Eggert Family Dentistry’s Dr. Elizabeth is five weeks into her Invisalign® journey. You can read all about it here. But Randi is on an Invisalign® journey all her own! Here’s her story in her own words.
Why I Started Invisalign®
I had braces as a teen, and upon completing my treatment, I was supposed to wear a retainer every night. I did so for the first several years every few days or so, but eventually lost my upper retainer and my teeth quickly became crowded. It’s a story we see all the time at Eggert Family Dentistry.
I have never been confident with my smile. My front tooth crosses over the other significantly, and I always try to smile without showing my teeth. Working in the dental field, our team is constantly attending continuing education courses to learn about new ways to better serve our patients. I have attended a few different seminars learning about Invisalign®, and I was thrilled to be able to go through Invisalign® treatment in our office. I knew this was an easy way to get my smile back as long as I was willing to commit to wearing my retainers as directed and following a dedicated hygiene ritual to keep my teeth and retainers clean.
The First Two Appointments
After learning so much about Invisalign®, I was ready! I couldn’t be more excited to start. I had records taken and reviewed the results of the personalized treatment plan with Dr. Elizabeth.
The second appointment showing the personalized treatment plan is so informative! It is an interactive, 3D simulation of where your teeth are positioned before beginning Invisalign® and where the teeth are positioned at the end of treatment. The simulation is very eye opening. All I saw in my smile was that my one front tooth was crossed over the other. The presentation showed a lot of crowding on my lower teeth and cross bite in the back, all of which can contribute to premature wear over time. My goal is to keep my teeth for the rest of my life. I will do what I need to do that, so I was very impressed with how many improvements the Invisalign® presentation revealed.
Getting Fitted for Invisalign® & My First Two Weeks
At my next appointment, Dr. Elizabeth and Nicole attached small buttons to many of my teeth to help with the movement. This was the longest process so far, but it was painless. Dr. Elizabeth then sent me home with the retainers and instructions on caring for them.
I have been wearing my retainers for two weeks. I was so excited to tell my family that I started the treatment and was a little bummed no one noticed. Then I thought, “Great! Why would I want anyone to notice?” People I talk to say they can’t tell at all when I’m wearing them. You can only see the aligners if you look really closely.
A Surprising Benefit
One other benefit so far has been that I am not able to snack throughout the day. I never realized before how often I was snacking. Optimal wear time for the aligners is 22 hours each day, which allows for time to eat, but you do have to be diligent about flossing and brushing after eating or drinking anything aside from water while wearing the aligners. This prevents tooth decay.
Today is the start of my third week wearing the aligners. Aligners are changed every two weeks, so tonight is the night I switch to my second set. I’m excited to see what changes occur over the next couple of weeks!
Find Out if Invisalign® Is Right for You
The dentists at Eggert Family Dentistry love helping their patients align their teeth gradually, effortlessly, and invisibly. I’d love to have you along on my journey! To help make it happen, we’re offering specials on Invisalign® express treatments between now and December 31 for patients who have completed an Invisalign® records appointment:
- $130 off Express 10 Dual-Arch Treatment
- $180 off Express 5 Dual-Arch Treatment
Wondering if Invisalign® could help improve your smile? Email Eggert Family Dentistry today or call (651) 482-8412 to schedule an appointment.