After researching a bit more on RealSelf.com I discovered that there are various Invisalign providers out there. They are as follow:
 | Premier Provider Elite* |
 | Premier Provider* |
 | Invisalign Provider |
*Premier Provider Elite:has achieved an extraordinary level of Invisalign case experience
*Premier Provider: has achieved an exceptional level of Invisalign case experience
*Premier Provider: has achieved an exceptional level of Invisalign case experience
So I went onto Invisalign.com and see if they have any recommendations for me. I should have done that earlier in my process, but you learn. I gave the dentist a call and scheduled an appointment for 8AM.
Consultation #5 - Laguna Hills
When I got there I was about to leave. They weren't even suppose to open until 9AM and my appointment was at 8AM. I was upset. But as I was about to pull out to leave, the dentist's assistant walked up followed by the dentist himself.
He was prompt in helping me get started before he even settled in after having returned from Hawaii on a teaching conference. Alright, as I was filling out my legal forms I noticed awards and photos hanging on the walls of the waiting room. Impressive, great marketing I thought to myself. Calms the nerves of a patient and build some trust, right?
Glorious . . . the first dentist to NOT, yes, NOT ask me what I want. He looked at me and just asked me to smile for him. He wanted the full all teeth smile, then the normal smile. Then he proceeded to tell me what he wants to do. I was really excited. I didn't even get a chance to really say anything to him other than "Hi, nice to meet you".
Shock #1 - He told me I was tongue tied, my lingual frenulum need clipped. Alright, I've known I was a little tongue tied since I was 5 years old. I was never a fan of the knife or any surgery, and since it never inhibited me from speech or sticking my tongue out to taunt people I let it be. I worked with it. Then I wondered, how did he know this? He had me say Mississippi a few times followed by some other words and confirmed I was tongue tied. HAHAHAHAHA I laughed. Then he asked me to touch my tongue to the roof of my mouth. HAHAHAHAHA I laugh again cause I can't do that, never been able to.
So he told me that if I want to get that Hollywood smile, he wouldn't do it for me unless I get my lingual frenulum clipped, both the upper and lower frenulum. WHY? Well since I can't put my tongue to the roof of my mouth, I was told that when I swallow, I thrust my tongue forward behind my two front teeth to compensate. Thus giving me out jetted buck teeth (7mm). Impressive observation on his part.
Shock #2 - As I was waiting on my photos getting taken, I did some research on this dentist on my iPhone. I learned he is Top 3 in the Nation in his field.
Shock #3 - When he came back after observing my photos, he said, "I don't believe in extreme surgery to fix bites because it never comes out exactly how you'd expect it to be, plus there are too many complications for something that can be fixed with today's technology". Wow are you bluffing me? Cause three other dentists told me I need jaw surgery to fix my overbite. Then I told him what the other dentist said about jaw surgery.
He told me what he wanted to do and was honest about the price right on the spot. The other dentists didn't even give me a straight forward quote. No beating around the bush and he gave me a discount in areas he can provide me discounts.
I was comfortable with the price, the dentists, and his plan for me.
I made my decision immediately and began the process.
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