How long do you need to wear retainers after invisalign

The Invisalign journey is an exciting one for many people looking forward to a beautiful straight smile. But what happens after the last set of Invisalign aligners? Are the changes to your teeth permanent, or will you have to wear a retainer after your Invisalign treatment is over to keep your smile in perfect condition?

Here we answer your questions about wearing a retainer after Invisalign to prepare you for the road ahead and help you maintain the stunning smile you have always wanted.

How Invisalign works

In order to understand why you have to wear a retainer after Invisalign, you need to know how the treatment works. As a more discreet alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign straightens your teeth using a series of clear aligners, which gradually move your teeth into place.

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment suitable for teenagers and adults wanting a straighter smile – but early orthodontic treatment can begin from as young as 8 or 9 years old, giving kids the best possible advantages when it comes to their teeth.

The importance of wearing a retainer after Invisalign

When you’re excited after your Invisalign treatment, ‘how long to wear a retainer’ might not be the first question that comes to mind. But it is something you need to think about as soon as your treatment is over.

This is because following orthodontic treatment, your teeth will not stay in their new places indefinitely. Over time, they will try to move back into their original positions, so your smile will gradually become less straight if you don’t wear a retainer after Invisalign.

How long do I have to wear retainers after Invisalign?

If you want your smile to stay straight and beautiful, and you don’t want to waste all the time you have invested in your Invisalign treatment, you will need to wear retainers for the rest of your life once your treatment is over.

At first, the bone and gums in your jaw will not be familiar with your new straight set of teeth. It could take a few years for the remodelling process to complete. Our teeth sit in a balanced position between our lips, gums and tongue. Continued facial and dental growth could influence this, these changes are all part of the normal ageing process that carries on throughout our lives.

That’s why it’s super important to follow your orthodontist’s instructions to wear your retainers for life!

Which retainer is best after Invisalign?

Your orthodontist will advise you on the options available when it comes to retainers following your Invisalign treatment. Always be guided by them – they are specialists who have a lot of experience, and they want the very best for your teeth.

At every stage of your treatment, from your initial consultation onwards, your orthodontic specialist will be able to advise you on the best course of action for your individual circumstances. This can cover a wide variety of issues, from simply straightening your teeth through to more complicated problems such as sleep apnea.

Whatever your age and however long your Invisalign treatment has been, it is worth taking the extra step and wearing a retainer after Invisalign to keep the beautiful straight smile you have worked so hard for.

Find out more about Invisalign

If you would like more information about Invisalign treatment, or you want to book a consultation, the expert team here at Smile Team Orthodontics are happy to help. We operate in a variety of locations in NSW, including Wollongong, Shellharbour, the Southern Highlands and Parramatta.

After completing your Invisalign treatment, you can enjoy your beautifully straight smile. But to maintain your smile, you have to wear retainers as directed by your dentist, and your teeth might shift back to their original position if you don’t wear retainers after your Invisalign treatment.

Most people have this question about how long they have to wear a retainer. But it is difficult to answer this question as everyone is different, and the time to wear your retainers depends upon the condition of your teeth. So, your dentist can guide you on exactly how long you have to wear your retainer. 

To give you a general idea about your retainers-  after you are done with your Invisalign treatment, your jawbone softens so your teeth can shift into the final position. After the first three to six months of your Invisalign treatment, your dentist would suggest you wear your retainers for 22 hours every day to hold your teeth in place while the new bone deposits in the gap created by your aligners. But in some cases, it can take up to nine to twelve months for the body to build new bones to fill the gap, so you might have to wear your retainers for more than nine months.

Tips to take proper care of your retainers

Here are some tips which you use to take proper care of your retainers:-

• Keep your retainers in a closed container when you are not using them.
• Use lukewarm water to clean your retainers before wearing them.
• Make sure to remove your retainer before eating any food or drink (except water)
• Avoid smoking, drinking coffee or hot drinks while wearing a retainer as it can stain or melt your retainers

Lastly, if you face any problem with your Invisalign treatment, it is essential to consult your dentist for proper treatment.

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