OUR EDITOR BIANCA LUYKX ON HER ALIGNER JOURNEY
I’m smiling, I’m smiling a lot these days. And no, it’s not that I’m necessarily overly happy. I’m smiling because I’m no longer trying to hide my teeth.
Twenty months ago, after taking a long, hard look at myself in the mirror (it wasn’t pleasant!) I decided to take the plunge. My bottom teeth, which you can’t really see from these images here, had gradually over the years moved, and moved quite a bit, to the point that, I felt, when I smiled broadly, that I looked a little like a Minion when they go feral and end up with madly crossed teeth. You got the image?
Knowing that these teeth were not going to fix themselves and that the overcrowding was only going to get worse over the years, I took myself off to Seapoint Clinic (they have two clinics, one in the Beacon, Sandyford, and one in Blackrock, Co. Dublin), and met their orthodontic team.
Seapoint Clinic has, for over two decades, been transforming smiles and setting standards for excellence in Irish dentistry. As the leading cosmetic and implant dental clinic here that has a reputation for creating world-class expertise with exceptional patient care, I knew I was in good hands.
I explained my Minion situation to Dr Jim Griffin, who managed to listen without laughing, and told him that I was hoping to get correction on my bottom teeth only – I didn’t really want the braces to be overly visible. He took a look, took some digital scans, photographs, and X-rays, and explained that my bite needed correction too, and that my entire jawline and bite balance would benefit from the treatment he had in mind. He carefully mapped out every stage, using a digital planning system, which allowed me to visualise my smile transformation before treatment even began.
He then spoke to me about Invisalign® and told me to imagine straightening my teeth, top and bottom, without anyone even noticing. I wasn’t so sure about the visibility bit until at my following appointment when the custom-made aligners were popped in, and while I could feel them, I could hardly see them, such is their discretion. These virtually invisible braces are designed to discreetly and comfortably guide your teeth into alignment, making them a really popular choice nowadays for adults and teens alike.
While Invisalign® remains the pioneer in clear aligners, there are now multiple options available from various manufacturers. These alternatives provide flexibility in cost and treatment approaches. This innovative treatment has transformed the smiles of countless individuals, he said, who might never have considered traditional braces.
My treatment with Invisalign® aligners began in May 2024. I changed the aligners every two weeks, had regular reviews every eight weeks in the clinic but also online with the Invisalign® virtual care program. It was seamless. It was easy. And it wasn’t at all uncomfortable. People always ask me, is it not hard to wear them for the recommended 22 hours? And honest to god, it’s not. Well, for me it wasn’t anyway.
As a teeth grinder, I wear a retainer to prevent grinding at night anyway, so the aligners just replaced that, and during the day, I became so unaware I was even wearing them that they just didn’t bother me at all. The great thing is being able to take them out, though. Obviously, when you are eating and drinking, you must take them out, but if I was hosting an event, or doing an interview, or even going out for a quick bite to eat, I just took them out and put them back in after.
By summer 2025, I completed my Invisalign® treatment, and my teeth were polished, and final scans were taken for retainers. With alignment complete, attention turned to cosmetic finishing touches, ensuring my smile looked as natural, balanced, and confident as it felt.
Truly, it has been one of the best things I have done for myself. I smile like I mean it now.
Check out more of Bianca’s testimonial here.
About Seapoint Clinic
Seapoint Clinic is an award-winning dental practice with locations in Blackrock and Sandyford, Dublin. Renowned for its specialist orthodontics, Invisalign treatments, cosmetic dentistry, and dental implants, the clinic also provides comprehensive general dentistry for patients of all ages.
Combining advanced digital planning with a highly personalised approach, Seapoint Clinic’s experienced team delivers tailored treatments that enhance oral health, ensure long-term stability, and create confident, natural-looking smiles. To get in contact: seapointclinic.ie/ (01) 284 2570/info@seapointclinic.ie