Let’s start from the beginning – what made you decide it was finally time to straighten your teeth?
Honestly, I saw that I had orthodontic benefits through my job and thought… why not now? My teeth had always bothered me a little – nothing major, but I was aware of my crowding which I’d heard gets worse with age. I have a client facing job and extra confidence is never a bad thing
Had you ever considered orthodontic treatment before this?
Yes, but I always pushed it to the side. Between three kids, pets, work, and just general life chaos, it never felt like a priority. I assumed it would be too expensive or too much hassle. The benefits through my health insurance was the nudge I needed.
What was your initial reaction to the idea of clear aligners – were you hesitant at all?
A little, yeah. I pictured metal braces and thought I’d be walking into meetings being very aware of this. But once I realised how discreet clear aligners were – and that I could take them out when needed, I was all in.
How long did your treatment take, and what surprised you most about the process?
It took just over 16 months, which flew by. I was an advanced case with my crowding. I was surprised by how easy it was to stay on track. The aligners became part of my routine kind of like brushing my teeth. And seeing the progress along the way on the Dental Monitoring app kept me motivated.
Check out Chris’ Smile transformation in the video below:
Being a busy dad of three, how did you find managing aligners with family life?
Not going to lie – there were a few moments of “Where did I leave my case?”. But it actually fit in really well. The Dental Monitoring app saved me so many trips to the studio, which was huge when juggling school runs and bedtime chaos. I also travel to Sydney with work so I could scan and message on the app when I was away.
What role did the Urban Smile team and Dental Monitoring play in supporting you along the way?
The team was awesome. Super friendly, easy to chat to, and always explained things clearly. The Dental Monitoring app was probably my favourite part – being able to check in from home meant fewer appointments and less time away from work or the kids.
I had my scan set to 7am weekly and by lunchtime, I would get the thumbs up to move to my next aligner. Their advice was to do this at night as the new set of aligners are tighter as to be expected so it’s easy to start wearing these through the night.
Now that you’ve completed treatment – what’s the reaction been from family and friends?
Everyone’s been really positive. My wife keeps saying how much more I smile now. Even the kids noticed – my youngest said, “Dad, your teeth are so straight now!” which cracked me up.
What would you say to other adults (especially parents!) who might think they’ve left it too late?
It’s never too late. I’m in my 40s and now I have completed treatment I wish I’d done this years ago. If anything, doing it now made me appreciate the whole process more – and it was way easier than I expected.
I think it’s important for people to realise that getting your teeth straightened by a Specialist Orthodontist is important. They really are the specialists in this.
And finally… how do you feel every time you see your new smile in the mirror?
Proud. Confident. Like I finally did something for myself after years of doing everything for everyone else. It’s a really good feeling.
