Invisalign braces are clear, plastic, aligning trays that are custom fitted to your teeth. The trays shift your teeth based on the movement plan that your Accent Dentist sets out for you. Approximately every two weeks, you'll switch out your aligners for a new set, continuing the process of gradually shifting your teeth into place. Invisalign provides an alternative to braces that is more comfortable and convenient, and less invasive than the classic wire and metal bracket.
"As most people can understand, having a-not-so perfect smile can affect anyone’s self-esteem, especially as a child or young adult; always feeling a bit awkward, never wanting to truly express yourself, and fearing that all anyone sees is just how not-so-perfect you are.
Fitting in was always a struggle. As we all know, brothers and sisters can push buttons, and the teasing started at home. Coming from a family of six meant that our parents couldn’t afford to put me in braces, and even when I expressed how it was affecting me it was never seen as an option. I feared that since my siblings had noticed my not-so-perfect smile then everyone else would too, and I didn’t want the teasing to increase. As a result, my laughter became silent, I smiled less frequently, and my overall demeanor became more withdrawn at social events. By the time I finished school and headed into my independent adult years, I started to realize just how much my past had affected my overall outlook on the way I saw myself.
Now, as an adult, the option of braces is still expensive. However, with the help from my medical benefits and payment options for the remaining cost, I was truly elated to find out I was a candidate for Invisalign through Accent Dental. Getting started was quite simple and painless! After taking molds of my mouth and sending them off to the Invisalign Company, I got a call less than two weeks later to come in for the results. I was shown a video projecting how my teeth would look after the treatment and was able to see the full movement from start to end! They pushed the button, and with excitement, we started the process.
The Invisalign preparation was painless. The only part of the entire preparation process during which I felt any discomfort was when they filed in between my teeth (nails on a chalkboard) because they needed more room. Little attachments that hold the trays in place were applied to my upper and lower teeth accordingly, and I was handed my first 3 sets of aligner trays shortly after! Off I went, SUPER SIMPLE!
The best thing about the trays is that you leave them in all day, take them out to eat (brush afterwards), and then put them back in. The trays are not uncomfortable, and they literally become part of your everyday routine. You will be given these little foam-like tubes called Chewy’s to chew on that promote blood flow while your teeth are moving (I found TV time was a great time to use them!). Key piece of advice: follow the rules!!! The program will only work if you do what you need to do to make it work! A lot of people ask, “Does Invisalign hurt?” I am not going to lie, when changing out some of the trays they do get very tight on your teeth. The first three days of a new tray can be painful, but power through it as they do loosen up! Sometimes if you take your tray out and are dreading putting it back in because they are so tight, just hold them under some warm water before putting them back in, I found that it made the trays a bit softer.
Now I am almost at the end of my treatment and can honestly say that I smile a lot, laugh hard, and am far from feeling awkward like I have ALL MY LIFE. I wear lipstick!!! I used to never wear lipstick, and people have even commented on how nice my teeth look, something that has never happened EVER in my life. I am a 37-year-old woman with Invisalign and proud to say that it was the best leap I ever took in my life!
I was never happy with my smile so it was difficult to find a picture of me showing my teeth, BUT NOW pictures are everywhere, even with some of the treatment left to complete.
Thank you to the dentists and staff at Accent Dental for changing my life and giving me the confidence to smile."
- Heather Morgan
To book your free Invisalign consultation with Accent Dental click here or call us at 250.563.4939.