Hear from our Social Media Manager Megan, about the next phase in her Clear Aligner Treatment.
I did it! I reached the final aligner in my initial set with Urban Smile! It felt like such a milestone. Five months of dedication, Dental Monitoring scans, and resisting coffee with aligners in. And just like that, I was at the end of phase one.
Not long after uploading one of my final weekly scans via the Dental Monitoring app, the Urban Smile team reached out to schedule a refinement scan. If you’re new to the clear aligner world, a refinement scan is a normal part of the journey – it’s how they finesse your smile to perfection. Everyone’s teeth move a little differently, so it’s an essential step to ensure your results match the plan.
What to Expect at a Refinement Scan
In most clear aligner treatments, there are two main phases, the initial set of aligners, and then a refinement stage. The refinement stage is a completely normal and expected part of the process. After your first set of aligners has done the heavy lifting, a refinement scan is taken to assess your progress and fine-tune any areas that still need adjustment. This ensures your final results are as precise and polished as possible.
For me, the refinement scan felt like a bite-sized version of my initial consultation, just without the x-rays. I was back with Trish, my lovely Oral Health Therapist, and it honestly felt great to catch up.
We started by chatting about how I was feeling after five months of wearing aligners, what I liked, what I wanted to improve, and how my bite was feeling. (Spoiler: I hadn’t noticed anything off, but Trish spotted a minor bite issue that needed adjusting.)
She then took updated progress photos, and I can’t wait to see the before and after comparison, and a fresh 3D scan so Dr. Lawrence, who has been designing my treatment from the beginning, could plan the refinement set. One of my teeth had been a bit stubborn and hadn’t shifted as much as expected, so it will be getting some extra attention in the next phase.
Trish also replaced one of my attachments that had gotten stained (thank you, coffee…), and gave everything a thorough once-over. After that, I was instructed to wear my last aligner from the original set overnight only while my new refinement aligners are being created.
I won’t lie, I’ve been enjoying the short break from full-time wear!
Picking Up My Refinement Aligners
About four weeks later, I got a message from Urban Smile Hawthorn saying my refinement aligners were ready! We booked in for a quick appointment to collect them and update my attachments for the new plan. This time I saw Jasmine, another Oral Health Therapist, and she was so kind and thorough in explaining what the next few months would look like.
Because of the bite issue Trish spotted, I now have bite ramps in my aligners. These are little bumps behind my top front teeth that help correct my bite more efficiently. I didn’t even know that was a thing, but they’re one of the many cool little tools orthodontists use to perfect your smile.
I also got a new attachment on one of my back molars and was instructed to take a Dental Monitoring scan as soon as I got home. Just like that, I was back in my aligner care routine: weekly scans, chewie use on repeat, and keeping everything fresh with my favourite aligner cleaning foam and Orthobrite tablets.
Why Refinements Matter
This new refinement set has fewer aligners than my first, but that’s not always the case! The number varies depending on how your teeth have moved. For me, this set is all about finesse. It’s where the Urban Smile team takes everything we’ve achieved so far and perfects it.
Refinements help correct any teeth that didn’t move as planned – which happens more often than you’d think! Every smile is unique, and sometimes teeth have their own timeline. This phase makes sure everything ends exactly where it should.
Almost There…
Now I’m less than four months away from my final smile and the finish line is officially in sight! If the first five months flew by, I know the next few will too. I’m beyond excited to see the final result.
Whether you’re at the start of your clear aligner journey or halfway through like me, trust the process, stick to the plan, and know that Urban Smile has your back every step of the way.