In December 2020 I finally did something I’ve been contemplating doing for years. I decided to get my teeth straightened back out, after years without wearing a retainer. I had braces in 4th grade and got them taken off 2.5 years later in 6th grade, but my orthodontist gave me clear retainers rather than a permanent retainer. I wasn’t quite responsible enough to have those, and here I am nearly 20 years later getting them fixed! This time, I decided to go the Invisalign route, rather than braces. I figured with COVID-19 cancelling all of our tradeshows, meaning I wouldn’t be in front of a camera or having important meetings face-to-face, it was time.

I’ve contemplated getting my teeth fixed for years after I noticed them shifting more and more with time. To everyone else, my teeth were already straight, but the slightest movement had created a “less than perfect” alignment, something that I once experienced after wearing braces for 2.5 years. For this reason, it’s been difficult to ignore the change. My teeth are also a sensitive subject because I can remember being made fun of for having “buck teeth” and I even had people close to me say, “she could eat an apple through a fence.” While it was lighthearted, it still hurt!