Confession: I’m woefully unprepared to write this post, because I didn’t anticipate my LightForce braces would come off so quickly. On my calendar, this post was slated for July. September at the latest. And yet, here I am – sans braces – removed 14 months to the day.
Another confession: I’ve never been SO IN LOVE WITH MYSELF. I’ve taken to sending “tooth selfies” to friends and family. Unsolicited, of course. Peep the before and after.
A few months post-removal, my texting behaviour has weaned. Slightly. (Add to calendar: Send more tooth selfies.)
There are many things I could say about my experience with LightForce Orthodontics, but one thing is clear: This is, by far, the best decision I’ve ever made. If you’re of a certain age and think it’s too late for orthodontic treatment, let me reassure you:
1. It’s not.
2. LightForce fully custom 3D printed braces exist.
A refresher course in LightForce:
LightForce brackets are custom 3D printed to each patient’s teeth, with a custom prescription made uniquely for each patient’s condition. When you’re able to digitally customize every tooth movement, this can result in:
a. a potentially shorter treatment duration
b. fewer and shorter appointments, and
c. better orthodontic treatment outcomes
Check, check and check.
Looking back on my treatment, I wanted to provide an assessment – lessons learned, if you please – of my experience. But after some thought, I realized this could best be communicated by owning up to my own biases and insecurities.
These are my confessions.
Confession: I didn’t really believe my treatment duration would be shorter. Having had braces previously, and having worn them for four months longer than the 18 to 24-month guesstimate (28 months in total), I internally scoffed at the 12 to 16-month anticipated duration. But then, that’s why I chose custom 3D printed LightForce brackets, right? I was skeptical, but hopeful. And then – poof! – 14 months later, smack in the middle of the predicted timeframe, my teeth were ready. My braces were removed. I’M A BELIEVER.
Confession: I worried for far too long about what others would think. A 45-year old woman, with braces? Strange! Turns out, nobody cared. Perhaps they didn’t even notice. And if they did notice, refer to: nobody cared. In the 14 months that I wore braces, not one person pointed them out; not one person had any sort of feedback on the state of my mouth. On the contrary, for the few times my braces were discussed, I was praised for my willingness to better myself. I was actually complimented for wearing braces.
Confession: I assumed (incorrectly) that having braces would make me feel less like myself. Look, I’ve been pretty comfortable in my own skin for some time, and worried that the braces would become my identity. I won’t lie: they’re different, and I looked different. Temporarily. But on the inside, I felt exactly like myself, and dare I say it, sort of giddy – because I knew that Lena 2.0 was soon to be revealed. LightForce braces played a huge part in this; the brackets are clear, discreet and I could select bands from a variety of colours to match my personality. (I’m boring, so I went for clear bands exclusively.) In the end, Lena 2.0 indeed emerged, victorious.
Confession: I missed my orthodontist in between visits. Did you know that with LightForce braces, your scheduled office visits are quicker, fewer and farther in between? I feel like I only saw Dr. Mel at Bozek Milligan Orthodontics a handful of times over the 14 months of my treatment, and, after consulting my calendar, I’m not wrong. My appointments were on average every 7-8 weeks, meaning that less than 10 appointments in, my treatment was complete. With traditional braces, I was in the ortho’s chair every month, something I just wouldn’t have time (or patience for) at this stage of my life. But I won’t be ageist; anyone can benefit from fewer and shorter appointments. I know my teenage son, who is currently still undergoing treatment with LightForce, really appreciates the extended time between visits. (And I appreciate the chance to see the team at Bozek Milligan Orthodontics for a few months more!)
Confession: In describing the LightForce difference to others, I felt a little smug. Look, LightForce is the future of braces. I realize that not many people know about them (yet), but one day, I’m convinced that they’ll be the only option for braces. I’m a tech geek and innovation is my love language, so I felt particularly powerful in explaining why I chose LightForce: a fully integrated system with 3D-printed ceramic braces and digital plans personalized to each patient, allowing doctors to visualize the end result and deliver in a whole new way. (Yes, that’s boilerplate from the website. Also, yes: I quoted it verbatim when describing LightForce. I’m not media trained for nothin’.)
Confession: When my braces came off, I had a little work done. It’s not what you’re thinking – I didn’t check myself into the nearest “spa” and emerge with a new face. But in addition to my perfectly lovely, straight teeth thanks to LightForce, I had gum contouring performed by my orthodontist as part of my treatment plan. This was done to remove excess tissue and even out the gum line, but not everyone is a candidate, and even then, not everyone chooses to do it. Talk to your doctor to see if this could be a benefit to your smile.
If my confessions serve as motivation for you to make a change, it was worth it. Oops – just one more: Lena 2.0 is the best version I’ve ever run.
For more information on LightForce, visit lf.co.
This post is sponsored by LightForce. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.
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