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*Opinions are author’s own
If you have been following me on social media, you will know that Ayd got started on Invisalign® treatment about two years ago because not only did he have an impacted canine tooth, he has an overbite which may lead to complications in future should it be left uncorrected.
So the wifey and I knew that he needed braces.
Problem was, I was totally clueless when it comes to braces. What type of braces should we choose – do we go for the conventional metal braces, or Invisalign invisible braces?
After doing some research, it was a no-brainer. We chose the Invisalign treatment, simply because its clear aligners are virtually invisible, removable and most importantly, comfortable.
So back in November 2020, we got Ayd started on Invisalign aligners and let’s just say the transformation has been amazing. (I promise I’ll get to the ‘after’ pictures in a bit)
Ayd visited the dentist, who did a detailed scan of his teeth. And for kids who just seem to sit still, parents will be glad to know that the scan is done digitally which makes the process quick, fuss-free and efficient!
It was through the scan that we found out that Ayd has an overbite too. If left untreated, it could cause significant health complications like tooth decay, jaw pain, discomfort or pain while eating, or just having trouble with fully opening or closing the mouth. An untreated overbite could also alter the facial structure over time.
Of course, there was the initial issue of his impacted upper canine tooth, which grew out of position due to overcrowding of his teeth. And even though Ayd didn’t express it, I suspect he was quite conscious of it as he grew older because that odd canine tooth looks out of place whenever he smiles. So there was a time when he refused to show his teeth when he smiled for photos.
See what I mean?
With the detailed scan done, an order for the custom-made aligners was placed which were ready for collection in a few weeks’ time.
Hands up if you thought that one only needs to wear a set of Invisalign aligners for the ENTIRE DURATION of the treatment. I DID. 😅😅😅 And I couldn’t have been more wrong. For Ayd’s treatment, it took around 2 years and involved many sets of aligners to change every one to two weeks along the way.
Each aligner is worn for about a week or two, so what each aligner does is to shift and align the teeth into position bit by bit. As Ayd changes to the next set of aligners, his teeth slowly shift into a straighter position. And the most convenient aspect of keeping track of his progress? Ayd is able to track treatment with his dentist virtually and only needs to go back every 3 months for reviews.
Speaking about convenience, if you ask Ayd, he will tell you that the best thing about wearing Invisalign aligners is he is still able to eat what he likes because he is a foodie! Unlike conventional metal braces, he just had to take off the aligners when eating and put them on again after that. No need to worry about food bits getting stuck in between the teeth and braces.
In fact, there was a funny incident involving chewing gum when we were in Malaysia just a few months ago. He forgot to remove his aligners when chewing gum and the gum got stuck on his aligners! 😆 Fortunately, he could remove the aligners easily and clean off the gum by hand before putting them on again.
But is it comfortable wearing the aligners for almost an entire day, save for eating and brushing teeth? I would be lying if I said it is. When Ayd first wore his aligners, it was pretty uncomfortable because his entire jaw felt extremely tight. Eventually, he became used to the tightness after 1.5 weeks and it was business as usual for him.
He shared that some of his friends who wore metal braces, experienced more discomfort and some even had mouth ulcers. He even has a friend who doesn’t look forward to visits to the dentist to have his braces tightened.
From a parent’s perspective, all I want from the treatment is fuss-free, pain-free and trouble-free for my child. In fact, I would even say that I don’t have to worry about Ayd’s treatment progress as much because he was able to follow through the processes independently. Most importantly, the treatment did NOT have to involve him having to make lots of lifestyle changes that could impact his schooling or social life.
Besides being able to remove the aligners to eat, drink, and brush and floss his teeth, I don’t have to worry about any of the hassles that come with metal braces… especially having to deal with broken brackets or wires. With teens being so active nowadays and being involved in sporting activities, there is always the risk of the traditional metal braces getting damaged or causing pain if they play contact sports. Imagine having to head down to the dentist to fix a broken bracket on the eve of an exam or inter-school game! But because Invisalign aligners are so flexible and consist no bulging metal brackets, both Ayd and myself do not have to worry about that at all.
Of course, the treatment has to work at the end of the day and after close to two years of wearing the Invisalign aligners, I have to say the result blew my mind.
No words needed. Just take a look at the comparison.
And while the end result is important, I feel that the journey to get there matters too. For Ayd, the journey has been relatively convenient and painless so the past two years of wearing the aligners did not affect his school and social life too much.
I had a front-row seat throughout Ayd’s Invisalign journey and I saw how effective the treatment is. It is important to have reassurance with medical treatments that have a proven track record, because all parents want the best for their kids. Invisalign is almost like a household name and not just in Singapore but worldwide as well so it has a proven track record.
And now, Ayd can count as one of its satisfied users too. 😊
If you are thinking of getting braces for your child and are unsure if the Invisalign treatment will be suitable, you can get your child to take a FREE quick and simple smile assessment HERE first. You will receive the results via email and a member of Invisalign’s Smile Concierge team will be in touch with you to answer any queries you may have. Alternatively, you can arrange a FREE online appointment via a Zoom call with the Smile Concierge team who will help you visualize the Invisalign journey, answer your questions and help you to arrange an appointment with your preferred Invisalign doctor.
For more information, visit Invisalign Singapore.