Parent’s Point of View
Push through even when it is hard.
We are knee deep in an international quarantine and the situation is hard. The ebb and flow of life is full of unexpected circumstances and this is one of them. It is a statewide mandate to maintain social distance and shelter in place has caused hardship for businesses and families throughout the world. It is hard.
What does this have to do with orthodontic care? The correlation is at times Invisalign, retainers, braces, orthodontic bands; whatever process a person experiences is not easy and at times is hard, too.
It is a financial investment, which is worth it, but hard. It is an investment of time, which is hard to squeeze into a busy lifestyle. I expected both of those when we started this process. What I did not expect is the physical pain. Moving teeth is not for the faint of heart. It is not that bad, but it is noticeable. The pain is not constant; it comes and goes. One tray may be tight and then the next week not as tight. There seems to be a rhythm and science to how the trays are designed. This is what is fascinating about the process; the gradual shift.
At night, when I put in a new set it is painful since my teeth were used to the old set. But after a night’s sleep, the teeth have adjusted a bit and the pain subsides. It no longer as painful, just a slight tightening feeling; all necessary to achieve movement, correction, and needed to maintain progress.
Everyone wants what they want, without any pain. But the reality is we have to push through, even when it is hard. We want a result, and most of the time there is pain involved. Orthodontics involves the harsh reality of pain, but it is worth it. For every person, the amount of pain varies depending on their situation, level of correction, and pain tolerance.
23 weeks in and I would definitely do this all over again. The results thus far are excellent, and I am seeing great improvements.
There is a level of discipline which rides alongside of physical pain; a strong mental focus, much like that of a professional athlete. The best of the best are disciplined as they push through the pain, maintain focus, and achieve the result they are seeking. No one tells athletes how painful it will be but when a person can visualize the target, they push through the pain. No one tells you how hard orthodontics will be, but if the result is a priority and within reach, then pushing through is worth the effort.
Wearing Invisalign is not that painful, but it is good to know that your teeth are not going to move without a bit of pain. It’s not like you’re moving a piece of light furniture; in my case it’s more like you’re trying to move a heavy armoire that has not moved in 50 years; and it’s hard. It is hard to move, it is not easy, and it is a pain.
There is a reward to pushing through the pain; in the end, the result makes the uncomfortableness worth it. Think like an athlete, stay mentally focused on the goal, remain disciplined, and do not give up moving the armoire even when it is hard. Push through. Your smile with thank you for it.
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Teenager’s Point of View
Sincerity towards safety ~ secure, welcoming, professional and with grace.
My orthodontist appointment was during the pandemic. Most places started opening up so this appointment was about getting settled in and a checkup, with safety precautions of course. I have to say that Dr. Kubo was the first appointment I have been to, during the pandemic.
I was honestly nervous about how it was going to go and how they would handle the whole situation. I must say, they handled it very professionally and with grace.
We came to the front door with our masks on and the sign posted said to wait outside and to call when you get there. We waited patiently at the front door and called. They answered and said that a woman would come out and take our temperature and ask a few questions.
We did so, and the woman was very well protected and it made me feel secure. We finished the check in, came in and sanitized our hands at the little clean stand. We were ushered to the back and went to a little room off the side. Everyone was in the same gear as the first woman and there were barely any patients inside.
I can tell that they were being extra cautious with the whole process, and I greatly appreciate their sincerity towards their safety and ours.
After the appointment, we left the same way we came in. I was very pleased with my experience with the whole thing. They accomplished a safe, but still very welcoming procedure even with a pandemic going on.
