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Do I Need Retainers After Invisalign Even Though I'm 17?

asked 11 months ago by ang23
Latest answer by Raj Kumar, BDS, LDSRCS
Question viewed 508 times
Tags: age 17 or under, retainer, teenager

I'm getting my first set of aligners in a few weeks and my treatment is going to take 9 month - 18 trays on upper and 15 on lower. So I was wondering wether or not I'd need retainers "forever" even though I'm only 17?

14 answers to Do I Need Retainers After Invisalign Even Though I'm 17?

+3

Absolutely!! Retainers are for life...

In our practice, we generally tell our patients to wear their retainers for one year full time, then to bed lifetime. Your teeth are in the most stable position the day you enter the office, before you start treatment, as that is what mother nature has intended. In addition, as we age, our soft tissue balance in our mouth changes, and this difference in pressure from the lips and tongue will create gradual crowding in most individuals as they age, regardless of the method of treatment (ie... more
Mazyar Moshiri DMD, MS

Saint Louis Orthodontist
+3

Retainers After Invisalign?

When my patients ask me how long they have to wear retainers I tell them, "Only as long as you want straight teeth." Good luck!
Brad Lockhart, DDS

Tustin Cosmetic Dentist
+2

Retainers are needed at the end of orthodontic treatment, no matter how old you are

A rule of thumb is to wear retainers after orthodontic treatment is complete. This is even more important the younger a person is, and they should be worn as long as the person wants their teeth to remain straight. Without retainers the teeth will tend to shift and become crooked again.
Lance Timmerman, DMD

Seattle Cosmetic Dentist
+2

Retainers after Invisalign

The one thing I always tell any patients before undergoing orthodontic treatment is they need to be willing to wear a retainer after the treatment, otherwise you will most likely experience some relapse.
Daniel Beninato, DDS

Omaha Cosmetic Dentist
+2

By all means!

Our teeth are moving throughout life. Some more than others. Wisdom teeth do not cause crowding. I wear my retainers every night. Night time is usually as effective as wearing them all the time. Your teeth will move whether or not you have had Invisalign or Braces. Remember, 30% of those wearing Invisalign had braces before.
Gilbert H. Snow, DDS

Encino Orthodontist
+2

Nightime retainers are like an insurance policy for straight teeth!

Yes, you need to wear your retainers, but going to nights should happen soon. Let me explain. When teeth are moved, they always want to go back to where they were. This is because there are many elastic fibers that connect the teeth together and act like little rubber bands. Once the teeth are moved,(especially rotated) the rubber bands try to pull the teeth back to the old positions. However, if the result is great the bite will tend to... more
Kent Lauson, DDS, MS

Denver Orthodontist

www.aotmj.com

+2

Retainers are always needed after invisalign

Retainers are a must after any ortho treatment. Teeth always want to move back to their original position. Vivera retainers are very easyto wear at night
Jennifer Jablow, DDS

New York Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Retainers

All patients need retainers. Even people with straigh teeth, can develop biting habits that can squash the dental arch leading to overcrowding. 80% of my consults have all had fixed ortho and then the teeth shifted over time. I did not wear my last aligner for over 4 months and when I put it in I was nearly in tears. The teeth had shifetd slightly so I routinley wear my retainer 3-4 times per week overnight. Otherwise you will be paying again. Dr R Kumar BDSLDSRCS more
Raj Kumar, BDS, LDSRCS

London Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Retairnes with Invisalign

Treatment with Invisalign is quick and easy. With Invisalign, you do not wear metal braces. Instead, your teeth are straightened by wearing a series of clear plastic aligners. The aligners are so inconspicuous that most will not be able to tell you are wearing them. You will wear each set of clear aligners for about two weeks at a time. The aligners are worn all the time, except when you are eating, brushing and flossing. Because the aligners are removable, you can eat all of your... more
Pamela Marzban, DDS

Fairfax Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Retainers

You definitely must wear retainers after any orthodontic treatment. I f you don"t do that, it will affect your entire treatment that you went through. Teeth have the tendency to go back to the original position.
Antoaneta Barba, DDS

Santa Ana Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Do I Need Retainers After Invisalign Even Though I'm 17?

Depending on what types of tooth movement was done, and because you are an older patient, you should wear retainers. I have my patients wear them 6 months full time, and for a long time at night. You can start to taper off by experimenting with how long you can leave them off without the retainer feeling tight when placed back in. You may be able to get to 1 day per week after a few years. For long term retainer wear, I do not use the Vivera type retainers as... more
Thomas Braun, DMD

Fairfield Orthodontist
+1

Invisalign Retainers

If you want to wear your invisalign aligners and have nice teeth only to be 35 and going back to the dentist again to straighten your teeth than do not wear your retainers. If you want the teeth to remain straight then do yourself a favor and wear them as directed by your dentist
Leonard Tau, DMD

Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Retention is Forever

Your teeth have no idea where the force that moves them is coming from. It might be from metal braces, clear braces, an aligner, or a retainer. No matter how the teeth get straight, retaining them that way (holding them straight) is a lifelong necessity. It doesn't matter if you are 8, 17, or 83 (my oldest patient). In the same way you must watch what you eat after you lose weight on Weight Watchers (maintenance), you have to "watch" the alignment of your teeth the rest of your... more
Greg Jorgensen, DMD, MS

Albuquerque Orthodontist
+1

Retainers will keep the teeth straight

Even though you are only 17, you will want to retainers for as long as you want your teeth to remain straight. Teeth are prone to relapse after orthodontic treatment because of the connective tissue fibers that surround the teeth, and try to pull the teeth back to their original positions. There are many comfortable nighttime retainer options offered today to help keep the teeth straight, such as the Invisalign Vivera retainers.
Kristen Berning, DDS

Dubuque Cosmetic Dentist

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