If there’s one day that every orthodontic patient looks forward to, it’s the day that the teeth-straightening process is completed. While Invisalign can effectively and comfortably straighten out many smiles with mild or moderate misalignments, it’s still important to wear your retainer after treatment to prevent your teeth from drifting out of position. Here’s a brief guide to why you should wear your retainer and how long you’ll have to use this appliance.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign treatment uses a customized sequence of clear aligners to gradually bring teeth into healthier alignments, and it can address a range of mild or moderate bite issues such as gaps, crowding, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites. These aligners are virtually invisible when worn, and each set is designed to shift the teeth a little closer to their ideal positions over the course of two weeks. The patient then switches to a new set that picks up where the last one left off, and this process continues until the smile has been properly realigned.
Why Are Retainers Important After Invisalign?
Orthodontic appliances work by using sustained pressure to reposition teeth, and the oral tissues supporting them will need some time to resolidify after the treatment ends. After your Invisalign aligners are removed for the last time, your teeth will do their best to shift back into their original positions, and wearing your retainer as instructed will help them remain in their new positions and prevent the results of your treatment from being ruined.
How Long Will I Have to Wear My Retainers After Invisalign?
Invisalign treatment can take up a lot of time and resources, so you’ll undoubtedly want to do everything you can to make sure that its results last for as long as possible. Ideally, you will wear your retainers for life after completing treatment, but it is especially important to wear them during the first few months after Invisalign. During this period, the bone and connective tissue holding the teeth in place will be much softer and more prone to allowing them to drift back into their former positions.
A straighter and healthier smile can vastly improve a person’s life. If you adopt the right habits, you can preserve the results of your Invisalign treatment for decades to come.
About the Author
Dr. Justyna Balicka earned her dental doctorate at the New York University College of Dentistry and completed her orthodontic residency at St. Barnabas Hospital. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a clinical professor for post-graduate residents at NUMC. Her office in Huntington offers traditional braces, Invisalign treatment, and orthodontic emergency services. To learn more about preserving the results of your Invisalign treatment, contact the office online or dial (631) 423-7857.