“Now give me a nice toothy smile for the camera.” Umm how about no? How about I keep my closed-mouth über pouty look that’s been working for me so far?
Wind back a few years to me aged 14. My jaw couldn’t accommodate all the adult teeth, so I had one front tooth that was crooked. I got teased, as you do, so my parents decided to invest in braces for me.
Come age 16, my teeth were beautifully straight and off I went, into the world of straight teeth-dom, booking modelling jobs and enjoying my new-found confidence. Sadly, when I turned 21, my wisdom teeth decided to shuffle on down into my already crowded mouth and although they were removed, the impact was already evident on the weakest spot in my mouth… ol’ snaggletooth.
So, with the memory of braces all too fresh in my mind, I continued on with a crooked tooth once again. I looked at various options, but they were expensive or took another two years to yield results. I even investigated the idea of cosmetic dentistry where they pull the tooth and reset it. Yes, horrific, I know.
I resolved to carry on my days with a crooked front tooth, smiled with my mouth shut, even avoided talking when someone was on my left side because I was so aware of how it looked. I soldiered on though, until one day a work colleague made a tongue in cheek comment about how attractive I’d be if only I had straight teeth. I was mortified.
Not long after, another colleague who had heard the comment told me about a local dentist who was offering a service that straightened misaligned teeth in as little as 12 weeks. I hopped on faithful Google, investigated and arranged an appointment.
The service offered was the Inman Aligner. Designed specifically to correct misalignment or protrusion of front teeth; what was the sweetener for me though, was that the Inman is a removable device that straightens in a matter of weeks, not years.
The Inman Aligner has Nickel Titanium coil springs that powers two aligner bows that gently oppose each other, guiding the teeth into their new position. This gentle pressure is active over a large range of movement, which is why the Inman Aligner works so quickly. Unlike braces, the Inman is completely removable, which was great for eating hard or cold things (people with braces, you know what I’m referring to) and work appointments where I needed my eloquence around words (I was a bit lispy in the beginning).
I was fitted with my Inman Aligner by Dr. O’Malley from Robertson Dental Innovations in my home town of Bendigo, Victoria. Every two weeks Dr. O’Malley would check how things were progressing to ensure I had enough room for the teeth to sit correctly and by 11 weeks, I was the proud owner of straight teeth once again.
I was completely astonished to say the least.
The discomfort of the whole ‘straightening’ process was minimal, nothing like I’d experienced with braces, and to see results so quickly was just amazing. People commented constantly on how dramatic the change was and questioned me on what I’d had done.
Following the initial treatment with the Inman, I wore a clear removable retainer to begin, but opted for the permanent Essix retainer. So fine is this wire retainer, that no one is aware I have it, it doesn’t affect my speech and holds everything where it needs to be. But the biggest gain, I am no longer self-conscious of smiling. It is difficult to explain how wonderful it feels to give a big teethy grin when you’ve learnt to hide it for so long. I can honestly say that it has boosted my confidence tenfold.
So how long is the treatment?
Most cases are completed within 6-18 weeks, however your Inman certified Dentist will give you a realistic guide of what to expect once you have had an assessment.
What’s involved in the treatment?
- First you’ll find a certified Dentist who will determine if the Inman Aligner is suitable for you.
- Impressions are taken so that the lab can create your custom made Inman Aligner.
- Fitting of the Aligner (to be worn 16-20 hrs a day).
- Regular checks every 2-3 weeks.
- As with many other orthodontic treatments, retention after treatment is recommended for life to prevent relapse. Retention can come in the form of a lingually bonded retainer (clear, removable that sits over the teeth) or an Essix retainer (permanent wire behind the teeth).
Now I’m all for accepting the skin you’re in, however if you weren’t blessed with nicely aligned teeth and feel you could benefit from this treatment, go and inquire. The Inman Aligner has dramatically improved by bite and the appearance of my teeth in less than three months and I couldn’t be more pleased with the result.
For more information on the Inman Aligner, contact:
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