Invisalign and composite bonding have completely transformed my teeth over the past five years 🦷✨ – but not without a pirate era, dental tourism in Bali, and seven teeth yeeted out of my head in the process.

If you’re thinking about straightening your teeth or getting bonding, here’s the real story: costs, timeline, pros/cons, and what I wish I knew before starting.

(Because if I’m writing about teeth, it might as well look cute.)

Round One: NHS Braces, aka The Freebie Era

Like every other teenager in the UK, I got free NHS braces at about 12 😬. And, like every other ungrateful little goblin, the second they came off, I shoved the retainer in a drawer and never touched it again.

Why do we all do this??

Honestly, the NHS should save those braces until we’re 25, when we’re old enough to actually respect them 😂.

Also, I was a thumb sucker until my mid-teens (yes, mid-teens 🫣), so of course my freshly straightened teeth bounced right back to their sticky-outy glory.

Why I Chose Invisalign Instead of Veneers

By 2019, my teeth weren’t horrendous at all, but I definitely looked like Bugs Bunny. 🐰

(See below my teeth in 2017, pre Invisalign & bonding)

I wanted Hollywood teeth, but there was no way I was filing my real teeth down into stumps for veneers.

So I went for Invisalign.

My orthodontist: “You’ll need 54 aligners.”

Fabulous.

How Long Does Invisalign Really Take?

Mine took four years because of travel + pandemic delays, but most people finish within 12–18 months.

I started Invisalign in December 2019.

Three months later: pandemic 🦠.

Cool.

I was also working on superyachts, working a 3:3 rotation (three months onboard, three on leave) and my then-boyfriend was South African, so I was spending most of my leave there, sooo I wasn’t in the UK very often.

My UK-based orthodontist could only give me a limited stash of aligners each visit, because sometimes I needed glue on my back teeth or extra tweaks in person, before the next ones would fit.

So I had to ration Invisalign aligners like apocalypse supplies and go to the Orthodontist whenever I could.

The Pirate Phase: What Extractions Actually Feel Like 🏴‍☠️

Next step:“You’ll need four teeth out so there is space for your other teeth to move into place.”

They gave me the choice – all at once, or over a couple of trips. Due to time constraints, I got all four out in one trip to the dentist.

So yes, I spent literal months looking like this. I had the matching top & bottom teeth out…

ON BOTH SIDES 💀💀💀💀

(During the pirate era, any time anyone said my name, this is the exact face I would greet them with, which my dad and I both thought was hilarious.)

Eventually, my teeth shuffled along, and I looked human again (thank goodness!)

Invisalign Results: Straight(ish) Teeth 🎉

By January 2024, Invisalign was done. My teeth were straight 🙌.

Huge celebration.

(Post Invisalign teeth 👇)

Except… plot twist.

My dentist in South Africa pointed out that one of my bottom molars had gone completely rogue 😑

I asked if he could organise some Invisalign to fix it, but he said only proper wire/ train track braces could. Which sadly wasn’t happening with my lifestyle, as he would need to see me every few weeks, which wasn’t possible with my job working at sea.

So I said: Fine, close enough.

Whitening Attempts (Spoiler: They Failed)

Like many 19-year-olds, I once blew all my hard-earned money on professional whitening 💸.

It did NOTHING.

They redid it for free.

Still nothing.

Tried whitening strips.

Again, nothing.

The only thing that ever worked for me?

Oil pulling with coconut oil 🥥.

Swish a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 10-20 minutes each morning consistently, and it actually whitens your teeth. (Spit it in the bin after)

But I didn’t just want whiter. I wanted a better shape. My natural teeth are quite round and short, which I didn’t love.

Composite Bonding Results (Top Teeth + Shade Choice)

By March 2025, I was ready for the finishing touch. Enter composite bonding.

I started with my top 6 teeth.

Instantly obsessed.

The shades for composite bonding only go so white – it’s not the same crazy scale you see with veneers. You can’t get that blinding Ross-from-Friends glow.

But I picked the whitest shade they offered, and honestly, it looks amazing – bright, natural, and not radioactive.

Then ofcourse, me being me, I noticed the further-back teeth I hadn’t had done looked suuuper small compared to the bonded ones, which basically left little black gaps showing when I smiled.

Not a big deal at all, but once I’d seen it, I couldn’t unsee it 🙃.

So I went back and had two more done (the 4th tooth back on each side).

Now? Fully OBSESSED 🥹.

This photo is me fresh out of the dentist, in my Harry Potter dressing gown, ready for bed, but buzzing with my new teeth. 👇

Composite Bonding: What You Actually Need to Know

• It’s not veneers. Your teeth aren’t filed into stumps 🪓. The dentist just roughs the surface (like a nail file) so the resin sticks.
• It looks natural but perfect. Bonding can change colour, size and shape.
• It’s not rock solid. It can chip if you abuse it (don’t bite cutlery, chew pens, or crack ice like a maniac).
• It needs maintenance. Bonding should be polished now and then to stay glossy ✨.
• The payoff? Cheaper, faster, less invasive than veneers – and zero stump teeth.

Wisdom Teeth Removal in Bali (My Experience)

After Invisalign, I was living my best life with straight-ish teeth… until my dentist reminded me that my wisdom teeth were growing at feral angle, pushing all my other teeth around and due to the complex angle of them, I’d have to get them taken out in hospital.

Around the same time, my filler lady (who is always suspiciously mean 🙄) told me I had a “wonky face” and my mouth would “cause issues when I’m old.”

Thanks. Just what I needed.

Anyway – cut to me in Bali. End of my holiday, one of my fillings falls out.

I thought: why not kill two birds with one stone? Found a dentist who could fix the filling AND could take out my two wisdom teeth.

I just had a local anaesthetic in my mouth, and he yanked them out in the chair (and did a great job).

Extended my holiday by a week, healed up, and flew home. Told my SA dentist. Don’t know if he was horrified or impressed.

Probably both.

(Me in Bali a couple of days after with a very swollen mouth 👇)

Dental Implants After Invisalign

Earlier this year, said back molar with the filling gave up and had to be pulled out 🪦.

That makes 7 teeth in total yeeted out of my mouth in the past few years – 4 for Invisalign, 2 wisdom, 1 molar.

Honestly, I don’t even know how they all fit in my mouth before, because right now every tooth has the perfect spot.

I’m now in the slow implant process:

• Tooth out → heal
• Peg in → heal
• Crown added 👑

It’s a long process, but once it’s done my smile will be officially complete. I’ll be getting the peg put in in January 2026, and then the crown as soon as that’s healed a few months later.

How Much Does Invisalign & Bonding Cost? (UK & SA) 💰

• Invisalign: £4.5–£5k in the UK (don’t remember the exact cost). Extractions not included – I had to pay a separate dentist.
• Bonding (South Africa): 8 teeth = £600 total. Waaaay cheaper than the UK.
• Worth it? For me, YES. I absolutely love my teeth now 🥹.

The Before & After ✨

Because we all love a transformation moment – here’s mine.
Subtle, natural, and exactly what I wanted: straighter, brighter, and finally finished.
Not a dramatic Hollywood smile – just a more confident version of what was already there, which is kind of the whole point.

What I Wish I Knew Before Invisalign & Bonding

• Everyone’s journey is different. I’ve had friends finish Invisalign in a year. Mine took 4 thanks to yacht life, travelling + pandemic chaos.
• You’re usually covered for tweaks. Invisalign often covers you for ~4 years, so refinements at the end should be included (check with your ortho).
• Retainers are for life. Stop wearing it and your teeth will move. My new retainer = emotional support plastic until the day I die.
• Bonding is amazing, but fragile. Think of it like gel nails 💅. Strong, but not indestructible.

✨ This has just been my personal experience with Invisalign and composite bonding. I wanted to share it honestly – the good, the bad, the pirate phase – because when I was thinking about it, I would’ve loved to read a real story instead of just dentist or influencer marketing.

Hopefully it helps you if you’re deciding whether it’s right for you! ✨

Invisalign & Bonding FAQs

How long does Invisalign take?
For some people, as little as a year. For me, 4 years (pandemic + travel chaos).

How much does Invisalign cost in the UK?
Typically £3.5k–£5k. Mine was around £4.5k–£5k.

Does composite bonding last?
Yes – with care. It’s not permanent like veneers, but with regular polishing and gentle treatment, it can last years.

Composite bonding vs veneers – what’s the difference?
Veneers = filing teeth into stumps, permanent, very strong.
Bonding = no filing, less invasive, cheaper, but not as hard-wearing.

Can composite bonding break easily?
Yes – it can chip or crack if you’re rough with it. It’s strong for everyday life (eating normally, drinking, smiling like a queen), but it’s not superhero-strength like veneers or natural enamel.
Avoid chewing hard foods, opening packets with your teeth, biting cutlery, ice, pen lids, or anything you know you shouldn’t be doing anyway 😂

Think of bonding like gel nails — looks stunning, lasts ages when looked after, but not indestructible.

Do you need teeth removed for Invisalign?
No, not always – only if you don’t have enough space for your teeth to move (like I didn’t).

Would I do it again?
In a heartbeat ❤️.

The Full Smile Glow-Up (and Final Thoughts)

So yeah. Buck teeth kid. Four-year Invisalign saga. Pirate era. Bali dental surgery. Bonding. Implant pending.

And finally… perfect teeth ✨.

Honestly the full glow-up has been a journey (I’ve also shared how I build strong, glowy legs without squats or deadlifts if you’re a gym girlie 💪🏼✨)

Having nice teeth has always been huge for me. It’s the first thing I notice in other people, and I always wanted mine to feel perfect.

And yes. I now have a retainer that I’ll be wearing until the day I die 🤣.

Learn from my mistakes, children.

Moral of the story: Don’t throw away your retainer. Don’t trust filler ladies with backhanded compliments. And don’t underestimate what a girl will do for good teeth – even if it involves pirate selfies and dental tourism in Bali 🏴‍☠️✈️.

If you’re thinking about Invisalign or composite bonding – or have a pirate-phase story of your own, drop a comment below, I’d love to hear it! 💕

If you enjoyed this tooth saga and want to read more things that probably shouldn’t be on the internet:

💄 Health & Beauty – glow-ups, needles, treatments & brutally honest reviews

😵‍💫 Delulu Diaries – hilarious real-life stories with plot twists no one asked for

Come hang out. I promise it’s entertaining.