As a Canadian who moved to BGC 6 months ago, fixing my teeth wasn’t really something that crossed my mind, until I found and tried Alina invisible braces. To give you some background, I had big ol’ metal braces for 4 years all throughout high school. My teeth were actually so crooked that, looking back at it, I’m convinced I scared off several potential girlfriends with my chainsaw-smile. But that being said, I can honestly say that I do not miss metal braces at all. I actually didn’t like the look, or feeling, of having metal bits stuck to my teeth, I didn’t like the painful and tight feeling of having my braces adjusted, and even after 4 painful years, I absolutely hated the fact that I had to wear those metal retainers, the ones that prevent you from speaking properly.
So I just stopped wearing my retainers…
Fast forward to about 6 months ago, I moved to Manila to work for a software company. I suppose years without wearing a retainer finally caught up with me. After one particular day, a coworker pointed out that my front teeth were, “cute, since they looked like bunny teeth.”
Not once, in my entire life, have I wished for cute bunny teeth. In fact I suffered for 4 years to try and get rid of bunny teeth.
The intention of my coworker was not to offend, but the damage had been done. From that day onward, I became self-conscious about my smile, since I knew they were only going to get more and more crooked.
I went to a couple orthodontists here in the Philippines and they all recommended metal braces.
There was no way I was going to do that to myself again.
So it felt like I had to choose between having a crooked smile for life or going through metal braces a second time.
That’s when I found Alina. Well, actually my dad saw one of their posts, and sent it to me.
What got me at first was the fact that Alina was removable, plain and simple. But if I was going to pay a lot of money for another orthodontic treatment, I wanted to do my research first. I called the number on the website, and I was able to talk to a patient coordinator from Alina. I was actually surprised to hear them explain how much technology goes into something that looks so simple, I mean the thing fits in a pocket, and is practically invisible.
A few days later, I was sold. I got back to the coordinator and asked when I could get started, preferably as soon as possible, so my teeth wouldn’t move any further. Thankfully, she scheduled me for the next day.
I showed up to the clinic expecting at least a 1-2 hour appointment, with those gross clay impressions that you have to bite into, but the dentist used an electronic 3-D scanner. They checked my teeth, took a 3-D scan, and in 20 minutes I was done.
I felt so relieved about how understanding the dentists were. Normally I’d get a lecture for not wearing my retainers, but the Alina dentists admitted that they understand why people like me stop, because quite frankly, anything metal is uncomfortable, but it’s also a thing of the past.
I got a call two days later letting me know that I was classified as a mild case – the one good thing braces did for me – and that I’d have my smile perfected in 5 months or less.
I was ecstatic.
Alina sent me the link to pay, I paid for my treatment, and then all I had to do was go back to the clinic for my first set.
After trying Alina, my only regret is that I didn’t know about it while I was in Canada. Not only is it so much easier on my lifestyle, being removable and invisible, but my teeth are right where they should be now.
On top of that, Alina gave me an invisible retainer at the end of my 5 months that I only had to wear at night. It really made me feel like the entire treatment was more than worth it.
These days, when I meet new people, or catch up with old friends, the first thing they say to me is that I have a nice smile which warms my heart, knowing my past struggle and insecurities about my crooked teeth. And that’s why I mention Alina to everyone who asks me about my teeth. I’m that big of a believer in Alina now.
