What Do I Do After Completing Invisalign Treatment?

At Severns Dentistry & Orthodontics, we've put together a guide to help you understand how to care for your new smile once Invisalign treatment is complete. 

Why is Aftercare After Invisalign Important?

After your treatment is over, you need to begin proper aftercare to maintain your smile. Whether you have traditional braces or Invisalign, the same steps need to be taken to prevent undoing your results which can lead to:

• Teeth starting to shift again
• Incomplete remodeling of the retaining bone and tooth socket
• Teeth moving back to a misaligned state
• Wasting time and money invested in your smile

What Is Involved in Aftercare?

Your aftercare will begin with wearing a retainer to prevent the teeth from shifting out of their new, aligned positions. Your dentist will customize your retainer to ensure a proper fit. 

You will need to wear your retainer as recommended by your dentist. You will likely need to wear a retainer for life, but the amount of time you have to wear one each day will lessen. You will begin by wearing one all the time, and over time you will gradually reduce how long you have to wear the retainer. 

What Type of Retainers are There?

There are two types of retainers, fixed and removable. The fixed retainer is made of a thin metal wire that is glued to the back of the teeth. These retainers are made to be permanent and offer you the extra reassurance that your teeth won't move after Invisalign treatment. You will need to clean and care for this device since it can get food buildup on it. 

Removable retainers come in two varieties; the wire retainer called the Hawley retainer and the clear retainer that looks like an Invisalign tray and is typically called an Essix or 3D retainer. With the wire retainer, there is a custom-molded plastic piece that sits against the roof of your mouth with a thin metal wire that wraps around the front side of your teeth. 

Clear retainers will rest over the top of your teeth, just like an Invisalign aligner. These are great because they are clear and go unnoticed. Be sure to keep your retainers clean, just like you did with your aligners. 

How Do I Care for My Retainers?

When using retainers, it's important to properly care for them. When wearing your retainer, be sure to remove them when you are eating or drinking hot beverages. The retainers should also be cleaned and rinsed at least once a day. If you notice that the retainer fits differently or it has become too difficult to remove or put in, this means the retainer is damaged and will need to be replaced. 

Expert Invisalign Treatment in McMurray

At Severns Dentistry & Orthodontics, we specialize in Invisalign treatment. McMurray patients can rely on our experienced staff for top-tier orthodontic care. Contact us today to learn more!