MY SMILE JOURNEY
Back in October, I decided to finally begin my smile journey. I have never had braces before, but have always felt self-conscious about the crowding on my bottom teeth. But now, 13 trays of clear aligners later, I have the smile I’ve been dreaming of. Thanks to Dr. Costa and Dr. Malone, and their amazing team at Knoxville Smiles. And today I wanted to share more about my smile journey, as I know many of you are interested in this treatment yourself. So keep reading for everything you need to know about clear aligners!
KNOXVILLE SMILES
Finding the right dentist is essential for starting a treatment like this. For me, going to Knoxville Smiles, Malone & Costa Dentistry was a no-brainer! I felt very comfortable with Dr. Costa’s treatment approach and the staff/office were top-notch. If you have any dental anxiety, I highly recommend checking them out. Here are a few highlights from my treatment there:
- In-house lab – making it easy to meet patient needs more effectively + quickly!
- Maximum comfortability & cleanliness
- They offer general and cosmetic dentistry, such as no-prep veneers, teeth whitening, etc.
- Virtual consultations
Dr. Costa and his team were so great at explaining the process to me and guiding me through any questions I had. But here are a few questions I would recommend asking in your clear aligners consultation:
- How long do you expect my treatment to be?
- How long after treatment do I have for any corrections?
- How often do you need to see me?
- What happens if I lose an aligner?
- How do refinement trays work after my initial treatment?
- Do you think my treatment will be as effective as traditional metal braces?
- What happens after treatment?
CLEAR ALIGNERS + MY EXPERIENCE
In October, I began my clear aligner treatment to help with the crowding on my bottom teeth. And I am so happy I did it! So below I’m sharing answers to some of the questions you all had + details about my personal experience with them.
THE CONSULT + INITIAL APPOINTMENT
During the consult and initial appointment at Knoxville Smiles, we created a game plan to address the concerns I had about my teeth. They estimated it would take about 13 trays for my teeth to be exactly where I wanted them. Then, my teeth were digitally scanned so I even got to see exactly what my teeth would look like at the end of my treatment. This was really cool and helped me feel even more at ease with deciding to finally address the crowding on my bottom teeth.
For my treatment plan, everything was pretty quick and straightforward from there. My first appointment was quick – they placed 4 “buttons” on my top teeth, which aren’t noticeable, but act as attachments to help grip your aligners to shift your teeth better. Then I got my first set of trays (I took home about 3 trays at a time) to wear for 10 day increments. And came in for quick check-ups/to pick up my next set of trays about once a month after that!
frequently asked questions
How long did you need to wear clear aligners?
I needed 13 trays over the span of 4 months, I would switch into new aligners every 10 days to move my teeth a little at a time. I only needed trays on my top teeth for trays 1-7. After that, I only needed trays on the bottom and wore my top tray at night. Everyone’s treatment plan is different though.
Did they hurt?
For me, there was a little discomfort for a day or so when I would first switch into a new tray. My teeth felt a little tender when I would try to eat after switching into a new tray. But I found the best time to switch to a new tray was before I went to bed. But after the first night or so, I hardly noticed them. The first week of starting my clear aligners was the most “uncomfortable” I guess, just because it was new and I was getting used to them!
What is the average cost?
This depends on your area and treatment requirements, but aligners treatment can start at $2,000 and goes up from there.
Was it hard to talk with them?
At first, it was a little hard trying to use my “s’s” but I quickly adjusted and my speech went back to normal! Since talking on camera is a big part of my job, I was worried I would have a huge lisp that would distract my viewers or I would end up not wearing the trays as recommended. However, that was such a minimal issue! My speech took about a week to adjust. And as you get closer to the end of your treatment, this becomes even less of an issue.
Any tips or tricks for clear aligners?
1. Change your trays out at night
2. Keep floss, another tray case, + a toothbrush with you at all times
3. Use a retainer cleaner like Efferdent to keep your trays extra clean
I didn’t realize how much my top teeth shifted after my treatment. I was mainly focused on correcting the crowding on my bottom teeth. But the complete transformation makes such a difference! And I am so glad I did it!
MY SMILE JOURNEY
I can’t even begin to tell you how much this treatment has improved my confidence. I didn’t realize how insecure I was of my teeth when talking, and I honestly didn’t expect this investment to make such an impact on my confidence. The results are truly priceless!
If you have any other questions about my experience with clear aligners or my smile journey, let me know in the comments below! If you have specific questions about the treatment and if it’s right for you, schedule a consultation at Knoxville Smiles, here!
Thank you Dr. Malone, Dr. Costa, and the wonderful team at Knoxville Smiles for working with me.
So, are you considering clear aligners or treatments to achieve a better, brighter smile? I hope by sharing details about my smile journey helps give you a little information or the confidence to do things that make you happy!
About Madison
I'm Madison - a northern gal planting roots down south. Musings by Madison is your guide to classic style, beauty, home decor & more. Rooted in passion for encouraging others to curate a closet, home, and life they’re proud of and inspired by each day.
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