Completing your Invisalign treatment marks an exciting milestone in your quest for a straighter smile. However, the journey doesn’t end there. You need a way to maintain your newly aligned teeth and prevent them from shifting back into their original positions. This is where wearing a retainer comes in.
If you’d like to know more about retainers and how they fit into your Invisalign treatment, continue reading.
Why Wear a Retainer?
While your Invisalign treatment is underway, the aligners pull and shift your teeth. This happens because the constant pressure helps make the bone that holds your teeth more “spongey” and malleable. Because of this, a retainer ensures the teeth don’t move while the bone hardens around them again.
Even so, aging will naturally shift your teeth over time, so your retainer is a life-long commitment to preserving your new smile.
How Often Will I Need to Wear My Retainer?
Immediately after completing your Invisalign treatment, your dentist or orthodontist will give you a retainer. During the initial phase, typically the first few months after finishing Invisalign, you’ll need to wear your retainer full-time, except when eating or brushing your teeth.
Gradually, you may transition to wearing your retainer mostly at night while you sleep. Your dentist will provide specific guidance on the duration of nighttime wear, which typically ranges from several months to a year.
After this, once your teeth have stabilized further, your need to wear your retainer could become a bit more infrequent. However, this depends entirely on your dentist’s recommendations.
Maintaining Your Retainer
Proper maintenance and care of your retainer is important for its effectiveness and longevity. Follow your dentist’s instructions for cleaning and storing your retainer, which may include daily cleaning with a gentle toothbrush and mild soap, avoiding exposure to heat, and storing it in its case when not in use.
Wearing a retainer after completing Invisalign treatment is vital for keeping the alignment of your teeth and preventing them from shifting back to their original positions. By following your dentist’s recommendations for retainer wear and maintenance, you can enjoy the long-term benefits of your Invisalign treatment and a beautifully aligned smile.
About the Author
If you want a straighter, better-looking smile, you need a dentist who knows the Invisalign process well. Dr. Dustin C. Lively can help. He has years of experience and has completed many successful Invisalign treatments for his patients. Dr. Lively earned his dental doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Since then, he has increased his skills through prestigious schools like the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Call (580) 782-2552 to schedule an Invisalign consultation at 333 Dental Care or visit the website to learn more.