If you’ve been following along on our social media channels, you might have heard that Dr. Bates recently started his own Invisalign journey! I’m sure some of you are wondering, “Why did Dr. Bates get Invisalign? He is an orthodontist, shouldn’t he already have straight teeth?” Check out this Q&A with Dr. Bates and learn more about his journey below!
Dr. Bates, have you had braces before?
I had braces for the first time in middle school for about two years. After my braces were removed, I was very diligent in wearing retainers. When I began my residency for orthodontics and expanded my orthodontic knowledge, I began to be very picky about the position of some of my upper teeth. I had a classmate place upper braces on me to correct some slight rotations, the narrowness of my upper arch, and angulations of my front teeth. So at 27, I had braces again for a year.
What made you decide to get Invisalign now?
I currently am doing Invisalign to correct a little bit of late jaw growth that happened after I finished my original orthodontic treatment. I chose Invisalign so that I could experience what my patients experience and be better able to discuss expectations during treatment. I also wanted to test an appliance that is marketed as a treatment accelerator. This appliance has been said to reduce the aligner changes from 7 days each down to 3-5 days each. I have been changing my aligners every 5 days with this appliance and so far have been enjoying the process.
Dr. Bates, what are your favorite things about Invisalign?
When a patient’s case fits with what Invisalign can do and they can keep up with the Invisalign requirements (keep an eye on those toddlers who like to steal trays!), I like it for the following reasons:
- Brushing and flossing are no different with Invisalign than without it.
- There are no forbidden foods with Invisalign, as long as you remove the trays to eat.
- Aligners typically create a lower soreness level compared to braces, which I can attest to this since starting treatment.
How can Invisalign be a better option for adults?
Typically adults are good candidates because many of them had previous treatment, and have only experienced minor relapse since their previous treatment finished. Invisalign, in these cases, typically produces faster results. Also, adults pursuing orthodontic treatment tend to be invested in the results and willing to keep up with wearing aligners and maintaining their beautiful new smiles.
When will you be done with treatment, Dr. Bates?
I will likely be done with treatment around March 2021. This is assuming my children don’t keep swiping my trays.
Are there any other perks to Invisalign?
I have been pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the aligners are and how easy they are to keep up with. I also noticed that I do not snack quite as much as I used to before Invisalign, which has encouraged me to live a healthier lifestyle overall!
Looking to start your Invisalign journey? Schedule your free consultation with Dr. Bates to learn more!
