Do I still need to wear a retainer after Invisalign?

Do you still need to wear a retainer after Invisalign? Or could you simply continue to wear the last Invisalign brace to ensure your teeth stay in place?

4 answers to “Do I still need to wear a retainer...”

A: Yes, you must wear your Invisalign retainer after completion of treatment

By Salvatore A. Cigna, DDS - New York Orthodontist

Please wear your retainer as prescribed by your Orthodontist, to maintain the beautiful results you have achieved. In my experience, patients will eventually wean down to wearing the retainer every other night. We educate our patients to understand that this is the only way to ensure that the teeth will not... more

A: Retention is the only way to keep the teeth in place

By Lance Timmerman, DMD - Seattle Cosmetic dentist

Whether with wires or Invisalign, once the teeth are moved to the desired place, they won't want to stay there. After active orthodontics, wearing a retainer is the only way to keep them there. Over time, the bone will become more dense and retainer wear can be moved to night-time only. It is as if... more

A: Use last Invisalign aligner maximum of 3 months

By Michael J. Thomas, DDS - Los Angeles Cosmetic dentist

Please do not wear your LAST aligner as a retainer for very long. Max three months. Please spend the money and get the Vivera retainers which are made from the last 3-D image of your teeth that Invisalign has on record. They can sometimes even continue to straighten teeth and they are much more rigid. Dont... more

A: Yes, a retainer must be worn after Invisalign

By Ryan Sellinger, DMD - Manhattan Cosmetic dentist

After tooth movement with either traditional braces or invisalign there is a tendency for the teeth to want to migrate to their original position. Teeth are held in the jaw with a periodontal ligament that is very elastic and has a propensity to retreat to its previous position. This is why wearing some... more

Comments

Melody5
8 posts
6 Aug 2008

They will give you a last retainer that looks just like your aligners but the plastic is a little harder. They will require to wear as if you just got metal braces off.

susan dowd
1 post
9 Feb 2009

I noticed that my retainer has some discoloration? How can it be removed or cleaned? After taking it off in the morning, I usually brush it with luke warm water but the discoloration is still there?? Please advise.