Over 21 million people have chosen Invisalign to straighten their teeth. According to Consumer Affairs:
Lower cost, lower treatment time, and a discreet profile all make Invisalign an incredibly popular choice for people with mild to moderate orthodontic issues.
What some people don’t realize, however, is that treatment is not finished when you’re done using your Invisalign aligners. As with traditional metal braces, you must wear a retainer for the rest of your life once your teeth are aligned.
In this article, we’re going to tell you why:
You’ve been wearing your Invisalign aligners for a year or longer. You love the look of your new smile, and you have less discomfort from orthodontic issues. You feel fantastic - so why do you need to wear retainers?
We understand that being asked to wear orthodontic devices after months of wearing an orthodontic device can be a lot, but it’s absolutely essential if you want to keep your new smile.
Teeth shift over time; the retainers you’ll wear after your Invisalign treatment stop teeth from shifting back into misalignment. By wearing a retainer consistently, you’re protecting your investment in your smile.
With time and pressure, everything shifts - and your teeth are no exception. Invisalign works by applying controlled pressure to shift your teeth into a desired position; once that controlled pressure is gone, other forces begin to take hold and shift your teeth.
These pressures can come from many different sources: The shape of your mouth, the strength of your jaw muscles, bite forces, tooth grinding, gaps caused by missing teeth, and more.
Over time, these same forces may change; the density of your jawbone may decrease as you age, gums may recede, and muscles may grow stronger or weaker. All of these forces will continue to cause your teeth to shift over time.
Retainers are designed to apply controlled force to keep your teeth in their new alignment. The ways in which your teeth and mouth will change over time mean that the retainers you use may change over time, both to ensure your comfort and to keep your teeth properly aligned.
The role of retainers is not to change the alignment of your teeth; however, it’s to keep them in alignment. As teeth shift, your retainers will keep them in place, but if you stop using them, they won’t push your teeth back into the right alignment.
Hawley retainers are removable retainers made of plastic or acrylic with a wire that sits on the front of your teeth. The wire on these retainers is visible; most patients who opt for Invisalign prefer transparent retainers, so this option is less popular than the two alternatives.
There are several different types of removable clear retainers on the market; Invisalign offers its own brand of clear retainer (called Vivera), while another brand, Essix, also offers removable clear retainers.
These retainers are transparent, making them similar in appearance to Invisalign aligners; they’re a popular option among Invisalign patients.
For people who don’t want to have to remove their retainers after every meal, fixed retainers (also called bonded retainers or permanent retainers) can be an excellent option. These retainers are bonded to the back of your teeth, so they’re incredibly discreet.
Our dentists can help you determine which retainer system is right for you after your Invisalign treatment; call us for a consultation!
You will need to wear your retainer for the rest of your life. Retainers will keep your teeth from falling into misalignment; they are essential to keeping your new smile aligned.
At first, you’ll need to wear your new retainer for long periods of time - 22 hours or more each day, only removing it for meals. Over time, your dentist or orthodontist may decide that you can reduce the amount of time you need to wear your retainer each day. Eventually, you may only need to wear your retainer overnight!
Not wearing your retainer can lead to your teeth shifting out of their new position; this can cause misalignment. Visible misalignment may not happen for months or years, but after just a few days of not wearing their retainers, many people feel some tightness when putting the retainer back on.
You already know the consequences of misalignment; it’s why you’re looking into or opted for an Invisalign treatment in the first place. Misalignment may reduce your confidence in your smile; it can also impact your oral health, making it harder to brush and floss, possibly contributing to conditions like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), or even making it more difficult to enjoy the foods you love.
When your teeth shift back into misalignment, they need to be realigned - and retainers don’t align teeth, they just stop them from shifting. Should your teeth become misaligned because you stopped wearing your retainer, you’ll need another round of orthodontic treatment to bring them back into alignment.
By wearing your retainer, you will keep your teeth in alignment and keep the benefits of your Invisalign treatment going for the rest of your life.
Caring for your retainer is as important as wearing it daily; proper care means your retainer will last longer, you’ll be less likely to lose your retainer, and you’ll be taking better care of your oral health. Here are a few tips you should remember:
Following the above tips will help you get the most out of your retainer.
Invisalign is an investment in your smile and an investment in your health. For some patients, it’s helpful to think of retainers as something that is part of the Invisalign treatment instead of something that comes after the treatment.
Another thing that helps people feel more confident in their decision to proceed with Invisalign is knowing that you need to wear a retainer after getting traditional braces, too.
We want to help you get the most out of your Invisalign treatment - and get the most out of your smile. Our dentists in Winnipeg can determine if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. If so, we’ll fit you with Invisalign aligners, work with you through the treatment, and help you care for your teeth with retainers afterward. That’s the complete package; call us for a consultation today!
