Have you ever spent months perfecting your smile only to worry about losing all that progress? Invisalign retainers are some of the best retainers in the business. Their level of comfort and aesthetic invisibility makes it easier than ever for anyone contending with tooth gaps or misalignments to get the smile they’ve been dreaming of.
However, what happens to your tooth care after Invisalign retainers do their job? What should you expect from your future dental care? At White Pine Family Dental, we recommend using a new retainer through the Invisalign brand or a different dental structure. Consistent retainer use in your post-Invisalign dental routine ensures that your teeth stay in their new places.
What Happens After You Stop Using Invisalign?
Invisalign retainers actively move your teeth into new positions. However, your teeth have memory, just like other parts of your body. If you stop wearing your Invisalign retainer and don’t commit to keeping your teeth in their new locations, your teeth can begin to shift back into their old alignments.
You don’t want to reverse months of hard work, especially not when you’ve just achieved the smile of your dreams. That’s why our dental team recommends that you pursue additional post-Invisalign retainer usage. Consistent retainer usage ensures that your jaw bone has the time it needs to harden after an Invisalign retainer makes it malleable.
Can You Request a Different Retainer?
While Invisalign retainers are some of the best in the business, you don’t have to commit to wearing one brand for the rest of your life. There are other retainers that can help you keep your teeth in place or address other dental concerns, like teeth grinding or bite misalignment.
Some of the most common retainers that our team recommends for use after an Invisalign service include the following:
Essix Retainer Installations
Essix retainers look a lot like Invisalign retainers. They’re custom-made, just like Invisalign retainers, but they don’t tend to last as long as their dental cousins.
Fixed Retainer Installations
If you’re concerned about your ability to maintain a voluntary retainer, you may discuss the pros and cons of fixed retainer installation. Fixed retainers connect with your front six teeth, fitting tightly against your dental line to limit tooth movement. You cannot see the wire when you smile, and you cannot remove it.
It does take roughly a week to adjust to a fixed retainer. However, the minimal visibility makes fixed retainers ideal tooth-maintenance solutions for anyone who’s tired of taking a retainer in and out daily. We recommend installing a fixed retainer immediately after removing your last Invisalign aligner.
Notably, these retainers do not work well if your Invisalign treatment had to adjust the position of your molars or teeth further back in your mouth. If you need more comprehensive dental support, you might want to explore stabilizing options that secure all of your teeth, not just the front six.
Hawley Retainer Installations
Hawley retainers are some of the most traditional retainers on the market. If you’ve seen a retainer made out of wire and colored plastic, you know what a Hawley retainer looks like. Usually, dental hygienists and oral health professionals can custom-fit the plastic to fit against the roof of your mouth or your bottom teeth, depending on your need.
Hawley retainers are highly visible, with a wire running across your front six teeth. Unfortunately, these retainers are also easily damaged over time.
Hawley retainers are some of the most affordable post-Invisalign retainers available on the dental market, and they’re ideal for anyone who only has to wear a retainer at night. However, if you need more comprehensive dental support or you don’t like how visible a Hawley retainer is, you might want to discuss some alternatives.
Retaining Your Invisalign Retainer
When in doubt, you can also turn back to the Invisalign brand. Invisalign offers post-treatment retainers that you can remove throughout the day to eat, drink, and go out. So long as you wear these retainers for at least 20 hours, you should maintain your new dental structure.
Caring for Your Teeth is a Lifetime Commitment
You don’t have to commit to wearing an Invisalign retainer forever. However, the longer you go without a retainer, the more likely you are to see your teeth shift back toward their unhealthy positions. If you want to retain the smile you fought so hard for, it is essential to explore alternative retainers.
At White Pine Family Dental, we’ve helped countless patients in Nevada maintain their beautiful smiles after Invisalign treatment. Our experienced dental team takes pride in providing personalized care and finding the perfect retainer solution for your specific needs and lifestyle. Whether you prefer the comfort of an Invisalign retainer or want to explore other options, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Use our contact form or call (775) 825-6655 to set up your appointment today.