Marloes Oink
Marloes shares her experience with Invisalign at Orthodontie Museumplein.
Marloes Oink is 40 years old, lives and works in Amsterdam, and started her brace journey a few years ago at Orthodontie Museumplein in Amsterdam. A route of more than two years of Invisalign and brackets, towards the perfect smile. We spoke to the cheerful blonde about her experiences with her orthodontic treatment at Orthodontie Museumplein.
Why a brace treatment?
When I was at primary school I had no less than 3 braces. Wearing a brace was super hip back then. Remember those rainbow-coloured headgear braces? Or those brightly coloured rubber bands? After that treatment, no bonded retainers were placed for me, nor did I wear a night retainer. Years later my teeth had drifted considerably. That was a motivation for me to go back to the orthodontist, because I wanted that beautiful smile back.
After six months of waiting for a not-so-pleasant intake with another orthodontist in Amsterdam, I found Lotte through Google. I shared a photo of my teeth via WhatsApp and not two minutes later I received a message that they could definitely help me and that I could come in for an intake. What a service.
3D model of the end result
During the intake they make a 3D model of your teeth in the practice using a special camera. Based on these images, a simulation video is made of how your smile will change. So before I started the treatment, I could already see roughly what the end result would be. That's pretty unique, right?
Aligners were supposed to take care of the whole improvement, even though I had actually braced myself for a two-year bracket treatment. So it was a bit of a disappointment when those brackets did end up on my lower jaw. A few of my teeth turned out to have a mind of their own, which meant the aligners weren't quite effective enough. But that too is part of a brace treatment. The simulation is only an estimate of how the treatment will unfold, something to keep in the back of your mind.
It's actually pretty unique that you can see the end result in advance with a simulation video.
Was the treatment comfortable?
I got attachments placed on almost every tooth. These are small buttons that keep the aligners in place and also have a steering effect. You feel that something is there, but I haven't really been bothered by it. The only thing I sometimes found uncomfortable were exposed tooth necks. Of course your teeth are also a little sensitive when you put in a new aligner because they're being pushed from their place, but at the same time it gives you the nice feeling that something is happening. A big advantage of Invisalign is that you barely see the aligners. In the beginning I felt uncomfortable about it before others ever noticed I was wearing a brace.
How was it at the practice?
The advantage of an Invisalign treatment is that you can do a lot yourself. You take the complete set of aligners home with you and switch them every 1 to 2 weeks. That really gives you a sense of control over the treatment. I often didn't have to come into the practice, but when I did it was always very nice. I really enjoy a personal chat, so I always had a lovely time talking with Wendy and Ruth who often helped me. I also really appreciate that Lotte is always around to take a look at the progress. She is among the best Invisalign clinicians in the world and trains her team just as well. A personal approach that brings a lot of joy and a high level of professionalism into the practice, you notice it in everything.
What is your advice to others who are still hesitating?
Do it. Sooner rather than later. Once you're in the treatment any doubts you had melt away like snow in the sun. For me it was really a gift to myself. I had saved up for it and was determined to start. Working on a beautiful smile makes you confident and it simply makes you happy. Once you start, you've crossed the threshold and it all flows naturally. I'm super proud of my teeth now and very happy with the end result.