Monday, May 20, 2013

Barracuda...brace face....invisalign!

BRACES THEN, INVISALIGN NOW!

My beautiful cousin, Raven and I were cordially invited to an Invisalign blogging group over here in Federal Way, Washington. Where we met other Washington bloggers as well as the Invisalign reps to have them share with us what exactly Invisalign is and how it benefits society today compared to wire braces.



Do we look like we need Invisalign??

It was 80's theme so we had to dress up like we were from the 80's...well myself was born in '88 so I think that partially counts but I had no idea what exactly to wear, so thank goodness the reps had props to show us how it's done.

Fish net fingers. Hell ya.
I know you would think that Alcohol would make Raven smile, but it was a long day for me so I choose alcohol and she takes shopping. But that girl has some serious style!


I remember when I was younger sucking my thumb for most likely 12-14 hours a day. 
Could not get enough of that delicious dirty, salty, wrinkley, opposable limb.

My right thumb was literally half the size of my left and I would always have to sneak sucking it
(that's what she said)

My dad would scare the shit out of me on how mad he was when he caught me sucking my thumb. Probably which intrigued me to do it more.

So by the time I was 11 and had most my adult teeth, I looked like a damn barracuda. All sticking out from my thumb being pressed up against the back. My bottom were all sideways from my hand resting on them forcing them around my hand just so I could suck that thumb like my life depended on it.

Beware of the images you are about to see of my f#$%ed up mouth



I am obviously on the left with the huge teeth and semi soon to be bushy thick eyebrows

DON'T HATE!
everyone has an awkward stage.

(I am seriously embarrassed but laughing my ass off at how disgusting that picture was)

Back in my days of this awkwardness I only had one option of getting the metal braces, with rubber bands, an expander, and then all the wax I could get my hands on while the brackets acted as some sort of death trap for the inside of my mouth to feel like warts and bleed constantly. 

Especially fun when I broke a wire and it went straight through me cheek.

awesome.

And when my dad was teaching me how to catch a baseball by putting the mitt right in front of my face. 

Smack! Blood! Stiches!

awesome.

BRACEFACE!!!!

crazy hair day ok. don't judge.

What I wouldn't have given to have invisalign and not that chunky crap taking up make out space I needed as a teenager.


Invisalign is virtually invisible..hence the obvious name. You wear the retainers for about 2 weeks then change them to the next set, your teeth slowly begin shifting and if need be any more correcting you can go back to your old set then restart.

Invisalign on a mold mouth

When you compare having smooth retainers to bulky metal you never have to worry about going in to get them tightened, a wire poking you, a bracket sticking to whoever you're sucking face with lips, or them getting an electrical current and opening your locker...

Brace-Face Update
It’s been six weeks since I decided to have puberty Part II and get braces at the ripe age of 24.
I wrote in my first “brace-face” post about how difficult it was to handle the emotional aspects of getting braces in your mid 20’s - the paranoia that people are staring, poking fun, wondering why, etc.   After the second week, that feeling somewhat of melted away.  I quickly became comfortable with my braces and realized that in reality, most people can’t even see them unless they are really up close and personal.  I’ve had full conversations with people and its not until several minutes in that they recognize the braces.  
All I have to say is thank goodness for Dr. Wang at Madison Square Dentistry.  These “tooth-colored” braces really are hard to see.  Have you been able to fully notice them in my recent pictures? Sure, they were sore for a day after my first tightening, but besides that, it’s become painless physically and emotionally.  
To be completely transparent, I was truly anxious and nervous about being a brace-face at Fashion Week.  I admit that I am not one of the  ”cool fashion girls”.  Not even close.  With the addition of the braces, I was starting to feel that a fashion week appearance, particularly around the stunning DVF girls, would be difficult.
Fortunately, I somehow put on my best game/brace-face  and quickly forgot that I was wearing braces.  It’s took me a couple weeks to embrace the idea that my outlook was all that mattered, but here I am, 6 weeks in, and maybe 75% a-okay with my brace-face situation.
Added bonus? My teeth are moving at a remarkable speed and Dr. Wang thinks I’ll get these suckers off before 6 months.  If that’s the case, there will no doubt be a “Farewell Brace-Face” fiesta!

Everyone knows Brace face right?!

I had my braces for 4 years! With Invisalign some can be corrected in as little as 90 days!!! 

So which do you think works better??

Anyone have invisalign?? Or have had both??


After I had my braces off I of course had to go to the metal retainer, which wasn't that bad being that it was Zebra print with a Powerpuff girls stamp on it.

Still would have liked plastic trays so you couldn't tell. Oh well...maybe I will have to screw my mouth 
up once again and get the invisalign!

(don't ask why these pictures are 'squatty' I suck, ok)

But after 4 years and countless hiccups with stabbing, chaffing, breaking problems I finally got them off and absolutely love my smile!

Patron.


When we left our invisalign meeting I had made 10 new friends, realized that invisalign isn' just the "cheap" braces (as they do cost the same) but helps people get over the insecurity of the metal type, especially now having the teen invisalign to help straighten before they end up with a train wreck like my mouth did.


To learn more about Invisalign click here

I have been tweeting constantly about this sweet "beauty
 product and you can check out their twitter as well, here

Go and 'like' their page and give me a shout out if you would! here

KEEP ON SMILING!!!




*This was a sponsored post by Invisalign*

7 comments:

Lizzy said...

I had braces for 3 years(I think!), and the orthodontist gave me retainers that go over your teeth, like the Invisalign do. I'm pretty sure the ortho messed up my teeth and jaw and I probably need braces again. How attractive at 23?! If I do, I'm going with Invisalign!

Anonymous said...

Shit, sister. I had braces for 6 years on and off! Apparently my grill was all kinds of effed up... I'm dying over that awkward pic of you and your hair in the other pic?! Priceless.

Sarah Alway said...

Oh my gosh, your awkward stage was adorable! You had style, girlfriend! I never had braces because my teeth were straight, but I was super gap toothed and I have had cosmetic bonding done on all my front teeth to correct it. This sounds like a fun event, how do I get invited to something like this?

Sarah @ Life As Always

smithbernadette said...

Nice way of describing how effective invisalign braces. I love those photos of you showing how it looks like after completing the treatment great job!

Unknown said...

I have to agree. Invisalign is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to get straight teeth but refuses to be an awkward turtle with braces on. Great to see how well it worked for you! Like you said, keep on smiling! -Cody @ Reed Orthodontics

Unknown said...

More patients prefer Invisalign treatments since it's more convenient. At the same time, they can avoid the gawky feeling of wearing braces. I can see that you had a great change in your teeth, Taylor. Everyone has an awkward stage and I'm glad you're over it. Keep smiling! :)

JonathonCarpenter@SimmondsDentalCenter.com

Anonymous said...

It's best to use your awkward stages as stepping stones to look even better. I'm sure you've started your journey to a straighter teeth when you saw all those photographs of you with the misaligned teeth. It must have been a little uneasy to wear braces and Invisalign trays the first time, but I'm glad you endured all of it. Thanks for sharing your story! Keep smiling! :)

Jairo Chavez @ SpringBranchDental