Well, it’s been just over a year and I’m excited to share that my Invisalign treatment with Dr. Frank Neves at Bright Dental St. Albert is now complete!
I’m sure my smile says it all (pun fully intended), but I couldn’t be more thrilled with my results.
Today I’m sharing the inside scoop on my Invisalign experience and am teaming up with Bright Dental St. Albert to answer all the questions that’ve come in via Instagram DM over the past 14 months. Turns out teeth are quite a hot topic and many of you are considering getting Invisalign yourselves.
For those who aren’t big readers, let me sum it up for you: DO IT! You won’t regret it. In fact, you’ll probably just end up wishing you’d taken the Invisalign plunge sooner.
And for those of you who enjoy a good read, let’s get into it:
Invisalign 101: What Is Invisalign, Exactly?
Always wished for a picture-perfect smile? To fix an overbite? To close a gap? To alleviate clenching and grinding? To reduce migraines? Invisalign could be just what the Doctor – or, in this case, Dentist – ordered!
“The majority of our Invisalign patients have traumatic bites that cause periodontal health issues including fractured or broken teeth,” explained Dr. Frank Neves. “It makes me extremely happy to put them into a more functional and less tooth-damaging position through Invisalign.”
Using a series of clear, plastic aligners custom-made for your mouth, the Invisalign system sequentially moves teeth toward their ideal position through a personalized treatment plan.
As Dr. Frank Neves explained, he affixes some small, clear attachments – also called buttons – directly to your teeth. These buttons act as an anchor for the Invisalign trays and are the mechanism for moving your teeth where they need to go.
And in some Invisalign treatment plans – especially for those who have TMD, headaches, an underbite or end-to-end bite, metal buttons with elastics are placed on your back teeth. These elastics help pull your jaw forward or backward, depending on the correction you need.
On average, treatment lasts 18 months – give or take six months – with the goal of wearing your aligners 22 hours per day.
And the result? Straighter teeth and an overall healthier mouth!
My Invisalign Experience with Dr. Frank Neves at Bright Dental St. Albert
After 14 months, 45 trays and a portion of my treatment with elastics, my active Invisalign treatment is complete and the difference it’s made to my alignment and overbite is impressive. Like, look at this difference!
“As you can see, our Invisalign treatment plan was able to bring Holly’s teeth exactly where we needed them to be,” explained Dr. Frank Neves. “Of note, her mandible has moved forward. This causes the jaw to move into a more equilibrated position that makes the muscles and nerves in the temporal mandibular joint more comfortable. And as an added bonus, Holly’s smile looks amazing!”
Currently, I’m in the Invisalign retention phase. Meet my new friend: the retainer.
As is typical in most Invisalign treatment plans, I’ll wear a custom-made retainer over the next three months, day and night. The following three months, I’ll wear it at night and in the evening. And then, in order to help maintain the results achieved from Invisalign, I’ll continue to wear a retainer while sleeping until I’m old and grey.
Why I Chose Dr. Frank Neves at Bright Dental St. Albert
Okay, let me take a minute here to pump Bright Dental St. Albert’s tires because if you’re in the St. Albert, Morinville or Edmonton-area, I highly recommend moving over to this clinic.
And – wow – I felt SO supported and cared for while going through this entire process. Both Dr. Frank Neves and nine of his staff members have completed or are currently going through Invisalign, so they know how it feels to be going through the same process (and the benefits at the end of it)!
I was also surprised to learn that Dr. Frank Neves gives all his Invisalign patients the gift of free Zoom whitening on the day their final buttons are removed. O-M-G. I left that day feeling like a contestant on a makeover reality tv show. My teeth looked incredible – so straight and so white.
It was (and continues to be) a great feeling!
My Unfiltered Thoughts: What I Didn’t Love About Invisalign
- It’s Going To Suck At First
Although I’m incredibly thrilled with the results and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again, the process was a bit more involved than I was initially prepared for.
Know this: it’s going to be inconvenient. But it’s a liveable inconvenience that’s very much worth the results. - It Was A Good Lesson In Diligence
As mentioned earlier, recommended wear time is 22 hours a day, which makes total sense – your aligners need to be in your mouth to correct your teeth! Plus, you need to remove your Invisalign when eating or drinking anything other than water, and need to brush and floss before popping them back in again.At first, being diligent was annoying but, a few months in, it became second nature to me. - Elastics Are Annoying
I’m not going to sugar coat it. Putting those elastics on is annoying. Repeat this mantra after me: annoying but worth it.
My Unfiltered Thoughts: What Surprised Me About Invisalign
- How Quickly I Started Noticing Results
It was only a few months in when I started noticing how much my teeth were shifting. I was so surprised by how quickly it was working! - I Didn’t Find Invisalign Painful
Though I’m sure it’s different for everyone, I did not find the Invisalign process painful. Sometimes my teeth were tender on the days I put in a new tray – like, I wouldn’t recommend chomping down on an apple. But I never had to take any Tylenol. - I Now Love Flossing
I’m going to be honest: I didn’t floss all that often before Invisalign. Now, I’m a floss convert! When you floss every day, it’s impossible to deny the difference it makes. - Oh Boy, Do I Love Having Straight Teeth
I’m a bit vain. Who isn’t? And – wow – while I thought my teeth were quite straight before (I signed up for Invisalign to help with my grinding), I can’t tell you how much I LOVE how good they look. I feel like a new woman.
More Invisalign Questions I’ve Received
Have You Had Braces Before?
Nope! Aesthetically, my teeth were actually quite straight and braces were never brought up by my childhood dentist.
But as we age, our bodies change – and so do our mouths – and new issues, like grinding, can arise. That’s another reason why it’s so important to have regular dental checkups.
What Is The Retainer Like?
The retainer is made of clear plastic – just like the Invisalign aligners. Gotta love that!
So far, I’m finding it simple to wear and easy to care for. I just brush it with toothpaste, rinse and leave it in a container when eating.
I also plan to soak it in polydent from time to time to keep it minty fresh (though that isn’t required) and will replace it every two years.
What Was Zoom Whitening Like?
I was a little bit nervous as I heard it can be painful but it went really well.
Bright Dental St. Albert offers four consecutive 15-minute sessions as a maximum. I went for 45 minutes and chose not to do the remaining 15 as my teeth were feeling a bit sensitive.
Like, wow. The results were instantaneous. I left that day feeling like one million bucks, with straight teeth and a white smile that would’ve taken a few weeks to achieve at home.
That night and the following day, I took Tylenol. My teeth were achy for about 1.5 days total and I avoided coffee, red wine and anything with staining properties – such as tea and blackberries – for a few days post-treatment.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
I can’t speak to all providers but at Bright Dental St. Albert, Invisalign costs $6,600. They offer flexible, interest-free financing as low as $126.92/bi-weekly, as well as direct billing to insurance.
Consultations are free so book one to find out more!
Can Kids and Teens Get Invisalign?
Short story: yes. Long story: it depends on your child.
From aesthetics to sports, I can think of numerous reasons why teens would prefer Invisalign over traditional braces. However, the success of Invisalign is based on wearing them 22 hours a day (and removing for food and drink, followed by brushing and flossing).
Currently, Bright Dental St. Albert’s youngest Invisalign patient is 11 as a child’s second adult molars must have erupted to be a candidate. For younger patients, Dr. Frank Neves is able to insert an arch expansion appliance to give their adult teeth the space they require to grow in properly.
However, Bright Dental St. Albert recommends making an appointment to chat through all the requirements to see if Invisalign is the right fit for your youngster.
Thank You To Dr. Frank Neves
I also want to express my extreme gratitude to Dr. Frank Neves and his incredible team at Bright Dental St. Albert. I’m beyond thrilled with my Invisalign results and their attentive care. As always, all thoughts are my own.
Xo Holly Hunka
Did you find this post detailing my experience with Invisalign at Bright Dental St. Albert helpful? Save it for later on Pinterest.
Plus, I shared my initial thoughts on getting Invisalign last April in this post.
