When it’s finally time to finish your Invisalign treatment, you may be excited to be done! You’ll have the straighter smile you worked so hard to get and be ready to show it off. But what happens once you’re done? You may not be thrilled to hear, but you’ll have to wear a retainer. Thankfully, it’s no different and may be easier than wearing your clear aligners! Read on to learn why you need a retainer after treatment and how long you’ll wear it for.
Why Do I Need a Retainer After Invisalign?
Orthodontic treatments generally end with you wearing a retainer. This dental appliance helps ensure that your teeth stay in place and don’t move back to their original positions. That’s because when you wear Invisalign, your teeth are under constant gentle pressure to straighten them. Your jawbone becomes spongy to allow your teeth to move, and it takes some time for the bone to harden and stabilize the roots of your teeth.
How Long Do I Need to Wear My Retainer For?
In short, you have to wear your retainer for however long you want to preserve the results of your Invisalign treatment. That means if you want to keep your straightened smile for life, you’ll have to wear the retainer for just as long. However, that doesn’t mean you have to wear it for the same amount of time that you did the clear aligners.
In most cases, you may have to wear it for 22 hours a day for the first two to four months. That gives time for your gums and jawbone to stabilize the new tooth positions, and after that, you may be able to wear them at night only. The timeline for wearing your retainers only at night depends on what your dentist says. It’s always best to follow their instructions to preserve your smile for a lifetime.
How Can I Care for My Retainer?
The good news is that caring for your retainer doesn’t take much more work than you’re used to with Invisalign! Similarly to your clear aligners, it’s best not to eat or drink anything other than water with your retainer. Also, be sure to put it in its case when you’re not wearing it to keep it safe and protected. Make sure to clean your retainer twice a day with plain or soapy water and scrub it gently with a toothbrush.
Once you finish all your sets of Invisalign clear aligners, it can be a satisfying victory. You’ve invested a lot of time and money in getting the straighter teeth you wanted, so be sure to wear your retainer to maintain the results. That way, you can enjoy your new smile for longer and avoid going through the whole process again in the future!
About the Practice
At Crossroads Family Dentistry, you benefit from a team of skilled dentists who have years of combined experience. We want you to feel confident in your smile, so we offer Invisalign clear aligners to help you get the straighter teeth you’ve always wanted. Our team is here for you throughout your journey with this orthodontic treatment, and we want you to achieve results that last a lifetime. If you want to learn more about how Invisalign can benefit you, schedule an appointment or call us at (434) 841-1704.