How Long Will an Invislign Retainer Last?

Question

I just got an invisalign retainer to replace an old metal retainer I lost. This feels very different and the material is certainly very light and almost flimsy by comparison, what is the expected longevity of this retainer? The old one I had for 5 years.

Scott LeSueur, DDS · Answer

If your retainer is the Vivera style retainer from Invisalign then the company recommends replacement every 3 months and you sign up yearly for one to be sent to you every 3 months and you renew it yearly. They are very thin, similar to Invisalign aligners. If this is a clear retainer covering all the teeth, Invisalign style, but not made by Invisalign, it depends on the thickness of the plastic and you will need to ask the dentist who made it. Vivera retainers are convenient as they are thin and require no new impression because they are recorded in a computer data base,but they cost for renewal every year. Good luck! Talk to your provider who made your last retainer for advice or your Invisalign dentist.

Jonathan Torma, DDS · Answer

Vivera retainers by Invisilign are made four at-a-time and are sent over a year's time (every three months). Although the plastic is thicker than the plastic of the aligners, it still will deform over time. The company says the retainers need to be changed every three month. I have found in my practice that my patients have gotten at least six months of use out of each if the final result of the case are stable and supported by the resulting occlusion (meshing) of the teeth . When changing to the next retainer, the teeth will again be held in the original final position due to the consistancy of the cad-cam technology.

Brad Lockhart, DDS · Answer

This is a very good question that does not have a definite answer. My answer is: It depends. Mostly it depends on how much clinching and grinding you do while you sleep. Lots of people clinche and/or grind their teeth to one degree or another while sleeping. If you do it a lot with heavy forces then the retainers will not last nearly as long as they would if you don't clinch or grind. Generally speaking, it has been my experience that a well-used Invisalign retainer will last, on the average, a couple of years. 

	Hope this helps...good luck!

How Long Will an Invislign Retainer Last?

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