Straightening your smile has never been more convenient thanks to Invisalign treatment.
Once completed, you can enjoy a healthier, better-aligned smile.
But there’s one more step after your last appointment: wearing a retainer.
How long do you have to wear one?
Keep reading to learn more.
Why Wear a Retainer After Invisalign?
Retainers are a crucial component of the teeth straightening process, regardless of whether you opted for braces or Invisalign. If you fail to wear your retainer as instructed, your teeth will gradually shift back to their original positions, resulting in gaps in your tissue. Wearing a retainer helps keep your teeth in place. It allows your bone and gum tissue to adjust to their new positions, keeping your smile straighter in the long run.
How Long Do I Need to Wear the Retainer?
It’s important to remember that even months after completing your teeth straightening treatment, your teeth can still shift. As a result, you’ll never be entirely finished wearing your retainer. The length of time you’ll need to wear your retainer after Invisalign varies, as your retainer-wearing schedule will change over time. Here’s a simple breakdown of how long you’ll need to wear your retainers after Invisalign:
- 3-6 months after treatment- You must wear the retainer for 22 hours per day, just like you did with your Invisalign. Remove it to clean your teeth, drink, and eat.
- 6 months- 2 years after treatment- After 6 months, you can wear the retainer just at night during sleep.
- 2+ years after treatment- You can move to wearing the retainer a bit less often. Use it at least every other night.
Invisalign in Quincy and Norwell
To maintain the alignment of your teeth and prevent the need for future orthodontic work, you’ll need to wear Invisalign retainers for the foreseeable future. However, you’ll need to wear them most frequently for the first 6 months.
Your dentist helps you determine the best retainer schedule for your needs. Finding a reputable Invisalign dentist is crucial for successful treatment. For reliable Invisalign treatment in Quincy and Norwell, look no further than Advanced Dental Arts.
Contact us to schedule your Invisalign consultation today!