You’ve been wearing Invisalign in Sparks for the past two years, and you’re pumped to get them taken off. However, your orthodontist says that you have to wear a retainer even after your treatment is done. The last thing you want to do is wear another oral appliance. You just want to enjoy your newly straightened smile. Do you really have to wear your retainer? Yes! Let’s talk about three reasons why.
Reason #1: Prevent Relapse Soon After Treatment
Orthodontic treatment shifts your teeth away from the position they were used to being in for so long. As a result, when treatment stops, your teeth might move back into their crooked state, sometimes very rapidly. This is why retention in that early aftercare period is so crucial. You don’t want all that time you spent in treatment to be for nothing!
Reason #2: Don’t Waste Your Money
Time won’t be the only thing you waste if you forgo wearing your retainer. Think of all the money you spent on treatment. You don’t want to have to repeat all of that, do you? By keeping your retainer in for the prescribed amount of time daily, you can keep your teeth in a straight position and prevent the need for future orthodontic treatment, saving you money.
Reason #3: Keep Your Smile Straight for Life
The whole reason you sought orthodontic treatment was to have a more aligned smile. Don’t you want to reap that benefit for as long as possible? Besides being aesthetically pleasing, straight teeth are easier to keep clean, lessening your likelihood that you’ll develop oral health problems like cavities and gum disease.
What If Your Forgot to Wear Your Retainer?
If for some reason you didn’t wear your retainer as often as you should have, it’s not the end of the world. Your dentist offers Invisalign clear braces in Sparks. These translucent aligner trays are worn over the teeth to discreetly straighten them. Since you can remove them for easy eating, brushing, and flossing, they are much more convenient than traditional braces. Your dentist treats many, many patients who have forgotten to wear their retainers with Invisalign.
Fortunately, retainers are comfortable and easy to wear. More often than not, you’ll wear them for a few days after your treatment is finished. Then, you can very likely switch to only wearing them at night. And, as you can see, only good things come from wearing your retainer!
About the Author
Dr. Marc Thomas is an Invisalign-certified dentist in Sparks, NV who graduated with his doctorate in dentistry from the University of the Pacific in 1993. He keeps up to date on the latest dental techniques by regularly taking post-graduate courses in subjects like aesthetic rehabilitation through treatments such as Invisalign. If you have forgotten to wear your retainer and need your teeth straightened again, you can contact Dr. Thomas at (775) 626-3535.