Invisalign Treatment Completed (5 Amazing Answers)

So, your Invisalign treatment completed and now are wondering what happens next. That’s a great question! It is very important to understand that even though your teeth have been successfully moved to their new position, with a nice alignment and bite, the natural tendency is for the teeth to want to shift back.

Invisalign Treatment Completed – What Now?

What do you do about this? Another great question! The good news is that if your treatment has been completed by an orthodontic specialist, he or she will recommend specific retainers for you to wear, which will hold your teeth in place. Here are a few questions you may have about retainers.

How Many Months Do I Need a Retainer?

• This is the most common question we receive about retainers and it’s very important! Here’s our opinion: For the first 6 months after treatment is completed, this is the time when the teeth are most likely to shift back to their original position. So, we suggest wearing retainers every night for approximately 12 hours.
• After those 6 months, it’s ok to change to just wearing the retainer while sleeping. But, we absolutely recommend wearing it every night!

 Aligner/Hawley retainer | What’s the Difference?

• It may be confusing to know what style retainer will best hold your teeth. The good news is both of these style retainers should provide excellent stability to hold your teeth in their new position, provided you wear them the appropriate number of hours each night. Some adult patients who already had braces when they were kids prefer Hawley retainers because they are familiar.
• The wire and plastic covering the gums can be a bit bulky. But overall, what’s important is that you and your orthodontist have a conversation about what style retainers are recommended for your specific teeth and bite. At Gluck Orthodontics, our usual retainer prescription is for a clear retainer over the top teeth. That said, we can offer both options to our patients, and will have a discussion about which style retainer we recommend.

Can I Wear my Last Aligner as a Retainer?

You may have heard that you can continue wearing your last Invisalign tray as a retainer. We don’t recommend this for two reasons:

• The aligners will tend to get dirty and degrade over time, even when you clean it as ordered. The aligner material is also flexible and not meant to be worn over the long term.
• The aligner tray is not rigid enough to provide sufficient long-term retention of the teeth. That means that your teeth will be more likely to shift if you aren’t wearing a regular retainer. Your Nashville orthodontist will prescribe the proper retainer for your teeth and bite, which will improve the chances that you protect your new smile!

How to Take Care of Your Retainers?

Proper care of your new retainer will ensure that it lasts as long as possible. Here are a few tips for how to take good care of it:

• Take it out to eat. Try not to drink liquids other than water while you are wearing it.
• For cleaning, use warm (but not hot) water, liquid hand soap or dish soap and an extra toothbrush. Vigorously scrub the soap into and around the retainer to remove any buildup. Rinse with warm water.
• When you aren’t wearing your retainer, always keep it in a special case with your name on it. This will make sure it doesn’t get thrown away!
• Keep your retainer out of reach of pets! They love to chew them up.

How Much Does a Retainer Cost?

You’ll find the cost is included in the overall cost of treatment. But, we recommend you check first. Lost devices are chargeable at whatever rate the office sets.

Oral Health Once Invisalign Completed

• It is important to keep up-to-date with your dentist from now on. Your time with the orthodontist has come to an end. Therefore it is still important to receive regular checks by a dentist.
• Your retainer behavior will near the same as your aligner treatment. Leaving you open to plaque build-up and hygiene issues with the retainer. Luckily you have trained well with your aligners.

Avoiding Harm

• While wearing a retainer can save teeth from several harmful damages. If an individual is a smoker, they should quit immediately in order to protect their teeth. If that is not an option, clear plastic retainers should be avoided as the smoke will turn them yellow.
• Sporting individuals involved in a lot of action should wear a classic wire retainer due to its superior durability. Individuals should also never chew gum or sticky candy that can get stuck against their retainers.

Conclusion

Gluck Orthodontics is located in Nashville, Tennessee. Drs. Joel and Jono Gluck, both Board-Certified Orthodontic Specialists, offer complimentary consultations to discuss your smile concerns and help you choose the best option for you.

• Clear plastic aligners from Invisalign – for teenagers and adults
• Traditional Metal or Ceramic braces – for teenagers and adults
• Retainers – for people who want to hold their teeth in place

Call Gluck Orthodontics today at 615-269-5903 to schedule an appointment with our knowledgeable and innovative orthodontist, Dr. Gluck and his amazing team. Know what to expect when Invisalign treatment completed and the costs.

Gluck Orthodontics
2002 Richard Jones Road
Suite A-200 Nashville
TN 37215

Phone (615)-269-5903

5 Amazing Answers | Invisalign Treatment Completed

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joelgluck

Dr. Joel Gluck has practiced orthodontics since 1983 when he opened his own office in Nashville. He earned his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, and his dental degree at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Gluck then completed an orthodontic specialty residency at the University of Michigan, one of the top five orthodontic training residencies in the country. He also wrote an original thesis and received a Master of Science degree.