Many adult patients are surprised to learn that they will need to wear retainers once the alignment portion of their treatment with invisible braces is complete. But wearing retainers provided by your Dallas, TX invisible braces dentist after completion of your treatment is an essential element of the Invisalign process.
What Happens After Treatment
You may not realize that, whether you’ve gone through treatment with invisible braces or not, teeth are continually moving to some degree even though it is not noticeable. Once the alignment portion of treatment is complete, it’s crucial for you to wear some type of orthodontic retainer to maintain the corrected alignment.
If you don’t wear the retainer as prescribed by our dentist, it is likely that your teeth will begin to drift. You may be surprised to learn that going without a retainer for even a relatively short period of time can give teeth an opportunity to shift causing another misalignment.
Types of Retainers
There are essentially two types of retainers: fixed and removable. As the names imply, this refers to the fact that the retainer is either permanently attached to your teeth or is removable. Each has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. The team at the Dallas, TX invisible braces dentist office can discuss both these options with you and help you make the decision as to which will be most beneficial to your situation.
Of course, each patient is unique and certain teeth alignment problems need to be retained longer than others. Therefore, retention is more critical in these cases. Your Invisalign dentist is the best person to determine what approach is most appropriate in your situation.
Protect Your Investment With a Retainer
Now that you’ve completed treatment with invisible braces, it makes sense to consider the retention phase as an ongoing and necessary part of your treatment. You’ve already made an investment in a beautiful, even smile. Be sure to take the final step by wearing the retainer provided, and your newly straightened smile will last a long time.