#29 Trip to the Dentist = Perfecting that smile

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We all know how important it is to have healthy teeth and gums, but most of us don’t like laying in that dreaded chair where the doctor asks you a series of questions you struggle to answer because of the tools and fingers in your mouth. (I knew what I wanted to say, but didn’t come out quite as nicely, but you get what I mean?)

Growing up, we went for somewhat regular check-ups and cleaning, we even got the doc to give us braces we never needed because we got to choose cool colors and designs for our plates. We got the one where you can remove it to eat and stuff. I don’t think it really did anything but we thought it was cool for some reason.

Fast-forward a few years, the only trip to the dentist, is for when I’ve killed a tooth on something or normal toothaches, or even the over-brushing that we all do. It’s not ideal, because as we get older, our teeth go through the most and most oldies end up removing all their teeth and buying some new ones 🙁 Thankfully both my folks has/had their own teeth so I don’t have to walk into the bathroom and see a pair staring at me every day.

I’ve seen a lot of celebrities getting veneers. I’ve watched a million and one of those videos, showing you how it’s done and it terrifies me! They grind down all of your teeth, take perfect molds and give you a brand new set of perfect looking teeth in pretty much two sittings. They cost more than a down-payment on a house and they’re non-reversible, but you will have that perfect Hollywood smile in days.

What I recently found out, is that there is a non-invasive, inexpensive alternative to veneers, called Lumineers. So it is basically the same quick fix… but it is reversible and relatively painless. It is ideal for people who are looking for a change without a huge commitment like with veneers. If you don’t like it, you can just have them easily removed. They cost a fraction of what veneers cost and you’ll have an instant glow-up (transformation).

The only exception to having these long term is that they decolor over time, you cannot get teeth-whitening as they do not work on the Lumineers and they need to be “replaced” yearly depending on how gentle you are with your teeth. Chewing down and grinding on food should also be limited as they are somewhat temperamental. So they are actually not 100% porcelain (like veneers), they are as thin as a constant lens and also made of porcelain, they have an adhesive and a bonding solution that helps them stick to your existing teeth and they are applied one by one.

I’ve always wanted to go to some Hollywood place and get the most beautiful teeth but I haven’t quite made my break and medical aid doesn’t pay for unnecessary cosmetic procedures. So I got some Lumineers done to get my teeth looking a little better.

This is my little transformation that took just one sitting of an hour.

Minus the exceptionally funny look on my face in the above picture, they feel a little weirder than my normal teeth but pretty much the same. I also went back to the dentist for a clean and polish so now they’re feeling really good. There is still a lot that I would like to have done and until I am completely satisfied but I am very happy with this first step, especially because it wasn’t invasive or painful at all.

I felt my teeth were sensitive before, but it’s because I apparently grind my teeth at night. A lot of people tend to, and we don’t have control over it, as we’re asleep when it happens. So they took my measurements for a bite plate, which is like a silicon retainer that you slip in after you brush your teeth at night, and you can also wear it during the day while in meetings etc. because the dentist mentioned that a lot more people are grinding during all hours of the day, especially high-stress level jobs (pun intended).

This is what the silicon bite plate looks like and they’re extremely comfortable to wear.

With this said, I’ve been using the bite plate every night, and I don’t feel anything different but I feel content knowing that I am preserving my teeth health and gums for the future. I’ve also been researching electronic tooth-brushes with the sonic air technique to switch over to, instead of my normal toothbrush to avoid over-brushing. It is a great investment to look after your teeth in the best way possible.

Here’s to a healthier looking teeth and happier smiles!