Reviews you can trust, from real people like you.
How it works
- Our highly-trained Review Moderation team evaluates all reviews before they're published to ensure they're written by people like you and not a member of a doctor's office.
- This multi-step process takes up to 24 hours from review submission to publication.
- Doctors can't pay to have reviews removed or hidden.
- Reviews are only removed at the reviewer's request or if they violate our Terms of Service.
If you have questions or believe we should re-evaluate a published review, let us know.
Sort by:
*Treatment results may vary
Week 4
Four weeks in so far. Everything has been going really well. I have had minimal discomfort. I was careful about what I ate for maybe the first week or so, but soon learned I was able to eat basically anything at all without too many problems. I'm just not much good with biting down with my front teeth.
I went for a regular dentist visit this week. I was starting to look very yellow around my attachments, but my hygienist was able to clean those stains off and I am happy with how clean my teeth look in the photo. My dentist asked me if my teeth felt loose or sensitive and seemed a little shocked when I said they didn't bother me at all.
Using the dental monitoring app has also been fairly easy. I have a scan box and retractors and the app gives me clear instructions. Now I'm used to the process I can complete it in 5 minutes in the morning and get my reply from the orthodontist by the end of the day.
My sister is also having treatment with Spark Aligners through the same practitioner. Her treatment seems to be less straightforward; She is having a bit more discomfort than me and gets told to stay on her current aligner for an extra 3 days fairly often instead of being allowed to move on. We don't exactly know why and I feel frustrated on her behalf as my treatment is so hassle-free so far. We may contact the ortho to ask. I just thought I'd put that in as a bit of a footnote as not everyone can be expected to breeze through the same way.
I went for a regular dentist visit this week. I was starting to look very yellow around my attachments, but my hygienist was able to clean those stains off and I am happy with how clean my teeth look in the photo. My dentist asked me if my teeth felt loose or sensitive and seemed a little shocked when I said they didn't bother me at all.
Using the dental monitoring app has also been fairly easy. I have a scan box and retractors and the app gives me clear instructions. Now I'm used to the process I can complete it in 5 minutes in the morning and get my reply from the orthodontist by the end of the day.
My sister is also having treatment with Spark Aligners through the same practitioner. Her treatment seems to be less straightforward; She is having a bit more discomfort than me and gets told to stay on her current aligner for an extra 3 days fairly often instead of being allowed to move on. We don't exactly know why and I feel frustrated on her behalf as my treatment is so hassle-free so far. We may contact the ortho to ask. I just thought I'd put that in as a bit of a footnote as not everyone can be expected to breeze through the same way.
Spark Aligners to Correct Crowding and Overbite
I initially attended my free consultation on 7 October 2021. Prior to this appointment Straight Smile Centre referred me to have cephalostat and panoramic X-rays. At the appointment, I learned that I have a skeletal overbite. The consultant, Chloe, suggested that extraction would be necessary to completely fix the discrepancy, but the orthodontist, Dr. Chen, said that would be overkill for an overbite of only around 2mm, and that there would be some improvement with the clear braces.
I agreed to have the 1-year treatment without extractions to see where that got me. I was impressed that when I returned I was scanned with a machine rather than having to do impressions. Having impressions never bothered me much in the past (I've had to wear a night guard for several years now for tooth grinding) but I know it is torturous for other people, so this is a vast improvement in that regard. And it only took around 15 minutes.
I had my aligners fitted on 20 December 2021. The West Lakes clinic has a sink, mirror, and countertop set up where Dee showed me how to use the ScanBox to complete my weekly dental monitoring. Then I went to the treatment area to have my attachments fitted and some IPR done by Akira. I was a little bit nervous that the IPR would be difficult, but it was less stressful than most cleanings I've had, so I was impressed.
Inserting and removing the trays has not been overly difficult for me. I do have to use the outie tool on my lower right, but the rest I can manage with fingers alone.
Waking up on the morning of 21 December, there was some pain. I was looking forward to taking them out for breakfast to get a break from the trays. I took two panadol capsules and felt some relief pretty quickly.
Currently, I have 20 trays to get through. I was a little concerned since my sister is having treatment at the same time and she has been sent home with about 45 trays, but I assume that I may need a halfway check-up and that's why I will be back at the clinic again so soon.
I have attached some before pictures and images of my first tray.
I agreed to have the 1-year treatment without extractions to see where that got me. I was impressed that when I returned I was scanned with a machine rather than having to do impressions. Having impressions never bothered me much in the past (I've had to wear a night guard for several years now for tooth grinding) but I know it is torturous for other people, so this is a vast improvement in that regard. And it only took around 15 minutes.
I had my aligners fitted on 20 December 2021. The West Lakes clinic has a sink, mirror, and countertop set up where Dee showed me how to use the ScanBox to complete my weekly dental monitoring. Then I went to the treatment area to have my attachments fitted and some IPR done by Akira. I was a little bit nervous that the IPR would be difficult, but it was less stressful than most cleanings I've had, so I was impressed.
Inserting and removing the trays has not been overly difficult for me. I do have to use the outie tool on my lower right, but the rest I can manage with fingers alone.
Waking up on the morning of 21 December, there was some pain. I was looking forward to taking them out for breakfast to get a break from the trays. I took two panadol capsules and felt some relief pretty quickly.
Currently, I have 20 trays to get through. I was a little concerned since my sister is having treatment at the same time and she has been sent home with about 45 trays, but I assume that I may need a halfway check-up and that's why I will be back at the clinic again so soon.
I have attached some before pictures and images of my first tray.
Provider Review
Dr. Wayne Chen