Retainers may have an even worse reputation than braces. No one wants to wear a retainer, but here’s the reality – this appliance holds your newly shifted teeth securely in place, supporting the effort it took to straighten your smile with Invisalign or its counterparts. So, yes, you do have to wear retainers after Invisalign. And here’s why.
Your Teeth Are Stubborn
Invisalign corrects misaligned teeth in about a year. When you’ve finished wearing your last set of aligners, your teeth will be straight and beautiful – but they won’t stay that way without reinforcement.
The jawbone partially softens during Invisalign treatment. This allows the teeth to move where your provider wants them to go. As a result, the bone, gum, and tissues that hold the teeth in place are not strong enough to hold them while new bone is being formed. Your teeth will desperately want to go back to where they were originally, unless you wear retainers after Invisalign.
Time Changes Everything
It may seem like skipping a week or two of retainer wear is no big deal. While your teeth won’t change dramatically overnight if you forget a few nights in the beginning, over time they will slowly shift back into their old positions.
Long story short – the more often you wear your retainers after Invisalign, the stronger, better, and more beautiful your smile will be. It shouldn’t be difficult to get in the habit of putting your appliance in your mouth after a year of Invisalign treatment and the care you used to tend to these aligners every night.
Retainers Do Not Align Your Teeth
Your Invisalign trays align your teeth and move them into perfect order. Your retainer holds that order, but that is it. The retainer is not an appliance that can realign teeth back to where Invisalign trays first placed them.
If you have a relapse in misalignment because of a lack of retainer wear, another round of orthodontic treatment will likely be necessary. It may not have to be as intense as your first round of treatment, but why take the chance? Wear your retainers after Invisalign and you won’t have to worry about losing ground, or your smile makeover.
The Importance of Retainers After Invisalign
Invisalign wearers typically get Vivera retainers, which are clear, thin trays that fit snugly over the teeth. After your Invisalign treatment is complete, your Red Bank dentist may recommend that you wear the retainers around the clock for several weeks or months. This should be a simple task for anyone who has experienced living with Invisalign for a year.
Eventually, the retainers will only need to be worn at night while you sleep. Several hours of wear overnight will help keep your teeth in place as they stabilize in their new positions. Over time, maybe a year or so, your dentist may advise that you only wear the retainers three to five nights a week. Every case is different, though, so be prepared to follow your Invisalign provider’s instructions to the letter.
Curious about whether Invisalign is right for you? Schedule a consultation with Red Bank Dentistry in Red Bank, NJ.
