Whether one has had braces/Invisalign or not, teeth are continually moving to some degree and it may not always be percetible. Your teeth probably don't look the same today as they did 5, 10, or 15 years ago. Continual biting, chewing, and other functional forces help to cause these alignment changes in tooth... more
How long after Invisalign do I need a retainer?
After invisalign would I have to wear a retainer forever?
I have a gap and my front left tooth is crooked. Many people includeing my bf say that I shouldnt even bother my teeth because he thinks that they are fine (he had really bad teeth, like horrible when he was younger and i believe had to wear braces for like 3 years or more, so he wants me to stay away from anything that does something to your teeth). I want my teeth straight, but my only problem is I read someone's review and they said that they have to wear a retainer forever.
I don't mind having to wear them for a while, but I really don't want to wear them forever, if i have to ask a ortho, could they be able to tell me if i have to wear it forever before they even start me with invisalign because I really don't want to?
3 answers to “How long after Invisalign do I need...”
A: There are options... ask your doctor
Depending on the severity of the tooth movement different types of retainers can be made. Typically with invisalign the last aligner is used to hold the teeeth in alignment. This aligner is worn only at night. If the tooth movements were simple and only involved the fron teeth it is possible... more
A: After Invisalign, retain your retainer forever
The retainer should be worn forever after any orthodontic treatment. There are many different kinds of retainers, some of which are cemented (you don't have to take these off - they aren't visible at all), some are worn at night only.
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1 post
21 Jul 2009
I, had braces for almost 6 years. Before I had braces I had brackets in the back of my mouth that allowed me to insert wires into them and I had a night thing I had to wear. Being one, who had stuff cemented to their teeth for almost 8 years, you really don't want permanent retainers. They break, they don't allow you to clean as well as you would like and makes flossing very hard. Atleast with convnetional braces you could floss easier, but with permanent retainers behind your teeth I found it very uncomforatable, so after 6 years, I got them removed, off of both the top and bottom and am now happily sporting a removable retainer, which I wear ALL of the time except when I'm eating and drinking coffee (since the hot could distort the retainer). It is a regular retainer, plastic inside and wire outside. To each his own, but I would recommend regular braces and a removable retainer that you wear a lot at the begining. If your going to spend almost $5,000 on invisalign i would recommend spending the $300 on a regular retainer that won't shift when your done, atleast for awhile.