment plan is going to be about 26 weeks when all said and done. I put on a new pair of aligners every 7 days and see my dentist every three weeks for a check up and to get another set of aligners that lasts 3 weeks. I have various attachments on my teeth which I wasn’t too thrilled about in the beginning, but honestly are barely noticeable and have been easy to eat and work around.
Why Invisalign and not the other products on the market? Invisalign’s advanced technology system is leading the industry when it comes to invisible braces. Their technology advances are unparalleled to other competing brands.
What has your experience been like so far? The first couple weeks we rough. It took me longer to get used to than what I had imagined. My teeth hurt a lot those first two weeks, making eating a challenge. I also experienced headaches for the pressure the aligners were putting on my teeth. But after I got used to it, it’s been smooth sailing for the most part. It’s a little challenging at times when it comes to eating only because I am such a grazer. But for the most part, they’ve been very accommodating to my lifestyle.
I’m looking forward to sharing more with you about this and showing you the BEFORE + AFTER! It’s been so fun to see the changes my teeth are making. They’ve been hard at work!