I hate my smile.
Specifically, I hate my crooked teeth.
See, a no-teeth smile, my specialty. —>
Last spring I was only a few months into blogging and Twitter. I stumbled upon a local blogger’s site, Linneyville.com (formerly shortpumppreppy.com) written by Linda Sellers.
Linda was one of five blogging moms on the Invisalign Mom’s Advisory Board hosting a giveaway for one free Invisalign treatment.
What a coincidence. When I started blogging seriously, I sat on my friend’s couch and told her my first goal was to earn enough to pay for Invisalign for myself. Winning it would be even better.
When I saw the giveaway, I worked that thing like a job. Tweet about contest once a day? CHECK! Learn answer to question on one blog and write answer on another? CHA-CHECK!
When I got the e-mail from the PR company telling me I’d won, that I could stop worrying about the cost of Invisalign treatment, I screamed and ran through the house. I think I made the chihuahua leak a little, but really, anything does that.
It was difficult to wait while a deal was set with a local ortho who specializes in Invisalign treatment, but it was worth the wait.
The orthodontist who agreed to see me is the same guy I went to for a consultation thirteen years ago. I was pregnant with my third child and working in a corporate gopher den. A great smile is an important part of a professional appearance, but three little kids (and later a fourth) put braces out of my reach.
Also, I developed a pesky sensitivity to metal. I can no longer wear most jewelry, even my wedding ring, I can only tolerate earrings for a little while and I coat the rivets on jeans with clean nail polish. Could I tolerate a mouth full of metal for two years?
Since then, I had investigated Invisalign as the answer to my problems. Reading about the treatment over the years, it seemed like I might not be a good candidate. I needed major correction to my bite and had some severely crowded teeth.
During the blog contest, I read more about the latest advancements in Invisalign treatment. Later I even wrote a post for them. With new advancements, they can correct more types of alignment issues. But could my teeth be corrected?
The first step in treatment is a consultation. I went to the office of Doctor Rick Marcus. I was greeted by cheerful and professional office staff.
After a short wait, I met with Doctor Marcus and he examined my teeth. I was indeed a candidate for Invisalign, but might not have been even a year before. The new G3 advances in their technology now made my problem teeth fixable.
I asked Doctor Marcus to rate the difficulty of my treatment from one to ten. Eight and a half! And most likely untreatable just the year before.
I was so excited I didn’t have to be in my forties with metal mouth or crooked teeth! My hopes for straight teeth had dimmed. My best hope looked like straight dentures in the old folks home.
The second appointment is for taking pictures, x-rays and making impressions of your teeth. I had been through the impression process as a teen and remembered it as being a nightmare of peppermint plaster of Paris getting in my throat and gagging me. This time it was faster and much easier. I did gag a little, but it wasn’t too bad. Leaning forward helps.
I would recommend taking a Tylenol before the second visit. The technician had to press on the molds as they set and this made my jaws ache a bit after.
The third visit is the clincheck. This is a really cool appointment. At clincheck, you sign the treatment waivers (it’s hard core, yo) and you get to see computer animation of your treatment.
I got a little misty as I saw my teeth magically straighten out over the projected eighteen months of treatment.
Check it out—it’s cool!
By the end of treatment, I’ll have had twelve little metal buttons on my teeth to help the straightification process. The buttons are surgical-grade metal and shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll need so many because of my specific problems. I think most people need fewer to none.
My fourth visit is Monday, a week from today. Then I’ll get my first set of trays to wear and two others to take home. I’ll switch trays every two weeks.
I am beyond excited! I’d like to thank the PR firm who found an Invisalign expert for me, Doctor Marcus and his staff, and Linda Sellers and the other bloggers who hosted the Invisalign giveaway: Anissa, Sugar Jones, Busy Mom, Amanda at Parenting by Dummies. I really appreciate it!
Although I wrote a sponsored post for Invisalign previously, we are currently in no way affiliated. I was not required to write nor compensated for this post. It is my honest opinion and entirely my own thoughts.

Nota, I am over the moon excited for you!!!
I think I just leaked a little!!!
Hey, it happens!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I’m one of the “lucky” ones that has a special case, too. Very happy for you!
Thanks, Sugar.
There was a consolation prize if I wasn’t a candidate, but I’m glad that Invisalign would work for me.
I am absolutely GREEN with jealousy!!!!! But super duper happy for you!
Bide your time, Liz!
So excited for you!!!! And jealous! I am fixing to sink all the money on our HSA card to pay for John’s down payment. The doctor we’re working with is SO cool that he’ll let us pay the rest of the treatment as fast or slow as we can manage at 0 interest. We’re starting with a very low monthly payment which I can always double down if I have extra one month.
John can use the Invisalign teen for most of his work, but he’ll get the buttons to wear some extra bands for part of it. Compare this to both his dad and I having to wear headgear in the 80s… NOT A PROBLEM, eh?
Don’t be jealous–I’m 41!
Congrats on John getting braces. I think orthos are usually pretty cool people.
I get cut-outs and bands too. That’s part of the new tech. Previously the orthos would have had to make those cuts to the trays by hand.
Congratulations, Nota!
Thanks, Heather! Do you know about the pizza thing we are doing next month? Margaret knows the details. Would love to meet you!
Nope, I have not heard of the pizza thing. M is a little busy today but I’ll try to remember to ask her about it next week.
Last Thursday in Oct, so you can pencil it in. We are doing the pizza thang.
I’m so excited for you! I had braces put on the first day of college (ugh! my wisdom teeth removal changed everything!) then again on my lower teeth in my mid 30s (again, some weird shift occurred).
My son was so happy to start braces at 12…he also had mastered the no-teeth smile. 🙁 The change in his confidence once he didn’t have crooked teeth was amazing. I can’t wait to see your pretty teeth!
Lots of people don’t need braces, but for a few of us, they really improve self-esteem.
I am thoroughly thrilled for you!!!
You already have a beautiful smile. The results from this will be stunning.
Yes, I will be indistinguishable from a supermodel.
Hurrah!!! Hurrah!! Hurrah!!!! 😀 (toothy smile)
Thank you! You’ll see them at pizza next month, if you can make it. Kidnap Heather!
I am so happy for you! Invisalign is great. I’m so glad I did it and I can’t wait to see your progress and final results.
The one word I have for you is: Motrin. Lots of Motrin. Take before your fitting and after you change every tray and you’ll be a much happier girl.
Congratulations! This is very big deal.
Motrin. Check.
If only I had coordinated this with something else, I could get all my pain reliever usage done on the same day.
It really is funny how powerful confidence in you smile is.
Cool!! Excited to see the results!!
Me too! I bit the tar out of the inside of my lip today. I’ll be happy when I can’t do that anymore.
That is a wonderful thing to win! Congrats!
Thank you for stopping by at Mom Always Finds Out on the Alexa hop. I’m your newest follower.
Have a great week,
Nicole
Nice to meet you Nicole. I love the name of your blog!
That’s so great that you won!! I’m excited for you, too and can’t wait to see your new smile!
Thanks for stopping by my blog btw!
I get my first trays in the morning!
Love the name of your blog, btw.
Just got on my husbands insurance (just regular railroad insurance) but the closest dentistry that has an orthodontist that can/willing to do it, they will ONLY do it with a $4,500 down beforehand to do imprints, and I don’t have good credit so care credit isn’t an option, I’m starting to get a bad bite and teeth won’t meet in the middle and are also crooked, I feel trapped because I thought being able to use the dental insurance would help me with this, but it does null.
I’m boxed in, I have no options and don’t know what to do, anyone have any suggestions?