What Happens After Invisalign Treatment Is Complete?

A beautiful smile is something most people would like to have. But not everyone is born with perfectly aligned teeth and the esthetics they bring. For the less fortunate, braces were the only option available for correcting misaligned teeth. They are not a very welcome option for many who don’t fancy living with wires in their mouths. Then, Invisalign was invented.

Invisalign is an almost invisible set of trays that go over your teeth and change your teeth’s alignment. You can have the correction offered by braces sans the ghastly wires in your mouth. You will go about smiling without feeling self-conscious. You will have to wear clear aligners for the period the orthodontist prescribes for the best results. 

What Happens After Your Teeth Are Aligned?

After teeth alignment treatment is complete and successful, you need another strategy for maintenance. Whether you go for braces or Invisalign, you must have a maintenance period after the treatment. Your smile requires maintenance because teeth tend to shift immediately after the treatment. They will try to shift back to their original positions. 

Maintenance will help ensure that your teeth stay in their new positions. It helps complete the remodeling of the tooth sockets. This takes much longer than the period necessary for your teeth to align.

To ensure your teeth hold their new positions and your body adjusts accordingly, orthodontists prescribe retainers. Retainers are usually like the treatment you have been on, but they do not shift your teeth, only hold their positions. 

What Are Retainers?

Retainers are the posttreatment offered to Invisalign and braces patients. Retainers for Invisalign look just like the clear aligners you used during the Invisalign treatment. They are less invasive and feel more comfortable than the aligners. However, you will need to take care of your retainers as long as you have them. 

Your orthodontist will design aligners that fit exactly over your new smile. You will need to have them on as long as the orthodontist recommends for your smile to last. 

How Do You Care for Your Retainers?

Cleaning Your Retainers

Cleaning your retainers is one of the most important things to keep track of. As with the aligners you were using, bacteria can accumulate in the retainers if you do not clean them. These bacteria can cause tooth decay or cavities. When cleaning the retainers, you can use two methods. 
 

• Clean the retainers with soap and water

• Use a special tablet that cleans the retainers while soaking in water

Eating and Drinking

As you did with the Invisalign trays, ensure you remove your retainers while drinking or eating. It will prevent food from getting stuck in the retainers and prevent the trays from staining from drinks. If you are taking any hot beverage, ensure you remove the retainers, as the heat can melt them.

Harmful Habits

If you have regular retainers, you should avoid harmful habits like smoking or excessive contact sports. Smoking is bad for all retainers as the tar from the smoke will stain the retainers. 

If you are involved in contact sports, it would be best to use classic wire retainers. These are usually more durable than their other counterparts. 

For more on what happens after Invisalign treatment is complete, visit The Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry at our Destin, Panama City Beach, or Navarre, Florida offices. Call 850-810-0300, 850-810-0600, or 850-409-6400 to schedule an appointment today.