Eline Heeres
Eline (33) doubted braces for years, until she discovered Invisalign. Even a jaw surgery couldn't stop her.
Eline (33) works in the fashion industry and is also at the helm of the online magazine Ladify.nl. For years she doubted whether to start a brace journey, until she came across Invisalign. Although even a jaw surgery turned out to be necessary to achieve the desired end result, Eline went into the process with confidence. With a beautiful, lifelong smile as the result.
A brace, why did you wait so long?
I still remember all my classmates in secondary school wearing metal braces. My dentist hadn't yet referred me because my baby teeth hadn't fully come out. Eventually, at 18, it became necessary to at least wear a brace on the lower jaw to help a tooth that seemed stuck in the jaw come up. Although the orthodontist also recommended a fixed brace on top, I refused to start my student years with a mouth full of metal. The stuck tooth was brought down and after 2 years the brace came off. The bottom was perfectly straight, the top was slightly skewed.
And then?
Unfortunately, I started to be bothered by those slightly crooked teeth in the upper row. After visiting several orthodontists I kept getting the same answer: a bracket treatment of at least 2 years was needed, plus a jaw surgery to get everything in place. I was so daunted by that. Eventually, through someone in my circle, I came across Invisalign and ended up with Lotte Meereboer.
A brace and a jaw surgery, that's not nothing?
That's right. Even with an Invisalign treatment, the best result could only be reached with a jaw surgery, an osteotomy. This time I was determined to fully commit and finally work towards that, in my eyes, beautiful smile. In total, 21 aligners were needed to get both rows of teeth completely right. Through that movement my overbite even grew a little, but I didn't have to worry about that. The overbite would be corrected during the surgery.
A reassurance, that's what it was every time I came to Orthodontie Museumplein
How does an osteotomy surgery work?
First I had to go through an Invisalign treatment for a year. During that period I was already expected at the hospital several times for check-ups and consultations. Both at the hospital and at Orthodontie Museumplein I was massively reassured and encouraged. Very welcome in the run-up to a fairly major surgery.
Shortly before the surgery, metal buttons were placed on every tooth at the orthodontic practice, so that the jaws could be held together with elastics during and right after the operation. And then it's waiting for the surgery date.
The week of the surgery I had a final hospital check-up to sort out the last things. Pain relief, a diet, advice from a dental hygienist. After the surgery I couldn't chew on hard things for 6 weeks. Fortunately the smoothie diet could be slowly expanded into a soft-food menu over those weeks.
Did you have a lot of pain?
A jaw surgery is no small thing, and it's definitely a procedure you need to think about carefully. Still, I followed Lotte's advice that the best, most lasting and healthiest result would be a treatment that included the surgery. The pain after the surgery was manageable, but of course a saw has been through your jaw, so it isn't entirely painless. Fortunately the pain was well managed at the hospital and afterwards, and the healing process went unbelievably fast. After six weeks I could take my first bite of chicken again, and slowly got used to the new position of my teeth.
Would you do it again?
The answer is an absolute yes. Even though I had complications because of a reaction to the medication, I'm incredibly happy with the result. Actually the result has turned out even better than expected, because for the first time I have a proper bite and of course those beautifully straight teeth. The Invisalign brace is a real godsend if you want to wear a brace without it being so obvious. If I had known about this approach to orthodontics at 18, I would have signed up straight away.
And the care from Orthodontie Museumplein?
Everyone in the practice welcomed me so warmly and encouraged me throughout the whole process. And even though it's their job, it does you good when someone calls you 'tough' for going through with it. Because yes, you do feel a little bit badass.