Do I Have To Wear A Retainer Forever. Wearing a retainer as an adult can help keep a smile in place for years to come so in some cases its recommended to wear a retainer every night for the rest of your life. The general rule of thumb is that you should wear your retainer for a little longer than you wore your braces for. Invisalign can straighten your teeth in as little as 12 to 18 months. You must wear your retainer as directed by our Invisalign dentists for the rest of your life.
Yes youll need to wear a retainer after Invisalign treatment. During this time your jaw is completing the bone remodeling process resorbing bone in some areas around the teeth and depositing it in other areas to help tooth roots become stable. After your prescribed period of time your orthodontist will determine if you need to wear your retainer longer. After this you can wear your retainer only a few nights a week. How Should I Care for My Retainers. Your cosmetic dentist will give you customized recommendations based on your unique issues.
Most patients wear their retainers nightly for a period of a year or two.
Eventually youll use your retainer to check the alignment of your teeth if it ever feels tight you can simply wear it for a few nights to ensure your teeth maintain their positions. The reason we recommend this cycle of wear is due to the slow shifting of teeth forward and inward as we get older. Since youve put so much work into your new dream smile youll want to protect it for life. Its important to wear your retainer after your braces or clear aligner treatment to protect the gains made in aligning your teeth and prevent them from shifting back to their pre-treatment positions. You have to wear retainers forever. Your retainers will fit for as long as you consistently wear them.