From The Straits Times    |

Never underestimate the power of a beautiful smile. In fact, studies have shown that having straight teeth and a nice smile not only boosts your self-confidence, but can also make you appear younger and more attractive too.

Beatrice Tan, founder and creative director of local womenswear label, Klarra, knows first-hand the impact of a perfect smile. “Having a nice set of teeth is an important feature, and it affects the outlook of the individual. 

“As I grew older, and especially in the course of my work – where I have to meet people and, at times, be in front of the camera – I became more conscious about my smile and wanted to improve it.”

Here, Beatrice shares all about her Invisalign journey. 

No one is perfect

We all have our own insecurities, and Beatrice is no different. In her job as the face and brains of local clothing label, Klarra, she is always out and about, meeting new people. 

And with her less-than-straight teeth — her two front teeth protruded and her bottom teeth were crooked – Beatrice felt less than confident about her smile. “I also had an underbite and didn’t like how my smile or side profile looked. I was always getting food stuck in between my crooked teeth too. 

“In pictures, it looks decently straight as I could smile and show just the top row of teeth, but in videos or when I meet new people during the course of my work, I didn’t feel very confident about my smile. I was very self-conscious.” 

The beginning

Starting on her Invisalign journey was not something that Beatrice took lightly. In fact, it was only about five to six years after graduating from university, when she started work, that she started thinking of doing something about her smile. 

As Beatrice was then regularly involved in modelling gigs, she was not keen on getting traditional metal braces – even if it meant having perfectly straight teeth. But thanks to a friend, she found out that there was a less intrusive way – Invisalign. 

“I realised that it was the treatment I was looking for,” she says. With Invisalign, she could still look professional and not need to worry about having her work or speech affected. 

Her Invisalign journey

Beatrice credits her dentist for the success of her Invisalign journey. At her first meeting, she went through a thorough check and scan, where her dentist assessed both the health and aesthetics of her teeth, and listened to her concerns. Then, it was a few weeks of wait before she received her first set of aligners.

The treatment programme involves wearing a new set of aligners every two weeks, with each set being worn for at least 20 hours a day. This process lasts for the entire duration of the programme. 

“I remember experiencing a slight pain between each change of aligners, which would last for about a day or two, but it was very manageable.” Beatrice also says she was reassured that the pain was normal, as it meant that her teeth were shifting into place.

The whole journey was also carefully monitored with clinic follow-ups every one to two months. “My dentist was a perfectionist. He not only focused on the aesthetics, but also made sure that I would achieve the perfect bite and have decent space between my teeth for oral hygiene too.”

Beatrice also reiterated that having access to a professional (as opposed to doing it on your own) is extremely important. Having a trained dentist monitor the progress and movement of your teeth at every stage, and the ability to make any corrections during treatment, ensures that the best results are achieved. 

The results

Like most things in life, good things come to those who wait. The improvements were gradual, but Beatrice saw slight changes during each visit with her dentist. Bit by bit, her teeth straightened out and today, she has a brilliant smile that she could not be prouder of. “It is the best treatment for my teeth that I could ask for.”

Invisalign treatment is a US FDA-approved treatment that uses the proprietary technology to create a series of custom-made removable aligners for you. 

Invisalign aligners are made of a patented plastic which is unique to Invisalign and it’s virtually invisible – so no one will even know that you’re wearing them. 

Visit the Invisalign Centre Singapore (#B1-14 Wisma Atria, tel: 6362-1066) to touch and feel the Invisalign clear aligners or www.invisalign.com.sg/find-a-doctor to locate an Invisalign dentist near you.

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