Just finished Invisalign? 5 key reasons to wear the retainers!

When it comes to straightening your teeth, there are so many options, from braces and aligners to clear braces. However, they all have one thing in common; when the braces are off, you will need to wear a retainer. And if you don’t, it won’t end well!

Our dental team at Katz and Madhok Orthodontics are more than happy to offer our suitable patients more discrete versions, like Invisalign in Edgware, as well as offering financing options to help you spread the cost. However, we will have to insist that you wear your retainers, too, once the aligners have done their job.

So, even if they seem like a pain in the bottom, why should you wear your retainers after finishing Invisalign in Edgware?

Maintaining alignment/

Invisible aligners like Invisalign in Edgware are designed to gradually move your teeth into the desired position. However, once the aligner treatment is completed, your teeth may naturally want to shift back to their original position. Why? Because the teeth are held in place by muscles that resemble bungee cords, and so, if the level of pressure to keep them in their new position is not maintained, you may lose the alignment that has been achieved, and our team may need to start the treatment all over again. Retainers help to keep your teeth aligned by providing the necessary support and preventing them from moving out of place. So, keep them in!

Preventing relapse

As odd as it sounds, teeth have a memory, and without proper retention, they may slowly shift back towards their original positions. Wearing retainers as prescribed by our orthodontist helps prevent relapse, which is the tendency of your teeth to return to their pre-treatment position. As mentioned before, the muscles that hold your teeth in place are similar to bungee cords. So, if there is something that is not holding them there, they will bounce back, and following the next orthodontic treatment, we may need to fit a fitted retainer, which is a pain for flossing! Consistent retainer use ensures that your teeth remain in their corrected positions over time and will prevent you from needing to go through the process again, as well as avoiding the somewhat dreaded fitted retainer.

Settling the bite

Orthodontic treatment not only aligns the visible teeth but also affects the way your upper and lower teeth come together when you bite. After aligner treatment, your bite may need time to settle and adjust, and your retainers help stabilize your bite, allowing the supporting structures of your teeth to adapt and ensuring a comfortable and functional occlusion.

So, you will be less likely to suffer from grinding when you go to sleep at night; great!

Allowing soft tissues to adapt

Invisible aligners also affect the soft tissues in your mouth such as gums, cheeks, and lips, as these will all move along with your teeth. These tissues need time to adapt to the new tooth positions as well, and wearing your retainers helps in this process by allowing the soft tissues to conform to the aligned teeth and supporting the overall stability of the treatment.

Protecting your investment

Orthodontic treatment can be a significant investment in terms of time, money, and effort, especially if you are an adult. Wearing retainers is an important step in protecting that investment. By diligently using retainers as instructed by your orthodontist, you can ensure that the improvements made during the aligner treatment are maintained, reducing the chances of needing additional orthodontic work in the future.