I’m done with my aligners: Here’s how it went!

The time really has flown by this quickly and my SureSmile journey with Scottsdale dentist, Dr. Sluyk has come to an end! Just 3.5 months wearing aligners, and being disciplined about wearing my trays, it has paid off! 

Funny story, I was talking about my aligners with one of my good friends who is a part-time dental hygienist and she said Dr. Sluyk is one of the best dentists she has ever worked with. I didn’t know she has worked with him and I know she’s seen a lot of techniques and is so honest about who she likes! She said I was in the best hands and she was right!

Read the blog post when I first began my aligner journey and why I decided it was time.

It’s been about 20 years of dealing with my bottom teeth shifting and I just couldn’t figure out what to do next or make the time to fix it.

Technology has changed. Once upon a time when my retainers broke after college, my molds were gone from my orthodontist. There was no way to get another straight retainer so, they just continued to shift. And here I was hating my bottom teeth but living with it, sometimes even Photoshopping it and I had enough! Look at my teeth now!

invisialign aligners sure smile scottsdale phoenix Arizona cosmetic dentist adult braces adult aligners before and after
Picking up my retainers! It's like I'm 15 again!
best cosmetic dentist in phoenix scottsdale Arizona -- invisialign aligners sure smile scottsdale phoenix Arizona cosmetic dentist adult braces adult aligners before and after. Dr Sluyk

You should look at your dentist the way I look at mine, with such gratitude and admiration as I proudly display my smile he helped me achieve! Dr. Slyuk truly is the best! He’s kind, knowledgable, warm, and he has a fantastic eye when it comes to a beautiful smile, (just see his before and after’s on his Instagram) and his father is a dentist as well and works at the office.

invisialign aligners sure smile scottsdale phoenix Arizona cosmetic dentist adult braces adult aligners before and after. Dr Sluyk
Picking up my retainers and Dr. Sluyk saying my teeth are so beautiful they look like veneers!

BEFORE

BEFORE - invisialign aligners sure smile scottsdale phoenix Arizona cosmetic dentist adult braces adult aligners before and after
BEFORE Bottom teeth crooked and crowded
invisialign aligners sure smile scottsdale phoenix Arizona cosmetic dentist adult braces adult aligners before and after
BEFORE my bite closed (camera was tilted)
invisialign aligners sure smile scottsdale phoenix Arizona cosmetic dentist adult braces adult aligners before and after
BEFORE candid photo of my open smile

AFTER

After photo after sure smile with dr Sluyk - scottsdale cosmetic dentistry
AFTER Bottom teeth properly aligned
After photo after sure smile with dr Sluyk - scottsdale cosmetic dentistry
AFTER 13 weeks on SureSmile, open smile
AFTER invisialign aligners sure smile scottsdale phoenix Arizona cosmetic dentist adult braces adult aligners before and after
AFTER candid photo open smile

I checked in halfway through the process to make sure my teeth were moving correctly, and once more when I was on my second to last tray. That visit we did a little smoothing of my teeth edges for shape and I also decided I should bleach my teeth. We did a process that took 20 minutes each time with two applications, as I just laid back and watched Seinfeld on the TV that was on the ceiling, it was wonderful!

I went back for my final retainer, tried them on, and I was all set. I will be saving my final trays (#13) for emergencies, as I wear my new retainers at night. Dr. Sluyk said if anything should happen to my retainers to call them quickly so they can order me a new retainer as teeth shift quickly in which I responded, “That’s why I’ll keep tray #13!” so that will be my backup if my retainers break! Smart, right?

I’ll see Dr. Sluyk’s staff again when I stop by for a cleaning because this is my new dental office!

AFTER - invisialign aligners sure smile scottsdale phoenix Arizona cosmetic dentist adult braces adult aligners before and after
After SureSmile with Dr. Sluyk - Scottsdale Cosmetic Dentist

Tips ON wearing aligners

  • Mark your calendar weekly when you will put in your new trays. I put it on the calendar as a reminder to change it every night at 7 pm (but I just knew I had to do it before I went to bed).
  • Change your tray at night to give your teeth time to adjust while you are sleeping. I got this tip from Dr. Sluyk
  •  Don’t put your tray on a napkin when not in use, it may get lost. Put it back in the tray.
  • Keep your last tray incase you lose your current tray. One step back is better than not having any left at all.

Some observations

My bottom teeth were the first to shift, I could feel it in my trays. After a few weeks, they were in position, my top trays seemed to feel tighter so it felt as though my top teeth were being the focus for next movement. In the first few weeks I thought it was a strange feeling as my bottom teeth shifted a bit and hit a different place when I closed my teeth but I knew it was temporary before it felt comfortable again.

To recap, I was reminded to wear my aligners 20-22 hours a day for best results. My specific case didn’t require buttons on my teeth though every case is different, and you can find out more of what your alignment journey would look like and how long, when you visit Dr. Sluyk

Dr. Sluyk specializes in cosmetic dentistry in the Scottsdale area, including veneers and you can see his Instagram and a lot of before and afters of his work. His office is 30 minutes from me, but I am not about convenience when it comes to cosmetic anything, it’s about the skill and it’s worth the drive (or flight depending on the procedure) to find someone you can trust and do the work. 

invisialign aligners sure smile scottsdale phoenix Arizona cosmetic dentist adult braces adult aligners before and after
CHEESE!! I look so happy right?

Thank you to Dr. Slyuk for making my straight bottom teeth wishes come true, this is something I’ve really wanted for almost 20 years! I truly love your staff, gorgeous office, trust your expertise, and eye. I love my smile again because of you! 

If you need any dental work, cleaning included (I received the most thorough cleaning of my life there!) visit ScottsdaleAZDentist.com to see Dr. Sluyk’s work and book a consultation to get your perfect smile. Maybe I’ll see you there when I get my next cleaning!

Read the first blog post when I first began my aligner journey and why I decided it was time.

I received the aligners at a discount in exchange for my honest review and experience throughout the process. Thank you for supporting the companies and small businesses that help make my blog and straight teeth possible. 

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Diana Elizabeth is an author, photographer, and obsessive thrift shopper. You can typically find her in the garden wrist deep in dirt, at a local estate sale or planning her next creative themed party. She continues to blog weekly.

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