What to expect when you are getting ZOOM-ed

As I mentioned in my previous post, after having my Invisalign attachments removed, I opted for an in-office teeth whitening procedure Philips ZOOM!

Invisalign: Removal of the attachments

I have survived another appointment to have the attachments removed, to have my teeth cleaned and whitened. It took over 3 hours. 

Moving Forward

I am not usually the one to make New Year’s resolutions. To me they feel artificial and forced. Maybe that is the reason why only about 8% of resolutions are actually achieved.

However, I have always been a huge proponent of setting goals and taking action towards them. A year seems like a reasonable length of time to accomplish a realistic goal. Thus, this year I have decided to resolve. I have resolved to simplify. 

Randomness: Stay Strong

Feel as if your willpower is weakening? Make a fist to help boost it. Research shows that this simple tactic really works: Because we tend to unconsciously tighten our muscles when we need more physical or mental strength, our brains have learned to associate the act with greater self-control. Clenching your fist becomes a cue to renew your willpower whenever you need the resolve to choose an apple over a doughnut or to get to the gym when you’d rather sit on the couch.

      - Iris Hung, Ph.D., a professor of marketing at Fudan University in Shanghai and a coauthor of a study about how muscle contraction influences self-control.

Source: Shape magazine, September 2016. #bossofmybody

The Challenge of Invisalign: One Year Update

It has been about a year since I first put on my Invisalign aligners. Although I have already posted some of the less known aspects of the treatment, I would like to share a couple of other things that I have learned along the way. I know I would have welcomed this knowledge, when I was making the decision and would have loved to know all the details about the effects of the treatment and any additional expenses that may need to be incurred as the result of opting for Invisalign.

LASIK: One Last Update

It has been almost two years. And getting LASIK surgery is still one of the best decisions I've ever made. I am so grateful for the gift of clear vision. It was unbelievable to go from (-7.5) to perfect sight overnight. 

As of the last visit to the optometrist my vision checks in at 20/15. I do not have any bothersome side effects. It is amazingly liberating not having to put in the contacts or fumble around in the morning trying to find my glasses.

Bottom line: 

I would highly recommend LASIK surgery to anyone who is a candidate for it. It will make your life so much easier. 

Read all about my LASIK Journey here. 

The Challenge of Invisalign: What no one tells you

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, getting Invisalign is the end of your life as you know it. I am starting to think Invisalign is just as challenging as regular braces. Here is what my experiences have been so far.

Have You Ever Been to NYC?

Happy Thanksgiving! This year I am thankful that I live in LA. Russians have a saying - everything becomes known in comparison (everything is relative). The truth is I was so used to my perfect life that I was completely oblivious to how good I actually had it. I have always deemed Los Angeles to be my dream city and always enjoyed living here. However, I did not fully realize how much I love it, until I visited New York.

Invisalign: Getting the Attachments

I had my attachments put on a couple of weeks ago. I have to say, it is a form of torture. I am not really sure why they are calling them attachments. What they are is just some clear bonding material baked onto the teeth in random shapes. Mine definitely do not look like the perfectly squared ones that you see in all the pictures around the web. Who knows - maybe mine are a special case, although my teeth do not look half as bad as what I've seen out there.

Invisalign: Let the Journey Begin

The main reason that I got my wisdom teeth extracted a couple of months ago is in preparation for Invisalign. I would hate for them to start causing problems when my smile is all perfect. ;)