Why Retainers Are Essential After Braces or Invisalign

Having straight teeth from braces or Invisalign is an amazing accomplishment. But your journey doesn’t stop when your braces are taken off or your invisalign treatment is done. To keep your stunning new smile, it is important to wear retainers as your orthodontist directs. Whether you completed a course of Long Island City clear aligner or braces, retainers are an important part of keeping your teeth in their new position long-term.

The Importance of Retainers After Braces or Invisalign

Once you finish your treatment, your teeth are finally where you want them to be however, the bone and tissues that support them are still adapting to this position. Without retainers, your teeth can shift back to their original positions. In orthodontics, this phenomenon is called a “relapse,” it is completely normal in the treatment when people do not use the retainers regularly.

For both braces and Invisalign patients, retainers are crucial after treatment to keep the teeth in place while the attendance structures around the teeth completely stabilize. If you don’t wear your retainers as directed, your teeth will slowly drift back into misalignment, reversing all the hard work you did during your orthodontic treatment.

What Are the Different Types of Retainers?

There are several different kinds of retainers available, with their own advantages. The two most prevalent types of retainers are: removable retainers and fixed retainers:

Permanent Retainers: These consist of thin wires that are glued to the back of your teeth, most commonly the lower front teeth, and are worn long-term. Fixed retainers are barely visible and can keep teeth in alignment permanently.

Removable retainers: These are worn to retain your teeth and can be removed and put back in as needed. Removable retainers that are also clear and will sit tightly on top of your teeth, like Invisalign aligners. Considered low maintenance, these are popular due to ease of cleaning and promote improved hygiene.

Keeping the Results with Retainers

Retainers are important to maintain Long Island City Invisalign or braces results for life. They offer the support your teeth require while your gums, bone, and other tissues adapt to the new positioning. The more you skip out on wearing them, the more your teeth can shift and the more work you may need for your smile again later in life.

The most important factor in post-orthodontic success is following your orthodontist’s retainer wear recommendations. The retainer needs to be worn full time for a while after your treatment, and then part time for maintenance. As time goes by and your teeth stabilize, the amount of wear will reduce.

To sum up, retainers are an important element not to be ignored in the orthodontic process. If you've finished your Invisalign treatment in Long Island City be sure to coordinate with your orthodontist about wearing your retainer as directed. This will help you protect your investment and enjoy your new smile for many more years.

To know more about Upper East Side Orthodontic Treatment, please visit our website: theorthodontistandco.com


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Invisalign Treatment That Can Help You Achieve the Most Desired Smile for Life

Why is getting Invisalign a better idea than braces?

A guide to dental care solutions at any age