Last year I lost a ton of weight. I was so proud of myself and had planned on getting a smile makeover at the beginning of 2021, using all of last year to save up. Unfortunately, COVID meant I was laid off. It took a while but I found a new job. I used up more of my savings than I wanted to in the meantime though. I still want to do something to improve my smile. My original plan was to get porcelain veneers but that is out of my budget. My biggest concerns are two crooked front teeth, several gaps, and stains from aging (and coffee). Is there an inexpensive way to improve those things?
Violet
Dear Violet,
Congratulations on the weight loss! That is such a difficult accomplishment. I think I can help you with this. Because of the things you want to fix, I am going to suggest two procedures that you can actually do simultaneously. They will be significantly cheaper that way.
Invisalign will straighten your teeth and close those gaps without anyone knowing you are wearing orthodontics. They are invisible even at a conversational distance. These are faster than traditional braces as well.
At the same time you do this, the Invisalign aligners can double as teeth whitening trays, which will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time. All your dentist will have to provide you with is the professional whitening gel. Because he won’t have to make whitening trays, you’ll save money on that procedure.
Ideally, I suggest wearing the whitening gel overnight in your aligners. This will allow your teeth to whiten faster. Some people have sensitive teeth so that is not always possible. If you are unable to sleep in the gel, then just make sure you wear the gel at least 20 minutes per day. The longer you can wear it the faster your teeth will whiten.
Doing this, your smile will look years younger at a fraction of the cost of porcelain veneers. One thing I am going to suggest, because of your coffee drinking habit, is that you touch up your teeth every couple of years. Keep your last pair of Invisalign aligners so that you can do that at minimal cost, again only paying for the whitening gel.
This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.