Do You Need to Wear a Retainer After Using Invisalign?

Invisalign treatment is one of the most revolutionary treatments to come to dentistry in the past few decades. With it, you can correct your smile without having metallic braces peeking out of your mouth. The fact that the trays are nearly invisible makes them the ideal choice for people who want to correct their smiles.

Let’s say you have worn your Invisalign trays per the dentist’s recommendations. You are currently on your last trays, and your smile looks fantastic. You are ready to get done, but you find out that you must wear retainers. It can be a bit discouraging to think you must keep on with the treatment. However, the bright side is that you do not have to wear retainers for long. 

So, why do you need retainers, and what are they? 

Why Do You Need to Wear Retainers?

Invisalign works under the concept that your teeth are constantly shifting. Even if you have a perfect smile, your teeth will shift as you grow older. Utilizing this concept, Invisalign shifts teeth to the desired position. But after the treatment, your teeth still remember their original positions. They will begin to shift back when you stop wearing the Invisalign. Hence, the orthodontist will recommend a retainer after Invisalign to keep the treatment results.

What is a Retainer?

Retainers are trays that your dentist will recommend immediately after your Invisalign treatment is over. They are like the Invisalign trays, but their job is different. Their primary purpose is to help your teeth maintain their new position. 

The dentist will usually choose the type of retainer you will need before your treatment is over. You can get a Hawley retainer, a fixed retainer, or a removable retainer. 

Types of Retainers

The dentist will let you know which type of retainer best suits your smile. Their main aim is to ensure that the smile you get after the Invisalign treatment lasts.

 

• Invisalign Retainers

These retainers are nearly invisible. However, they do not help shift your teeth; they help maintain the results of your Invisalign trays. They can last a few years, but they need replacement occasionally. The number of trays you use and the frequency of replacing them depends on how often you use them. 

Because retainers do not need adjustments like the Invisalign treatment, you can get several trays simultaneously. It is a great way to ensure that you will always have a retainer at hand.

 

• Hawley Retainers

Hawley retainers are made of plastic and metal. These are special retainers that an orthodontist will recommend depending on the original state of your teeth. The orthodontist also gauges what you need to maintain the new positions of your teeth.

 

• Permanent or Fixed Retainers

A fixed retainer is a wire attached to the back of your upper or lower teeth. It helps maintain the new positions of your teeth. These retainers may be permanent to ensure that the results of the Invisalign treatment last a long time. 

For more on wearing retainers after using Invisalign, visit Ofir Orthodontics at our office in Downey, California. Call (562) 396-9820 to schedule an appointment today.