Braces aren’t for everyone. Some people find them uncomfortable, while others may feel self-conscious about having a smile full of metal brackets and wires for several months to years. If you’ve avoided braces for these reasons, Invisalign® would be perfect for you.
Invisalign is one of the most effective alternatives to traditional braces. Because it uses a series of clear, custom-made aligners to shift your teeth into place, it’s nearly invisible, making it an aesthetic option for fixing dental issues like crowding, gaps, and misalignment.
Depending on the extent of your dental issues, you may need to wear your Invisalign aligners for anywhere from 6-18 months. However, after your aligners come off, you need to commit to wearing retainers to maintain your new smile.
Without retainers, your teeth may shift back to their original positions, undoing all your progress. At LivWell Dentistry in San Francisco and San Ramon, California, we’re dedicated to helping you achieve and maintain that perfect smile with Invisalign®.
Our lead dentists, Dr. Wenli Loo and Dr. Steve Deng, will guide you through every step, from your initial consultation to the final phase of retainer wear, helping you maintain your new and improved smile for many years.
In this blog, we explain the three phases of retainer wear and how they help protect your smile.
The first phase of wearing a retainer begins once you're done with the Invisalign treatment. During this period, you’ll need to wear your retainer full-time, usually for at least 20 to 22 hours a day, for about three to six months.
We recommend full-time retainer wear during this period because your teeth are still adjusting to their new positions. If you don't wear your retainers consistently, there's a high risk of your teeth moving back to their original positions.
To make this phase easier, set reminders on your phone or keep your retainers in a visible place where you'll remember to wear them. However, remember that retainers are delicate. Always place them in their case when not in use to avoid accidental damage or loss.
Once you’ve worn your retainer consistently for up to six months, we'll transition you to wearing your retainer only at night. This phase can last anywhere from six months to a few years, depending on how your teeth respond to the treatment.
Wearing your retainer at night is crucial to maintaining your new smile. Even though your teeth may seem stable after the first few months, they are still at risk of shifting, particularly when you're asleep and your jaw muscles are relaxed.
The final phase of retainer wear is long-term. This phase usually begins after about a year or two of night-time wear. At this stage, you only need to wear your retainer a few nights a week, usually three to five times, to maintain your smile.
Teeth have a natural tendency to shift as you age, even many years after getting dental treatment. Regularly, and even occasionally, wearing your retainer helps prevent this natural shifting.
It might be tempting to skip wearing your retainer occasionally, but consistency is crucial. Also check in regularly with our dentists to ensure your retainer is still doing its job.
Whether you are curious about getting Invisalign or are worried about your new smile shifting after getting this treatment, the team at Livwell Dentistry will ensure you receive the best care and guidance to protect your smile. Schedule an appointment online, or call us at 415-477-3700 today.
