How Long Do I Need to Wear a Retainer After Invisalign Treatment?

Congratulations on completing your Invisalign treatment! Your hard work wearing aligners and caring for your teeth and gums has paid off beautifully, and now you have a gorgeous new grin to show for it. But in order to maintain your magnificent results, you’ll need to wear a retainer. Here’s why this is so important, and how to take care of it so it lasts as long as possible.

Types of Retainers

There are several types of retainers for your dentist to choose from and recommend following Invisalign treatment. The prescribed type will depend on the individual patient, and the areas of the arch that may be at a higher risk of shifting out of alignment, as some retainers are better for certain bites than others.

Frequently, patients are provided with clear retainers that look and fit just like their Invisalign trays, but there are other types of retainers available, such as fixed retainers (which are cemented to the backs of the teeth), Hawley retainers, and Invisalign Vivera retainers. Your dentist will discuss the benefits of each with you, and why he or she chose your specific type.

The Importance of Wearing Retainers

Wearing a retainer following Invisalign treatment may seem a little confusing at first. After all, you just got through treatment, shouldn’t you be able to go aligner free for a while? The good news is that while you most likely will need to wear your retainer for 22 hours a day for the first month after treatment, once you’ve completed the initial month you will likely only need to wear them to bed or in some cases, only a few nights a week. However, be aware that you will most likely need to wear one for at least part of the day for the rest of your life.

The reason for this is because despite the time you put into your orthodontic treatment, your teeth can still move out of alignment again and undo all that hard work and time you put into getting them where they are today. Thus, in an effort to protect your newly improved smile, you should wear a retainer to “retain” your results. Failure to do so could result in shifting teeth and the need for retreatment later in life. Worse yet, your teeth may not go back to their old positions, they may shift to different positions that cause new problems!

Caring for Your Retainer

Caring for your retainer is easy, especially if you’ve already had aligners. They can be cleaned the same way your aligners were. Scrub them gently with a soft bristled brush and mild hand soap or denture cleanser and then rinse them well before putting them back in your mouth or storing them in their case for the day.  Be careful to keep them out of reach of children and pets, as they can sometimes get lost or chewed if left unattended.

Remember, wearing a retainer is vitally important in keeping your teeth in proper alignment, so be sure to follow your dentist’s guidelines for wear and care, and your beautiful new smile will be sure to last a lifetime!

About Our Practice

At Advanced Dental Center, Dr. Shtarkman and Dr. Salib are proud to offer a variety of ways to improve your oral health and reveal your most beautiful smile. If you are concerned about the alignment of your teeth and would like to learn more about how Invisalign can help, we are proud to offer this treatment right here in the office. Invisalign is often much faster and more convenient than traditional braces and can deliver amazing results that with the help of a retainer can last a lifetime.

To schedule an Invisalign consultation, please visit our website or call us today at 440-885-5354.