While Invisalign has allowed many patients to achieve remarkable orthodontic results without the irremovable metal parts and frustrating dietary restrictions of traditional braces, it’s still essential to wear your retainer to preserve your results afterward. Ideally, you’ll regularly wear your retainer for life, but it’s especially important to wear it as instructed during the first few years after your orthodontic treatment. Here’s why wearing your retainer is so important as well as a guide to how long you may need to wear it.
Why Is My Retainer Important?
Like all orthodontic treatments, Invisalign works by exerting constant pressure upon the teeth to gradually shift them into healthier positions. Unfortunately, your teeth will try to shift back into their former positions as soon as your orthodontic appliance is removed, and this will still happen even after your Invisalign treatment is completed. Your retainer works by holding your teeth in their new alignment while the tissue supporting them solidifies, preventing dental shifting in the years after your treatment.
How Long Will I Have to Wear My Retainer?
The best way to ensure that your teeth stay in their new alignment after Invisalign treatment is to consistently wear your retainer as instructed for life. However, the years immediately following your orthodontic treatment are the most crucial for wearing your retainer, and you can expect to need to wear your retainers less as time goes on. For example, while you may need to wear upper and lower retainers all day during the months immediately after completing Invisalign, you may only need to wear an upper one to bed after that.
What Kind of Retainers Are There?
There are several types of retainers, and the best one for you depends on your situation. Your dentist may recommend an appliance like:
- Removable clear retainer: These appliances are manufactured based on detailed molds taken of your teeth, which allows them to fit comfortably. They’re also transparent, making them virtually invisible when worn.
- Fixed retainer: This is a wire cemented behind your front teeth. These appliances are irremovable without the help of a dentist, but they are practically invisible due to their position.
- Hawley retainer: This device is made from a thin metal wire and plastic, and it can be made to fit the roof of your mouth or the inside of your lower teeth.
Wearing your retainer as instructed will allow you to retain your hard-won Invisalign results. However, it is possible to undergo a second round of Invisalign if your teeth shift in the years following your initial treatment.
About the Author
Dr. Gus Bal earned his dental degree from Boston University’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine in 1994 and studied implant dentistry at New York University. He has also received training for IV sedation at Duquesne University. His office in Nepean offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as Invisalign services. To learn more about preserving the results of your orthodontic treatment, contact his office online or dial (613) 727-0990.