For the past few years I’ve been getting a chip in my front tooth patched by my dentist. This patch will last anywhere between 8 months to as short as one hour before it pops off and I have to get it done again. I’m not a fan of the look of this chipped tooth but I can’t keep getting it patched, either. My dentist, recommended I get orthodontics to help keep my teeth from smacking together and dislodging the patch.
The orthodontist recommended by my dentist put a hefty price tag on moving my teeth and I just couldn’t justify the cost. I put that on hold before I checked out Smile Direct Club (SDC). SDC would use the same invisible aligners (InvisAlign) that the orthodontist would use but the cost would be less than two-thirds the price. The downside is I wouldn’t receive personal care from an orthodontist. I decided to go for it, since I have had three years of orthodontics experience as a teenager and know what to expect.
So far, it’s been so good. I put in my first aligners a week ago Saturday and began my second one this past Saturday. My teeth ached a bit for most of the first week but by that Wednesday I felt comfortable enough wearing them that I didn’t mind them anymore. There’s no question that my teeth have shifted in the 9 days I’ve worn the aligners, so I have no doubt that they’re working. And I’ve become a bit obsessed with wearing them.
The only downsides are that sometimes the edges of my aligners feel a bit sharp to my tongue. I have to make sure I keep my tongue as still as possible to keep from rubbing it raw. There’s also the mild ache I feel from my shifting teeth. I cannot eat anything or drink anything but water while I’m wearing them. Finally, I have to brush my teeth each time I remove the aligners. Overall, not too difficult to manage.
I had wondered at the start of this if I’d have the discipline to deal with aligners. It turns out I do. I think I’ll be looking back on this in October and feel like it was worth the cost and effort.
I’ll keep y’all posted on how it goes.